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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[03] MinutesÛÜßÓ×ÒËÌÛÍÌÑÞÛÝÑÓÐÔÛÌÛÜßÒÜÜ×ÍÌÎ×ÞËÌÛÜ ËÒÜÛÎÍÛÐßÎßÌÛÝÑÊÛÎÐÎ×ÑÎÌÑÌØÛÛÜßÓÛÛÌ×Ò٠п¹» î ±º íè CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Present: EDA Board Members, Chad Davey, Steve Frank, Tom Skahen, and Dale Wick. Absent: Carolyn Yaggie-Heinen. Also present: St. Joseph Resident Ken Jacobson, Honorable Mayor Richard Schultz, and EDA Director Cynthia Smith-Strack. Call to Order. Chairperson Wick called the May 25, 2011 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:04 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda and requested the addition of agenda item 5d relating to EDA budget and the movement of item 5a a discussion with Mayor Schultz to the next item on the agenda. Motion by Davey, second by Skahen to approve the agenda with the requested changes. Motion carried 4-0. Discussion with Mayor Schultz Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted the EDA and Mayor Schultz discussed several issues in rapid succession at the March 30, 2011 regular meeting. A key point of discussion was communication. The Mayor was invited to join the EDA to further explore methods of enhancing communication. EDA Member Frank noted that some changes had occurred pursuant to a Council workshop on March 31, 2011. Among them the EDA Director would be submitting a quarterly report to the City Council, EDA Members Wick and Frank will be providing detailed updates to the Council, improvements in the City’s website were expected, but, at this point there were no plans for broadcasting the meeting. Strack noted the Mayor had addressed the ‘footprint of the City’ and the potential to create visual renderings of downtown as it is today versus how we’d like to see it in the future. Mayor Schultz indicated he had talked with the City Engineer and other architects. Schultz indicated he thought visual illustrations would indeed go a long way toward communicating what was desired in the Downtown in terms of park area, parking, and a pedestrian friendly environment. Strack inquired as to whether or not the Mayor’s intent was to create renderings in the context of on-going facilities planning efforts. Schultz indicated there was a great deal of overlapping interests in any project of this nature. For example, stakeholders would include Park Board, Facilities Committee, EDA, and Rental Housing Working Group. Schultz indicated Wick would be an excellent lead on the project due to his participation in most of those groups. Davey noted he supported the creation of renderings, that he is energized by moving forward with projects and meeting goals. Mayor Schultz noted he didn’t want to rehash what had been previously conducted which seemed like a lot of discussion but not a particularly large amount of results. Schultz stated he wanted the project to be done at street level with input from the community and property owners. Wick noted the Governor’s Design Team visited the community nearly twenty years ago and that the illustrations from that event were relevant but perhaps dated. Schultz stated that the renderings could reflect a mixture of what has previously been completed and what is immediate. Frank stated he shared the Mayor’s thoughts on the fact the City has been seeking Downtown updates for a lengthy period of time. He noted that since the EDA didn’t join the recently formed Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation the EDA would have $8,000 available to pull things together. Davey noted the EDA needed to produce something concrete, to get this project moving. Schultz noted that if the renderings were done correctly they could make the downtown an activity hub. Skahen suggested the EDA be careful about the approach to any study. He suggested the EDA take steps to ensure that the resulting renderings are something to which people will be committed. HE suggested the EDA have a firm plan in place before conducting visioning. Strack noted previous efforts resulted in concepts, just not renderings, for that an artist was needed. Schlutz noted the community could continue to analyze the Downtown, but he was not afraid to get going toward concrete results. For example, Schultz said he wanted to move along with a community center in the Downtown. Schultz excused himself from the meeting. Frank noted open meeting and data practices would be discussed at a future Council work session. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes of the April 27, 2011 regular EDA meeting. Motion Frank, Second Davey to approve the minutes from the April 27, 2011 regular EDA meeting as presented. Motion approved 4:0. Accounts Payable and Monthly Report. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda items and reviewed accounts payable in the amount of $2,676.85 for MDG services. Motion Davey, Second Frank to approve accounts payable. Motion carried 4:0. Wick introduced the April financial report noting the 2010 Audit had been completed and the financial reports illustrated the audited figures. Motion Davey, Second Frank to approve the April financial report. Motion carried 4:0. Farm to School Project. Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted the EDA is continuing to work on connecting the dots between local producers, processors, distributors, and end users (schools, college/university, restaurants, institutions) in an effort to get more products from local establishments to end users in St. Joseph. She noted potential speakers for a meeting with producers, processors, distributors, and end users have suggested collecting background information prior to a general meeting so as to provide relevant information and begin building a database. To those ends she had taked the following actions: (a) compiled a list of 70 local producers populated from a vendor list created by the St. Joseph Food Coop and those listed on the Minnesota Grown website, (b) sent an email blast with a survey link to all 70 producers (the survey was attached), (c) compiled a database of 20 local end users, and (d) sent an email blast with survey link to all 20 end users (survey included in the packet). EDA Minutes – May 25, 2011 2 Strack noted the project really needed a brand name and EDA Members were asked to assist. Finally, she distributed survey results from both producers and end users. The EDA reviewed the results thoroughly. The EDA suggested naming the project after an existing on-going effort. CEDS Projects. Wick introduced the topic. Strack noted that on May 2, 2011 the East Central Regional Development Commission (RDC) took over management/oversight of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) from the recently dissolved St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership. Strack noted discussion with Region 7RDC Economic Development Professional Jordan Zeller regarding ‘next steps’ in accessing federal EDA grant monies. Zeller reported he was meeting with Federal EDA Regional Representative John O’Leary to initiate and review the process of establishing a federal EDA district for the quad-county area. Zeller also indicated the Interim CEDS Board would be meeting on June nd 2 to determine the timeline for establishment of the Federal EDA district. He then indicated the 7W (Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright Counties) would decide what projects included in the CEDS listings would be pursued. Strack noted she had discussed the issue with a trusted advisor who suggested she submit requests for grant assistance for the St. Joseph projects listed in the draft CEDS completed by the SCAEDP. To those ends Strack was requested direction from the EDA as to which of the following projects to include in a funding application: (a) extension of storm sewer, drinking water, and sanitary sewer facilities to proposed CSAH 2, (b) construction of a .5 mile collector street from new CSAH 2 to developable lands abutting I- 94, and (c) installation of improvements including roadways, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and drinking water in ‘Parkway Business Center’ bank owned property. The EDA discussed the CEDS and directed Strack to contact Zeller and request funding applications be submitted for all three projects, prioritized as presented. EDA Budget Wick introduced the agenda item and stated that because the City Council did not approve joining the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation the St. Joseph EDA would be responsible for its own marketing campaign and business retention visits. Wick noted the $8,000 dues would need to be reallocated. Frank clarified that the City could still join the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation in future years. Wick noted he was unsure of whether or not an alignment with the Central Minnesota chapter of the Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors would be continued due to City not participating in GSCDC. Strack will contact Shelia Devine to request information. Frank suggested the EDA anticipate a few more meetings with other entities to facilitate projects under consideration at this time. Skahen reminded EDA Members that plans were made to meet with the Park Board about landscaping and the downtown footprint. Strack suggested the items be addressed in conjunction with budget discussions which would occur next month. A key item would be to decide whether ‘marketing’ efforts would be capital items or included in the annual budget allocation. Board Member Announcements. None. Adjournment. Motion Frank, Second Skahen to adjourn the EDA meeting. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 4:30 PM. EDA Minutes – May 25, 2011 3 Cynthia Smith-Strack EDA Director EDA Minutes – May 25, 2011 4