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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008.01.22 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JANUARY 22, 2008 EDA President Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. PRESENT: Jim Bever, Tom Denaway, Phil Klein, and Fran Miron ABSENT: Jan Arcand, Mike Granger, and Brian Thistle CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, Associate Planner Rachel Simone APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2007 Thistle made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of December 17, 2007. All aye. Motion carried. UPDATE ON FINANCE AND COMMERCE PROJECT SHOWCASE Staff has been working with the Finance and Commerce newspaper over the past couple months to do a project showcase article in their Thursday, real estate edition of the paper on Hugo downtown redevelopment. Staff updated the EDA on the progress. The article is planned to be printed in the Thursday, January 31, 2008 edition of the paper. 2007 EDA ANNUAL REPORT Staff has the final copies of the 2007 EDA Annual Report complete. Copies will be available at City Hall and on the website. There will be extra copies printed if EDA members would like to take some with them. Staff updated the EDA on the distribution process. Bever made a motion, seconded by Klein, to approve the 2007 EDA annual report and post on the City website. All aye motion carried. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Staff updated the EDA on the downtown redevelopment projects going on in the City. Carpenters Restaurant is still working towards a site plan and TIF application to the redevelopment of the restaurant. DK Dockendorf is working towards a site plan and TIF application for the redevelopment of the former End Zone site. Miron stated that the City should look into a comprehensive storm water system plan for the downtown area. CD Director stated that staff will look into it and that Rice Creek Watershed District has a grant program for plans of that type. UPDATE ON 2008 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN On January 10, 2008 the City Council and Planning Commission held a workshop on the 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Staff updated the EDA on the workshop and attached the Economic Development section of the plan and the implementation plan to the EDA packet. CD Director explained that some proposed industrial land was taken out in the newly proposed land use plan. EDA had previously added additional industrial land to the plan at an earlier meeting, but at the January 10, 2008 workshop the industrial land as changed to medium density residential. The EDA agreed with the change although they still want industrial land in the northern portion of Hugo. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION RESEARCH PROGRAM Staff met with Liz Templin, from U of M extension services, on the Business Retention and Expansion Research Program they offer to communities. Staff updated the EDA on the meeting and requested feedback from the EDA on the program. Staff attached a packet that describes the program objectives. CD Director stated that although this is a good program for the City it is extensive and will take a lot of staff time to accomplish. Staff time would be around 20 hours per week. The City may want to use this program in the future. Bever stated that the EDA members and with partnering with the HBA we may be able to do some of this work on our own with a subcommittee. DISCUSSION ON EDA GOAL SETTING FOR 2008 Attached were the EDA and City Council 2007 goals for the City. On January 28, 2008 there will be a City Council workshop to establish the 2008 City goals. Staff asked the EDA to discuss what they see as important goals for the City in 2008. Below are the 2008 goals that were recommended to the Council by the EDA at the meeting: 1. Create Business Retention and Expansion Subcommittee of the EDA • Work with U of M or others on BR&E research program • On-going site visits • Continue collaboration with HBA • Continue participation in events. (groundbreaking, ribbon -cutting ceremonies) 2. Continue working on downtown redevelopment projects • Certify the TIF District • Partner on initial project to begin in 2008 • Coordinate public infrastructure o Stormwater management planning & funding o Traffic improvements (signals, Hwy 61) o Trail and sidewalk improvements 3. Establish quality commercial development • Focus on gateways • Create design guidelines • Collaborate with the Planning Commission • Review development policies and incentives within the approval process 4. Continue implementation of the EDA marketing plan • Continue to update the marketing plan • Updating City website • Continuation of the City's cable access show Klein made a motion, seconded by Bever, to recommend the 2008 goals to the City Council. Denaway amended the motion, seconded by Bever, to include input from the other absent EDA members. All aye motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Denaway made motion, Klein seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 am All aye. Motion carried.