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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 [05] May 26CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY Meeting Minutes — Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Present: EDA Board Members Carolyn Yaggie- Heinen, Ken Jacobson, Al Rassier, Tom Skahen, and Dale Wick. Absent: None. Also present: Business Property Owner* Nadine Hollerud, Michael McDonald (resident), Finance Director Lori Bartlett, and EDA Director Cynthia Smith - Strack. Chairperson Wick called the May 26, 2010 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:00 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda. Moved by Jacobson and second by Heinen to approve the agenda while moving item 5A (BFA Application for Nadine Hollerud) immediately following approval of agenda. Motion carried 5-0. BFA Application — Nadine Hollerud, Tack Shop Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted Nadine Hollerud, Owner of the property at 38 East Birch Street, former Curtis Marketing building, has submitted an application to the Business Fagade Architectural Grant Program. The application is for exterior improvements, design and construction, consisting of the addition of a western style front porch and handicap access ramp. Estimated project cost is $5,000. The EDA discussed the application and the BFA guidelines. Rassier asked whether or not the proposed project was consistent with land use requirements, especially those relating to exterior building materials. Strack noted the Applicant had been working with the Building Official and City Administrator regarding zoning issues. Strack noted the structure was not proposed to be changed and the exterior building material requirements related to new facilities. The EDA discussed the project with the Applicant. The Applicant explained the nature of the retail business and the process she had followed to create a business plan and marketing strategy. Motion Skahen, Second Rassier to authorize the BFA matching grant up to $1,000. Motion carried 5:0. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the April 28, 2010 regular EDA meeting. Motion by Jacobson, second by Skahen to approve the minutes from the April 28, 2010 regular meeting as presented. Motion carried 5-0. EDA Accounts Payable and Approval of Financial Reports. Wick introduced the topic. Wick noted accounts payable for the month which totaled $2,574 and included monthly contract services. Wick introduced the monthly and annual reports and Finance Director Bartlett. The Finance Director reviewed the year -end audited accounts for EDA Fund 150, 155, 156, 157, and 250. Bartlett noted Fund 155 (Borgert TIF) was decertified in 2009 and that Fund 156 (VicWest TIF) was holding a positive balance that may be available for use for other related public projects. Bartlett also reported on a seminar relating to jobs bills approved by the state legislature. Some of the regulation relaxes TIF standards relating to commercial establishments and pooling requirements. Bartlett will keep the EDA updated when additional information is available. Motion Jacobson, second by Heinen to approve the accounts payable and financial reports as presented. Motion carried 5-0. Downtown/Wobegon Trail Center Street/Landscaping Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda topic. Strack stated that at the previous EDA meeting the Board received a presentation from Scenic Specialties which included landscape plans for several locations within the downtown corridor. After receiving the plan, the EDA directed a discussion regarding next steps be added to the May EDA agenda. Jacobson suggested posting the landscape plan on the city's website. Rassier suggested concentrating on one project at a time and meeting with a specific property owner. Rassier also supported posting the plan on the city website. Additional discussion among Board Members indicated a need to first present the plan to property owners who were in the immediate vicinity of the proposed project prior to rolling out concepts publicly. Strack suggested leveraging resources for projects, for example, using City funds, grant funds, capital improvement funds from the EDA, and private investment to stimulate movement on certain projects. After further discussion, the EDA opted to meet with property owners in the vicinity of each project area. Said property owners will be invited to the next EDA meeting. The purpose of the invite to the meeting is informational only and to seek input from property owners. Strack inquired as to whether the tree replacement plan adjacent to Minnesota was to be presented as part of the landscape /streetscape plan or be treated as a separate project. Rassier suggested the items be two separate projects. Other EDA members agreed. Senior Living Options Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack reminded Board Members that at the previous EDA meeting a member of the public addressed the EDA regarding living options for seniors who have grown up in the community. The EDA directed the item be placed on the May EDA Regular Meeting agenda for discussion. In addition, the EDA asked that research be performed on available statistics relating to senior housing in St. Joseph. Strack noted that housing for seniors is provided by St. Joseph Apartments with 16 income /age restricted units constructed in 1988 and Arlington Place, constructed in 1999, which offers assisted living in 20 units. No vacancies were reported at either facility at the time of Comprehensive Plan Update in 2008. The 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update identifies providing a variety of life -cycle housing options, including senior units, as a goal. Strack stated she had reviewed the market study completed by McComb Group and have found very minimal statistical analysis relating to senior housing demand /supply. Perhaps most enlightening are comments from real estate agents that were included in the study which were included in the EDA packet and supported additional senior housing options. Also included in the packet is an update of a St. Cloud Area Housing Study initially completed in 2005 and then updated in 2009. The section attached specifically relates to the City of St. Joseph. Overall, existing data lacks specific need analysis and price points related to senior housing demand. The EDA discussed any potential role in moving senior housing options goals to the forefront. Board Members noted two potential projects on the horizon which would address senior housing needs within the immediate future. Strack stated additional information regarding those projects would likely be EDA Minutes - May 26, 2010 released to the public in the next few months. What was not contemplated publicly at this time was an option for a long -term care facility, but that could be changing. The EDA suggested the citizen that brought up the issue be asked to address longterm care facilities with the CSB and the Monastery. The EDA Board Members agreed that a variety of life cycle housing options, including those for seniors, is a benefit to the community and a goal in which the EDA is interested. The EDA also embraced projects that were pending and noted time was needed for those items to proceed. In the interim, the EDA authorized and directed Strack to contact the Director at Arlington Place regarding any discussion of additional units and prepare a letter to the citizen that addressed the EDA discussion. SCSU Study — Rental Housing Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item. Wick noted the study had been accepted by the City Council following a recommendation by the EDA. Wick asked for input on what the next step could or should be relating to results of the study. Jacobson asked whether CSB /SJU were committed to the residency change. Heinen and Wick stated their understanding was that indeed, the College and University were committed to a four year campus residency program for most students. Skahen inquired as to what percentage of students would likely live off campus when the residency change took full affect. Heinen and Wick stated their understanding was approximately ten percent. Jacobson said his experience is with students having a difficult time finding roommates who are approved for off - campus residency. Wick inquired as to what the Board considered the next step in the process. Jacobson suggested that Campus Villas /St. Joseph Student Housing was an important first step as the failure of the existing use could have a larger impact on the City of St. Joseph than the failure of one or two rental units. Wick suggested gathering interested persons together to identify options regarding what to do with properties. Strack noted the group of rental property owners who had indicated a willingness to work on defining a transition strategy related to rental housing changes. Wick volunteered to participate in a rental unit subcommittee. He also suggested Gary Utsch, City Rental Inspector be asked to join a group discussion as well. Heinen stated she may perhaps join the group. Board Member Announcements Rassier reviewed the recently approved Ordinance relating to conduct of public officials and suggested value statements which were approved separately and were non - binding. Said value statements are aspirational and intended to be distributed with City policies and statements. The documents were formulated by a work group comprised of public officials and League of Minnesota Cities legal professionals. The documents were intended to promote transparency in government, effective leadership, and public stewardship. Jacobson noted that the BFA program was really beginning to be widely used and becoming a very effective tool for economic development. Wick noted the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership was planning to embark on a trip to Dubuque, Iowa but it was momentarily postponed. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 4:35 PM. zt��Jlt'.ZAA�C_-46_ Cynthia Smith - Strack EDA Director EDA Minutes — May 26, 2010 3