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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 [07] Jul 21CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, July 21, 2005 Present: EDA Board Members Richard Carlbom, Bruce Gohman, Ken Jacobson, Ross Rieke (arrived at 3:09 p.m.) and Tom Skahen. Also present: Joe Leach, Owner Bliss Direct Media; Jerry Hettwer with Hettwer Real Estate Services, Mark Lenz, MLA Architects, the construction contractor for the Bliss Direct Media project, Terri Barreiro from the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship and Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal Development Group. Vice Chair Carlbom called the regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:05 p.m. Agenda. Vice Chairperson Carlbom introduced the agenda. Moved by Gohman seconded by Skahen to approve the agenda as presented. Discussion followed, Carlbom requested the introduction of the Director of the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship be added as the first item under business. Motion carried 4-0. Approval of Minutes. EDA Vice Chair Carlbom noted the minutes from the June meeting were included in the packet. Motion Gohman, seconded by Jacobson to approve the June 15, 2005 Regular EDA minutes as presented. Motion approved 4-0. EDA Accounts Payable. Carlbom introduced the topic. Strack provided an overview of the accounts payable for July 2005 in the amount of $2,102.76. Motion by Skahen, second by Gohman to approve EDA accounts payable. Motion carried 4-0. Rieke arrived at the meeting at 3:09 p.m. Carlbom turned the meeting over to Rieke. Financial Report. Rieke introduced the agenda item. Strack provided an overview of the financial reports for June. Strack noted the City had not received the first half property tax payment and subsequent statement at this time on July 7'h and therefore the June Revenue Report did not reflect the tax settlement. Motion by Gohman, second by Skahen to approve May financial reports. Motion carried 5-0. Introduction of Guests: Ms. Terri Barreiro, Director Donald McNeely Entrepreneurial Center. Chairperson Rieke introduced Ms. Barreiro. Ms. Barreiro stated her interest in appearing before the St. Joseph EDA was to determine how to become more involved in Economic Development activities in St. Joseph. Barreiro noted the Donald McNeely Entrepreneurial Center had been in existence for one year and the purpose of the Center was to build an entrepreneurial spirit in students and to promote student/St. Joseph public interaction. The Center was promoting/assisting business students in working toward establishing their own businesses while being students. Barreiro indicated one student had opened anight-time coffee shop on campus and another student was in the business of selling carpet to other students for their dorm rooms. Barreiro noted that students and faculty partnered on projects to work through business plans and marketing strategies. Carlbom asked if students/faculty could partner to produce marketing plans for private sector businesses within St. Joseph. Barreiro stated that that was a project that could be considered. Barreiro also noted typical timeframes for projects included the months EDA Minutes -July 21, 2005 Page 1 of September through November; February thru April and the summer months. Barreiro stated the services provided by the Center would be at no cost. Gohman inquired as to whether or not the Center could conduct economic impact analysis. Barreiro noted that was a project she thought the Center could investigate. The EDA thanked Ms. Barreiro for attending the meeting. Bliss Direct Media: Site Plan Review -Buettner Business Park Covenants Rieke introduced the topic and invited the members of the audience to introduce themselves. Rieke asked Strack to provide an overview of the project. Strack noted the report on the site plan/covenant review was in the packet. Strack noted she had reviewed the memo regarding the proposed 17,000 sf industrial facility with MLA Architect's Mark Lenz. Mr. Lenz distributed copies of updated site, utility, landscaping and elevation plans. The EDA and the Developer reviewed the following changes: • The original site plans depicted a potential lot split however a request for lot split approval had not been received. The property owner indicated the lot split was not a consideration at this time but may occur at an unspecified point in the future. • The site plan has been revised to reference the installation of acceptable groundcover for the remainder of the lot; tree, shrub and ground cover variety; and the extension of landscaping requirements through the lot of record in its entirety. • Berming between 15`h Avenue and the parking lot has been illustrated on the revised site plan and the tree/shrub planting area was expanded to six feet in width. • The installation tree plantings throughout the perimeter of the lot lying adjacent to CR 133 was depicted on the site plan. The property owner noted a desire for the EDA to consider reducing the requirement in the event lot subdivision would