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Home My WebLink About2012 [08] Aug 22 CITY OF ST.JOSEPH ECONOMlC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes—Wednesday August 22,2012 Present: Chair Dale Wick; Board Members Tom Skahen, Larry Hosch, Doug Danielson and Steve Frank (5:16 p.m.). Absent: None. Also present: Talieza Callaway, Ken Jacobson, Michael McDonald, Mayor Rick Schultz and Economic Development Consultant Joanne Foust. Call to Order. Chairperson Wick called the August 22,2012 meeting of the St.Joseph EDA to order at 5:02 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda. Mofion by Skahen,seconded by Danie/son to approve[he agenda with the addition of Business e. Council meeting update. Motion carried 4-0. Public Comment. Wick introduced the agenda item. Ken Jacobson was present and inquired if the Demolition Grant Program is an active financial program offered by the EDA. Commissione�s noted the fund has a balance of approximately $5,800. The EDA has provided demolition grants to Cone Castle and the Delwin. Jacobsen noted he owns a student housing unit he would like to demolish as a spring 2013 project. Staff will provide lacobsen with the application materials. Approval of Minutes. Wick introduced the minutes from the July 25, 2012 regular EDA meeting. Motion Wick,Second Hosch to approve the July 25,2012 minutes as presented. Motion carried 4-0. Accounts Payable and Monthly Report. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda items and reviewed accounts payable for August 2012 in the amount of$2,638.45 (MDG contract). Wick requested the mileage be noted separate from consulting fees on future accounts payable. Commissioner Hosch excused himself at 5:15 p.m. Commissioner Frank arrived at 5:16 p.m. Motion by Danie/son, Seconded by Skahen to approve the accounts payab/e and the August financial reports as presented. Motion carried 4-0. TIF Disbursements. Chairperson Wick noted that City has existing development agreements for tax increment finance projects. In accordance with the agreements,the City rebates back to developers a percent of the semi- annual tax increment received. Motion Wick, Seconded by Skahen to approve tax increment disbursements for TIF 1-4 (Gohman/VickwestJ in the amount of $27,540.76 and for TIF 2-1 (MillstreamJ in the amounf of $21,469.15. Motion carried 3-1-0, wifh Danielson abstaining. Commissioner Hosch returned to the meeting at 5:20 p.m. August 22, 2012 EDA Meeting Page 1 BFA—Scenic Specialties. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item noting Scenic Specialties has submitted an application for a BFA Grant in the amount of$1000 for the installation of faux windows and an exterior fireplace. The application was reviewed as it relates to the BFA guidelines. Foust noted both fa4ade improvements and landscaping are identified as eligible uses of BFA funds. The current BFA fund balance is$8,207.08. Commissioners discussed the proposed uses of funds. The windows are estimated at $1,160 and the fireplace at $2,845 for a total project cost of$4,060. It was the consensus of the Commission that the windows are a more appropriate use of the funds, and they would support 50�0 of that cost. Commissioners did not feel the BFA funds should be used for the exterior fireplace. Motion by Skahen, Seconded by Frank to approve a BFA Grant to Scenic Specia/ties for approximately 50%of the cost of faux windows at 31101 County Road 133, or a total$550 upon submittal of the receipt or invoice for the supplies and inspection certifying ihe work has been comp/eted in accordance with the building code. Motion carried 5-0. 2013 Capita) Programs Budget. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item, noting the EDA included $70,000 in the preliminary budget for 2013 for programs including Let's Go Downtown, Business Development/TIF, the Demolition Grant Program and the BFA Grant Program. He noted there has been a 2%decrease in the city's market value. The EDA is asked to reduce the 2013 CIP Budget. Commissioners discussed possible projects for 2013 and funding which would be required to support the various projects. Foust noted she had submitted a pre-application to the Initiative Foundation for $4500 which could potentially assist with the Let's Go Downtown or powntown Master Planning Project. Schultz noted his preference to continue to budget for the Downtown and demolition grants as in his opinion these have a greater impact than the BFA grants. Motion Hosch,Second Skahen to recommend a budgei of$33,500 for the 2013 EDA Capital Projects to include the following:$10,000 for Let's Go Downtown(with a potential additional$4,500 grant from the Initiative