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01-22-2001 HR MIN MEETING OF THE ELK RNER HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2001 Members Present: Commissioners Thompson, Toth, Huntington, and Motin Members Absent: Commissioner Wilson Staff Present: Director of Economic Development Cathy Mehelich, Assistant Director of Economic Development Marc Nevinski, City Administrator Pat Klaers, Recording Secretary Tina Allard 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chair Toth. 2. Consider 01/22/01 HRA Agenda COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE 1/22/01 HRA AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. • 3. Consider Consent Agenda COMMISSIONER MOTIN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS: 3.1. 11/27/00 HRA MINUTES-APPROVED 3.2. CHECK REGISTER-APPROVED 3.3. REVENUE/EXPENDITURE REPORT THROUGH 11/30/00 COMMISSIONER HUNTINGTON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Open Mike There was no one present for Open Mike. 5. Annual Meetina Items a. Election of Officers COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER TOTH AS CHAIR OF THE HRA. COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO APPOINT COMMISSSIONER WILSON AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HRA. COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE 40 MOTION.THE MOTON CARRIED 4-0. COMMISSIONER MOTIN MOVED TO APPOINT DARYL THOMPSON AS THE • SECREATRY OF THE HRA. COMMISSIONER HUNTINGTON SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. b. Designate Official Newspaper COMMISSIONER MOTIN MOVED TO DESIGNATE THE ELK RIVER STAR NEWS AS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR THE HRA FOR THE YEAR 2001. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. c. Designate Official Depositories COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO SELECT THE FOLLOWING AS OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES FOR THE HRA: • FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ELK RIVER • 4M FUND • WELLS FARGO BANK • THE BANK OF ELK RIVER • US BANK COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Central Business District Sidewalks City Administrator Pat Klaers discussed design options and funding issues for the central business district sidewalk project as outlined in his January 22, 2001, memo. Mr. Klaers stated that staff reached a consensus to recommend the solid • Cobblestone paver sidewalk in the amount of$290,000, which would also include the removal of the existing sidewalk. Mr. Klaers indicated that staff supports one consistent look throughout the downtown area and that the traditional look of the cobblestone pavers would fit in with old and new buildings. Mr. Klaers stated that when pavers are replaced, they will match old pavers better than new concrete would match existing concrete. Mr. Klaers stated that some funding for the sidewalks could come from HRA tax monies, surpluses in the HRA budget, funds from the King Avenue and Main Street TIF project, and funding may be received from assessments. Director of Economic.Development Catherine Mehelich stated she sent notices to property owners to inform them of this sidewalk discussion. Ms. Mehelich stated that she received calls from Elk River Meats and Diamond City Breads inquiring why new sidewalks were necessary. Todd Plaisted, developer for the King and Main Project,stated that he supports the staff recommendation and also noted that the pavers would be very durable and resistant to salt corrosion. Mr. Plaisted stated that it would be easy to remove the pavers for utility repair and then replace them again. Commissioner Motin expressed concern about citizens being able to walk safely on the rough looking cobblestone paver. Mr. Plaisted stated that the pavers would be smoother once sand had been filled in and the pavers were tamped down. • Pat Dwyer, representing The Bank of Elk River, stated that he liked the idea of • having one consistent look with the sidewalks downtown and he liked the look of the cobblestone paver. Cliff Lundberg, representing the River's Edge Organization, stated that he prefers the symmetry paver design but feels the cobblestone look would fit in with the look of downtown. Mr. Lundberg stated that the River's Edge Organization is supportive of the cobblestone pavers. JoyAnn McChesney, co-owner of Kemper Drug, mentioned that she liked the cobblestone pavers but was concerned about the durability of the product and the cost to property owners. Ms. Chesney indicated that she does not want to be back in 12 years looking at having to replace the sidewalks again. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE UNIFORM DESIGN AND MATERIAL OF THE SOLID COBBLESTONE PAVER BEING USED THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA. COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The HRA asked staff to bring specific options to them regarding funding and assessments for the sidewalk plan. 7. Downtown Redevelopment Plan Update Assistant Director of Economic Development Marc Nevinski informed the • commission that staff has met with three consultants and received proposals from each for completing a market analysis as part of the comprehensive redevelopment plan for downtown. Mr. Nevinski discussed the background, the proposal, and the bids of each of the three consultants. Mr. Nevinski also noted a fourth option the HRA may follow that would allow staff to complete an in-house market analysis. Mr. Nevinski stated that this may not be an as objective of an analysis and the project would be more time-consuming for staff. Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich stated that funds in the budget were allocated for this project. COMMISSIONER MOTIN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM MAXFIELD RESEARCH, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,000 TO COMPLETE A MARKET ANALYSIS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.COMMISSIONER HUNTINGTON SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 8. Update on Housing Programs Assistant Director of Economic Development Marc Nevinski gave an update on housing program opportunities. Mr. Nevinski stated that in the past the HRA has participated in the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's(MHFA) Minnesota City Participation Program (MCPP), which provides loan dollars to qualified first time home buyers. Mr. Nevinski stated that Sherburne County is completing a countywide application and this would allow Elk River residents and lenders to access loan funds. Chair Toth commented that the county would have a larger pool of candidates to request and disburse these funds. Mr. Nevinski stated that historically the funds tend to be dispersed proportionally to the local communities and the city and • county cannot apply to this program at the same time. Mr. Nevinski stated that another program the HRA may wish to be involved in is the Community Activity Set-Aside(CASA) program. Mr. Nevinski stated that the HRA could custom design a program that addresses different possible housing needs in the area. 9. Other Business Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich requested that a special meeting of the HRA be called on Monday, February 5, 2001, at 6:00 p.m., to discuss economic development financing tools. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HRA ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2001, AT 6:00 P.M.,TO HOLD A WORKSESSION TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING TOOLS. COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION.THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 10. Adjournment There being no other business, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COMMISSIONER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. • The meeting the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority adjourned at /6:10p .1 L' ,47,1,4 L-L Tina Allard Recording Secretary •