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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 [03] Mar 28 CITY OF ST.JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes—Wednesday, March 28,2012 Present: EDA Board Members Steve Frank, Carolyn Yaggie-Heinen, Tom Skahen, and Dale Wick. Absent: Chad Davey. Also present: Jason Neuerburg from Cone Castle, Harvey Pfannenstein from St. Joe Meat Market, Greg Kacuras from Floral Arts, and EDA Director Cynthia Smith-Strack. Call to Order. Chairperson Wick called the March 28, 2012 regular meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 5:00 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda and noted the rescheduling of Adeel Ahmed from the University of Minnesota as a guest, but the item will remain for discussion. Motion by Skahen, second by Frank to approve the agenda with the change noted. Motion carried 4-0. Guest: Jason Neuerburg, Cone Castle. Wick introduced the agenda item and Mr. Neuerburg. Strack noted a new goal established for the EDA this year is to meet with representatives from projects/developments that have been through the development process and regulatory framework in the City of St. Joseph. The goal is to reflect on the adequacy of current standards and the accessibility of the regulatory framework. Since Cone Castle was a project that went though the development process regulatory framework in 2011, representatives were invited to meet with the EDA regarding the project. Strack noted she had asked fVeuerburg to be very open and honest in his assessment. Mr. Neuerburg had great things to report from first meeting through finalizing the project. Neuerburg indicated that before making a decision to locate in St. Joseph he had heard negative comments about the development process, but his experience proved those comments absolutely false. Ideuerburg complimented the Council, EDA, and City Staff on a smooth and efficient review process. He noted fees are as anticipated. He a�so noted Cone Castle recently hired 32 employees from over 70 applicants; all employees are local. Neuerburg presented menus talked about programs that will give back to the community including a 'round up' strategy and volunteer opportunities for civic organizations and service groups. Cone Castle is intended to be a multi-location franchise in the future; the EDA offered to assist in the development of corporate headquarters in St. Joseph. Strack noted Harvey Pfannenstein will be joining the meeting at approximately 6 p.m. Business Retention and Expansion Progam. Wick noted that Mr. Adeel Ahmed would be attending the May EDA meeting. Wick introduced the memo in the packet relating to the U of M Extension BRE program. Strack noted the BRE Program assistance offered by the U of M provided meaningful resources for establishing and pursuing such programs. Both short and long term outcomes were examined along with industry specific information. Communities and volunteers are supported throughout the program by Certified BR&E Consultants and BR&E applied researchers from the U of M who assist the local leaders with the organization and technical research involved in the program. Cost for the program is$3,000. March 28, 2012 EDA Meeting Page � 1 � Approval of Minutes. Wick introduced the minutes from the February 22, 2012 regular EDA minutes. Heinen noted the footer at the bottom of page one had the wrong date included. Motion Heinen, Second Skahen to approve the February 22, 2012 minutes with the aforementioned revision. Motion carried 4:0. Accounts Payable and Monthly Report. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda items and reviewed accounts payable for March 2012 in the amount of$2,817.00 for MDG services. Wick introduced the February financial reports. Strack noted an RLF balance of nearly$15,000. Motion Skahen, Second Heinen to approve accounts payable and the February financial reports as presented. Motion carried 4:0. BFA Grant Application: Greg Kacures Floral Arts. Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted Mr. Kacures was in attendance. She stated Kacures contemplates new signage and painting of the building walls under a BFA grant. Strack noted that while the BFA grant has been used to assist with new signage, the EDA has always maintained the need to have additional aspects of the project including, but not limited to, landscaping, work on exteriors, entries, windows, and the like. The EDA has not considered a project contemplating signage and painting of a fa�ade. She referenced the BFA standards included in the packet. Kacures explained his proposed project and noted that he has changed windows within the past year and is also contemplating re-doing the front entry and adding planters. Kacures proposes painting this summer, installing signage by Mothers Day, and pursuing the front entry improvements later this year. Frank inquired as to whether or not a sign permit had been issued for the proposed signage. Karcures � noted he had filed the permit with Building Official Gary Utsch. Heinen questioned Kacures as to his level of commitment to the front entry improvements and whether or not he had sought additional bids for signage. Kacures noted the front entry improvements may or may not occur in 2012. He had not sought additional bids for signage installation. Motion Skahen, second Wick to approved BFA reimbursement for F/ora/Arts to be used for a combination of signage and painting and perhaps improvements to the front of the building. Motion passed 4:0. Downtown "Footprint" Discussion. Wick introduced the agenda item and referred to the iliustrations