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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009.10.12 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF OCTOBER 12, 2009 EDA Vice President Phil Klein called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. PRESENT: Jan Arcand, Jim Bever, Mike Granger Phil Klein, Brian Thistle and Fran Miron ABSENT: Tom Denaway CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Administrator Mike Ericson, Community Development Director Bryan Bear, Associate Planner Rachel Simone, and Shayla Syverson, Economic Development / Parks Intern APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 Arcand made motion, Granger seconded, to approve the minutes for the EDA meeting of September 14, 2009. All ayes. Motion carried. P.A.W.S. PET HOSPITAL The plans for PAWS Pet Hospital were approved on July 20, 2009. They are currently in the process of building the new pet hospital and it is planned to open this winter. Matt and Michele Beck, owners of PAWS Pet Hospital were present at the meeting to give a background of the business. They stated that everything is going as planned for the construction of the building. Matt Beck asked when the trail along the south side of County Road 8 would be constructed and mentioned having a business to consumer group meeting. Miron stated that he would like to see both on the EDA goals for 2010. The EDA welcomed PAWS Pet Hospital as a new business in the City of Hugo. HUGO FAIRVIEW PHARMACY Fairview Pharmacy opened in Hugo on September 14, 2009. They are located in the building at the south west corner of County Road 8 and Victor Hugo Boulevard in the Victor Gardens South Village retail center. They share the building with Fairview Clinic, Institute for Athletic Medicine, and Northern Lights Pediatric. Kate Ras, the pharmacist at the Hugo location, was present at the meeting to give a background of the business. The EDA welcomed Fairview Pharmacy as a new business in the City of Hugo. DISCUSSION ON CITY WIDE WIFI INTERNET The City has received an email from the property owner that lives in rural Hugo. The resident stated that he has dial-up internet, but it was very slow. He was wondering if the City has looked into providing City wide wireless internet. He wanted to address the City on this issue and staff felt that the EDA was the best group to start the conversation with. Doug Blanchard, resident of Hugo, was present at the meeting to talk about City wide wireless internet and to listen to the EDA discussion. Mr. Blanchard stated that has researched other internet providers for an alternative to dial-up internet and they are too expensive. He does not know if the City wide wireless internet is the right answer for Hugo since the rural area is spread so far out and it may be expensive to cover the entire City. The CD Director stated that we have received inquiries about spotty internet service and staff may be able to contact Quest about where they actually provide service in Hugo. Miron stated that we should provide internet options to the residents and businesses of Hugo. Miron made a motion, seconded by Granger, to direct staff to do research on City Wide internet coverage and work with Doug to locate a private service company for him. He also stated that this should be on the EDA goals for 2010. All ayes. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON NORTHERN GATEWAY / MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT Staff discussed with the EDA what the Comprehensive Plan says about properties that are guided mixed use, which is a mixture of residential and commercial uses. Staff provided the EDA with examples of what the City has done in the past and what other cities have done for mixed use projects. Staff recommended that the EDA discuss both topics and make a recommendation to the City Council to hold a workshop that will include the Council, Planning Commission, and EDA to discuss plans for mixed use areas and the northern gateway. Staff made a presentation on the projects in Hugo that were mixed use and provided examples from other cities. Bever asked about mass transit along Highway 61 and was wondering if there was going to be a transit hub in Hugo. The CD Director stated that there are not any planned at this time, but if the Council would like they could identify areas that it would be appropriate. Miron made a motion, seconded by Klein, to hold a joint workshop on the mixed use areas and the northern gateway and to also talk about transit in Hugo. All ayes. Motion carried. DISCUSSION ON DOWNTOWN PROMOTIONS The TIF District is now in the process of being certified. Staff discussed downtown promotion ideas for encouraging development in the downtown area. The City Administrator was at a conference and wanted to share the ideas that were presented there with the EDA. One of the ideas was engaging banks and realtors in the redevelopment process. Miron stated that maybe we invite the banks and realtors to the workshop on the mixed use areas. Granger made a motion, seconded by Bever, to table the issue until after the mixed use area workshop. All ayes. Motion carried. UPDATE ON BR&E PROGRAM The Economic Development / Parks Intern gave an update in the BR&E Program. The task force consists of 48 members and they are planning on visiting 60-70 businesses. After the first round of businesses are visited and surveyed, the warning flag meetings will start so staff can get back to the businesses on the resources that they have requested. ADJOURNMENT Granger made a motion, seconded by Klein, to adjourn at 10:50 am. All Ayes, Motion Carried.