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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 [04] Apr 28CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY Meeting Minutes —Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Present: EDA Board Members Carolyn Yaggie- Heinen, Ken Jacobson, Al Rassier, and Dale Wick. Absent: Tom Skahen. Also present: Michael McDonald (resident), Ellen Wahlstrom (resident), Randy Schmitz and Clarissa Cooper from Scenic Specialties, and EDA Director Cynthia Smith - Strack. Chairperson Wick called the April 28, 2010 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:00 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda. Strack noted that she had received correspondence from a resident requesting the ability to address the EDA. Strack asked the resident to attend the meeting with the hope of addressing the EDA during Board Member Reports. Moved by Heinen and second by Jacobson to approve the agenda as presented and noting the potential for a resident to address the EDA during Board Member Reports. Motion carried 4 -0. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the March 24, 2010 regular EDA meeting. Motion by Rassier, second by Jacobson to approve the minutes from the March 24, 2010 regular meeting as presented. Motion carried 4-0. EDA Accounts Payable. Wick introduced the topic. Wick noted accounts payable for the month which totaled $2,761 and included monthly contract services. Strack noted extra trips in March for purposes of attending City Council meeting and a fifth Wednesday. Motion by Jacobson, second by Heinen to approve the EDA accounts payable for the month of April 2010 in the amount of $2,761. Motion carried 4 -0. Financial Report. Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack indicated the Finance Director had the following notes on the report: The reports reflect reversals for 2009 accruals; therefore, there are differences from what was reported last month to this month (numbers would be less in revenues and expenditures). The interest revenue shows negative right now. This is due to not realizing more interest earnings each month compared to the interest receivable that was booked for 2009. This negative will go away in a couple months. The EDA fund shows a deficit balance. I did not move any of the 2010 budget into the fund as of March 31St. I had to wait until 1 received Council approval to transfer the fund. They approved moving 1/2 of the budget transfer ($21,005) on 4 -1 -10. The transfer was made on 4 -2 -10. Your April reports will not show a deficit. Also, please note that due to unallotment of local government aid our Capital Improvement allocation for the year has been reduced from $20,000 to $9,000. Motion Jacobson, second by Heinen to approve the financial reports as presented. Motion carried 4-0. BFA Application — St. Joseph Meat Market Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted Harvey Pfannenstein, Owner of St. Joe Meat Market has submitted an application to the Business Fagade Architectural Grant Program. The application is for an expansion of the existing structure 26 1" Avenue Northwest. The planned expansion would increase the building size from 4,222 s.f. to 7,224 s.f. (3,002 sf addition). The expansion plans include the construction of an awning that will be used by local civic organizations when fundraising events such as bratthot dog sales and the like are conducted. The EDA discussed the application and the BFA guidelines. Motion Rassier, Second Jacobson to authorize the BFA matching grant up to $1,000, with the note the EDA would like to have done more for the Applicant but budget constraints render that impossible at this time. Motion carried 4:0. BFA Application - Kay's Kitchen Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted Tanya Finken, Owner of Kay's Kitchen submitted an application to the Business Fagade Architectural Grant Program. The application is for outdoor landscaping improvements to the existing structure at the intersection of CSAH 75/2. The EDA reviewed a copy of the landscape plan at the previous meeting. The estimated cost of landscaping /outdoor dining is $52,000. The EDA discussed the application and the BFA guidelines. Michael McDonald, a resident of St. Joseph and member of the Planning Commission questioned whether the EDA Director had reviewed the proposed landscaping plan for compliance with zoning standards and whether outdoor dining would add to parking requirements. Strack indicated the lot boundaries were in question and the City, County, and property owners were working on determining the exact lot boundaries. Strack further noted the 'outdoor dining' would likely be considered a 'seasonal' space and not related to building occupancy standards which impact the volume of parking spaces needed. The property owner noted the initial portion of the landscaping would be to the west of the build which would not impact front setback/property line issue or potential outdoor seating area. The property owner further indicated the outdoor seating area would be just that, not an area where orders were taken for food. Motion Rassier, Second Jacobson to authorize the BFA matching grant up to $1,000, with the note the EDA strongly supports this project. Motion carried 4:0. Downtown/Wobegon Trail Center Street/Landscaping Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda topic and noted Randy Schmitz and Clarissa Cooper from Scenic Specialties were at the EDA meeting to present a landscape plan commissioned by the EDA. Schmitz explained the purpose of the landscape plan is to tie the following areas together with meaningful visual linkages: Wobegon Trail Center, College Avenue, Minnesota Street, and Minnesota Street to the west toward new CSAH 2 area. Schmitz and Cooper reviewed in detail individual plans for various locations in the subject area. The EDA discussed the plan and potential next steps. The EDA directed a discussion regarding next steps be added to the May EDA agenda. Lot Split: Joe Leach, Buettner Business Park Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack explained Joe Leach d.b.a. Bliss Direct Media with property held by "Secured Earnings and Warranty, LLC" which is owned and operated by Leach, requests approval of a lot split dividing Lot 1 Block 1 Buettner Business Park into two separate parcels. The proposed lot split will accommodate the sale of the northern three acres of the site to an existing business owner in the community. The City has not received any additional information regarding the potential for pending construction on the three acre site in the near -term. EDA Minutes - April 28, 2010 2 The EDA is required to review the lot split request as it relates to the Buettner Business Park Covenants in effect. The EDA's review is limited to confirming the proposed lot split meets dimensional requirements contained in the covenants. The minimum lot size for industrial lots in the Business Park is three acres. Compliance with remaining covenants (e.g. landscaping standards, parking standards) are reviewed at the time a site plan is submitted in conjunction with building construction. Strack referenced a certificate of survey for the split that was included in the EDA packet and noted a resolution for the EDA's consideration had also been included in the packet. . Motion Rassier, Second Heinen to approve EDA Resolution 2010 -001 a Resolution recommending approval of a lot split for Lot 1, Block 1 of the Buettner Business Park by the City Council. Motion carried 4:0. Downtown Parking Concept Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack asked EDA members to recall the application for development plan review relating to the expansion of the St. Joseph Meat Market retail facility at 26 1st Avenue Northwest. She further noted the planned expansion necessitates a review of required off street parking and that the review of parking provided an opportunity for the City to review downtown business owners' concerns regarding availability of public parking. Strack stated that at a staff meeting earlier in April a discussion about whether or not it made sense to review downtown parking options as a result of the pending site plan. Strack then distributed a CONCEPTUAL layout of parking in the areas including City Hall and the Meat Market. She noted the CONCEPTUAL plan was just a means of inspiring EDA members to think about potential public parking options in the Central Business District and that the concept was specifically not a proposal for consideration or a plan to be debated at this time. The EDA discussed the CONCEPTUAL plan and noted additional discussion and review were necessary and that the means of incorporating public comment and comment from the Planning Commission and input from the City Council were needed in the near term. The EDA did support reviewing public parking as it relates to the pending expansion. Board Member Announcements Chairperson Wick noted an upcoming meeting at the Stearns County Services Building in Waite Park to discuss the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership's proposed CED's Strategy. St. Joseph resident Ellen Wahlstrom addressed the EDA regarding options for senior living within the community. She specifically expressed a need to examine available options for persons who have lived all their lives in St. Joseph and wish to continue to age in the community. Wahlstrom expressed a concern that the issue while on the list of things to -do just never seemed to get discussed in a meaningful manner. The EDA discussed the concerns and directed a discussion about the need for assisted living facilities in St. Joseph be added to the May EDA agenda. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned b onsensus a 4:25 PM. Cynthia Smith - Strack EDA Director EDA Minutes — April 28, 2010 3