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MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JANUARY 16, 2024 <br /> <br />President Weidt called the meeting to order at 5:56 PM <br /> <br />PRESENT: Arcand, Chrun, Denaway, Klein, Puleo, Weidt <br />ABSENT: None <br />STAFF: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director <br />Max Gort, Associate Planner <br />Bryan Bear, City Administrator <br /> <br /> <br />APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF DECEMBER 19, 2023 <br /> <br />Commissioner Chrun made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Denaway, to approve the December <br />19, 2023 EDA meeting minutes. <br />Ayes: All. <br />Nay: None. <br />Motion carried. <br /> <br />REVIEW AND APPROVE 2024 EDA GOALS <br /> <br />Juba reviewed a draft of the 2024 EDA goals created at the December 19, 2023 meeting. Klein asked if <br />the EDA should note water-related issues, such as focusing development efforts towards sustainable <br />practices and water reuse. Bear says that water is a significant issue that effects all aspects of a City, <br />and that the EDA can try to learn more about and stay engaged with water related issues if they so <br />choose. Commissioner Arcand says that the EDA could have more of an awareness role, similar to the <br />Highway 61 Visioning Study. Commissioner Puleo asks if an update on the current litigation related to <br />White Bear Lake can be given at the next EDA meeting. <br /> <br />Commissioner Denaway made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Klein, to approve the 2024 EDA <br />Goals. <br /> <br />All ayes. Motion Carried. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES <br /> <br />Juba presented with background on the history of the City-owned property on Egg Lake, including the <br />EDA acquiring a number of parcels downtown to assemble enough property for commercial <br />development. Work that was done prior to development included title work and environmental <br />assessments. The City Council has approved three projects for the site since 2009, and there have <br />been several other proposals in that time. The Caprenters Restaurant plan was approved in 2009, <br />which included a standalone restaurant building; the approval included a purchase agreement and tax <br />increment financing. However, the building burned down shortly after starting and the project did not <br />finish. A second plan, for the Cattle House restaurant on the north end of the property and 2 <br />additional commercial buildings nearer the south end was approved in early 2020. However, the <br />onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused the project to not be able to finish. The most recent <br />approved project, proposed by Denny Trooien of Dennis Properties, LLC, was much more intense than <br />the previous approved plans. The plan met some pushback from the DNR relating to the setback from