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5.2. SR 07-11-2005 Item 5.2. MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council Housing and Redevelopment Authority FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development ~ DATE: July II, 2005 SUBJECT: Downtown Revitalization Project - Discussion with MetroPlains Attachments . June 27, 2005 City Council Meeting Minutes . The Bluffs of Elk River, July 2005 design Background The City Council held a special meeting with MetroPlains on June 27th to discuss designs of the proposed projects and feedback received from the public with regard to the designs. MetroPlains presented the Council with a revised design for The Bluffs of Elk River project. The Council acknowledged the refInements were better but requested additional refInements in particular to the turret and visual breakup of the mid-section. The Council directed staff that the HRA review and comment on the designs, and any other issues related to the project, prior to the Council. The Council invited the HRA to participate in the discussion of the refIned design at the Council work session. Vern Hanson of MetroPlains Development will be in attendance at meeting for a discussion with the Council and HRA on the attached reflned design for The Bluffs of Elk River. . s: \Downtown Revitalization \Memos \2005 \ 7.11.05 Council. doc SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2005 Members Present: Mayor Klinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Farber, Gumphrey, and Motin Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Pat Klaers, Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich, and City Clerk Joan Schmidt 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Special Meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing. 2. Central Business District Update Members of the City Council indicated that they had received calls complaining that the construction plan approved by the City Council for The Bluffs of Elk River was not the same as the original concept portrayed to the citizens of Elk River. Vern Hanson of MetroPlains Development and Michele Mongeon of JLG Architects reviewed with the City Council the original concept, the version that had been approved, and a new rendering for Council to make comments on. Ms. Mongeon stated that the original concept was to have importance to that cotner of the City, which is the gateway to downtown, but that the scale was a challenge. She stated that the new image had more detailing of the fourth floor with the scale of the canopy brought down and more in line with the rest of the building and the height of the turret also brought down. She stated that the council could go back to the original concept with the four story mid- sections. She stated that the units need to have room for mechanical equipment and by having the balconies recessed the equipment could be stored there. Councilmember Motin inquired as to how far back would this be recessed. She stated 6-8 feet and the balcony would be defined with privacy walls. Councilmember Dietz commented that when the plans were passed by Council he had not studied them close enough and that in hindsight he feels everything should go through the HRA. He stated that primarily the HRA has been working on this project and would catch any problems. He stated that it would make sense that anything in the future should go to the HRA fIrst with Council receiving the benefIt of their input before having to make a decision. Mayor Klinzing commented that what she had heard from people who had called was that this drawing is very different from the original concept. City Council Minutes June 27, 2005 Page 2 Councilmember Farber stated that the feedback he has received is that people liked the original drawing and that they didn't want to see a revised version. He felt people liked it because it looks like the old downtown. Mayor Klinzing stated that it has a lot to do with the turret and the height of the roof. Stewart Wilson, HRA Chairman, stated that he saw the turret of the building as the key aspect, the focal point of the drawing. He felt that the current design lost a lot of its appeal. He stated that he feels accountable to the citizens of Elk River and that he wants a building that most people will be happy with. The whole image of this revitalization project is staked on the exterior appearance. He stated that he feels this new concept is better. The prospective of the original drawing had a more staggered look on the roofline rather than a linear universal look. Councilmember Motin stated that he feels this is an improvement over what was there before. He stated that he knew it would go to council for final approval but felt that the HRA would still see this rendition. He likes this turret better but doesn't know how it would flow into the rest of the building. He stated that he doesn't know if three or four stories would be better for the mid-section design and that he would like to see more creativity so that it doesn't have a boxy appearance. Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich stated that the construction plans conform to the terms and conditions of the Development Agreement, are consistent with the goals and objectives of the City's Tax Increment Financing Development Program, and do not violate any applicable federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations and meet the Downtown Ordinance. It was the consensus of the Council to have the developer and architect work on a drawing with breakup of the mid-section elevation and a refinement of the turret as in the original concept and to present this to the City Council on July 11. (HRA will also be present on July 11.) The Mayor called a recess at 7:50 p.m. Mayor Klinzing reconvened the meeting at 7:56 p.m. 3. Community Development Director Update Greg Albrecht of Sathe Executive Search presented to the council the top three candidates for the position of Community Development Director. They are Scott Clark, Community Development Director with the City of Arden Hills; R. Michael Leek, Community Development Director with City of Shakopee; and another individual from Iowa. Mr. Albrecht shared with the Council the candidates' work experience, education, leadership skills, and their reason for applying for the position. Mayor Klinzing expressed disappointment that the two internal applicants were not in the top three. She stated that she has expressed support for one of those applicants. She stated that she would like to have Steve Rohlf added to this list of candidates to be interviewed and feels that he could stand up with the three candidates. Councilmember Farber also expressed disappointment that the two internal candidates who were listed in the top 10 had not made it to the top three. He expected that at least one would. He stated that he did not wish to interview a candidate from out-of-state. City Council Minutes June 27, 2005 Page 3 Mr. Albrecht stated that his charge was to fmd the best candidate; but that he's not opposed to adding Steve Rohlf to the list of candidates to be interviewed and having the Council look at his qualifications. Mayor Klinzing stated that Mr. Rohlf has seen everything that goes forward in the City, has dealt with every area that a Community Development Director would deal with, and that she doesn't think it's fair to not have him as a top candidate because he knows what the city is all about. She stated she did not wish to see professionals coming in from another city when we have professionals here. Councilmember Farber agreed and would like to see the Council interview four candidates. MOVED BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER TO ADD A FOURTH CANDIDATE, STEVE ROHLF, TO THE LIST OF CANDIDATES TO BE INTERVIEWD. Council had further discussion regarding how Mr. Albrecht weighed the candidates, the internal candidate Steve Rohlf, the out-of-state candidate, and the reason for hiring the consultant. Councilmember Morin stated that he would rather have the motion be "to interview the two in-state candidates plus Steve Rohlf." Mayor Klinzing and Councilmember Farber agreed to this friendly amendment to the motion. MOTION AMENDED BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER TO INTERVIEW THE TWO IN-STATE CANDIDATES PLUS INTERNAL CANDIDATE STEVE ROHLF. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Mr. Albrecht distributed a list of suggested interview topics and questions. The Councilmembers made some revisions and Mr. Albrecht will refme the list of questions and work on a timeline. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO SET A SPECIAL MEETING TO INTERVIEW CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR MONDAY, JULY 25, AT 6:30 P.M. WITH A FALLBACK DATE OF THURSDAY, JULY 21, AT 6 P.M. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the Special Meeting of the Elk River City Council at 8:45 p.m. Joan Schmidt, City Clerk ~,.... $ " .. '((~~ '( } . " ~.;. ~.~ ~. "- , -.,