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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 [12] Dec 19CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes — Wednesday December 19, 2012 Present: Board Members Tom Skahen, Doug Danielson, Steve Frank, and Dale Wick. Also present: Michael McDonald, Mayor Rick Schultz, Valerie and Joseph Silva McDonald's Franchise Owners, City Administrator Judy Weyresn, and Cynthia Smith - Strack EDA Director. Absent. EDA Board Member Larry Hosch. Call to Order. Chairperson Wick called the December 19, 2012 meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 5:00 p.m. Agenda. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda. Motion by Frank seconded by Danielson to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 4 -0. Public Comment. Chairperson Wick introduced Valerie and Joseph Silva, owners of the McDonald's franchise in St. Joseph. The Silva's reported McDonalds will open on December 31, 2012. The franchise owners wanted to attend the EDA meeting to introduce a special event scheduled for January 29, 2012. Mr. Silva explained Valerie started as a counter staff person at McDonalds and worked her way up to owning franchises. He was a police officer in Chicago until they became business owners. They own stores in Waite Park, Avon, and now St. Joseph. They have owned franchises for five years. Under the franchise agreement they own all of the personal property within the building but not the real estate itself. The Silva's handed out information cards about a planned grand opening and fundraiser on January 29th Proceeds of the fundraiser will benefit the Klinefelter Foundation and will be timed to the 17th anniversary of the late St. Joseph Police Officers death. They have reached out to regional media regarding the event and would like City leaders to join them for the grand opening. Strack questioned how the EDA could assist in the process. Silva's indicated primary need was to spread the word about the grand opening. Frank asked the Silva's for input on the local development process and fee requirements. The Silva's reported the development process ran smoothly and that fees were reasonable. Frank asked them to comment on the sign ordinance. The Silva's reported they didn't have any difficulty meeting standards, just had a glitch with the sign contractor that they were working through. Frank asked about work force quality and the Silva's noted workforce quality is good. Wages were as per minimum requirements with opportunities for advancement. The EDA welcomed the Silva's to town and thanked them for stopping by the EDA meeting. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the November 28, 2012 regular EDA meeting. Motion by Frank, Second Skahen to approve the November 28, 2012 minutes as presented. Motion carried 3 -0, with Wick abstaining due to his absence. Accounts Payable and Monthly Report. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda items and reviewed accounts payable for December 2012 in the amount of $2,625.13 (MDG contract and mileage). December 19, 2012 EDA Meeting Page 1 Motion by Skahen, Seconded by Wick to approve the accounts payable as presented. Motion carried 4- 0. Motion by Skahen, Second by Wick to approve the December financial reports as presented. Motion carried 4 -0. BFA — Mill Stream Village. Chairperson Wick introduced the agenda item and Strack referenced documents contained in the packet. Strack noted the minutes from the previous meeting didn't include grant disbursement; therefore, authorization was being sought at this time. Wick questioned the total dollar amount for reimbursement noting the EDA approved $554 or 50% of the cost of the sign for Mill Stream Village. The 50% figure came to a total of $498.74 according to the invoices submitted. Motion by Skahen, Second Frank to approve $498.74 disbursement from the BFA Grant Fund for the completed sign at Mill Stream Village. Motion carried 4 -0. Tax Abatement and TIF Disbursements. Wick introduced the agenda item and noted a discrepancy in the packet memo. Strack noted the City had received the final settlement for 2012 property taxes. The final payment includes revenue for Coborns abatement, TIF 1 -4 (Fabral /Gohman), and TIF 2 -1 (Millstream Shops /Lofts). Finance Director, Lori Bartlett has processed the payment and requests approval of the following disbursements: Tax Abatement — Coborns: $50,000; TIF 1-4 — Gohman /Fabral (payment to lender: Minnwest Bank): $27,540.80 (i.e. 90% of increment received); TIF 2 -1 — Millstream Shops /Lofts (payment to lender: First State Bank, St. Joseph: $12,229.16 (i.e. 90% of increment received). Motion Skahen, Second Danielson to authorize disbursement of tax abatement and tax increments payments for the second half of 2012 in the amount of $50,000 to Coborns, $27,540.80 to MinnWest Bank, and $92,229.16 to Millstream Shops /Lofts. Motion carried 4:0. Business Retention and Expansion Report. Chairperson Wick introduced the report and commented on the number of respondents and the detailed information gathered from the survey. McDonald requested the names of those responding and indicating an interest in learning more about the Chamber be shared with the Chamber. The EDA agreed and requested Strack provide the names to McDonald. EDA Board Members commented on the perception of infrastructure costs as affordable but the concern regarding taxes. Also mentioned was the desire of several businesses to link to the new City website. Strack noted follow up on those with an interest in the BFA and /or RLF programs could be undertaken, as could follow up with those indicating an interest in expanding in St. Joseph (two businesses). Frank noted the EDA should keep the survey results in hand and refer to them often so as to maximize the effort. Consensus to accept the report and forward it to the City Council and Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Master Plan. Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack called the Board's attention to mission and vision statement samples included in the packet along with several maps of the downtown area. Frank and Wick stated they preferred very simple sentences relating to mission and vision statements or none at all as they seemed quite lengthy. Frank suggested compiling statements from previous plans as a means of developing a simple, statement. December 19, 2012 EDA Meeting Page 2 The Board concurred they did not want to choose mission and /or vision statements at this time Strack then referenced the maps contained in the EDA packet. She began with the first map which illustrated the "Downtown" boundary as drawn by the EDA at earlier meetings. Danielson inquired as to whether or not other EDA members thought the boundary should include properties north of CSAH 75 and adjacent to College Avenue. The EDA discussed the "Downtown" boundary and agreed to leave the conceptual border as defined in Map One. Strack then referenced the second map in the packet and inquired as to the EDA's thoughts on land use, sidewalks, and parking in the one block area in the NE downtown as bounded by Ash Street, Birch Street, 1s' Avenue and 2 "d Avenue. The Board discussed the one block area and decided they were not comfortable with establishing guidelines for future uses without input from property owners. The EDA felt such input was necessary to determine what possibilities were likely. Wick exited the meeting at 6:15 p.m. Strack inquired as to whether or not the EDA would like to bring an urban architect into a meeting to physical sketch potential changes to buildings and /or lots. The EDA noted paying for another contractor was not something they favored. Strack noted the individual she had in mind may be available through her office and hours. The EDA requested Strack contact all property owners in the Downtown area to determine whether or not they had plans for their property in the future and whether or not they would like to be part of a downtown master plan process. Business Development Report. Strack referenced a business development report which was included in the packet. She noted Borgert Products was adding a cold storage building to their industrial site. She also noted discussions of extending utilities to the GTI/Walz properties were ongoing and that she had emailed petitions for annexation to the property owners. Board Member Announcements. The Board congratulated and thanked Skahen for his ten years of service on the EDA Board. Adjournment. Motion by�jDanielsorj, Sefcondpd by Frank to adjourn the EDA meeting at 6:37 pm. Motion carried 3 -0. Cynthia Smith - Strack EDA Director December 19, 2012 EDA Meeting Page 3