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07-11-2011 EDA MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JULY I I, 201 I Members Present: President Touchette, Commissioners Dwyer, Gumphrey, Motin, Tveite, Westgaard, and Zerwas Members Absent: None Staff Present: Director of Economic Development Annie Deckert, Planrrirrg Manager Jeremy B an°rhart, and City Clerk Tina Allard 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Economic Development Authoritywas called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Touchette. Consider Agenda Item 3.1 was removed from the Consent agenda and added as Item 4.1. Items 3.3 and 3.4 were removed from the agenda. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY • COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD TO APPROVE THE JULY 11, 2011 EDA AGENDA AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Consider Consent Agenda MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DWYER TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS: 3.2. CHECK REGISTER AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. en Mike No one was present. 4.1. ConsiderJune 13, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes Commissioner Motin stated the EDA can't make hiring decisions so the language in the minutes should be changed as follows: "It was agreed recommended in the future the City Council would consult with its boards and commissions before approving a new hire." • President Dwyer stated the EDA does have the abilitybecause it is a separate corporation. Economic Development AuthorityMmutes Juty 1 i, zol i Page 2 Commissioner Motin stated the Council didn't agree to consult with boards but rather this • was a recommendation from the EDA to Council MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE JUNE 12, 2011 MINUTES WITH THE CHANGES NOTED ABOVE. MOTION CARRIED 7- 0. 5. Presentation byMN District Export Council Ms. Deckert introduced Senior Partner Yvonne Halpaus of QNet LLC., who is also a representative for the Minnesota District Export Council Ms. Halpaus outlined the purpose and services of the Export Council as noted in the staff report. She stated the Export Council advises local business on export financing and they are looking at building export partnerships with organization such as the EDA. She invited the Commission to work with the Export Council to assist local business with exporting needs by attending one of their four meetings scheduled throughout the year. President Touchette suggested it maybe worthwhile for staff to look at the companies in Elk River to see who could be helped by utilizing this service. 6. Discussion on EDA Donation Policv Ms. Decker presented the staff report. • Commissioners Dwyer and Zerwas stated theywere not in favor of having a donation policy and looking at each request on aaase-by--case basis. Commissioner Tveite concurred but further noted the commission needs to be diligent on the rationale of why it's beneficial from an economic development perspective so they don't create a precedent that says any good cause is something the EDA will donate to. CommissionerMotin expressed surprise that the cityattorneywould recommend a no donation policy. He stated concerns with late requests and feeling pressure to respond at the last minute on a request. President Touchette stared the requests need to be rooted in economic well-being and suggested staff loos at each request and howtheyhelp the growth of economics for Elk River. It was the Consensus of the Commission to not have a written donation policy. 7. Discussion of Hiring Process for Assistant Economic Development Director Ms. Decken presented the staff report. Commissioner Dwyer stated, per the EDA Bylaws, a hiring committee recommendation should be brought to the EDA Commission for approval • Commissioner Motin disagreed and stated the onlybodythat can hire or fire staff for the city is the Caty Council He stated the Council should get input from the EDA. He stated the Economic Development Authority Minutes July 11, 2011 Page 3 EDA can appoint someone to act as the Executive Director or Assistant Executive Director • once a staff person is hired byCounciL Ms. Deckert stated the enabling resolution doesn't omit the power of hiring .and Council involvement would be during the budget approval process. Commissioner Motin stated the bylaws allow appointment but not hiring. He stated the titles are different too because the Council has always hired a Director of Economic Development who usually gets appointed as the Executive Director bythe EDA. Commissioner Tveite suggested that Ms. Bolton provide the EDA a written summary as to the basis for her opinion. He stated the term "appoint" can be looked at different ways but there maybe other documents that confirm her opinion. President Touchette stated the EDA has a right to appoint but there should be respect for other group consideration, such as the HRA as they share costs too. Commissioner Zerwas stated historical process should also be considered. It was consensus of the Commission that further clarification is needed and that staff is to also collaborate with City AttorneyPeter Beck Discussion was held on moving forward with an interview committee. There was discussion on having Annie Deckert, Lauren tapper, and another community development staff person on the interview committee. It was also questioned if the President should be part of • the committee but it was noted that interviews for this position level have been typically handled bystaff with a recommendation brought forward. Staff is to keep the President updated on the progress. