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Home My WebLink About1999 [12] Dec 14Official Minutes- EDA Board Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Economic Development Authority for the City of St. Joseph met in a joint sessiUII.wltl~thP~pmm,tn;tiPe Partnership (HCP} on Tuesday, December L4r I494 atC~O p.m. in the Haehn Center, Room 25. Present: Chair Kenneth J. Hiemenz. EDA Board Members Ross Rieke, Mike Deutz, and Bruce Gohman. EDA Director Chad A. Carlson. HCP Members Cory Ehlert, Franz Kitzburger, Ellen Wahlstrom, Jim Graeve, Sister Phyllis Flantenberg, Mary Nieden€uer, Sister Mirium Ardolf. Otkers.Present~ CariSchmidt,_City C1erkLAdminictrator nn Bj~_k_e>Jnhn Kalic~ewski,KazLSamprand Janna King. Pro¢ram John Kaliszewski, Initiative Foundation, opened the program by defining the Initiative Foundation's role with the Healthy Communities Partnership: The-Initiative Foundation targeted I3 commumities within the regional boundaries to assist with community and economic development interests. The Initiative Foundation will provide_technical accictancP itiths fomiof loans,. fintraining_l~ngl'amc and_other events to better communities through community participation. Kaliszewski introduced Janna King as the facilitator for the planning session. King introduced herself as the former president of the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership and_former ~hamher of C'nm~P Direct,~r ln_a-Teas Cnm_ m~m_ity_ Shehas be~aprivate Cnncultan for the past six years. Introductions of those present followed. King passed out two sheets of paper, blue and white, and requested the participants to address the following issues in writing: White: Concerns about community and economic development within the City of St. Joseph. Blue: nnc c andoppnttlmi i .c for community andeconomic development irLSt_Joseph The participants were given ten minutes to complete the exercise. King provided an overview on how economic and community development work hand in hand with each other. Community and economic development are interdependent and mutually supportive and require a balance for community vitality and growth. Community Development Goals: 1} Infract,-~,cmreneeds_(i.e<.waterandSewer) 2) Quality workforce 3) Healthcare services 4) Recreational opportunities 5) Environrt~ental protection 6) Housing needs Economic Development Goals; 1) Impott new wealth and service for the community 2) Focus orrretetttionre~cn. n~ cis anti attra 'nn o£business 3) supports community development through increasing local tax base 4) Reduce poverty, crime and local dependence on public resources King stated that businesses provided a high level of tax base for corrtmunities. Economic development balances the quality of life and the financial ledger for a community. Deutz stated that businesses typically don't demand the amount of service communities offer compared to residents and nop-taxed entities. The City has a unique situation by having the College of St. the Monastery witliin the city Limits. The City provides a great deal of services to these organizations. However, the business and residential community pays for the services. Is there a balance that can be gained- by negetiatirtg afee- or tnx structure that has-the College of St. Benedict andthe Menasterypay-their share? Benedict and King stated that State Law exempts educational organizations from paying local and state property taxes. The-Legislature would have to- change the law. Typically, communities establi~lr enterprise funds to- pay for extension of services and utilities. Ardolf stated that the College and Monastery have their own water system, but are connected to the City's waste water system. The College of St. Benedict does pay assessments on utilities when a project benefits their property. Wahlstrom stated that in many cases economic and community development has worked well together for the betternLe_nr_ of the cnmmun;ry. The. f'nl lege of SL Benedict andthe. Monastery need. to l~ part of the planning process and not considered a burden by the community. Rieke stated that St. Joseph has a better balance of economic and community development now then even a few years ago. The community cannot adhere to the concept that St. Joseph is a bedroom community to the St. Cloud Metro Area, even though a majority of the residents don't work in the community. King questioned the City's tax structure and if the city residents aze carrying the tax burden for the community_ Hiemen~stated_that_theca~enttax_~t_ructLeisfairtothe_cityresidents.. The premise of the EDA is to increase the economic tax base in the community and lessen the burden on the community residents. Ehlert question what ratio of business to residential needs to exist for a community similaz to St. Joseph. King stated that each community needs to figure out their needs for both community and economic development and determine ardesired ba lansP A )xeakeven point maybe 113. of the tax base from_ business in one community and 1/2 in another. Each community has to determine this and have a realistic expectation for heir community. If unrealistic goals are set in economic development, everyone fails. King referenced a study completed by a Twin Cities suburb. The study indicated that a home in the community needed to- be valued at $140;000-for the city to- gain enough taxes on the property to cover the services it demanded. Cazlson explained that the EDA office completed a similaz study on the latest addition in the Pond View development. Carlson stated that the homes needed to have a mazket value of $97,000 to cover the cost of City service. Hiprr-enz concurred and stated that the City needs to encourage higher-end developments to ensure the City i~ not subsidizing the development. Kaliszewski presented the responses by the participants regarding the group's concerns of economic and eomrnunity development in the_ City of St_ Joseph_ Same presented_the responses by the parr;cipanrc regarding the group's hopes and opportunities for economic and community development in the City of St. Joseph. King requested the group to formalize themes from the responses to the questions. The fallowing themes were formalized: • Sense of Place -use zoni~ erdinances_andaesthetically n1~ac_in~design standards • Healthy Downtown -create downtown as an attraction and build on the assets (i.e. College of St. Benedict) • Successful Business Park -mazket and sell to businesses being consistent with community values • Creating Successful Community Partnerships • Maintain_ and enhance open space, green corridors-and trails. • Promote High tech -Low Impact Industry {update to local phone system) • Recreational Opportunities for All Ages • Mobilize Afts and Cultural Opportunities • Open Lines o€ Ceication wit>~ the Community -enhance working together and trust of community leaders and projects • Utilize YoutL as Resources • Balagee Economic Development and Community Development • Balance Tax Base (residential vs. business) • Family and Resident Friendly Community King requested that the group-think of how tfr take the themes to- the next level to- accomplish what has been identified. Carlson stated that he would. begin. attending the HCP meetings. ~ a regular basis. as staff from--the EDA to offer technical assistance to the HCP, providing a line of communication between the EDA and HCP. Graeve suggested that the EDA and HCP meet quarterly or semi-annually to discuss issues and projects. Accomplishing ~ communication link between the two groups. Ehlert suggested that a committee be formed to address the phone system. 5t. Joseph needs to stay on top o€ the technology world; whiek wili allow the City to- be "wired" fer the next generation. Contact needs. to be made with USWest. King stated that a common theme was to create a commerce corridor between Highway #75 and the Minnesota Street (Downtown). The HCP and EDA may want to start with an agenda addressing this common issue. Niedenfuer added that the City must not lose sight of the cultural assets the community has to offer. Ehlert stated that the City needs to get new leadership involved with projects in the community. The HCP and EDA need to encourage new citizen participation in government and planning. Ehlert added that the City Council and other organizations need to work together for the common good and regain the trust of the community. Ehlert -cited the recent failure of the Event Center vote as an example were the community could have been more involved. Icing suggested that follow-up needs to occur regarding the events that took place this evening. King offered to facilitate an action step meeting in January involving the EDA and HCP. Agenda and time will be determined at a later date. Ad jgutanment The Joint meeting of the EDA and HCP adjourned by consensus at 9:00 p.m, .- ~ _.._. had A. Carlson Economic Development Director