HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 [09] Sep 23CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY
Meeting Minutes — Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Present: EDA Board Members Carolyn Yaggie- Heinen, Ken Jacobson, At Rassier, Tom Skahen,
and Dale Wick.
Absent: None.
Also present: EDA Director Cynthia Smith - Strack.
Chairperson Wick called the September 23, 2009 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order
at 3:03 p.m.
Agenda.
Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda.
Moved by Rassier and seconded by Skahen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried
5-0.
Approval of Minutes.
Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the August 26'h, 2009 regular EDA meeting. Wick
proposed a change for the last paragraph of page three of the minutes relating to the number of
students at three post- secondary education institutions in St. Cloud who reside in St. Joseph.
Motion by Skahen, second by Jacobson to approve the minutes from the August 26"' regular
meeting with the change suggested by Chairperson Wick. Motion carried 5-0.
EDA Accounts Payable.
Wick introduced the topic. Wick noted accounts payable for the month which totaled $2,508.55.
Motion by Jacobson, second by Heinen to approve the EDA accounts payable for the month of
September 2009 in the amount of $2,508.55. Motion carried 5-0.
Financial Report.
Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted the August 2009 year to date Treasurer's Report
was included in the packet. In addition she noted a format change which tracks EDA Director time
by one of five categories: market development, business development, organizational
development, infrastructure development, and workforce development. Strack stated that market
development included items such as review of projects that converted from 'potential' to
'secured', website management, meetings with development contacts, and facilitation of projects
that were a 'go'. Business development included business prospect activities, work on capital
projects such as downtown, BFA, revitalization, and the like. Organizational development
included time spent on minutes, EDA meetings, packet preparation and so forth. Infrastructure
development related to the CSAH 2 project and setting the table for economic development and
shovel ready sites. Workforce development related to regional participation in certain project and
recording requirements.
Wick noted approximately forty (40) percent of hours to date were spent on market development
and an additional forty -three (43) percent on business development.
Motion Skahen with a second by Wick to approve the financial reports as presented. Motion
carried 5 -0.
Land /Streetscape Project
Chairperson Wick introduced the topic. EDA Board Member Skahen apologize for a delay in re-
present the request to the full Chamber of Commerce at the September meeting. Strack noted
she had re -filed requests with the Lions and the Jaycees.
Strack also noted that Randy Schmitz at Scenic Specialties is still committed to the project and
interested in gathering background information (including pictures) this fall. It is noted the EDA
has some funds available within the 2009 CIP allocation.
The EDA discussed the potential to self -fund the design and rendering costs totaling $2,500 while
seeking reimbursement for said costs and /or seeking to encourage installation of design features
proposed.
Motion by Rassier, Second by Skahen to authorize $2,500 from Downtown Revitalization Capital
Improvement Fund to be used for landscape /streetscape design by Scenic Specialties. Motion
approved 5:0.
Strack inquired as to whether the EDA would like to meet with Scenic Specialties prior to project
initiation. The EDA suggested she meet with the design team and provide information including
downtown design standards, Minnesota Design Team illustrations, and Urban Environs
Committee background information.
Wick suggested soliciting a donation from Coborns, Inc. Jacobson noted Brenny Transportation
had indicated a desire to donate to community projects at a previous Chamber meeting.
Meeting with Rental Property Owners /SCSU Study
Wick introduced the agenda topic. Strack noted that at the previous meeting rental property
owner Cory Ehlert offered to organize a meeting of rental property owners to address /confirm
issues /assumptions within the SCSU study especially relating to where students went to school,
rental rates, and subleases for students studying abroad. Strack had contacted Ehlert on
September 9th, 16th, and 23rd with potential meeting dates /times but a date had not been
established.
The EDA requested Strack wait until September 30th to allow for the meeting organization. In the
event a meeting was not scheduled Strack was to do so on the 30tH
Wick stated any meeting notice should let landlords know where to get copies of the study and
that the intent was to obtain input as opposed to edit the study.
MnCAR Seminar
Strack provided a summary of the September 2 "d MnCAR seminar and subsequent bus tour.
Strack noted the bus stopped at the Coborn's PUD, DBL /MCO, Scenic Specialties (BFA grant),
the park and pool lot (CSAH 2 construction), and at Millstream Shops /Lofts. Those on the bus
tours debarked and had lemonade at Millstream where Brian Schoenborn handed out literature
regarding the Gateway Commons project. Strack noted she had meetings with two MnCAR real
estate professionals since the event.
Board Member Announcements
Rassier referenced a downtown parking plan that could impact the city property and /or alley
between Minnesota and Ash. Rassier stated the City Council would take up the issue at a future
capital improvement meeting.
EDA Minutes - September 23, 2009
Adjournment.
Motion to adjourn by Skahen, second by Heinen. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 3:55 PM.
Cynthia Smith - Strack
EDA Director
EDA Minutes — September 23, 2009