Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007.01.16 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JANUARY 16, 2007 EDA Vice President Phil Klein called the meeting to order at 9:30 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Jim Bever, Tom Denaway, Mike Granger, Phil Klein, and Fran Miron City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, Associate Planner Rachel Simone ABSENT: Brian Thistle APPROVAL OF MINUTES EDA MEETING OF DECEMBER 18, 2006 Granger made motion, Denaway seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of December 18, 2006 with the change of members absent. All aye. Motion carried. UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON TIF DISTRICT Staff has completed the necessary tests to determine if the proposed TIF District will qualify. The proposed TIF District will qualify and has met the coverage and building inspection tests as outlined in Minnesota State Statutes. Staff attached a map of the proposed TIF District. Staff has been working with the TIF Subcommittee and Springsted to develop details for the policy and application for the entire TIF District. The policy includes requirements for a development to meet before it can qualify for TIF. Attached to the packet was the draft TIF policy that was revised by the subcommittee and Paul Steinman from Springsted. The TIF application is a process by which the City can evaluate a project to see if it will qualify for TIF. The applications will be graded by completing the application review worksheet. From the evaluations of the worksheet the city will determine if the project qualifies to receive TIF and the term the project will receive. Staff has been working with the TIF Subcommittee to develop a plan for the downtown to include what the EDA would like to see in the area along Egg Lake. Staff attached a map of the area across from City Hall and along Egg Lake to help demonstrate the area we have potential to work with. The EDA discussed what kind of development they would like to see in the downtown area. The next step in the process is to schedule a public hearing at a City Council meeting within the next couple of months. This will provide the public a chance to present feedback to the City Council about the TIF District. Associate Planner stated that the tests do meet the qualifications to establish a TIF District and introduced the TIF policy to the EDA for review and comments. She stated that the policy needs to be reviewed and input from the EDA will help staff revise the policy to reflect what the EDA would like to see for the TIF district. Granger talked about the qualifications and asked what the difference between a redevelopment district is verses an economic development district. Denaway explained that an economic development district is basically used for industrial parks. The EDA evaluated the TIF application and the review worksheet for projects submitted to the City. Miron stated that the job creation and wage expectation needs to be reasonable for this area. Miron talked about the review worksheets point system in regards to the use. He stated that mixed-use should be as important as the office/commercial. Bever stated that housing should be a bit lower also. Granger and Denaway agreed with both. They want staff to look at this portion and change the point system. Denaway talked about the terms for TIF monies from the first year to the fifth. Miron talked about the properties that the City would like to redevelop and that we need to make sure we are ready to go ahead with the TIF district establishment. Associate Planner talked about the Egg Lake properties that the City owns and the redevelopment possibilities of that area. CD Director talked about the Holmgren property being in the middle of the area and that it may be an important piece to acquire if we can not work around it. CD Director asked if staff should go ahead with the establishment for the TIF district or should staff hold off for a little bit. Everyone agreed that staff should go ahead with the next steps to establishing the TIF district. Miron stated that he would like to know if there is an easement behind Carpenters Restaurant that abuts Egg Lake. CD Director stated that the first properties that he imagines would redevelop first are the Carpenters and the End Zone properties. Klein asked what steps the City needs go through now that we know our proposed district will qualify. Denaway stated that it would have to go to the City Council for a public hearing and then the City could certify the district. Granger asked if there was a time limit from the public hearing to the certification of the district. CD Director stated that the staff will check if there is a time limit between the two. Bever and Klein both asked if staff has been aggressive enough in acquiring the Egg Lake properties. CD Director stated that we have been acquiring them as they came on the market and staff has talked to all the property owners in that area. Granger stated that the City should not actively go out and offer to buy property. Granger stated that we need to get a marketing and promotional plan for the TIF district so people can see what we have to offer. Arcand stated that we need to keep our push on downtown redevelopment and make sure the City takes into consideration the expansion that could happen on Highway 61. CD director stated that staff will work on a marketing plan and that there is a working group for the expansion of Highway 61. Miron stated that on one of the next agendas the expansion of Highway 61 should be a discussion item. Bever asked if the rush line corridor would be a problem with the expansion. Granger stated that the corridor will most likely be federally funded and could be a long time from now. Miron made a motion, seconded by Denaway, to recommend the City Council to hold a public hearing for the TIF District around March 19, 2007. All aye. Motion carried. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN FOR CONCEPT CHANGE AT SOUTHWEST CORNER OF COUNTY ROAD 8 AND HIGHWAY 61 At its March 15, 2006 meeting the EDA made a recommendation to staff to look at having more office on the downtown plan for the southwest corner of County Road 8 and Highway 61. Bryan Bear has been working with Carolyn Krall from Landform to develop a new plan for the area. Staff attached a revised plan that includes office buildings and requested comments from the EDA. Staff attached the Hugo Downtown Plan and Design Guidelines for the EDA to review. Denaway asked how the new concept relates to the Maxfield study. CD Director stated that this concept that includes more office and commercial would be consistent with the study and that including some residential may still be appropriate. Bever stated that he likes that idea of more office. All EDA members were favorable of the new concept. Miron made a motion, seconded by Arcand, for staff to prepare the final version of the downtown plan to formally adopt the guidelines. All ayes. Motion carried. HUGO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION UPDATE The Hugo Business Association (HBA) launched their website in December just before the New Year. Visit the HBA website at www.hufzobusinesses.com. City Administrator, Mike Ericson, attended the HBA's January 9, 2007 meeting and updated the EDA on the City's involvement with the HBA. EDA 2007 GOALS Staff attached the EDA Goals for 2007 for the EDA to review. The EDA talked about the northern gateway being an important goal. ADJOURNMENT Klein made motion, Arcand seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 am All aye. Motion carried.