HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 [05] May 195-19-04
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CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Present: EDA Board Chairperson Ross Rieke, Board Members Mike Deutz and Tom Skahen.
Absent: EDA Board Members Bruce Gohman and Larry Hosch.
Also present: Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal Development Group.
Chairperson Rieke called the regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:12 p.m.
Agenda.
Moved by Deutz seconded by Skahen to approve the agenda with the deletion of item 3(b) "Approval of
April 28th Joint EDA/CC Minutes" Motion carried 3-0.
Minutes.
The minutes from the April 21, 2004 Regular EDA meeting were discussed. The date of the joint EDA/CC
meeting was inadvertently represented in the meeting minutes as May 28th rather than April 28tH
Moved by Skahen seconded by Deutz to approve the minutes from the regular EDA meeting held April
21, 2004 subject to a change in the joint meeting date referenced from May 28th to April 28th. Motion
carried 3-0.
EDA Accounts Payable.
Strack provided an overview of accounts payable.
Motion by Deutz, second by Skahen to approve EDA accounts payable in the amount of $2,206.89.
Motion carried 3-0.
Financial Report
Strack provided an overview of the EDA Fund Balance, Revenue, Expenditure and Check Legder reports
for the month of April. The EDA financial report was briefly reviewed.
Moved by Deutz, seconded by Skahen to approve the financial report. Motion carried 3-0.
Future Industrial Park.
Strack provided an overview of the contact that has been on-going with representatives from the Feld
property and updated the Board on a meeting with a perspective developer on April 30th and contact with
another perspective developer initiated by MDG. Strack also indicated the City Engineer was reviewing
the possibility of looping both water and sewer utilities to a portion of the Feld Property (southeasterly) to
allow initial phasing of a project.
Strack presented information regarding discussions/meetings with representatives of the Borgert Property
and discussions with the City Engineer regarding extension of utilities to three 1.35 acre parcels south of
19th Avenue.
Marketing of Township Industrial Park.
Deutz recused himself from the EDA Board. Deutz requested the EDA reconsider allowing the disclosure
of limited information by City EDA staff regarding an industrial park located within the joint annexation
area of which he is a fee owner. Deutz requested the EDA staff initiate the transfer of information
regarding the industrial park when suitable developers contact the City. At the present time, pursuant to a
discussion at an EDA meeting in November of 2003, staff acknowledge the presence of the park if a
perspective developer broaches the subject.
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Skahen indicated he did not see a problem with sharing information regarding the township industrial
park, but did recognize a wide difference between the phase "marketing the park" and simply referring
leads to the property owner(s).
Rieke recognized that the volume of lots available has changed in recent months and he expressed a
desire to not turn potential developers away due to lack of available lots. He also indicated a desire to
further explore the issue in that some things will likely fit while others may not.
Staff suggested further defining the specifics of referrals, for example, if/when information regarding the
park should be voluntarily disclosed and what specific, defined actions the property owner(s) were
requesting.
Following additional discussion the issue was tabled until the next EDA meeting due to the lack of a
voting quorum following Deutzs' recusal.
Development of Community Identity
Strack indicated that in light of discussion regarding the promotion of Downtown St. Joseph in conjunction
with the extension of CSAH 3 and further determination of a southern collector street, EDA staff prepared
information regarding the promotion of a sense of place/ identity within the Downtown. Strack reported
various methods of promoting the sense of place were/have been discussed in the past, but action had
not materials. Staff wished to discuss the issue of community identity with the EDA to determine what, if
anything the EDA could/should do to further the subject.
Rieke indicated the concept of community identity sounded great, but he was concerned about fiscal
priorities and allocation of staff time to other projects. Skahen recognized the presence of the College of
St. Benedict in the Downtown's identity comparing it to Dinkytown in Minneapolis near the University of
Minnesota. Skahen further indicated he was not sure where Downtown began or ended.
The EDA further discussed previous efforts and possible means of gaining additional input from area
residents regarding what came to mind when they thought of "Downtown St. Joseph." The availability of
parcels and resources to assist projects within the Downtown were also discussed.
Following additional discussion the EDA recommended other committees/commissions drive efforts to
further define a Downtown identity at this time.
Prospect List/Activity Report.
A report outlining communication with various contacts was included in the EDA's packet.
Board Member Announcements.
None.
Adjournment
Motion by Deutz, seconded by S hen to adjourn. Motion carried 3 - 0. Meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
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