2008.11.24 EDA Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF NOVEMBER 24, 2008 EDA Vice President Phil Klein called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Jim Bever, Tom Denaway, Phil Klein, and Brian Thistle ABSENT: Mike Granger and Fran Miron CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Administrator Mike Ericson, Community Development Director Bryan Bear, and Associate Planner Rachel Simone APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF OCTOBER 20, 2008 Denaway made motion, Thistle seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of October 20, 2008. All aye. Motion carried. HEALTH EAST CLINIC Staff invited Scott North, CEO, and Len Kaiser, Administrative Director both from Health East Clinic to welcome Health East into Hugo. The new clinic is under construction and is located at the northwest corner of County Road 8 and Everton Avenue. They attended the November 17, 2008 meeting and talked about the progress of the construction of the building. They were welcomed into the City as a new business. DISCUSSION ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY Mark Finneman from Finn Daniels Architects and Richard Fischer from Richard Fischer Architects were present at the meeting. They discussed a development idea for the City owned property in the downtown. They presented their ideas to the EDA at the meeting. Their plan included three commercial buildings and one senior housing complex. They stated that they would like to take advantage of the lake with the building placement proposed. The plan included lots of landscaping and rain gardens. They stated that the entrance as proposed with the Carpenters on the Lake place may not be in the most ideal location. Arcand stated that she like the concept that it is not too far from the concept that was brought forth to the EDA by the owners of Carpenters Restaurant. The EDA agreed that the access to the site is important. Bever stated that he likes the plan but is not sold on the senior housing that is proposed. He wants to see this as a downtown commercial area. Klein also stated that he was concerned with the senior housing, but liked the concept. He asked if there could be a second entrance to the area. CD Director stated that MNDOT will need to review the plans and they will decide what access will be allowed. Overall the EDA thought the concept for the City owned properties was a good idea. UPDATE ON BR&E COMMITTEE Staff updated the EDA on the BR&E Committee's progress. There was a Finance Workshop on November 18, 2008 at 7 pm at City Hall. There was only one person that showed up. The BR&E committee decided to do another workshop on finance but in a different format. The