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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006.09.18 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2006 EDA President Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Jim Bever, Tom Denaway, Mike Granger, Phil Klein, Fran Miron, and Brian Thistle ABSENT: None City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, CD Intern Rachel Simone APPROVAL OF MINUTES Klein made motion, Granger seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of August 21, 2006 as presented. All aye. Motion Carried. PREMIER BANK CD Intern gave an overview of Premier Bank moving into the building formally occupied by Lake Area Bank located at 14815 Forest Blvd. They are planning on doing some maintenance of the building but for the most part it is staying the same. Staff invited the representatives from Premier Bank to come talk to the EDA about the bank and their community involvement. The Staff recommended the EDA welcome Premier Bank as a new business in the community. Bill Miller the Vice President of the bank was present and gave a presentation on the background of the bank and their community involvement. He asked the EDA to let him know if there were any community projects the bank could be involved in. He also stated that their grand opening would be October 12th -16th. Miron stated that the building that Lake Area Bank was in was intended for a temporary use and that a permanent Premier Bank would we welcomed by the City. The City Administrator stated that there many opportunities in Hugo for community involvement. DISCUSSION ON TIF DISTRICT ESTABLISHMENT Staff has been working closely with Paul Steinmen of Springsted and Mary Ippel on the calculations to establish a TIF District. Staff attached a map of the proposed TIF District that highlights the buildings that meet and do not meet the required 15% code deficiency threshold determined by building inspections. Also the building department has done some preliminary assumptions about the buildings that the city has not inspected and if they would qualify for a TIF district or not. Staff gave an update at the meeting on the coverage test and building inspections and requested direction from the EDA related to proposed TIF boundary. CD Intern gave an overview of the attached map and building inspections. CD Director talked about the building inspection process and the time it takes to complete the reports. He also stated that we are still working on what is going to happen in regards to the Lavalle parcel and the new County road. Miron asked if staff thinks the TIF District would be challenged and what would happen if it did. Bever asked CD Director if he thinks the City will be able to count the Lavalle parcel as occupied. CD Director stated staff does not think this would be challenged. He used Richfield as an example of one that was challenged because they condemned land and the city is not condemning land for the proposed TIF District. He stated that the Lavalle parcel being deemed occupied is important to the proposed TIF District. If it is not considered occupied the district will not meet the coverage test and may have to be removed from the proposed district. He stated that staff and consultants are still working on this issue. Granger asked about the Stock Lumber site and the accessory structures on the property. He also asked about the 145th Street property owners. CD Intern stated that the building inspectors just inspected the Stock Lumber site and that the accessory structure will not be used in the building inspection reports. There were calls made to the remaining property owners that did not respond to the letters sent about the building inspection. Some of them were on 145th Street and they either did not call back or stated that they did not want the inspection done on their property. Arcand asked if there were still developers interested in developing in the downtown area. CD Director stated that we still get calls from developers and business owners that that would like to be located in the downtown. Klein asked if we should be thinking about a bigger TIF district that would include County Road 8. Miron stated that we need to think about what property would develop on its own and what area would need some encouragement. Denaway stated that it seems as though that County Road 8 is developing on its own. UPDATE ON THE END ZONE PROPERTY AND THE SCHOELLER PROPERTY CD Intern gave an over view of the End Zone Property and Schoeller property. CD Director talked about the demolition of the End Zone buildings and the environmental assessment that was done on the buildings. Granger asked if the City Council would get an update on the End Zone buildings demolition process at its meeting and if the City ends up demolishing the buildings will the property owners be assessed though the county City Administrator stated he would give an update at the City Council meeting. There will be an assessment if the City has to demolish the buildings. Denaway asked if staff has taken the proper steps to consider the buildings substandard for the TIF district establishment. CD Intern stated that the steps have been taken and resolutions have been passed. MISCELLANEOUS Denaway introduced his brother Robbie who was attending the EDA meeting for a class. CD Director asked the EDA if they liked the business's coming in to introduce themselves to the EDA. All seemed to favor the favor the visits. Bever stated that the EDA should tour the businesses that are coming in. Granger stated that the City maybe should look into another industrial park that caters to businesses of heavy industrial uses. Bryan stated that staff will look into that and there may be a spot for them in the City some where. This could be a discussion topic at one of our next meetings. Klein asked about the availability of high speed internet for businesses in the City. Granger stated that there is one in town called Stonebridge. CD director stated that staff is thinking about making a residential spread sheet for properties in the City like we have for retail property on the website. Denaway stated that staff should look at the City of Cottage Grove's website to get a good idea of what to do for the spread sheet. ADJOURNMENT Denaway made motion, Klein seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 am All aye. Motion carried.