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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013.07.09 EDA MinutesMINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JULY 9, 2013 Klein called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. PRESENT: Arcand, Denaway, Gallivan, Klein, and Puleo ABSENT: Bever and Weidt STAFF: Bryan Bear, City Administrator Rachel Juba, Planner APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JUNE 11, 2013 Arcand made motion, Puleo seconded, to approve minutes for the EDA meeting of June 11, 2013. All ayes. Motion carried. DISCUSSION ON MARKETING CITY OWNED PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN At its June 11, 2013, meeting the EDA discussed options for marketing of the City owned property in downtown. The EDA discussed options such as, request for proposals (RFP), continue working with FBF, LLC, contact other commercial realtors, and creating a marketing packet. The EDA agreed that they needed some time to think about the marketing options and wanted to discuss it at the July 9, 2013, meeting. Staff has included in the packet the RFP that was use for marketing the City owned property in the Bald Eagle Industrial Park (BEIP). Since then the City closed on a portion of the former Carpenters property, the other portion has a title issue and the City plans for close on it in the next 3-6 months. Staff recommended the EDA discuss the marketing of the City owned property in downtown and provide staff with direction on how they would like to move forward. Arcand stated that the marketing of the City owned properties needs a new approach. Staff stated that the Maxfield Research Inc. Market Study for downtown is planned to be updated with the LCDA Grant from the Met Council. Staff has meet with representatives from Maxfield and expects a proposal for the update by the next EDA meeting. Denaway stated that he liked the agreement we had with FBF, LLC, but would like to open it up to other commercial realtors. He stated he is not sure what the RFQ would look like, but the EDA could discuss certain desired qualifications. Bryan Bear stated that the RFQ would be fairly simple for staff to draft and it would include qualifications and the marketing process. Arcand asked staff what incentives the EDA could offer to developers in the downtown. Bryan Bear talked about the basic incentives the City already has, but stated that if the EDA wanted to do something more they could make a recommendation to the City Council. The EDA agreed that a commercial realtor would help market the City owned property in downtown. Klein made a motion, seconded by Denaway, to make a recommendation to the City Council to send out a RFQ to commercial realtors to market the City owned property in downtown. All ayes. Motion Carried. UPDATE ON WASHINGTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS Over the past few months the County has been working on hiring a consultant to help with figuring out the best ways the County can help its cities with economic development. The County sent out RFP's to several consulting firms and conducted interviews with three of them. Recently the County selected Springsted as the consultant. They will provide the County and the economic development workgroup, which includes the cities and stakeholders, with an assessment and plan/strategies through meetings and workshops. Staff will keep the EDA updated as the project moves forward and meeting/workshops are set. DISCUSSION ON THE CITY'S WATER CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS On June 18, 2013, the Hugo City Council held the first of several water conservation workshops. The Council agreed the main goal is to protect the City's water resource, and they outlined several possible methods to achieve this. There are some methods that relate to businesses. Staff provided an overview of these items at the meeting. They included items such as, incentives for water reuse project, water audits, and educating the public. The EDA agreed with the direction the City Council was moving in regards to water conservation. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Staff met with the bank that owns the former Ricci's restaurant site and the purchase price has been reduced. Staff continues to meet with Pete Sampair on the redevelopment of his property. ADJOURNMENT Denaway made a motion, seconded by Puleo, to adjourn at 6:20 pm. All ayes. Motion carried.