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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 [10] Oct 24CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY Meeting Minutes -Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Present: EDA Board Members Carolyn Yaggie-Heinen, AI Rassier, Tom Skahen (arrived at 3:05) and Dale Wick. Absent: Ken Jacobson. Also present: Cynthia Smith -Strack of Municipal Development Group. Chairperson Wick called the October 24, 2007 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:01 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda. Moved by Heinen seconded by Rassier to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 3-0. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the September 26, 2007 regular meeting. Motion by Rassier, Second by Wick to approve minutes from the previous meeting as presented. Motion carried 3-0. EDA Accounts Payable. Wick introduced the topic. Strack noted accounts payable for the month totaled $2,541.77. Skahen arrived at the meeting. Motion by Heinen, second by Rassier to approve the EDA accounts payable for the month of October 2007 in the amount of $2, 541.77. Motion carried 4-0. Financial Report. Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted the financial reports included in the packet were: revenue, expense, check register and fund balance. Motion by Skahen, second by Heinen to approve the August financial reports as presented. Motion carried 4-0. Outdoor Smoking/Dining Areas and Sidewalk Cafes. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted that as Board Members were likely aware, the Freedom to Breath provision of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act became effective on October 1St. The Act prescribes where smoking is prohibited, outlines the responsibility of employers and facility managers and lists exemptions. As a result of the Act the City expects to receive requests from the owners of bars, restaurants and other food and liquor establishments to install outdoor smoking and/or dining areas. The City's current zoning ordinance doesn't address outdoor smoking/dining areas and/or sidewalk cafes, however, liquor license requirements for businesses prescribe certain standards for the permanent sale, possession and consumption of liquor outdoors in conjunction with a bar, restaurant or other liquor or food service establishment. EDA Minutes -October 24, 2007 Staff and consultants discussed this issue at a staff meeting on October 10th. Background information and sample language has been developed as a means of initiating conversation on this subject. Since the subject directly impacts businesses input from the EDA is kindly requested prior to additional review/consideration by the public, Planning Commission, and the City Council. Strack noted the purpose of the land use criteria was not to prescribe where smokers could or could not smoke but rather to provide standards for specialized, non-indoor areas that business establishments may wish to provide wherein the business owner is free to choose whether or not patrons may smoke. The Board reviewed sample text provided. Heinen requested the term 'compatible' in Section A(g) of the sample text be more fully defined so as to be more descriptive and less subjective. Wick inquired as to whether or not the word 'smoking' should be deleted from the term "outdoor dining/smoking areas." Strack noted it would be up to the owner of the establishment to determine whether an ancillary facility (patio or deck) would be used for the purpose of dining or smoking or both so either one or both of the terms could apply. Consensus was to retain current language and to add more descriptive text to Section A(9). Strack was directed to forward the information to the Planning Commission for consideration. Bioscience Tax Free Zone Application. Wick introduced •the agenda item. Strack noted in October of last year the City (with EDA recommendation) co-submitted with several St. Cloud Area municipalities an application for Bioscience Zone designation by the State. That application has not yet been acted upon by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Instead, DEED has developed/established additional criteria to evaluate the Bio Zone application. One of the revisions required is a reduction in the total area comprising the proposed Bioscience Zone. The maximum zone designation is 500 acres. Representatives from the cities co-submitting the application met earlier in the week and proposed each City identify a maximum of 80 acres to include in the proposed zone. This requires a reduction in the area identified last year and proposed to be included in the zone in St. Joseph in 2006. Strack noted she had reviewed existing shovel ready sites, redevelopment opportunities in industrial areas and areas proposed for industrial development. Those sites were primarily in the northeastern portion of the City and included two build to suit parcels, three vacant industrial structures, seven vacant lots, several existing parcels with non-conforming structures and the plat approved as Parkway Business Center. The area identified total just over 78 acres and were clustered in the industrial district. Strack stated that if allocated acreage for the program any or all of the allocated acreage could be transferred to other parcels within the corporate limits. The Board discussed the proposed acreage and how it compared to the areas identified in 2006. The Board inquired as to whether or not some acreage included in the 2006 proposed subzones B and C should be included. Wick noted the construction of the CSAH 2/CSAH 3 connection is expected to increase potential for development in the western portion of the City. The Board discussed the ability to transfer acreage allocation and approved the proposed map as presented. Board Member Reports. Wick noted the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership was holding a strategic planning session on Wednesday, October 31, 2007. Wick plans to attend. Skahen noted he had passed contact information for owner of former feed mill to a potentially interested party. Rassier inquired as to whether any vacancies were due to arise on the EDA in 2008. There are no scheduled term expirations in 2008. Adjournment. MotionS~kahenL~, second~/~assi~e~r to adjour_n/the EDA meeting. Meeting adjourned at 4:10 PM. EDA Minutes -October 24, 2007