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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 [09] Sep 24CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Present: EDA Board Members Carolyn Yaggie-Heinen, Ken Jacobson, AI Rassier, Tom Skahen and Dale Wick. Absent: None. Also present: St. Joseph resident Michael McDonald and EDA Consultant Cynthia Smith -Strack of Municipal Development Group. Chairperson Wick called the September 24, 2008 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:03 p. m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda. No changes were requested. Moved by Skahen, seconded by Heinen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the August 27, 2008 regular meeting. Motion by Rassier, second by Wick to approve the minutes from the August 27, 2008 regular meeting. Motion carried 5-0. EDA Accounts Payable. Wick introduced the topic. Wick noted accounts payable for the month which totaled $3,631.29 for contracted services and two separate drafting projects completed by Matthew Hall Lumber. Jacobson asked Board Members whether or not they thought the drawings from Matthew Hall Lumber for the Dehler and Bo Diddley's structures were effective. Board Members agreed the line drawings of potential facade enhancements were beneficial for several reasons. Benefits included available images for potential purchasers of the Dehler Building, drawings to take to other downtown property owners illustrating what EDA is willing to do for them, and ability to use concepts when marketing EDA projects. Wick noted additional discussion would be appropriate later in the meeting under agenda item 5(c). Motion by Heinen, second by Rassier to approve the EDA accounts payable for the month of September 2008 in the amount of $3, 631.29. Motion carried 5-0. Financial Report. Wick introduced the agenda item. Wick noted the packet included financial reports. Strack referenced the Treasurer's Report which illustrated year to date expenses of $24,401.01 and a current fund balance of $32,981.15. Motion Wick, Second Skahen to approve the August 2008 financial reports as presented. Motion carried 5-0. Progress Report on 2008 EDA Goals Wick introduced the agenda item noting he felt since year more than half over this would be a good time to check on progress on goals. Discussion on the following goals occurred: 1. Proactive participation with the Planning Commission, Park Board and City Council in preparing for the County's construction of the CSAH 2 to CSAH 3 roadway segment in 2009. Proactive participation lead by fhe EDA may include, but is not limited to, discussions of the timing of extension of collector roadways and municipal utilities for servicing future commercial~ndustrial areas within the general area of the new roadway. Wick noted the following progress: The concept was discussed at a City Council/Department Head/Consultant meeting on behalf of the EDA in February; the concept of proactive extension has been included in the updated economic development section of the Comprehensive Plan; the concept of proactively extending utilities and collector roadway is included in the EDA CIP request approved at the July meeting; and, the topic has been discussed at numerous department head meetings. 2. Examine how to proactively market St. Joseph opportunities within greater Minnesota. Wick noted a great deal of information has been added to the City's website. He suggested encouraging referrals/outreach by existing St. Joseph business owners to those potentially considering locating in the City. Wick also suggested marketing of the Parkway Business Center to specialized market niches similar to the medial district Bartell has developed. 3. Proactively participate in activities espoused by the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership. Wick noted sales information is listed on the SCAEDP website. In addition Wick noted he is the St. Joseph representative to the SCAEDP and attends monthly and governing body meetings. 4. Host listening/working sessions with business owners regarding opportunities provided by or available through the EDA. Wick noted copies of downtown design guidelines were mailed to all downtown business owners and information on the BFA grant program was included in the March 22"d edition of the city newsletter and mailed to all business owners in late March. The downtown revitalization project was redirected into a series of meetings with local property owners in a 'design team' type arrangement. 5. Examine and advise the Planning Commission and City Council regarding future neighborhood commercial nodes adjacent to higher traffic intersections (i.e. intersections of collector and/or arterial streets) primarily servicing residential areas (e. g. near new school and adjacent to 20th Avenue). Wick noted this goal is being addressed through the Comprehensive Plan Update process and the EDA had discussed land use goals/policies and reviewed proposed future land use concepts at the March, April, May, and June EDA meetings. 