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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006.04.17 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF APRIL 17, 2006 EDA President Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 8:40 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Mike Granger, Fran Miron, Jim Bever, Phil Klein, and Tom Denaway City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, CD Intern Rachel Simone ABSENT: Nick Skarich APPROVAL OF MINUTES Granger made motion, Denaway seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of March 20, 2006 as presented. All aye. Motion Carried. PRESENTATION OF MULTIFEEDER CONCEPT PLAN - NEAL NORDLING City staff has met with representatives from Multi -Feeder, Inc., for the past months for construction of a building in the Bald Eagle Industrial Park. The applicant is requesting a concept plan review for the development that would consist of three buildings totaling 55,400 square feet including associated parking lots on Fenway Boulevard in the BEIP. Neal Nordling, the president and CEO of Multifeeder Technology, is planning on purchasing the property legally described as Lot 3 Block 1 of Bald Eagle Industrial Park 4th addition. The property is currently vacant and is located immediately north of the old Minnesota Union Builders building. The applicant is proposing to divide the property into 3 lots. A public road way is planned to allow for buildings 1 and 2 to be constructed with frontage along the new roadway. Building 3 will be the Multifeeder Technology facility that will employ 40-50 workers and involves high tech design and manufacturing of processing equipment. The other 2 buildings are part of the future site build out. Bryan Bear gave an overview of the concept plan and Rachel Simone gave the presentation of the plan to the EDA. Neal Nordling was present at the meeting to discuss the construction of the new business. The EDA discussed the issues of the plans that needed variances and the business itself. The EDA discussed that they liked the over all plan and were collectively supportive of the plan. Miron suggested processing the variances as soon as possible. There was a motion by Miron, and seconded by Granger, to have staff look at a text amendment to the ordinance for the Industrial Districts to change the 40 foot side yard setback to 10 foot side yard setback All aye. Motion carried. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT: EGG LAKE PROJECT On Tuesday, March 28th, City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, and CD Intern Rachel Simone met with Charles and Mark Nosie who own the building across from city hall at 14667 Forest Street to talk about property acquisition. The Building currently consists of Glyph Printing and a barber shop. Charles and Mark were willing to listen and were very interested in the City acquiring their property. We met with them again on April 4th at the property in question to talk over the details of the acquisition. Staff, and Charles and Mark signed a drafted purchase agreement to sell the property for $195,000. We are working on the final purchase agreement and are looking forward to meeting with them again to finalize the purchase. The Hancock property at 5583 147th Street was on the agenda at our last City Council meeting on April 3rd. The EDA requested direction from the Council on whether the acquisition of the property should move forward. The Council declined the consideration of the offer from the Hancocks and directed staff to notify the Hancocks and the EDA as soon as possible. The Coucnil's reasoning behind declining the offer was that the city has not budgeted for the acquisition of the property and the parcels across from City Hall are more of a priority. Staff has also met with Bill Barrett who owns the building at 5673 147th Street about property acquisition. He did not say whether or not he was interested but, he was willing to listen. He wanted some time to think about what he was going to do with his property in the future. Staff plans on keeping in touch with Mr. Barrett. Darrel and Marsha Bunge also met with staff to talk about property acquisition. Again they did not say whether or not they were interested but, were willing to listen. They currently do not have plans to move but, can see the advantage the city would have if their property was included in the acquisition, and they are excited about the redevelopment plans. Staff plans on keeping in touch with the Bunge's. We have sent letters to the remaining property owners Gary Holmgren at 14663 Forest Boulevard and Chareen Gamboni at 14715 Forest Boulevard to set up a meeting to talk about property acquisition. We have not received any correspondence from them about whether or not they would like to meet. We will also be calling them if no response is received. Bryan gave an overview of the meetings staff conducted with the property owners. He also gave an overview of the purchase agreement set with Charles and Mark Nosie. The EDA was favorable to the purchase agreement and Granger discussed the possibility of negotiating some terms for the purchase agreement. There was