Foundafion), $11,500 for Business Development/TIF, $6,000 for the Business Demolition Grant Program and$6,000 for the BFA Grant Program. Motion carried 5-0. Business Retention and Expansion. Wick introduced the agenda item. Foust reported that six of the ten businesses have responded to the survey. Of those remaining, one survey is "missing in mail", one has been forwarded to their corporate office and two have not responded to follow-up calls/emails. The Chamber of Commerce has invited the EDA to present the program at their September 12, 2012 meeting, on the Business Retention & Expansion survey. Foust inquired if a Commissioner would like to present the information, noting she would do so on their behalf if desired. A summary of the responses to date were distributed. It was requested that staff follow-up on questions from businesses,especially those expressing concerns with taxes or requesting space,etc. August 22,2012 EDA Meeting Page 2 Foust distributed a business directory developed by the EDA and Chamber of Commerce in 2008. She requested the EDA provide any updates they are aware of. McDonald noted he would forward updates as well. It was the consensus of the EDA to distribute the EDA letter to the remainder of the business community. Downtown Master Plan. Wick introduced the agenda item referencing a memo and map included in the information packet. Commissioners reviewed maps from the July meeting. It was the consensus to begin planning with the following parameters: • Defining the boundary of the 'downtown' area. The area lying west of 2"d Ave NW with the exception of the barber shop, the area north of Minnesota Avenue, the area along College Avenue, including the parcels directly abutting College Avenue to the east and north to CR 75. It was noted that this boundary may change in the future as the Wobegon Trail is extended as this will be an important link. • Parking areas to focus on include the parking lot by City Hall, parking on Lot 1 by the Mill, south of Ash St. E.and the private parking on 109 and 111 College Avenue North. • Redevelopment Sites identified included rentals along Ash Street and 110 College Avenue North and 13 Ash Street East. The need to identify handicap parking spaces was noted. • Pedestrian routes proposed included sidewalks throughout the downtown area. It was noted a sidewalk is needed along 2"d Avenue NW. If it is located on the west side of the road there will be poles to work around as well as a slope to address. The Commission agreed the entire downtown should include sidewalks/walkways and these should link to the Wobegon Trail. • Potential courtyards/green space on redevelopment sites were discussed. • The need to plan for mixed commercial/residential uses was also discussed. The Commission emphasized the need for a proactive plan to address redevelopment sites and methods of acquiring and redeveloping these sites including potential rights-of-first refusal and budgeting for acquisition and sidewalk construction. Coordinating efforts with property owners was also discussed as a priority as the plan is developed. The Commission requested the development of a map illustrating the boundary, potential redevelopment sites, parking lots, and pedestrian ways (existing and needed). An overlay with rental housing was requested. The inclusion of a demographics section in the Master Plan was requested to discuss who may live and shop in the downtown area. Frank reported that 50%of the population is now over 50 years old. It was suggested the census tract information be reviewed to see if the coflege can be removed from the city overall census data to obtain additional information of the demographics in the city. The EDA will continue discussion on the Downtown Master Plan at their September 26, 2012 meeting. Business Prospect—Council Action. Foust provided an update to EDA Commissioners on a special City Council meeting which was held to discuss the submittal of a proposal letter to a business considering a site in the Industrial Park. Commissioners requested more time and information to consider future requests. Wick noted this was August 22,2012 EDA Meeting Page 3 an unusual situation and typically there is more data and time. The proposal letter was general and noted the need to complete application requirements. Board Member Announcements. Danielson reported the Parish hopes to begin their improvements in September. They are waiting for the approval from the diocese. Adjournment. Motion by Frank,Seconded by Skahen to adjourn the EDA meeting at 6:37 pm. Motion carried 5-0. ,�t� ,/�,�,� C-i-� � Joanne Foust EDA Consultant Municipal Development Group lnc. August 22,2012 EDA Meeting Page 4