6. Examine the feasibility of removing impediments to renewal efforts within aging portions of the CSAH 75 corridor. Wick noted this goal has been a lower priority since interest in such a project is not well- formed. The EDA suggested tying this goal in with goals number four and seven. EDA Minutes -September 24, 2008 2 7. Examine the potential economic impact of a four-year residency requirement at CSB/SJU and function as information resource regarding economic impact of four-year residency. Work with City leaders and administration to form a study group whose purpose is twofold. First, the study group could establish to the besf of their ability factual information regarding afour--year residency requirement and distribute such information to decision makers and the public. In addition the study group would encourage vibrant dialogue and provide a mechanism for sharing information between decision-makers and stakeholders. Wick noted this goal was discussed at a City Council/Department Head/Consultant meeting on behalf of the EDA in February of this year. The City Council indicated this would/could be a priority, if/when confirmation of residency requirement was obtained. Additional discussion of the item will be forthcoming later in this meeting. 8. Participate in updating of the Comprehensive Plan. Wick noted the EDA has reviewed draft Comprehensive Plan elements in March, April, May, and June. Conversion of Student Rentals Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack updated the EDA on the progress toward afour-year on- campus residency requirement beginning with freshman in 2010 (class of 2014). The draft housing chapter of the St. Joseph Comprehensive Plan Update establishes a policy supporting the redevelopment/re-use of detached single-family student rental units likely to become vacant upon implementation of residency requirements. Strack stated the following entities were contacted regarding project partnership and/or project advice: MHFA -Central Region Homeownership Contact, University of MN. Humphrey Institute Center For Urban and Regional Affairs (CUBA) regarding Community Assistantship Program (CAP) and economic impact study, Stearns County HRA, DEED: Redevelopment grant and SCDP, and Central Minnesota Community Land Trust (Central Minnesota Housing Partnership). Specific discussion was held regarding an economic impact study for change in residency requirement, overall leadership of the project, potential us changes (i.e. convert to owner occupied homes, convert to MF or senior housing options, convert to public uses, convert to business/commercial uses), potential project partners, and potential financial resources. The EDA supports an economic impact study and requested Strack contact St. Cloud State University, Dept. of Economics and CUBA regarding the conducting of such a study. In addition the EDA identified the following potential partners: City, EDA, College/University, MHFA, Stearns County HRA, Central Minnesota Community Land Trust, the local renter's association, and SCAEDP. EDA Board Members agreed the EDA should spearhead the project. McDonald suggested researching funding participation from College/University, and Rassier suggested researching the issue to see how other communities have approached it in the past. Downtown Design Visits Wick introduced the agenda item noting the EDA had some discussion on the issue earlier in the meeting. He noted the issue at hand was whether or not to continue `design team' visits with other property owners within the Downtown. General consensus was the resulting drawings were beneficial. Wick requested cost estimates be obtained from Matthew Hall Lumber. Heinen suggested such estimates be made for low, medium, and high end materials. The Board directed Strack to contact two additional property owners regarding interest in such a visit. EDA Minutes -September 24, 2008 3 Parkway Business Center Update Wick introduced the topic. Strack noted the City agreed to issue an assessment bond for installation of improvements providing the Developer submit a letter of credit as per City policy. In addition, the Developer's are still interested in a marketing agreement with the EDA for the property. The Developer's attorney is awaiting perForma analysis from the property owners relating to cost per acre. Once that information is available and the assessments per lot or acre are determined we will further discuss a marketing agreement Article in Press Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted she had received comments from local commercial property owners disheartened by a recent newspaper article. The comments alluded to an environment that is not conducive to commercial or industrial development. The Board discussed the item and noted if those commenting to Strack would like to further contact the EDA they were more than welcomed to do so. Director's Report Strack distributed the regular monthly report. Board Member Reports Board Member Jacobson advised the EDA that the Lumberjacks Hockey Team, owned by John Hall from Matthew Hall Lumber had sponsorship opportunities available. Strack noted a conservation design seminar was scheduled for Monday, October 20'h from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The EDA members were invited to the seminar at the Gorecki Theater at the College of St. Benedict. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 4:15 PM. ~~a~~~ ~~ EDA Minutes -September 24, 2008