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MOTIN TO AUTHORIZE A STAFF HIRING COMMITTEE TO INTERVIEW FOR THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSITION AND TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO EITHER THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE EDA DEPENDING ON THE TWO ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 8. Consideration of Economic Development Volunteer Position Ms. Deckert presented the staff report. President Touchette stated he like the idea of utilizing volunteers as it brings people into City Hall, saves money, and strengthens the city. He questioned if this would take too much supervision and staff time away from the Director's effectiveness with current duties. Ms. Deckert stated it would help to ease up on the workload of the Administrative Assistant for the CommunityDevelopment Department. She stated volunteers would be utilized as needed • Commissioner Westgaard stated he would expect staff to determine the effectiveness of utilizing volunteers. Economic Development AuthorityMuiutes July 11, 2011 Page 4 Commissioner Motin expressed concern with v,~ether a volunteer would work well for the • EDA division but also expected staff to monitor the program's effectiveness. He expressed concerns with consistency, reliability, turnover, and professionalism with the public. Commissioner Tveite expressed concerns about confidentiality. Ms. Deckert noted the Human Resources Division is working on the confidentiality issue. Commissioner Dwyer suggested evaluating this program in six months. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGA.ARD TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO POST FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEER POSITION. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 Marketing and Branding Update Ms. Deckert provided an update as outlined in her staff report. President Touchette suggested staff consult with CkiandlerThinks regarding volunteer usage. 10. Spectrum Charter School Dome Mr. Barnhart presented the staff report. Mr. Barnhart noted a number of issues that, based in EDA and City Council direction, could be worked out. • Commissioner Westgaard questioned if the lot would be buildable. Ms. Deckers stated the current site is 9 acres and shaped like a "Z". She stated Spectrum is requesting 4 acres and the leftover parcel would still accommodate a 75,000 sq. ft. building with the required parking for a light industrial user. It was noted there are also power and gas lines crossing the property. Commissioner Westgaard stated this is an industrial lot with an outlot that will be tough to build upon. He further questioned if the Parks and Recreation Commission has reviewed the request for being able to utilize the dome. Mr. Barnhart stated the Parks and Recreation Commssion hasn't seen the request but based on conversations with park staff they most likely would have uses for the dome. He stated there may need to be a transfer of funds from Parks to EDA. Mr. Barnhart stated staff had suggested the Youth Athletic Complex as a prime location for Spectrum but that they did not feel it met their needs at the time. Commissioner Dwyer stated he is not in favor of giving up a light industrial parcel that has access to water and sewer because there is very minimal of this type of property available in the city. Commissioner Motin questioned if the dome would be an allowable use if the request had come from someone other than Spectrum. • Mr. Barnhart stated it would be allowed as an accessory use but the challenge would be meeting the design standards of the developmern. Economic Development Authority Minutes Page 5 July 11, 2011 • Commissioner Motin stated the dome was an eyesore at its previous location and he expressed concerns with visibility along Twin Lakes Road and Highway 169/ 101. Commissioner Tveite stated that the Youth Axhletic.Complexwoind seem to be a more appropriate site. He stated the citywas veryparticular about the design standards and has made all other businesses conform to them. He stated it wouldn't be right to allow the dome to be installed without also meeting the same standards. President Touchette stated the EDA needs to look at what supports its base of businesses from an economic development standpoint. He stated the focus of this area is as an industrial park. He stated this project doesn't support the EDA's intent and the visibility would bring the development down, He further stated it takes one lot awayfor a business or expansion opportunities awayfrom existing area business. 11. Other Business Commissioner Tveite reminded everyone of the Sherburne CountyFair being held this weekend. 12. Staff Updates Ms. Deckert provided an ArtSoup Update. 13. Adjournment • MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGA.ARD AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER TVEITE TO ADJOURNED THE MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AT 6:40 P.M. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Tina Allard, City Clerk R ouchette, President •