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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 [08] Aug 09Official Minutes- EDA Board Pursuant to due salt and notice thereof, the);eononric Development Authority for the City o€ St. Joseph-met in regular session on Wednesday, August 9, 2000 at 8:00 a.m, in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Presents -Chair Kenneth J. TIiemenz. Board Members Ken Twit, Mike Deutz, Ross Rieke, and Bruce Gohman. Absent: EDA Director Chad A. Carlson. Others Present: City Administrator Cari Schmidt Schmidt stated that Carlson had an accident and would not be present for the meeting. She will be taking the minutes. New $usiness -~--- A. 2001 Bud eg t Proposal - Hiemenz state that Carlson's budget had approximately a 4.5% increase. Twit added that most of the increases is in salaries and that isn't really a controllable cost. Hiemenz state that line items 131 and 151 will depend on contract negotiations. There was some discussion surrounding the map/brochwe in the category of professional services and whether or not that should be under advertising instead. The Board expressed concern at the $7,500 expenditure and wanted to know if that is would cost every year. Deutz expressed some concern over whether Carlson should be working with the Planning Commission and taking their minutes. He said he didn't remember the Board directing him to do that. Gohman agreed and stated that Carlson is doing a different position that when he started three years ago. Hiemenz sated that the duties were spread out after the former administrator left. Hiemenz stated that he wanted to bring this item up. Carlson is doing a different job than what is reflected in his job description. Theposition needs to-be re-evaluated and a new description written. This will most likely mean an increase in salary. The Board also discussed whether it was necessary to identify funds in the budget for a web site. Schmidt stated that the City has allocated funds for a web site as well so that this could be a joint budget item. Gohman. asked if the. $1,000 that is in the budget now would be enough. for that. Schmidt didn't know. Schmidt stated that Carlson would not be present for the budget meeting tonight. Hiemenz suggested that the Board allow the Council to make the final changes to it. Deutz made a motion to allow the Council to make the final changes to the budget as long as it doesn't increase by more than S%, Seconded by Rieke. The motion passed unanimously. B. Affordable Housi~ Task Force Final Report - Hierxenz suggested that the Board table-this item until Carlson was present to discuss it. Hiemenz stated that the main recommendation of the report is that communities begin having starter homes and affordable homes mixed into other neighborhoods. Deutz expressed some concerns about St. Joseph becoming an affordable housing Mecca. Twit stated that he thinks St. Josepl} already has met its quota for affordable housing with the HRA units, the town houses on the south side of Baker Street and the twelve units in Hallow Park. Gohman stated that the median household in the Twin Cities is $149;000 right now and wondered what it is in St. Joseph. One member suggested that apartments will be the answer to the affordable housing dilemma in St. Joseph. Rieke stated that patio homes might also be the solution. Hiemenz made a motion to table the report, seconded by Deutz. The motion passed unanimously. C. St. Cloud Economic Development Partnership -Business Services Committee -Bruce Gohman - Gohmanreported that Carlson asked him to speak about this item. The Business Services Committee is one of several committees in the Partnership. The Business Services Committee (BSC) began about a year and half ago. Gohman is a board member and a member of the BSC. The committee meets once a month. One of their main projects was to select a marketing group for the Partnership. They hired Russel Herder, out of Duluth. Gohman stated that they are a very polished operation but one that is also very down to earth. They are able to relate to the St. Cloud Market, as well as be competitive on a larger scale. The priorities o€ the BSC have changed from what the Partnership has focused on in the. past. Their priorities are as follows: retention 25%, infrastructure 15°/a, research 50% and recruitment 10%. The large percentage of research is to help them get started. They are hoping to co- partner with other organizations and better utilize the educational facilities in the area. 1n the past, recruitment was at 25-30% and expansion and retention at 35%. Another aspect of the research will focus on training. Many people are underemployed and need to re-trained. This research will focus on how best to help them. Gohnran reported that they arealso looking- at putting together a high tech web site. Russel Herder was instrumental in recent name change and logo changes for die Partnership. Twit stated that he thinks Carlson was looking for some direction on whether or not to continue with the Partnership. He indicated that Carlson has stated over and over what a valuable organization it is for our community. Rieke state that there is a small contingent on the Council thought, that would like to see this relationship/support abolished. Gohman stated that the Partnership is a valuable organization. They have not raised their dues in over ten years. This has been due in part to the fact that a lot of new members have joined. Twat made a motion that the Board continue its support and membership in the Partnership, seconded by Rieke. The motion passed unanimously. Other Items A. Ptpproval of June 14, 200E} Minutes - Gohman made a motion to approve the minutes of June 14, 2000 meeting, seconded by Rieke. The motion passed unanimously. B. County Road 133 Construction Update - Hiemenz reported that County Road #133 construction has begun. they are starting at both ands: St. Joseph and Sartell. Hiemenz also reported that he quashed a rumor from a resident in Northland that heard that 133 was going to connect with Gumtree and become a county road. He assured him that this was not the case. C. Project Summary Report - Hiemenz stated that there was a list of potential businesses in the packet. None of the Board members has any questions or comments on the list. D. Abbott Northwestern letter Hiemenz stated that there was also a letter from Abbott Northwestern in the packet. Carlson is looking for someone to attend the open house. Rieke stated that he may attend, but it doesn't seem too important. Gohman added that they send those invitations to everyone. Public Comments to the Aganda. Theme were none. Adjourn - Gohrr~an made a motion to adjourn at 9:10 am, seconded by Twit. The motion passed unanimously. ~~ ~ Cari Schmidt ~ City Administrator