2010.04.12 EDA Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF APRIL 12, 2010 EDA President Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 8:40 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Jim Bever, Tom Denaway, Mike Granger, Phil Klein, Brian Thistle and Fran Miron ABSENT: NONE CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Administrator, Mike Ericson, Community Development Director, Bryan Bear, Planner, Rachel Simone, and Shayla Syverson, Economic Development / Parks Intern APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF MARCH 8, 2010 Klein made motion, Thistle seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of March 8, 2010. All ayes. Motion carried. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Staff has recently met with Mike and Catherine Anderson, and their attorney to discuss the future of the property at 14583 Forest Blvd. N. City staff has been encouraging the Andersons to demolish the Antique Store building because of its blighted and unsafe condition. City staff is of the understanding that the Andersons continue to work with their insurance company following the fire that occurred at the Carpenter's restaurant site, and that it is financially difficult for them to expend the funds to demolish the Antique store building at this time. Staff would prefer that the building be demolished at this time, because it would allow for the construction of turn lanes in front of the property in conjunction with the 147th St/ TH 61 project. City staff and the Andersons have tentatively agreed to an assessment agreement, whereby the building would be demolished, and the cost of the demolition would be incurred by the City and spread against the property to be paid back over time with interest. Staff prepared an assessment agreement and a resolution ordering the demolition project. At their April 5, 2010, meeting the City Council directed staff to order the demolition of the antique store, approve the assessment agreement subject to revisions agreeable to staff and Catherine Anderson, change the construction plans for the TH61/147th Street project to add turn lanes at 146th Street, and to prepare a resolution for approval at the next City Council meeting. Staff also discussed the concept plan that was presented to the EDA for the City owned property in downtown. Staff met with development team on April 6, 2010, to discuss the plan and the letter of intent that was presented to the EDA. Staff updated the EDA on the meeting and would like to discuss the letter of intent with the EDA. The CD Director stated that there are not tenants and staff has not seen the architecture for the project. There is not enough information on the project to make a recommendation on the letter of intent. The development team has stated that the main goal is to be able to market the City owned property. The development team seemed ok with a marketing agreement with the City. Arcand stated that she liked the marketing ideas and giving them around a year to hold the property for marketing. Granger agreed and added that they may need a longer time to market the property with the economic times. Denaway stated that the EDA needs to keep in mind the benefit to the City also and generally liked the marketing agreement. Miron stated that he would like to see something happen soon on the City owned property. The EDA agreed that they City needs to know something about what they are getting before they allow the development team to