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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 [08] Aug 11CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, August 11, 2004 Present: Chairperson Ross Rieke, Board Members Larry Hosch, Tom Skahen and Bruce Gohman. Absent: None. Also present: Jeff Ramler of SafeShred and Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal Development Group. Chairperson Rieke called the regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:13 p.m. Agenda. Moved by Skahen seconded by Gohman to approve the agenda with the advancement of item 5(a) to the first agenda item following approval of the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. SafeShred Building and Site Plan. Chairperson Rieke introduced the item. The EDA complimented the business owner on the quality of materials submitted with the application for EDA consideration. Business owner Jeff Ramler was present to answer questions and provide information as requested. Strack provided an overview of the proposed project and the site review per covenants to which the EDA is a party. SafeShred is a company that contracts with clients for collection/shredding of sensitive written documents. The company purchased a 3-acre site in the Buettner Business Park and proposes the construction of a 12,800 square foot facility on Lot 2, Block 1, Buettner Business Park 2. The proposed structure includes approximately 750 S.F. of climate-controlled office space with the remaining space being used for warehousing/storage (i.e. 5,650 S.F. for the industrial shredding business with 6,400 sf reserved for future expansion of SafeShred/temporary industrial lease space). Strack referenced the report contained in the EDA packet of materials prepared for the meeting and noted the project appeared to meet the requirements of the Buettner Business Park covenants subject to the identification of materials to be employed as grass cover on the remainder of the lot. The EDA reviewed the covenant standard which requires exteriors of tip-up or cast in place concrete panels to provide "as much adornment as possible". The business owner noted more trees and shrubbery was being employed in the front yard and in viewing lines adjacent to the side yards so as to further screen the facility from the public right of way and adjacent lots. Motion by Hosch, second by Skahen to approve the site and building plan. Motion approved 4-0. The EDA welcomed business owner Ramler to the community. Minutes. Approval of the minutes from the Wednesday, July 21, 2004 EDA meeting was introduced. Motion Hosch, seconded by Skahen to approve July 21, 2004 Regular EDA minutes as presented. Motion approved 4-0. EDA Accounts Payable. Strack distributed a revised accounts payable summary which included per diem reimbursement to former EDA Member Mike Deutz who resigned in June. Strack provided an overview of the remaining accounts payable and noted banked hours owed to the City by MDG. Motion by Gohman, second by Hosch to approve EDA accounts payable in the amount of $2,228.83. Motion carried 4-0. EDA Minutes -August 11, 2004 Page 1 Financial Report Strack provided an overview of the EDA financial reports included in the information packet for the month of July and indicated first half property tax payment to City from County had been received but not yet coded to each fund. Moved by Skahen, seconded by Hosch to approve the financial report. Motion carried 4-0. 2005 Proposed Preliminary EDA Budget. Strack reported on the budget process followed by the City, including the requirement preliminary budgets be certified to the County by September 15th. Strack indicated staff had prepared a preliminary budget for the Authority (Fund 150), for TIF 1-3 (Fund 155) for TIF 1-4 (Fund 156) and the Revolving Loan Fund (Fund 250) all of which were included in the packet. Strack noted the following changes: Fund 150: Operating Fund for the EDA: The 2005 budget is proposed to be increased from $34,500 in 2004 to $44,000 in 2005. The increases are proposed due to the inclusion of $7,500 for membership to the Partnership and inclusion of $4,000 for engineering fees (assistance with potential industrial park). Fund 155: TIF Fund for 1-3: The anticipated revenues and expenses were increased to reflect market value increases and therefore TIF revenue increases in 2004. The City, via development agreement, is required to reimburse the developer 95% of the increment received. Fund 156: TIF Fund 1-4: 2005 will be the first year an increment is received. The anticipated revenues and expenditures are based on estimates. Actual numbers will be received in June or July, 2005. Fund 250: Revolving Loan Fund. The projected revenue for the revolving loan fund in 2005 is based on the amortization schedule for the Vicwest equipment loan. No expenses or loans have been budgeted as the fund currently (end of July) has a limited balance of $4,648.31. The fund balance by the end of calendar year 2005 should be over $18,000. The EDA discussed possibility of St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership and the associated membership fee. EDA members Hosch and Gohman expressed support for a renewed City of St. Joseph membership in the SCAEDP. The EDA also discussed other professional fees and the extent to which the EDA should and could incur expenses, such as engineering fees, related to encouraging potential developments and assisting such developments in moving from the interest to actualization stages. The EDA reviewed engineering expenses incurred within 2004 which relate to a large scale commercial development and encouraging the development of additional platted industrial acreage within the City. Gohman expressed an interest in illustrating Fund 150 revenue in terms of the portion applicable to the allowable statutory tax levy with the remainder being represented as a transfer from the general fund. Gohman indicated this was an issue discussed during the previous budget cycle which seemed to have not been resolved. Hosch indicated the change was not made in the 2004 budget because of levy limits placed upon the City. Gohman and Hosch requested staff research the issue and report on the subject at the next meeting. Moved by Gohman, seconded by Hosch to approve the preliminary Fund 150, Fund 155, Fund 156 and Fund 250 budgets and authorize/direct EDA staff to submit to fhe City. Motion carried 4-0. EDA Minutes -August 11, 2004 Page 2 Director Report. A prospect list/activity report outlining communication with various contacts was included in the EDA's packet. In conjunction with the Director's Report, the EDA discussed the JOBZ Program and how changes in the program were affecting area communities and impacting the City of St. Joseph. The EDA directed staff to gather information on changes in the JOBZ Program and how they may affect proposed projects. The information is intended for use in facilitating potential future projects. Strack also advised EDA Board Members that the plaque ordered for former EDA member Deutz had arrived and was to be presented at the September 2"d City Council meeting. Board Member Announcements. Hosch updated the EDA on the appointment of a member to the vacancy within the EDA. Hosch indicated he had met with one individual who had declined the appointment and would be meeting with a second candidate within the very near future. Adjournment Motion by Hosch seconded//by Skahen to a,Cd~journ. Motion carried 4:0. Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m. EDA Minutes-August 11, 2004 Page 3