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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04] Minutes CITY OF ST.JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes—Wednesday October 22, 2014 Present: Board Members Doug Danielson, Steve Frank, Larry Hosch, Gary Osberg, and Dale Wick. Absent: None. Also present: St. Joseph City Administrator Judy Weyrens and EDA Director Cynthia Smith-Strack. Call to Order. Chairperson Wick called the October 22, 2014 meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 5:07 p.m. Agenda. Frank introduced the agenda, second by Osberg. Danielson requested the addition of 6(d)discussion about a proposed sign ordinance. Motion carried 4-0 with the addition of item 6(d). Public Comment. None. Approval of Minutes. Chairperson Wick introduced the minutes from the September 24, 2014 EDA meeting. Motion by Osberg, Second Danielson to approve the September 24, 2014 meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried 4:0 Accounts Payable and Monthly Report. Chair Wick introduced the agenda items noting accounts payable and presence of financial reports. Motion Danielson, second Wick to approve accounts payable and financial reports as presented. Motion carried 5:0. EDA Meeting Date: November 2014 Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack stated Jon Petters, proposing the Bayou Blues/Alley Flats project had requested a special meeting to consider approval of the use of tax increment financing. Mr. Petters would like to hold a special meeting so as to enable construction initiation this fall. The meeting must be held jointly by the City Council and the EDA. A hearing notice has been published for a joint meeting on November 10th at 6 p.m. Additionally, the regularly scheduled November EDA meeting falls on the Wednesday prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. EDA Chair Wick has suggested the regular meeting be rescheduled to the 10th unless items needing immediate attention arise. A motion must be approved by the EDA to call for the special meeting on the 10th and reschedule the regular meeting from the 26th to the 10tH Motion by Danielson, second by Osberg to reschedule the November regular EDA meeting to 5 p.m. on November 10th and call for a special joint meeting with the City Council on the same date at 6 p.m. Motion carried 5:0. Creation of Shovel Ready Business/Industrial Lots Wick introduced the agenda item. Strack noted at the September meeting, EDA Member Wick reported on a City Council workshop.Wick indicated the Council discussed re-prioritizing economic development October 22, 2014 EDA Meeting Page 1 goals, specifically shifting of focus from creating shovel ready lots at 1-94(Walz/GTI)to projects with a more immediate return. A potential project the EDA could encourage is creation of shovel ready industrial/business lots in what has been referred to as"Parkway Business Center". At the September meeting the EDA requested additional background information about the former development be provided for discussion. "Parkway Business Center"was a 52 acre proposed development east of the existing industrial park. Plat and construction documents were prepared for the proposed development in 2008. Prior to final approval of the project the developer defaulted on a loan and property ownership reverted to Great Northern Bank (St. Michael)which has since merged with another bank and been renamed First American Bank. Strack referenced items included in the packet as the preliminary plat, an opinion of probable project cost from the City Engineer, and a sales flyer for the property. Strack noted an MDG Associate who is also a licensed realtor stated that shovel ready lots priced at approximately$2/square foot would likely be competitive in the area. Strack stated she had been in touch with First American Bank regarding the property. First American is interested in moving the property off their books and meeting with the EDA/staff representatives to further discuss. She further stated at this time there are four shovel ready industrial lots available in St. Joseph, two of which are build to suit. The EDA reviewed the packet materials and agreed additional discussion was warranted. Motion Frank, Second Osberg to authorize and direct the EDA Director to arrange a meeting with appropriate staff/consulting staff and First American Bank representatives to determine interest in development of shovel ready business/industrial lots. Motion carried 5:0. Business Development Report. Wick referenced the business development update. Strack stated she had mailed invitations to seven owners of property abutting an alley in the 100 block of West Minnesota Street. The meeting will be held October 29th at 5 p.m. at City Hall. Purpose of the gathering is to talk about the condition of alleys and receive input regarding resurfacing, parking and/or placement of enhanced amenities. Strack noted Joel Vogel of Rengel Printing and she met with Diane Hageman CSB Marketing Director regarding potential collaboration on a printed map. Hageman was going to review the request and get back in touch with Vogel in the next month. Strack noted she had updated the internship posting and re-distributed to SCSU, U of M, Mankato State, and CSB. She also noted she arranged/attended a meeting with representatives from DEED and a potential project to discuss state incentives. Sign Ordinance Discussion Wick introduced the item and requested Danielson lead discussion. Danielson noted he understood the Council was considering updates to the sign ordinance. He stated he had heard concerns from business owners regarding dynamic signs and billboards and how they were going to be regulated. He requested additional information. Weyrens stated sign ordinance review began in January of 2014 with a joint EDA, Planning Commission, and City Council meeting to discuss potential updates relating to signage. She stated a common thread throughout the meeting was a desire to continue to prohibit billboards in the City of St. Joseph.The draft ordinance language that was developed reflected a ban on billboards and also included limits on digital signs.The digital sign limits included size, maximum of 50 square feet, and flashing, rotating, timing of October 22,2014 EDA Meeting Page 2 digital displays. The flashing, rotating, and timing standards were based on research and suggestions from the League of Minnesota Cities. Danielson stated digital was the future of signs. He stated the bank sign would flash and rotate. He recommended further definition of what would be allowed and prohibited under the proposed sign ordinance. Wick noted a moratorium on signs expired in November, therefore, the Council was to address the issue early in the month.Weyrens noted if substantial changes were made to the proposed sign ordinance it would again have to go through a public hearing. Announcements. None. Adjournment. Motion by Frank, Seconded by Hosch to adjourn the EDA meeting at 5:45 p.m. Motion carried 5-0. October 22,2014 EDA Meeting Page 3