HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 [10] Oct 26 CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AURTHORITY
Meeting Minutes — Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Present: EDA Board Members Steve Frank (3:10), Carolyn Yaggie- Heinen, Tom Skahen, and Dale Wick.
Absent: Chad Davey.
Also present: City Administrator Judy Weyrens, Mayor Rick Schultz, and EDA Director Cynthia Smith -
Strack.
Call to Order.
Chairperson Wick called the October 26, 2011 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 3:00
p.m.
Agenda.
Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda.
Motion by Skahen, second by Heinen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 3 -0.
Guest: Katie Foley, Manager St. Joseph Food Cooperative.
Ms. Foley was not present. Strack confirmed her attendance earlier in the day. Weyrens left the meeting
to contact Foley.
Approval of Minutes.
Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes of the September 28, 2011 EDA meeting.
Motion Skahen, Second Heinen to approve the minutes from the September 28, 2011 regular EDA
meeting as presented. Motion approved 3:0.
Accounts Payable and Monthly Report.
Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda items and reviewed accounts payable in the amount of
$2,581.48 for MDG services.
Frank arrived at 3:10 p.m.
Wick introduced the August financial reports. Wick inquired as to the revenue item entitled "DEED
Housing Reimbursement" in the amount of $16,368.75. Weyrens noted this was likely program income
refunded from a previous abatement that had been returned to the City due to a change in
use /occupancy. Strack to confirm and report back. Strack also noted the revolving loan fund contained
nearly $12,500 meaning the EDA had approximately $10,000 it could loan out to a qualifying applicant.
Strack noted she had met with a business lead earlier in the day to discuss the RLF and distributed the
application to the prospect.
Motion Heinen, Second Skahen to approve accounts payable and the September financial report as
presented. Motion carried 4:0.
EDA Sign.
Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted that at a previous meeting the EDA approved the concept
of developing an all- weather, construction sign suitable for marketing its participation in local development
projects. Joe Pfannenstein Signs has been contacted regarding the creation of a 4' X 4', double sided, all -
weather portable sign. At this point Mr. Pfannenstein will employ the same artwork used for the EDA
October 26, 2011 EDA Meeting
window clings, intending the sign to be re -used in other construction projects in the future. Preliminary
pricing is $350 plus sales tax.
On a related note, Strack stated she had reviewed the sign ordinance as it applies to a `construction' sign.
Such signs are limited to 32 sf in area and must be removed by either the issuance of a certificate of
occupancy or within two weeks of project completion, whichever comes first.
Finally, she reported she received authorization for sign placement from the owners of the `Cone Castle'
parcel at 118 1 Avenue NW.
Motion Heinen, Second Skahen to approve sign design and price and authorize Strack to purchase the
sign and have it displayed. Motion carried 4:0.
DEED Redevelopment Grant Program.
Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted that the Minnesota Department of Employment and
Economic Development (DEED) had released a solicitation for the 2012 Redevelopment Grant Program.
The Program has $1 Million available to qualifying projects in greater Minnesota. The grants are
competitive in nature and require a project to be considered for funding. Unlike in years past, the 2012
grant can be used to fund portions of private projects rather than just specifically public projects.
Eligible activities include infrastructure, soil stabilization, demolition, ponding, and /or interior remediation
for re -use.
Consideration of the program and potential project identification was kindly sought. EDA Board Members
expressed support for the use of funds previously set aside to apply for SCDP grant in the amount of
$2,500 to use for application completion in conjunction with a project in the downtown.
Guest Katie Foley, Manager St. Joseph Food Cooperative.
Foley joined the EDA and was introduced by Strack. Strack noted she had had the opportunity to visit
with Foley regarding the Market, her efforts to get Market items into institutions, and her previous
experience in working with local producers. Throughout the course of our conversations it became
apparent the EDA/Co -Op /Market have shared goals relating to the Mn. Street Market's success and the
effort to connect local farm producers to institutional end users. To those ends Ms. Foley has been invited
to the EDA meeting to:
1. Share her experience (relating to needs, obstacles) when working with local producers and
institutional end users.
2. Her plans /efforts /goals to serving CSB, SJU, ISD 742 and how they may relate to NFFTE efforts
by EDA.
3. What she feels the Co -Op and Market need to be successful.
4. How the EDA may assist in terms of inventory and /or increasing customer volume.
Ms. Foley provided a synopsis of her involvement with the St. Joseph Food Cooperative and her
experience working with food cooperatives on and off for the past twenty years. Foley noted she worked
with Sodexo, Inc. representatives who managed food service at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Foley
said the local cooperative in Morris was the conduit for local producers and Sodexo. She helped to
connect dots and ensure certified organic foods were available as requested. The cooperative was
primarily involved in special event and theme meals in Morris, but also assisted in educating food service
workers about local products. She noted primary food products supplied to the institution were carrots,
squash, berries, and lettuce.
When asked to share her plans /efforts /goals to servicing CSB, SJU, and ISD 742 Foley noted special or
themed events and educational outreach were important strategies. She also noted that in her
experience, a dedicated set of end users demand local produce and organic products. She understands
from several contacts that there is a demand in local institutions for such products. Foley noted that a key
to harnessing that end -user demand was in sustainability programming and environmental programming.
Partnerships within those organizations would ultimately be helpful in reaching out to food purchasers and
establishing a positive demand equation.
EDA Board Member Frank asked Foley whether or not she worked with a 'Chamber Bucks' program or a
script program. Foley noted such programs were up and running in Morris and had a successful track
record. She noted an interest in program involvement if such a program was instituted. Foley also noted
other communities and cooperatives had loosely designed barter programs which she would be
interested in organizing as well.
Strack inquired as to what Foley thought the cooperative /market needed to ultimately be successful.
Foley noted she was encouraged by the success the Market was having at this time. She also noted the
display space was quite large which can potentially lead to difficulties in keeping inventory fully supplied.
She added additional customer traffic is also a welcomed site and anything the EDA could assist with as
far as that was concerned would be warmly received.
Strack asked Foley to talk about potential barriers to getting more locally produced foods into area
institutions. Foley identified a need to educate food service preparers and food service procurers and /or
service provider representatives on the appearance and versatility of local produce and organic produce.
She indicated a need to potentially promote local thematic events or opportunities. When asked about
supplying more items for ala carte style offerings Foley noted that would be interesting as well.
The discussion then changed to an event the EDA has been envisioning for several months. A get to
know each other opportunity for local producers, processors, and end users. Strack asked Foley ideally
what she would like to gain from such a meeting. Foley noted she'd like to know from producers what
they have available as far as volume of product is concerned and at what times of the year. She'd like to
know from end users what products are needed at what times of the year. The schedules could then be
merged into a consolidated calendar to assist with management of supply and demand. Foley also
suggested meeting with food service representatives and reaching out to environmental stewards and
sustainability offices at CSB and SJU to enlist their support prior to introducing the idea to food service.
The Board discussed meeting with stakeholders from end -user groups at the next EDA meeting. The
EDA directed Strack to work with Foley to organize an off -site EDA meeting at the Minnesota Street
Market on November 30 at 3 p.m. Officials from environmental offices and sustainability directors in
addition to food service providers will be invited.
The Board thanked Foley for attending the meeting and Foley indicated she was looking forward to a
future partnership.
Board Member Announcements.
Wick solicited announcements from Board Members. No announcements were provided.
Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned by consensus at 4:20 following a Motion by Skahen and a Second by Heinen.
Cynthia Smith - Strack
EDA Director