included in the packet. Strack noted that at the March joint meeting, Mayor Schultz continued to express a need to conduct"visioning [that]could address what the downtown was going to physically look like in three years, five years, and ten years. . . part of what the EDA should be doing is visioning; answering questions like what buildings should look like in the downtown and what the corridor from 94 to downtown should look like". Strack referenced images of renderings completed in various communities that were included in the packet. Heinen opined the Commission has had these discussion in the past, including those with the Minnesota Design Team and Scenic Specialties. Wick noted a problem in that the City doesn't own much of the real estate in town. Lack of ownership means lack of opportunity for the City to pursue a project He inquired that if 90% of the property in downtown is privately owned, would the cost of producing renderings be justified. Wick noted the only thing the City could change in the downtown were the streets and sidewalks. March 28, 2012 EDA Meeting Page � 2 Skahen stated a need to involve representatives from the Park Board, the Planning Commission, the EDA, and the Council for any project to have success. Frank stated he thought the Mayor had done a good job brining groups together in the past for projects. He also stated that the City could have some control over private property through zoning. Skahen stated a need to produce results, to do something that is specific and achievable. He also noted he agreed with Heinen's opinion that the issue of a 'downtown footprinY had been studied in the past. He reiterated a need to produce results. Heinen asked whether the group thought a rendering was needed. She noted the item wasn't included in the budget or capital program. Finally she stated she agreed the Park Board would need to be involved. Skahen suggested to move ahead the group needed to be reminded of what was done. Heinen suggested that maps that were previously produced in conjunction with the Mn. Design Team visit and the rental housing work group be available for the April meeting. Frank agreed requesting items that had been discussed be plugged in on an aerial map for discussion in April. Wick suggested using maps that were already completed. Consensus was to discuss the issue further at the April meeting. Guest: Harvey Pfannenstein St.Joe Meat Market. Wick welcomed Mr. Pfannenstein and thanked him for attending the meeting. Strack noted Harvey Pfannenstein from the St. Joe Meat Market was attending the EDA meeting to speak to his experience with the development process and regulatory framework in St. Joseph. Pfannenstein was very appreciative of support received from the Council, the EDA, and City Staff. He noted the project would not have moved forward without financial assistance through tax increment financing. He noted he's already hired three more employees and new prospects are opening. He is now supplying items to CSB and St. John's which prior to the expansion he was unable to do. Pfannenstein mentioned the City Administrator, the EDA Board, the EDA Director, and the Building Official as being invaluable in his unde►taking the process. He noted if plans for the building on Minnesota Street change he will be pleased to work with the City on that project too. EDA Marketing. Wick introduced the agenda item. Frank said he asked three of his classes, about 100 students and colleagues what they thought of St. Joseph. Frank said mostly he received blank stares. Actual responses included: the College of St. Benedict, the Wobegon Trail, and Kay's Kitchen. Wick said he spoke with several people who noted: an eclectic community, student population, St. Joe Meat Market, the Vet Clinics, a good place to meeUgreet others, active citizen participation, lots of festivals, smalt community but growing, an expanding business base, and the arts. One person said she thought of a 'college town' but not in the cute, quaint way it could be. Skahen said people he spoke with noted a caring community, the Wetterling Foundation, and the farmer's market. Heinen reports people mentioned a conservative, connected community with many assets. Strack's responses were: March 28, 2012 EDA Meeting Page � 3 � • "I see a small town with big possibilities great people, family owned businesses cute little mom and pop shops and restaurants and lots of natural elements". • "I really like the main drive along CR 75 which is the main route I travel. It has improved over the years. I also use Coborns quite a lot." • "I think of education, private schools, nice elementary school, and cake eaters(rich people)." • "I think of the monastery, Kay's Kitchen, going through the City to get to 194 and the fun times on the Wobegon Trail." The Board will continue discussion on other items included in this category at the April meeting. Those include three specific work items the EDA could accomplish within five years and three items or assets for which St. Joseph could be branded. Board Member Announcements. Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted City Administrator Weyrens will be at the April meeting as she will be on vacation. She also noted that her business partner, Joanne Foust would be joining her for office hours on an occasional basis in May so as to be able to step in if Strack is required to take an extended leave. Adjournment. Motion Heinen, second Skahen to adjourn. Motion carried 4:0 meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.. l:� ��lult/'""`t.r���� zy. Cynthia Smith-Strack EDA Director March 28, 2012 EDA Meeting Page � 4