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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 [07] Jul 167-16-03 Page 1 of 4 CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Present: EDA Board Members Mike Deutz, Tom Skahen, Ross Rieke and Larry Hosch. Absent: EDA Member Bruce Gohman. Also present: Gateway Commons Representatives: Brian Schoenborne, Shawn Teal, Bob Motzka, Gary Verkinnes Cornerstone Construction, City Council Member AI Rassier and Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal Development Group. President Deutz called the regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 4:07 p.m. Agenda. Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the agenda. During discussion of motion Strack requested addition of a maintenance facility change order item. Motion carried 4-0. Minutes. Moved by Skahen seconded by Rieke to approve the minutes from the special EDA meeting held May 12, 2003. Motion carried 3:0 with Hosch abstaining. Moved by Hosch seconded by Skahen to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2003 EDA meeting as presented. Motion carried 3:0 with Rieke abstaining. Moved by Skahen seconded by Hosch to approve the minutes of the July 1, 2003 special EDA meeting as presented. Motion carried 4:0. EDA Accounts Payable. Strack provided an overview of accounts payable the MDG contract in the amount of $1,781.58, Strack noted the 41.75 hours banked. The EDA discussed the banked amount and requested confirmation of rate of payment for hours banked. President Deutz requested an estimate of time spent, in hours, on implementing the Marketing Agreement for Buettner Business Park (per month) be presented at the next EDA meeting. Moved by Rieke seconded by Skahen to approve the EDA accounts payable in the amount of $1,781.58 as presented. Motion carried 4:0. Financial Report Strack provided a brief overview of the financial report. Moved by Hosch, seconded by Duetz to approve the EDA financial report. Motion carried 4:0. Gateway Commons President Duetz requested Gateway Commons model project be addressed since representatives from the development were present. Strack highlighted the mixed use PUD project proposed for an area near the intersection of Interstate 94 and CSAH 2 including staff interaction with the representatives from the development over the past year. Strack introduced development representatives. Brian Schoenborne provided a history of the project including the evolution from a possible site for the location of a manufacturing facility and overall vision of the development as a first class commercial retail/office/service center and possible senior higher density housing. Following Schoenborne's presentation Council Member Rassier noted utility extension, in his opinion, would be a major issue for the project. Hosch indicated a concern regarding the annexation of the EDA Minutes -July 16, 2003 Page 1 7-16-03 Page 2 of 4 subject parcel. Strack noted annexation petition had not yet been received and the developers were in the process of establishing a concept plan for the project. Strack indicated the City Administrator and City Attorney had felt annexation would not be an overwhelming issue as parcel was in the six to ten year annexation area and all property between the subject parcel and the current corporate limits was within the zero to five year annexation area and, therefore, subject to annexation at any time. Skahen indicated the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict had researched senior housing issues in the past an may be able to shed light upon the potential for such development. Strack indicated extension of roadways would likely impact project or project likely impact roadway extension, whichever occurred first. Hosch expanded on the extension of Field Street indicating federal funding had been secured for the project and he was committed to moving forward with a corridor study in an efficient manner. Schoenborne noted Field Street extension westward would be very important to the ultimate development of the entire corridor, as would the extension of CSAH 3 to CSAH 2. Hosch expressed an interest in considering the possibility of working with the developer to make the project occur. Strack indicated Tax Increment Financing was not a possibility for the project but suggested other methods of support may include exchange of property on which City wells and a water treatment facility would be placed, abatement/deferment of taxes and deferment of assessments. Further discussion regarding support of commercial projects and the requirements contained in the City's Business Subsidy Policy ensued. Duetz indicated project actualization may take a fair amount of public discussion and sharing of information. Skahen indicated he was interested in the project concept and would like further information when available. Rassier indicated a desire to maintain a proactive approach to the project with the City being forthcoming with information regarding utility extension. Rieke indicated he was inclined to support the a professional project of this caliber as much as possible. Skahen reiterated he favored the concept as well and asked for additional information on the project timeline. Schoenborne said the original plan involved moving through the development planning process throughout the fall and winter with construction occurring next Spring. He indicated discussion are continuing at this point and construction may be delayed until later in 2004. Hosch indicated a desire to work to make the project happen. Rieke agreed and emphasized a need for the City to supply water to residents through the installation of additional wells and another water treatment facility. Strack indicated the Developers were also interested in whether the City preferred development of a stand-alone PUD or concept planning in broader area including the CSAH 2 corridor. EDA members indicated a desire to match the proposed development concept throughout the corridor, especially through the use of lighting and landscaping. Following discussion Schoenborne thanked EDA for input and the representative from Cornerstone Construction indicated concept plan development would begin in