Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007.06.18 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JUNE 18, 2007 EDA President Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Jim Bever, Tom Denaway, Mike Granger, Phil Klein, Brian Thistle, and Fran Miron ABSENT: None City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, Associate Planner Rachel Simone APPROVAL OF MINUTES EDA MEETING OF MAY 21, 2007 Klein made motion, Bever seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of May 21, 2007. All aye. Motion carried. AMIAN (AMERICAN & ASIAN BISTRO) Staff invited the owners of the new Amian restaurant to present their new business to the EDA. The restaurant is located in the retail center of Festival Foods and opened to the public on Thursday, June. 14, 2007. The owners of Amian were unable to make it to the EDA meeting. CD Director gave and overview of the business and enclosed in the packet was the menu for the restaurant. CARPENTERS RESTAURANT SKETCH PLAN At the May 21, 2007 EDA meeting Mike Anderson from Carpenters Restaurant and Josh Kopp from Milcon presented a sketch plan for the redevelopment of Carpenters. The EDA made some comments on the sketch plan and suggested that Mr. Anderson talk to the property owners about purchasing the properties to the south where he would like to locate the new restaurant. They also suggested that Mr. Anderson come back to the EDA in June with a revised sketch plan. Attached was same sketch plan that the EDA saw in May because Mr. Anderson did not come in with a revised plan. He has been concentrating on contacting the property owners that he would like to purchase land from. CD Director gave an overview of Mr. Anderson's attempt to acquire the properties in line with 145th street. CD Director stated that he has not seen revised redevelopment plans that are different from the plans they saw in May. Bever asked if the owners of Carpenters will be at the EDA meeting of July with the revised plans. CD Director stated that he will find out where they are in the process. Miron stated that the EDA should discuss the redevelopment plan in regards to the floor plan. CD Director stated that there may not be enough space for the waiting area. Granger stated that they need to also work on a business plan and maybe work with other restaurant owners to get some ideas. Klein stated that the plans do need some work and there should be more windows. Denaway stated that a business profile will be needed for the owners to get financing and also for the TIF evaluation. Arcand stated the City or the owners should work with the DNR to enhance the shoreline appearance and that would also improve the downtown area. CSAH 8 BANNERS Chris Petree, the Public Works Director, gave a presentation to the EDA on the banners that are proposed for the new light poles along CSAH 8. Chris has been working with companies that are interested in designing the banners to be located on the light poles. Attached were examples of some designs that were submitted and Chris also had others to showcase. The EDA reviewed the banners in the presentation from Chris Petree. Miron made the motion, seconded by Granger to recommend to the Council that 1) the City use Main Street Designs to supply banners and work with them to refine a banner design; 2) the City place banners on every other light pole on CSAH 8 between Oneka Pkwy. & TH61 reducing the number of banners needed to 55, and hanging baskets still be placed on every light in 2008; 3) the City consider purchasing another banner with a seasonal/holiday design and allow the Lions & HBA to discuss special event/promotional banners. All aye. Motion Carried Granger made a motion, seconded by Denaway, to recommend to the City Council that the City review the banner design and invite representatives from the HBA and Lions Club to decide on final design with the CSAH 8 Landscape Committee. All aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON EDA MARKETING STRATEGY Staff drafted a Marketing Strategy outline for the EDA's review per the comments from the meeting of April 16, 2007. Staff recommended that the EDA review the outline and provide staff with feedback on if there are any items missing or if any items can be eliminated. The EDA discussed the marketing strategy for the EDA. Miron stated that we should think about inviting the HBA and Lions Club to the City Wide Bus Tour on September 18, 2007. Bever asked about welcoming businesses into the City. Klein stated that the HBA is putting together a welcome kit for new businesses in the City. Denaway suggested that staff look at the City of Cottage Grove's website because they have a good marketing program for their EDA. He stated one of the important strategies is promotion of the EDA on the City website. CD Director stated that the EDA should think about the EDA's roles in regards to promotion of businesses verses the HBA's roles. Klein stated that one of the goals of the HBA is promotion of businesses in the City. He also stated that the HBA has done part of their promotional goal by creating the HBA website and will continue to work towards other ways of promoting businesses. Klein asked about the cable access show. Nate Ehalt, the Administrative Intern, gave and update on the training that is being done to help create the cable access show. Granger asked who makes the decision on what goes on the show. Miron stated that is important and we will need to think about who will be making the decisions. Bever made a motion, seconded by Granger, to have staff work on the dates of completion and a work plan for the marketing strategy for the July EDA meeting All aye. Motion Carried. HIGHWAY 61 EXPANSION PLANS Staff presented the preliminary plans for the expansion of Highway 61 to show how it could effect development along the highway. The EDA reviewed the plans. CD Director presented the plans to the EDA and concentrated on the downtown area. He stated that there is going to right in and right out accesses because of the median planed for the expansion. There is federal funding for the project that the City will be applying for. DISCUSSION ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT & TIF DISTRICT Staff has met with multiple property owners within the TIF District about the redevelopment of their properties. Staff gave an update to the EDA on the meetings with the property owners. CD Director stated that there are vacant buildings in the downtown area and staff has been in contact with the property owners in the downtown area to discuss redevelopment. There has not been a lot of action for redevelopment projects but there has been interest. UPDATE ON NOR LAKES AND DISCUSSION WITH JOHN GOHMANN The Mayor and the CD Director had a conference call with John Gohmann to discuss the rail line in the Bald Eagle Industrial Park. The Mayor gave an update at the meeting on the discussion. Miron stated that it went well and that John Gohmann will keep in contact with the City. DISCUSSION ON 2008 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Staff provided background for the next Comprehensive Plan Public Workshop on land use. Attached were the revised goals from the last workshop and the June Comprehensive Plan Newsletter. HBA UPDATE Klein gave an update that HBA is looking for committee volunteers to help with the operation of the association. Attached was a description of the committees that need help. If anyone is interested please contact the HBA. ADJOURNMENT Klein made motion, Bever seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 am All aye. Motion carried.