HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 [06] Jun 21CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Present: EDA Board Members Ross Rieke, Richard Carlbom, Carolyn Yaggie-Heinen, Ken Jacobson
(late) and Tom Skahen.
Absent: None.
Also present: Cynthia Smith-Strack of Municipal Development Group.
Chairperson Rieke called the June 21, 2006 meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:05 p.m.
Agenda.
Chairperson Rieke introduced the agenda. Moved by Carlbom seconded by Skahen to approve the
agenda. Discussion ensued. Motion amended to add Item 4(c) regarding TIF Disbursements.
Motion carried 4-0.
Approval of Minutes.
EDA Chairperson Rieke noted the minutes from the May 17, 2006 meeting were included in the packet.
Motion by Skahen, seconded by Heinen to approve the May 17`h, 2006 regular EDA minutes as
presented. Motion carried 4-0.
EDA Accounts Payable.
Rieke introduced the topic. Strack noted accounts payable for the month included invoice for contract
services in the amount of $2,256.99. The total hours provided through May 31S' equal 166.75, on target
for the projected 420 hours of service for the year.
Motion by Heinen, second by Carlbom to approve EDA accounts payable for the month of May 2006 in
the amount of $2, 256.99. Motion carried 4-0.
Financial Report.
Rieke introduced the agenda item. Strack noted the May financial reports were contained in the packet.
Reports presented included: revenue, expense, check register and fund balance.
Motion by Carlbom, second by Heinen to approve the May financial reports. Motion carried 4-0.
TIF Disbursement.
Rieke introduced the agenda item. Strack presented information to the EDA re: TIF payments (2006 1S'
half) for TIF 1-3 (Borgert Products) and TIF 1-4 (St. Joe Development/VicWest). TIF 1-3 payment
$7,394.50. TIF 1-4 payment $17,542.93.
Motion by Carlbom, second by Skahen to approve TIF disbursements in the amount of $7,394.50 for TIF
1-3 and $17,542.93 for TIF 1-4. Motion carried 4-0.
CSAH 75 Renewal Plan.
Rieke introduced the business item and noted in the past the EDA has been reviewing strategies to
promote cohesive, vehicular-oriented commercial (re)development of a specialized nature exhibiting the
unique needs associated with major highway access/visibility and complementary to existing commercial
uses within the built environment in association with a portion of CSAH 75 from 2"d Avenue NW to 3~d
Avenue NE.
EDA Minutes-June 21, 2006 Page 1
Strack provided an overview of a draft renewal plan for the subject corridor. Background information
including traffic counts, lot inventories and current impressions of the corridor was discussed.
The EDA then discussed how to potentially accentuate positive attributes of the corridor to development
prospects. Items discussed included: continuing to share traffic counts with business prospects;
embracing the need for continual frontage/backage roads adjacent to CSAH 75 as essential mechanisms
providing convenient access to local business establishments and spurring second tier development; and,
rncourage the City to allow businesses to employ signage that meets a communicative need for business
establishments (i.e. is useful), treats all businesses similarly (e.g. does not encourage 'sign competitions'
between businesses) and is useful to motorists (i.e. fills an information need) but not over-powering or
detrimental to corridor aesthetics (i.e. does not define corridor aesthetics or distract motorists from finding
their business destination).
Jacobson arrived at the EDA meeting at 3:45 p.m.
The EDA then reviewed the final element of the draft renewal plan relative to minimizing factors within the
existing corridor which detract from the impression of the corridor as a cohesive center for vehicular-
oriented commercial development. Implementation strategies discussed included: working with the
Planning Commission to rezone portions of the renewal corridor, identifying and promoting incentives for
making the conversion of current student rental units within the corridor to vehicular-oriented commercial
uses more attractive; determining whether support existed for seeking control of specific parcels pursuant
to a redevelopment strategy to prepare for unified redevelopment (i.e. first right of refusals, purchase
options, actual purchase of property); encouraging the development of commercial and service centers as
cohesive, highly interrelated and coordinated units with adequate off-street parking and appropriate,
regulated points of access; reviewing parking/building line setbacks to determine the potentially most-
beneficial balance between use of commercial lot and establishment of consistent viewshed; and,
requiring architectural style, building mass and exterior building materials of infill, redevelopment and new
development be complimentary to existing development (or desired development) in character, color,
texture, bulk (or appearance thereof) and design.
The Board noted a desire to focus efforts on specific parcels. EDA members were instructed to select five
properties within the renewal corridor which they felt offered the greatest potential for redevelopment. The
intent is to further discuss the potential promote redevelopment of certain high priority redevelopment
areas.
Downtown Revitalization Project Update.
Rieke introduced the agenda item. Strack noted that work groups for the effort were being populated and
that all four work groups had held initial meetings and scheduled their second meeting.
Collegeville Development Project Update.
Rieke introduced the topic. Strack noted the City Council had accepted the EDA's recommendation and
authorized the compilation of a TIF Plan and associated documents pertaining to a proposed
redevelopment project at 25 East Minnesota Street. A meeting with the TIF consultant and property
owner had been scheduled.
Industrial Park Update.
Chairperson Rieke introduced the agenda item. Strack noted that Redwood Real Estate a land acquisition
and development firm from Maple Grove has closed on a portion of the 320-acre "Feld Farm' and has
control of the remaining acreage. The approximately 30 acres that has sold abuts the St. Joseph
Industrial Park and is proposed for future industrial use. The project representative/contact has indicated
a topographical survey has been completed and that plans for transportation routes/utility placement are
being drafted. The. project is the number one priority for the development company. The goal is to have
utilities in place this fall. The City Administrator has requested MDG begin an application to the
Department of Trade and Economic Development for grant assistance to help the project occur. The
grant assistance sought will be through the Greater Minnesota Business Development Infrastructure
EDA Minutes -June 21, 2006 Page 2
Program and Greater Minnesota Biotechnology Development Infrastructure Program. Matching grants for
up to 50% of the cost of public improvements may be available. Project funding is very competitive.
Staff is requesting authorization/direction to complete the application is requested.
Motion Jacobson, Second Skahen to authorize/direct staff to prepare the required application for BDPI
grant from DEED. Motion carried 5:0.
Carlbom departed from the meeting at 4:45 p.m.
Director's Report.
Strack referenced the director's report included in the packet. She also noted the City was able to secure
funding from EDAM (Economic Development Association of Mn.) for a fall quarter intern. The internship
was open to SCSU students majoring in community development. The intern should be on board by
August. Strack also noted she would be on vacation from July 24tH through August 4tH
Board Member Announcements.
Rieke updated Board Members on the SCAEDP meeting held earlier in the day noting a representative
from RA Morton Construction spoke at the meeting and cited the City of St. Joseph's development review
process with Bliss Direct Media project as an exemplary process.
Adjournment
Motion by Sk/a'~jhen•, s~e/co' nded y Heinen to dj-o~ur~n. Motion carried 4:0. Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
EDA Minutes -June 21, 2006 Page 3