Loading...
03-18-2024 EDA MIN Meeting of the Economic Development Authority Held at the Elk River City Hall Monday, March 18, 2024 Members Present: President Dan Tveite, Commissioners Cory Grupa, Matt Westgaard, Mike Beyer, Jennifer Wagner, Jeff Hartwig, and Charlie Blesener Members Absent: Staff Present: Economic Development Director Brent O’Neil, Economic Development Specialist Joshua Mollan, and Deputy City Clerk Jolene Richter Others Present: ERMU General Manager Mark Hanson and ERMU Administrations Director Sara Youngs 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Economic Development Authority was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Tveite. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. CONSIDER AGENDA Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Grupa to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Moved by Commissioner Blesener and seconded by Commissioner Wagner to approve the following consent agenda: Motion carried 7-0. 4.1 February 20, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes 4.2 Check Register 4.3 Balance Sheet 4.4 Revenue/Expenditure Reports 5. OPEN FORUM Economic Development Authority Minutes March 18, 2024 --------- Page 2 of 4 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6.1 Sale of Property at 13566 and 13530 185th Ave. NW Mr. O’Neil presented the staff report. President Tveite opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this issue, President Tveite continued the public hearing to April 15, 2024. Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Beyer to continue Item 6.1 Sale of Property at 13566 and 13530 185th Ave NW to the April 15, 2024, Economic Development Authority meeting Motion carried 7-0. 7. GENERAL BUSINESS 7.1 Beautification and Public Art Committee Update and Art Selection Mr. Mollan presented the staff report. He provided the following summaries: Beautification Award: The committee is ready to accept applications and nominations starting in May for the award. Public Art Project: They reviewed and scored the proposals for the public art project, "Where Energy Flows" by Carey Dean scored the highest. The project is budgeted at $20,000. They are working on securing a public art grant of $8,000 for this project and are asking the commission for a $10,000 contribution. The remainder of the costs will be raised from local businesses. Staff is working with the Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission regarding the project as that is where the project is proposed to be located. Moved by Commissioner Blesener and seconded by Commissioner Hartwig to a financial contribution of $10,000 to support the curation of Carey Dean's "Where Energy Flows". Motion carried 7-0. 7.2 Together Elk River Committee Update Mr. Mollan presented the staff report. He provided the following summaries: At its February meeting, the Together Elk River Committee recommended that the EDA continue services with OrangeBall Creative in 2024 to support the 169 Redefine project. Staff is working with OrangeBall on an updated agreement for 2024 services. It is anticipated OrangeBall will start work in April. Staff is working on an additional marketing piece in connection with the Main Street closure to support the businesses impacted by the closure. The Downtown banners will be printed in-house this year as it will be significantly cheaper. Economic Development Authority Minutes March 18, 2024 --------- Page 3 of 4 7.3 General Updates Mr. O'Neil presented the staff report and provided the following update summaries: The April EDA meeting: there will be two work sessions in April regarding the Heritage Millwork project and a discussion with a hotel group that would like to work with the EDA and address the commission. There will be a public hearing on the sale of Fox Haven and working with Shoot Steel to close out the TIF. Thunderstruck closed on the sale of the property on 170th. They are now going through designs to get the project ready to go in late Spring. Staff will be working on accounting with the finance team due to the transfer of property and then bring it back to the EDA and Council for the transaction. They considered re-engaging in the MN Twins yearbook depending on the train service operations for the games. They did determine they are running the train this year for the games. Staff put together a piece highlighting Elk River and the ability to take the train to the games. Mr. Mollan put together an annual report for 2023 which is on the website to view. 8. MOTION TO ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING Moved by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Beyer to adjourn the regular meeting of the Economic Development Authority. Motion carried 7-0. The regular meeting adjourned at 5:44 p.m. President Tveite called the work session to order at 5:47 p.m. 9. WORK SESSION - UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM 9.1 Downtown Electric Vehicle Chargers Mr. O’Neil presented the staff report. The Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) recently shared with the EDA its desire to no longer own and operate electric vehicle chargers in the downtown area. Rather than remove them, ERMU inquired whether the EDA would be interested in taking over ownership of the chargers. ERMU General Manager Mark Hansen and Sara Youngs of ERMU were present to share operational and financial information. There was a discussion on the costs, rates, locations, and benefits of transferring the electric vehicle chargers to the EDA. The EDA is supportive of taking on the charges and doing an evaluation in the next 18 months. Staff will work on the transition. 10. MOTION TO ADJOURN WORK SESSION Economic Development Authority Minutes March 18, 2024 --------- Page 4 of 4 Moved by Commissioner Beyer and seconded by Commissioner Blesener to adjourn the meeting of the Economic Development Authority. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m. Minutes prepared by Jolene Richter. __________________ Dan Tveite, Chair ___________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk