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MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF MARCH 19, 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 Klein made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chrun, to approve the January 16, <br />2024 meeting minutes. <br />Ayes: All. <br />Nay: None. <br />Motion carried. <br /> <br /> <br />DISCUSSION ON THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY DOWNTOWN <br /> <br />Community Development Director Juba presented with background on the discussion held at the <br />January 16, 2024 EDA meeting relating to the future of the city -owned property on Egg Lake, and <br />providing an update since the direction was given to staff to pursue implementation flexibility with <br />the DNR’s shoreland rules, explore interim uses for the site, and plan to re-market the property for <br />development. Several items had already been completed to prepare the site for marketing to a <br />commercial user, including property control, proper zoning, community input, the Downtown Plan <br />and Design Guidelines, a market study for downtown, a registered survey with clean title, <br />geotechnical information, and an environmental evaluation. Staff has also completed tasks to market <br />the property. <br /> <br />Staff created a summary of financing options and savings, including the savings a developer would <br />have from not having to pay for sewer and water trunk fees. There are 10 sewer availability charge <br />(SAC) credits available to the site from previous uses. When comparing estimates of a restaurant <br />similarly-sized to the Blue Heron Grill, staff estimated that there would be a total savings of $121,834 <br />passed onto the developer when using the SAC credits. Commissioner Puleo asked if the potential <br />savings along with sale cost of $1.00 were known to the developer who most recently had an <br />approval on the site, Denny Trooien. Juba said that Trooien was aware of the potential savings, and <br />had additionally asked for additional City contribution for relocating infrastructure and environmental <br />cleanup. <br /> <br />Another option for staff to market the property is to create a marketing brochure and flyers. Such <br />materials may include information highlighting site features, development criteria, benefits and <br />financial savings, area highlights, fast facts, and area demographics. Commissioner Denaway <br />commented that an addition of the property’s valuation may be useful for attracting a developer, <br />highlighting the immense savings provided that the developer can meet the development criteria to <br />purchase the property for $1.00.