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Home My WebLink About[05b] Goals inftALA Sskeit CI OF ST.JOSEPH EDA Agenda Item 105b1 MEETING DATE: January 18,2017 AGENDA ITEM: Goals SUBMITTED BY: Administration BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE/COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION: PREVIOUS EDA ACTION: The EDA has developed a Capital Improvement Plan over the past years,dedicating funding for development. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The EDA Capital Improvement Plan includes the following Projects: Category Fund Balance 12/31/16 Let's Go Downtown $ 43,339.50 Business Development/TIF $ 36,567.31 Business Demolition Program $ 6,710.80 BFA Grant1RLF Loan Program $ 12,627.67 Total Incentive Funds $99,245.28 I have received a request for the City to consider purchasing the property at 35 MN Street E for parking for the downtown. I have attached a copy of the email as well as my response. Staff recently met with David Heyer from DEED (Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development) regarding State financing opportunities. The majority of the programs through DEED are for industrial development. We did discuss the Parkway Business Center and utilization of BDPI funds to help offset the infrastructure costs. The maximum award is $ 500,000 which is matching. He did not believe a business was needed to start the project and the City could use to create a business park. He is going to check and get back to the City to verify. (David Heyer is the State DEED representative for this area.) BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: Request for EDA Action— Email Correspondence REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Discussion Judy Weyrens From: Judy Weyrens Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2016 7:49 AM To: 'amanda lopau' Subject: RE: Property on Minnesota Street Amanda— I can certainly understand your concerns. The EDA has talked about the parking and impact of the current parking and needs downtown as recently as last week. We are excited that our downtown is alive and continues to grow. Parking has always been addressed during the development process, as it was during the development of the Millstream Shops and Lofts. When the City was approached recently to amend the PUD for Millstream Shops and Lofts,a public hearing was held and notices were mailed to all the surrounding property owners. The City only received one concern from an adjoining property owner. At the same time Cory Ehlert came forward with his Bed and Breakfast. As staff we requested that he consider the impact to the adjoining properties. At no time did the City intend to have Cory Ehlert suggest that the City would consider purchasing property for parking,as we believe that is a cost that should be absorbed by the developer. In talking to the City Engineer,due to the width/length of parking stalls and allowing for circulation,the number of cars that could park on your parcel is probably less than 16. Part of the parking lot design would require landscaping and state mandated storm water management, reducing the number of parking spaces. Another consideration is placing a parking lot across the street from a residential district. The City/EDA are not in a position to purchase property for parking due to financial constraints. The EDA has the statutory ability to purchase property for economic development, but do not have budget funds to start purchasing lots. Regardless of where parking is available, people are still going to try and find the most convenient place for parking. A good example is the City Hall parking lot. Our parking lot is marked Public Parking—yet on really busy nights in town,our lot is empty. The City will begin the Comprehensive Plan update process in January 2017 and will be looking at the current and future plans for the City. The consultant hired indicated that the plan should be drafted for 20 years,with an update after 10 years. The consultant that was hired was selected due to their various types of outreach they will be completing. They are really going to focus on getting input from a large variety of residents, property owners, etc. Part of the study will include looking at the downtown development. I encourage you to participate as you are able and provide feedback. The consultant will us developing a website just for the Comprehensive Plan that will provide details on meetings and opportunities. Also you can watch the Newsletter with your bi-monthly utility bills or the City website and cable access channel. I can certainly update the EDA and let them know your thoughts and share your email as well. I will also share this with the Mayor, Rick Schultz, and Chair of the EDA, Dale Wick. Judy Weyrens,Administrator City of St.Joseph PO Box 668 St.Joseph MN 56374 (320)363-7201(Office) (320)363-0342 (FAX) iwevrens(aa�citvofstioseph.com Disclaimer: Information in this message or an attachment may be government data and thereby subject to the Minnesota aovernwtent Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, may be subject to attorney-client or 1 work product privilege, may be confidential, privileged, proprietary or otherwise protected, and the unauthorized review, copying, retransmission, or other use or disclosure of the information is strictly prohibited if you are not the intended recipient of this message, please immediately notify the sender of the transmission error and them promptly delete this message from your computer system. From:amanda Iopau [mailto:lopau.amanda@gmail.com] Sent:Tuesday, December 20,2016 12:06 PM To:Judy Weyrens<jweyrens@cityofstjoseph.com> Subject: Property on Minnesota Street Judy, Hello,my name is Amanda Lopau. My husband,Brian Lopau and I own the property at 35 East Minnesota Street in St Joseph,MN. We have been having a lot of communication with Cory Ehlert recently about our property and the city using it for a parking lot possibly. I just wanted to touch bases with you and express our concerns with the parking and traffic in downtown St Joseph. Parking has been an issue for a long time now, however,withe the added success of Bad Habit,parking and traffic in general,is a huge issue. It's a safety concern as well as a noise and general nuisance concern. Cars are constantly making U-turns in the middle of the street and intersections. We have so many vehicles using our driveway as a turn-around as well. Not only does Minnesota Street get so backed up,it fills up 1st Avenue as well. We can't even have our guests park by our house anymore. If we have anyone come over,they have to park down the block. Our neighbor was a recent victim of a hit and run with a vehicle that they parked on the street. It's just gotten SO busy!!! This is a great thing for St Joseph! We are completely for the Bed and Breakfast that will be next door as well. Cory has parking already for this but it will also bring more traffic and commotion. I am not writing this to complain but to express our feelings on how much parking is an issue and needs to be addressed ASAP! We are the last lot on the block. We feel that the city and the local downtown businesses would benefit greatly by using our property as a parking lot. Ever since Cory brought this issue up with us,my husband and I have been talking in great depth about it. We have lived at this property for over 13 years(I think,lol) and we have been very understanding and considerate with the changes and growth that the city has made. But like I said earlier, it has become a major issue now and will get worse now that Bello's is doubling in size. I don't understand how they can do this without having a parking lot established. I understand that they have a lot behind the building but nobody uses that for the restaurant. Only apartment residents do. Plus,that puts a lot of more traffic in the alley and it makes it so dangerous for our kids and the neighbors. Like I said, I am not writing this as a complaint but as a means of communication on what to do next. We are very interested in selling our property and it would benefit us and the city to do so. We would like to further our thoughts and conversations to the city council or whichever would be the next thing to do. Cory is willing to help us further as well as the city and is willing to be the interim between us two. What should we do??? Thank you for your time and any advice or assistance that you may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Amanda Lopau Total Control Panel Login 2