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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012.04.09 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF APRIL 9, 2012 Miron called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. PRESENT: Arcand, Bever, Denaway, Klein, Puleo, and Miron ABSENT: Graff STAFF: Bryan Bear, City Administrator Rachel Juba, Planner APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF MARCH 12, 2012 Arcand made motion, Klein seconded, to approve minutes for the EDA meeting of March 12, 2012 All aye. Motion carried. XCEL ENERGY INC. Xcel Energy Inc., received site plan approval from the City Council for a 20,000 square foot training center on April 2, 2012. Construction is planned to start in May. Lynn Patzner from Xcel Energy Inc., was present at the meeting to talk about the project and Xcel's economic development efforts. Ms. Patzner gave a background of Xcel Energy Inc. She stated that they serve 8 states and are headquartered in Minneapolis. They are the number one wind energy provider and number seven for solar capacity. They have several green and clean energy programs available. She talked about the gas and electric training facility that received site plan approval from the City. There will be approximately 1,000 journeymen and apprentices trained at the Hugo facility each year. Xcel Energy believes that number will grow 10% by 2015. She stated that Xcel Energy will provide recommendations to the trainees on what is available in Hugo for services. Miron asked how the approval process was in Hugo and if Ms. Patzner felt that Hugo was business friendly. She stated that the City has extremely business friendly and worked with the Xcel Energy staff on revisions that were made throughout the process. There were no surprises was they went through the process. Denaway asked how Hugo's approval process compared to other cities they have worked with. She stated that Hugo had less fees associated with development, such as landscape escrow and park dedication. Ms. Patzner stated that Xcel Energy is planning a public open house once the facility is built. The EDA welcomed Xcel Energy as a new business in the community. UPDATE IN 2012 ROAD PROJECTS / INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS Staff presented the 2012 road projects and infrastructure improvements to the EDA. There are City, County, and State road projects going on in Hugo over the summer months. Lake Air Estates and Bald Eagle Estates neighborhoods will be part of a street reconstruction project. CSAH 8 west of Goodview Avenue to Highway 61 will be reconstructed. Highway 61 will part of a mill and overlay project by MnDOT. There are other projects that will be going through the design phase this year and will be constructed in 2013. DISCUSSION ON BUSINESS REGULATIONS AND INCENTIVES There have been several ordinances, policies, and programs implemented in the City over the last couple years to help Hugo become a more business friendly community. At the meeting staff provided a summary of the business regulations and items that effect businesses. The City continues to revise and create ordinances. The EDA agreed that the City is doing a good job with business friendly regulations. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Staff updated the EDA on downtown redevelopment and other happening in Hugo. National Recycling Inc. (NRI) has completed its new location in Cambridge and will be having an open house on April 261h At the May 2012 EDA meeting staff will have an item on the agenda for discussion on the purchase agreement for the City owned property. The agreement expires June 6, 2012. ADJOURNMENT Klein made a motion, seconded by Puleo, to adjourn at 10:55 am. All aye. Motion carried.