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01-09-2006 EDA MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2006 Members Present: President Gongoll, Commissioners, Dwyer, Farber, Gumphrey, Klinzing, Motin and Tveite Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich, Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz, Community Development Director Scott Clark; Recording Secretary Debbie Huebner 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Economic Development Authority was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Gongoll. 2. 3. Consider Agenda MOVED BY COMMISSIONER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 9, 2005 EDA AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Consider Consent Agenda MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KLINZING AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER TVEITE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS: 3.1. CONSIDER NOVEMBER 14, 2005 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 3.2. CHECK REGISTERS 3.3. NOVEMBER 2005 BALANCE SHEET 3.4. NOVEMBER 2005 REVENUE/EXPENDITURE REPORT 3.5. APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3.6. DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAI, NEWSPAPER 3.7. DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES 3.8. CONSIDER COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS MOTION CARRIED 7-0 4. Open Mike No one appeared for open mike. Economic Development ?,uthority Minutes January 9, 2006 5. Annual Election of Officers Page 2 MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KLINZING AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS: PRESIDENT -JEFF GONGOLL VICE PRESIDENT -PAT DWYER SECRETARY -PAUL MOTIN TREASURER - DAN TVEITE ASSISTANT TREASURER -JERRY GUMPHREY MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 6. Str~t~gic Industrial Marketing ndate Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz reviewed highlights of the Strategic Industrial Marketing Update as follows: V. Public Relations Strategy Technical Assistance Program -Staff received two extensions on the Initiative Fund grant period, which allowed the program to be extended until June 30, 2006. 2006 Community Profile -The 2006 Profile will not be available until early spring so that the fma12006 tax rates can be included, rather than estimates. VL Strategic Pazmership Strategy Energy Citv -Staff received 3 responses to a Request for Proposals to redesign the Energy City Website. A recommendation for a designer will made on January 18~. Commissioner Gumphrey asked if staff has any way to tell how the EDA's advertising program is working. Ms. Steinmetz stated that it is hazd to track mazketing, but that they try to ask contacts how they heazd about the City's programs. Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich stated that the website is by faz the most populaz means. Discuss 2006 Goals and Pxoj_ects Ms. Mehelich reviewed a list drafted by staff of 2006 priority goals and projects and briefly discussed each of the items. She discussed 2005 accomplishments, including the development of the Northstaz Business Park. Ms. Mehelich noted that there are three lots that remain for sale. Discussion followed regarding the starus of the proposed YMCA project. Commissioner Klinzing stated that the City and County aze waiting for a response from the Northstaz YMCA Committee Boazd. Commissioner Dwyer stated that he would like to include in the EDA's goals a discussion of an option to allow privately owned businesses to paztlcipate in the Business Incubator program. Economic Development.~uthont}• Minutes January 9, 2006 Page 3 Ms. Mehelich noted that they will be reviewing the City's financing and subsidy policies, and inventory of industrial and commercial property at an upcoming EDA meeting. Also, she noted that late summer they will meet with the Marketing Committee for update of the Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan in which the marketing strategies will be reevaluated. Ms. Steinmetz noted that Larry Hickman, owner of the Business Incubator lease space site, informed staff that he has an interested buyer for the building. She stated that the current lease does not expire until Apri12007, but that either the EDA or Mr. Hickman has the option to end the lease Apri12006. K-nedca's lease ends February 2006. Ms. Steinmetz stated that no purchase agreement has been signed as of this date, but that Mr. Hickman wanted to inform the EDA of the potential sale of the property. President Gongoll stated that he felt the tithing was good, since the EDA has discussed looking for another site where infrastructure is akeady in place. He expressed praise for Mr. Hickman for his assistance in pro~zding a great tool for new businesses stazting up. Commissioner Tveite concurred with President Gongoll's comments, stating that the EDA would not stand in the way of his opportunity to sell the building. He stated that there have been a couple of times the Business Incubator program was not able to accommodate users because of the lack of infrastructure and felt it was time to move on. Commissioner Tveite stated that he felt that the developer's forum would be an opportunity to gather input on the Gateway Business Center project, since developers would have some insight on logical uses for the site. Commissioner Klinzing felt that development of the Gateway Business Center would provide an opportunity to expand the look of the area beyond its boundaries. She suggested that the CitS~ meet with the property owners. S. Other Business Commissioner Moan -Stated that the survey done by the Northstar Corridor indicated extremely high support by respondents both in and out of the corridor area. The survey indicated 15 percent were likely to use the corridor and that 8 percent usage would be capacity. He stated that the 500 parking spaces would be doubled to 1,000, but there is some concern that even this amount of parking will not be enough. He stated that the City needs to pay attention to how the people and traffic will be handled and whether or not more land is needed. Commissioner Motin stated that the buses will initially continue to run, but will be phased out eventually. He noted that there is a large interest by the "reverse commute" sector. Commissioner Tveite noted that the bus only stops once, and the train will make several stops. Commissioner Klinzing stated that there will be an opportunity to develop the area as a hub, as she saw in other communises she visited where light rail operates. Ms. Mehelich - Re~~iewed the letter from GRE regarding their site selecson. The Commission discussed the impact of this decision. Commissioner Dwyer expressed his disappointment with the consultants hired by GRE, and comments they made regarding the quality of housing available in Elk River. Economic Development duthority Minutes Page 4 January 9, 2006 9. A~ljoumment There being no other business, PRESIDENT GONGOLL ADJOURNED THE MEETING. The meeting of the Elk River Economic Development Authority adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Su//b~~mitted ~b`y:~ ,Q/.,~ 7tXu~a,v-~ Joan Schmidt City Clerk r_