a motion by Denaway, and seconded by Arcand, to continue working with Charles and Mark Nosie to negotiate terms and bring it to the Coty Council and update the EDA on the agreement. All aye. Motion carried. There was also a motion by Miron, and seconded by Granger, to look at into the purchase of the Scholler property on 145th because the city may need that property when CSAH 8 is realigned, and bring to City Council. All aye. Motion carried. UPDATE OF TIF SUBCOMMITTEE AND SET DATE FOR MEETING The EDA directed staff to set up a TIF Subcommittee meeting to discuss the downtown development plans, whether or not senior housing is what should be downtown, and to discuss what direction should be taken with the plans and the developers. The meeting did not end up happening because we needed to set up a time that everyone could make. The Staff is recommending that the EDA set up a date and time for the meeting. Bryan Bear gave an overview on what the meeting would consist of and recommended that the EDA set the date of the meeting. The meeting was set for Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 2:30 pm. EMINENT DOMAIN LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Staff has attached an update from the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities of the current legislation on eminent domain. The Staff did present this issue to the EDA and discussed impacts to downtown redevelopment. Mike Ericson gave an update on the current legislation and the issues that may come up if the bill is passed. UPDATE ON WASHINGTON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Last summer several EDA members attended the East Metro Economic Development Forum. At the forum, questions were raised about Washington County's Economic Development Strategy. Administrators from Oakdale and Woodbury prepared a draft strategy that is attached to this packet. Staff recommended the EDA review the strategy, and provide comments. Mike Ericson gave an overview and an update on the Washington County Economic Development Strategy. The EDA discussed the plan and Miron stated that he liked the overall plan. UPDATE ON HUGO KIDZ N' BIZ FEST APRIL 30TH, 2006 The Hugo Kidz n' Biz Fest will be held at the Public Works facility on April 30, 2006 at 1 pm. Staff would like to get an RSVP of the people attending and what their role with be there. Mike Ericson gave an update on the festivities and got RSVP's from the people of the EDA who were going to be involved. UPDATE ON NORTH HIGHWAY 61 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS MEETING ON MAY 3RD AT 9 AM IN THE ONEKA ROOM At the March 20, 2006 EDA meeting, the EDA listened to local business owner Rick Burr's desire to expand his business. The Council accepted the EDA's recommendation to set up a meeting with the commercial property owners adjacent to Rick Burr's property, Gusset Design. The meeting will be on Wednesday, May 3rd at 9 am in the Oneka Room. At the meeting the property owners will discuss their plans for their property in the future and how they feel about the possible rezoning of the commercial area. Bryan Bear gave an overview of what the meeting would consist of and selected Jim Bever as the EDA member that would be attending meeting. UPDATE ON CITY WIDE TOUR WITH COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONS ON MAY 4TH AT 3:30 PM The Staff has set up a City Tour for the Council and Commission members on May 4th, starting at the New Oneka Elementary School from 3:30 to 4:30. The tour of the City will start at 5 pm, EDA members can catch the bus at the school, and the tour will conclude at approximately 9 pm. The tour will cover new and built developments, parks, and industrial areas. Staff will have a tour route map and background information available at the time of the tour. Staff is inviting the EDA members to join the tour and RSVP today if possible. Miron gave an overview of the tour and Bryan Bear gave details of how the tour would be conducted. Staff got RSVP's from all EDA members to join the tour. Mike Ericson gave some additional information on who else may attend the tour. REVIEW PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FROM KRISTIN BARSNESS Staff has been in contact with EDA consultant Kristin Barsness who has drafted a proposal to assist the City with the downtown redevelopment plans. For the Egg Lake project, Kristen's expenses can be reimbursed through the TIF District, or can be added to the cost of the land. Staff recommends that the EDA review the proposal and provide direction to staff about whether to invite her to the next EDA meeting to formally present her proposal. Bryan Bear gave an overview of Barsness consulting services. Granger posed issues and suggested that this process stay in house till a later date. EDA stated that they like that Bryan stays of top of economic development issues and takes hold of economic development. There was a motion made by Miron, and seconded by Granger to table the consulting of Barsness until necessary needs. All aye. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Granger made motion, Denaway seconded, to adjourn at 10:30 am. All aye. Motion Carried.