occur in the future. • The site plan was revised reflect the installation of a complete perimeter foundation for the facility. • Samples of materials proposed were demonstrated. The split face brick will be neutral ecru in color, the contrasting brick a somewhat darker shade of neutral tan and the metal is proposed to be of similar color. The metal will be of architectural grade. • The revised site plan illustrates the employment of decorative concrete block on 25% of the building fartade facing CR 133. • The revised site plan includes a written description of screening materials to be utilized in the shielding of the refuse container (chain link fence with lathes). • The revised site plan depicts shrubbery proposed to be placed in such a manner as to screen the loading docks or overhead doors from the view of adjacent property owners. Gohman requested Leach inform the EDA of the nature of his business. Leach explained Bliss Direct Media is a direct mail/mail list manager. Most clients are from the east coast. The company produces and mails direct mail media to approved client lists on a contractual basis. Bliss Direct has been in opertation in Waite Park for five years and has been experiencing steady growth. The facility in St. Joseph will result in the addition of seven to ten employment positions in the City. Rieke stated for the record that his employer is a direct competitor to Bliss Direct Media. Motion Gohman to approve the site plan provided trees were placed on the non`hern boundary as represented by the `potential lot split' boundary line on the site plan. Second by Carlbom for discussion. EDA Minutes -July 21, 2005 Page 2 Additional discussion transpired. Skahen suggested an amendment to the motion noting the property owner had to subdivide the parcel within a specified period of time (e.g. following designation of the northern east-west collector roadway). Rieke questioned whether or not the EDA wanted to monitor the status of a potential subdivision. Carlbom noted he favored installation of trees throughout the perimeter of the entire parcel as the EDA had required other property owners within the business park to do the same. Rieke called a vote on the Motion by Gohman. Motion failed 2-3. Motion by Skahen, Second by Carlbom to approve the site plan provided the developer install trees along the entire lot perimeter unless the developer commits to subdividing property after northern east-west collector street corridor is ascertained. Motion failed 2-3. Motion by Carlbom, second by Skahen to approve the site plan without the requirement for the installation of trees along the northern perimeter of the lot adjacent to CR 133 and 15th Avenue. Screening will only be required along the east and west portions of the lot and not adjacent to the potential outlot. Motion carried 3-2. 2006 Budget Gohman noted he needed to leave the meeting as it was nearing 4:45 p.m. but that he thought additional discussion regarding the budget was warranted. The EDA discussed the timing of the budget review and noted a meeting sooner than mid-August would be required to accommodate the City's review of the entire budget. The EDA requested MDG, Inc. provide additional information regarding the conversion of the consulting contract to a staff position and other potential projects for 2006. Motion Jacobson, Second Gohman to move the August 17th regular EDA meeting to August 3'~ at 3:00 p.m. Motion carried 5-0. Gohman exited the meeting. Update: Southern Collector Corridor Study Rieke introduced the agenda item. Strack noted the technical advisory committee (TAC) met and evaluated all alternatives presented by the project engineer, WSB. Strack noted that although a clear best alternative was not identified, the evaluations favored the extension of Field Street from 20th Avenue to CSAH 2. The corridor study would now move into a second stage which included corridor alignment and environmental study. Director's Report. Strack referred to the prospect list/activity report outlining communication with various contacts that was included in the EDA packet. Rieke inquired as to the status of the Riverbats project. Strack noted a meeting on July 22"d wherein the concept plan would be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council. It was noted August 1, 2005 will be St. Joseph night at the Riverbats game. Board Member Announcements. Carlbom stated he had attended the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership meeting earlier in the day. The Partnership had acted to approve the concept of "Associate Memberships" which will allow private businesses to join the partnership for a membership fee of $2,500. "Associate Members" will not be voting members of the Partnership. Carlbom noted the City of St. Joseph was not eligible to join at the $2,500 level. Carlbom noted the membership for the City was slated to increase for the first time in several years to an estimated $8,000 in 2006. Adjournment Motion by Jacobson, seconded~b~y Carlbo to adjour . Motion carried 4:0. Meeting adjourned at 5:01 EDA Minutes -July 21, 2005 Page 3