4.1 EDA DRAFT MINUTES 04-15-2024Meeting 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
Considered to be routine and noncontroversial and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of
these items unless there is a request to remove the item from the consent agenda to the regular 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
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4.4 Revenue/Expenditure Reports
5.OPEN FORUM
An opportunity to provide comments and feedback regarding items not on the agenda. Information provided in Open Forum
will not be discussed at this meeting; rather, the information will be referred to staff and/or scheduled for discussion at a
future meeting.
6.PUBLIC HEARINGS
An opportunity for the public to express their opinions and raise questions pertaining to the agenda item. All comments
become part of the official public record. For this reason, all comments must be made at the podium so they can be heard
and recorded. Comments may also be provided in writing. There will not be deliberations, discussions, or answers to
questions until the hearing is closed. It is important to be courteous and allow each presenter to comment before adding
additional testimony.
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
Items in which the information is presented by city staff or consultants, then deliberation and action occur. General Business
items are not opportunities to receive or provide public input. However, the presiding officer may, at its sole discretion,
solicit public feedback.
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
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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.
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
Work Sessions are less formal meetings of the Economic Development Authority to encourage dialog between themselves,
staff, consultants and invited members of the public. The EDA does not typically take official action on items under discussion.
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At the conclusion of the discussion, a simple EDA consensus provides staff direction for execution of the item. This portion
of the agenda is audio recorded but not video recorded or broadcast. Work Sessions are open to the public, however,
visitors who wish to provide input must be invited by the President, assume a seat at the discussion table and provide their
full name and address for the official record.
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
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, EDA President
__________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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