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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-26-2009PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW EDA CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 26, 2009 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 6:13 P.M. 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: President Flaherty, Vice President Stigney, Commissioner Hull, Commissioner Mueller, Commissioner Gunn, and Executive Director Ericson, Community Development Director Roberts, and Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz. NOT PRESENT: None. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Mueller. To Approve the May 26, 2009, Agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4. PUBLIC INPUT None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 27, 2009, EDA Minutes. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Stigney. To Approve the April 27, 2009, Minutes as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. May 11, 2009, EDA Minutes. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To Approve the May 11, 2009, Minutes as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. CONSENT AGENDA Mounds View EDA May 26, 2009 Regular Meeting Page 2 None. 7. EDA BUSINESS A. Continued Review of Possible City Taglines. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz reviewed the past consideration of City taglines and advised that the EDA did not support “Two words. One Community.” She reported that the EDC prefers taglines containing three words starting with the letter “c,” “Connecting You Home” or, “Connecting Careers to Home.” A Planning Commissioner had suggested: “Where Community Matters” and a City staff person suggested: “What a great place to be,” and “More than just a great location.” Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz presented the e-mail staff had received from Valerie Amundson’s that included eight suggested taglines. Ms. Amundson had also commented on the importance of having a unique tagline and holding a contest for residents or students to submit their tagline ideas. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz advised that Patrick Bettenburg is no longer with Risdall Marketing so Kevin Deshler will present the Marketing Communications Plan on June 8, 2009. President Flaherty thanked Mr. Bettenburg for his assistance during this process and wished him well. He also thanked Ms. Amundson for her suggestions. Commissioner Mueller stated her agreement with Ms. Amundson that the EDA should not rush into a decision and that the tagline, as suggested by Vice President Stigney, should be characteristic of Mounds View. She supported holding a tagline contest to get other ideas. Commissioner Gunn stated she will talk about a contest with the English teachers at Irondale High School to get their ideas. Community Development Director Roberts suggested also getting input from the DECA Program. Vice President Stigney stated none of the taglines on the list really “jump out” at him so maybe more tagline suggestions are needed to find one that is really unique to Mounds View. He suggested taglines that address the future, such as “Become Part of our Future” or “You Can Become Part of our Future.” Executive Director Ericson agreed that none of the taglines suggested to this point are truly unique and noted there is no rush to make this decision. He suggested this be a summer project with the City making a decision in the fall of the year. He also suggested that the contest be advertised on the City’s website, community sign, and water billing, as well as getting suggestions from the schools. Mounds View EDA May 26, 2009 Regular Meeting Page 3 The EDA agreed the matter should be opened to the public for their input, discussed methods of obtaining suggestions, and whether a contest should be organized and a prize given for the winning tagline. It was agreed that suggestions would be solicited from the public, schools, DECA Program, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and during Festival in the Park. Vice President Stigney stated he does not support an organized contest because then a “winner” of the submitted names is created. However, he does support asking for suggestions and does not object to awarding a citation or prize for the winning tagline. Majority consensus was reached that a contest would be considered and the matter will be further discussed at a future workshop meeting. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated staff will present a Marketing Plan and reminded the EDA that Falcon Heights had received some inappropriate tagline ideas when soliciting public suggestions. However, they did receive two good taglines for consideration. B. Discuss Business Improvement Partnership Loan Program. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated this item was discussed at the last meeting when a dentist asked whether the EDA would consider waiving the criteria to allow for a start up business to receive a Business Improvement Partnership Loan. The EDA talked about reevaluating the loan program criteria, which has been in place for about 14 years. She advised of past low-interest loans that had been granted and noted a summary of this program is contained in the Mounds View tool box. She also noted that city staff has not been aggressively promoted at the direction of the Council. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz recommended the EDA authorize the program to be promoted and that if interest has not increased within a year, the EDA reevaluate the program so that it better fits the needs of businesses and the City. Commissioner Gunn questioned why the loan program had not been promoted since the City wants to attract businesses. Commissioner Mueller explained the EDA felt there was a need to look at other programs to attract business without resorting to TIF as the number one resource. In addition, the EDA wanted the City to be at least an equal partner with the developer and not be subject to the developer’s demands. Vice President Stigney stated the tool box gathered all program information into one document and identified that TIF would not be used as the first tool. Rather than the developer seeing what they can get from Mounds View, the City could work with the developer to direct them to other resources. Mounds View EDA May 26, 2009 Regular Meeting Page 4 President Flaherty stated some did not want TIF in the tool box but others thought it should be included, since it was a tool. Thus, the tool box became an internal document for staff to use when working with developers. He asked how staff would promote the loan program. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated the loan program could be advertised on the City’s website or the tool box information could be posted so people know what is available. In addition, developers could be encouraged with pro-business statements to send the message that Mounds View would like certain businesses. Commissioner Gunn felt the tool box should be made public and aids to business should be promoted with the understanding that TIF is not the governing body’s first choice. Vice President Stigney stated on the other hand, the City should attract the businesses it wants and inform the developer of all programs that would apply. He noted the funds will not go far and he prefers to have it channeled to local businesses where it would result in a visual impact. Commissioner Hull asked if any of the tool box items have been used recently. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated they have not due to the economy and low development activity for the past several years. She stated she was not aware that she could approach local businesses about the loan opportunity to make visual improvements. President Flaherty stated it is not known whether the program works because it has not been promoted. He felt as the economy recovers and interest rates go up, the EDA may want to re- address the 2 percent interest rate. Commissioner Mueller indicated she did not want the entire toolbox posted online because a business may use the information as a point of comparison without staff consultation. She noted other cities have more money and can be more generous with potential businesses when compared to what Mounds View can offer. She would prefer the developer contact the City’s personable staff so they find out that Mounds View is a great place to do business. Community Development Director Roberts noted the City’s website contains nothing about economic development so developers may not ask any questions of staff. President Flaherty suggested that the website encourage inquiries about the City’s assistance program without posting the toolbox information. Commissioner Mueller stated her support for staff to contact City businesses that need refreshing to inform them of the loan program and encourage them to apply. Commissioner Gunn stated she thinks all of the programs should be open to the public and Mounds View EDA May 26, 2009 Regular Meeting Page 5 nothing keep “internally only.” She felt that for companies interested in the north metro area and requiring a lot of assistance, it would not make any difference if they see it on the website or call staff first to learn of the programs. Commissioner Hull felt the City needed to be more aggressive to attract business. Consensus was reached to direct staff to post pro-development comments and encourage inquiries to City staff on the City’s website but not post the entire tool box. 8. REPORTS None. 9. NEXT EDA MEETING: Monday, June 8, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. 10. ADJOURNMENT President Flaherty adjourned the meeting at 7:04 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Recorded and transcribed by: Carla Wirth TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.