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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007.03.19 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF MARCH 19, 2007 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 City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, Associate Planner Rachel Simone ABSENT: Mike Granger and Fran Miron APPROVAL OF MINUTES EDA MEETING OF FEBRUARY 20, 2006 Denaway made motion, Thistle seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of February 20, 2006. All aye. Motion carried. DISCUSSION ON WELCOMING SERVICE TO NEW RESIDENTS IN HUGO Robin Green, a resident of Hugo, presented a plan to the EDA for a business that would welcome new residents and businesses to the City. The company would be called "Welcome Home Neighbor" and would provide business information, coupons, and pamphlets/brochures to new residents and businesses. The strategy of "Welcome Home Neighbor" is to invite the members of the Hugo Business Association to become active participants in this welcoming service program. Robin Green was present at the meeting to talk to the EDA about her business plan. Bever asked if Robin would deliver the packets personally. Robin stated that she would. Bever asked about the rural portion of Hugo and how many new residents would she be able to handle each month. Robin stated that the program would be all inclusive so the rural portion of Hugo would be included. She also stated that she is flexible and would probably be able to handle 30 residents a month, if she needed people could be hired to help. Arcand stated that she liked the idea and has been involved with groups like this. Klein stated the HBA tried to do something like this but time seemed to be the big issue. He said that an outside group could work and be a good thing for the City. Thistle stated that he is fairly new to Hugo and when he moved he received the "Welcome to Hugo" bag from the City. He stated that it was a good tool for him to find out with was available in Hugo and it was his go to guide. DISCUSSION ON TIF PLAN At the February 20th, 2007 EDA meeting Paul Steinman and Mikaela Huot from Springsted presented the TIF Policy and Plan to the EDA and requested feedback. At the meeting there was great feedback on the policy and plan. The EDA recommended adoption of the policy to the City Council at that meeting. Staff attached the TIF Plan. CD Director gave an overview of what happened at he last EDA meeting and introduced the agenda item. Arcand asked about the time limit in years for the projects. CD Director stated that the projects will be evaluated individually with the TIF policy and there will be a different time limit for each projected based on the reviews. Arcand made a motion, seconded by Denaway, recommending that the City Council adopt the TIF Plan. All Aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON EDA SPONSORSHIP TO THE APRIL 22, 2007 HUGO KIDZ `N BIZ FEST On April 22, 2007, the 3rd annual Kidz `n Biz Fest will take place at the Oneka Elementary School. This annual event is an opportunity for the Hugo Business Association and the Hugo EDA to directly connect with Hugo families and children in a PTA carnival atmosphere. The event has grown so big that it was necessary to move it to the super -sized gymnasium at the school. This event is expected to attract more than 400 Hugo children and their families, and will once again feature the chocolate chip cookie contest, as well as an assortment of carnival games presented by Hugo businesses with assistance from the WBL High School and National Honor Society. Last year the EDA and the Hugo Business Association (HBA) co-sponsored the event in the amount of $500. Staff recommended that the EDA make a recommendation to the City Council that the EDA co-sponsor with the HBA for Hugo Kidz `n Biz Fest. Denaway made a motion, seconded by Thistle, recommending to the City Council that the EDA co-sponsor with the HBA for Hugo Kidz `n Biz Fest. All Aye. Motion Carried. UPDATE ON WASHINGTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WORK GROUP Mike Ericson, City Administrator, gave an update to the EDA on the Washington County Economic Development Work Group. Klein asked how the Cities are working on this. The City Administrator stated that their board and subcommittees that are working on it. The local communities want to make sure that Washington County is doing its part for Economic Development in its cities. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE On February 26th, the City held an open house to gather input from residents about the community vision (i.e. what do they like about Hugo, what can be improved, how do we want the city to look in 20 years, etc.). Approximately 70 residents attended the open house. We asked each resident to complete a 2 -page questionnaire about their vision for Hugo. We received 14 written responses as of the date of this report. Attached were the comment sheets and a summary of the comments for the EDA's review. The Planning Commission met on March 8th to begin the visioning process through the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis worksheet that was used at the open house. The Planning Commission comments were attached in the packet. City Planner, Kendra Lindahl from Landform was present at the meeting and preformed the SWOT exercise with the EDA. Below are the outcomes from the SWOT analysis: Strengths: • Location • Major Roads (1-35E, Highway 61, CSAH 8) • Rail Service • Parks, Trails, Lakes, Recreation • Existing Infrastructure (CSAH 8) • Variety • School System • Rural Character (east side) • Wildlife • Governance • Interaction of government with local businesses • New businesses • Good plan for TIF • Growth • Rural and suburban influences • Proximity to metro area and airport • Service groups (Lions, Legion, etc.) • The people (proactive citizens) • Housing mix • City services (snowplowing, etc.) Weaknesses: • Need another industrial/commercial park • Need a place for small businesses with outside storage • Need a community building and library • Need more restaurants • Need to attract more businesses • Lacks a unity of vision • Downtown on Highway 61 is difficult for pedestrians • Lack of branding/marketing • Dissention in community • Lack of citizen willingness to look to the future and plan • Law enforcement (need more presence) Opportunities: • Develop a current/updated plan (comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance) • Create character for the community that combines both rural and urban elements • Highway 61 corridor will complement the new downtown • Better trails/better walkability • Purchase strategically located properties • Rural preservation east of Highway 61 (using cluster ordinance) • Develop a "green" growth policy • 170th/135E development • Rush Line corridor (light rail) • City appearance (building design) Threats: • Funding • Negative attitudes of citizens • The "no growth" residents • Failure to plan will result in bad development • Government regulations—we need to work with other agencies • Politics • Lack of vision/Lack of fortitude • Environmental issues (high water tables, etc.) Vision • Easy community access though trails and sidewalks • 2 distinct halves of the city—rural on the east and urban on the west • Looking like Toronto (green, but developed) • Development at the 170th/1-35E intersection • Development concentrated between Highway 61 and 1-35E • City known by public resources provided • Balance and variety is retained • Public space/central park provided • Community center • Light rail • Public/private cooperation for shared facilities ADJOURNMENT Bever made motion, Arcand seconded to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 am All aye. Motion carried.