earnest with completion expected in 30 to 60 days. High Speed Data Line Strack provided an update on the installation of high speed data lines in the industrial areas of the City. Strack distributed a memo from Astound Representative Tony Fernkes indicating the cost estimates revealed a minimum of ten customers were needed to support the installation of plant into the industrial areas or the project would not be feasible for Astound. Those ten customers would need to agree to service and a $200/month access fee. Strack indicated Astound officials said the access fee would be a permanent charge. Strack further indicated Mr. Fernkes was going to be meeting individually with business owners in the industrial areas and that he would be forwarding a map of the area serviced if the project was to move forward. Rieke questioned the availability of satellite Internet service to the industrial areas. Strack indicated a few establishments were currently utilizing such services, especially adjacent to 19th Avenue. EDA Minutes -July 16, 2003 Page 2 7-16-03 Page 3 of 4 Business Questionnaire. Strack briefly highlighted survey responses. Deutz suggested a need to determine the circumstances surrounding the responses received through some sort of tracking or coding of surveys. Other EDA members concurred but suggested staff indicate where a response may have been affected by specific circumstances. Hosch suggested the survey be mailed fo all contacts again, thanking them if they had responded and urging them to take time to complete the survey if they had not previously done so. EDA members concurred, however, suggested the mailing be delayed for an additional month to allow for additional responses. Change Order -Maintenance Facility Rassier and Rieke reviewed a change order for the Maintenance Facility received by the City. The change order included the installation of outlets on the exterior of the building, the installation of air conditioning into office areas and the of telephone lines within the facility. Rassier and Rieke reported the Building Committee wished to complete the improvements as leasehold improvements and thereby not consider the change order. The City will install the improvements at its own expense after securing materials and contractor(s). Rassier announced plans for a final walk-through of the facility on July 30, 2003 at 7:00 a.m. Rassier requested all EDA Board Members attend the walk through. EDA Board Members directed staff post the walk through and prepare a mailing including: an invitation to the event, facility plans, a copies of the project budget, change orders received/acted on, a copy of the project contract, invoices received and other applicable information. Marketing Agreement -Buettner Business Park Strack indicated a copy of the request to terminate the marketing agreement for Buettner Business Park, effective August 8, 2003 and the subsequent letter forwarded to active leads who previously expressed an interest in the Park were included in the packet. Rieke expressed a firm desire to continue to provide the property owner service which would typically be provided to all EDA contacts. Strack assured EDA of plans to provide equal service to all EDA contacts within the City. Prospect List/Activity Report. A report outlining communication with various contacts was included in the EDA's packet. The EDA discussed the role of the EDA in pursuing additional industrial land for development within the City, the redevelopment/revitalization of downtown and involvement/assumption of HRA powers. The EDA requested a discussion of future industrial areas be included on the August, 2003 agenda. Hosch indicated organization of a Downtown Committee as recommended in the Comprehensive Plan was underway. He expressed a desire for the EDA and the Downtown Committee to work together to redevelop/revitalize the downtown. Additional discussion regarding possible starting points occurred. Deutz indicated a need to bring traffic into the downtown area. Rieke discussed previous streetscape design plans which were drafted several years ago. The EDA also expressed a desire to further discuss how it could work to promote redevelopment/revitalization through the possible purchase and redevelopment of a vacant or blighted parcel. EDA members concurred the redevelopment/revitalization of the downtown should be a goal, and should be included in the development of the a future EDA work plan. The EDA also discussed the role of an HRA within the community. Strack distributed information regarding growth to the EDA which was reviewed in detail at a staff meeting earlier in the day. Strack indicated the City Building Inspector expressed concern about the amount of residential remodeling occurring in the previously developed areas of the City (i.e. those developed prior to 1970). Strack EDA Minutes -July 16, 2003 Page 3 7-16-03 Page 4 of 4 indicated the Building Inspector reported the vast majority of residential remodeling permits being issued are for the additional of decks to new homes and the completion of lower levels of new homes. Strack reviewed a need identified in the Comprehensive Plan to focus on development and refill in existing urban areas in addition to managing new growth. Hosch mentioned a program sponsored by the Stearns County HRA identifying a redevelopment zone in which owners of residential units would be able to access funds for residing and re-roofing. The EDA expressed an interest in learning more about the County HRA and its planslprograms and comparing them to activities needed locally. Director's Report Strack polled the EDA regarding availability for a meeting August 6, 2003. The purpose of the meeting will be to review a site plan for a development proposed for the Buettner Business Park. Board Member Reports. Skahen announced a gathering scheduled for July 22, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. near the St. Joseph water tower to mark the extension of the Wobegon Trail to the City. The event is being organized by Stearns County. Adjournment Moved by Skahen, seconded by Hosch to adjourn. meeting adjourned at 6: 7 p.m. All present voted in favor of adjournment, the EDA EDA Minutes -July 16, 2003 Page 4