02-13-1995 EDA MIN
MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1995
Members Present:
President Gongoll, Commissioners Dwyer, Scheel, Holmgren,
Farber, and Bender
Members Absent:
Commissioner Duitsman
Staff Present:
Bill Rubin, Executive Director; Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk
1. Call Meetinq To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Economic
Development Authority was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by President Gangol!.
2. Consider February 13. 1995 EDA Agenda
Bill Rubin requested that Item #5, "Consider February EDA Financial Update" be
deleted from the agenda.
COMMISSIONER DWYER MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 13,1995, EDA AGENDA
AS AMENDED. COMMISSIONER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
CARRIED 6-0.
3. Consider January 9. 1995. EDA Minutes
COMMISSIONER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 9, 1995, EDA MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER DWYER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
4. Open Mike
President Gongoll requested that the Commissioners consider items that may be
eligible for a consent agenda in the future.
5. Consider February EDA Financial Update
This item was deleted from the agenda.
6. Consider a Resolution Affirminq the EDA's Intent to Redevelop its Site in the 600
Block of Main Street
Executive Director Bill Rubin reviewed the issue of the property owned by the EDA
located in the 600 block of Main Street. Bill Rubin indicated that because the site
has been filled and landscaped, it may be construed that the property is more
like a park than a redevelopment site.
Economic Development Authority Meeting
February 13, 1995
Page 2
He indicated that property not being held for economic development purposes
could result in the EDA paying property taxes on the site. Bill Rubin requested that
the EDA consider adopting a resolution affirming the intent of the EDA to
redevelop its site in the 600 block of Main Street.
COMMISSIONER SCHEEL MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 95-1, A RESOLUTION
AFFIRMING THE INTENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY
OF ELK RIVER TO REDEVELOP ITS SITE IN THE 600 BLOCK OF MAIN STREET.
COMMISSIONER BENDER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
7. Consider the Needs Assessment Report Submitted by Trainina Networks. Inc.
Executive Director Bill Rubin reviewed the Needs Assessment Report which was
submitted by Lee Colby and Associates and Sandy Bower of Training Networks.
Bill Rubin further explained that the purpose of the Needs Assessment Report was
to analyze the City's review and permitting process to see how it could be
improved.
Commissioner Dwyer indicated that he felt the experience was very positive. He
recommended that the EDA accept the report and set up a way to monitor
implementation of the recommendations that were made. He sugJested that
the EDA review this issue in 90 days. President Gongoll indicated that the report
should be used as a tool for improvement which will be constantly revised.
Executive Director Bill Rubin reviewed the three recommendations from the report
including facilitated planning, staff training, and internal teamwork and
information flow.
COMMISSIONER DWYER MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT
TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS
IN THE REPORT REGARDING PLANNING, TRAINING, AND INTERNAL TEAMWORK, AND
FURTHER, TO REVISIT THE ISSUE IN 90 DAYS IN ORDER TO MONITOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPORT. PRESIDENT GONGOLL SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
Executive Director Bill Rubin recognized and thanked the City staff, the Task
Force, local businesses and land developers who provided the City with the
feedback for this report.
8. Consider Public/Private Partnership Issues in the Business Park
President Gongoll excused himself and did not participate in this agenda item
due to a potential conflict of interest.
Vice President Patrick Dwyer presided over this discussion item.
Economic Development Authority l'vleeting
February 13, 1995
Page 3
Executive Director Bill Rubin informed the EDA that the Business Park Task Force
has reviewed public/private partnership scenarios related to developing the
business park area. The three issues reviewed by the Business Park Task Force
include the following:
. Public ownership and development
. Availability of City funds - $430,000 from the former RDF TIF District
and/or $300,000 from TIF Districts NO.1 and NO.3
. Defining the public/private partnership
Bill Rubin indicated that the Business Park Task Force has recommended that the
EDA not pursue the purchase of any other land in the business park as they feel
this type of endeavor is better served by private sector developers rather than by
an agency such as the EDA.
Bill Rubin indicated that the Task Force also recommended that the availability of
funds for the business park be accessed from the RDF TIF District as the RDF funds
must be expended in the western part of the community. Bill Rubin reviewed the
estimated infrastructure costs within the property held by Country Ridge
Partnership and Gagne Development Company. He further reviewed scenarios
regarding the level of City/EDA assistance in a public/private partnership
arrangement.
COMMISSIONER HOLMGREN MOVED THE FOLLOWING:
1. TO FOREGO THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AS OUTLINED IN
THE JANUARY 9, 1995, LETTER FROM JAY JOHNSON, A REPRESENTATIVE OF
COUNTRY RIDGE PARTNERSHIP.
2. TO RECOMMEND TO THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL THAT IT ALLOCATE
$430,000 FROM THE RDF TlF FUNDS TOWARD A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
TO UNDERWRITE THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
BUSINESS PARK.
3. TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT IT ALLOCATE UP TO $300,000
OR APPROXIMATELY 65% OF COUNTRY RIDGE PARTNERSHIP'S COSTS TO
UNDERWRITE THE ASSESSMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO INDUSTRIAL SITES.
COMMISSIONER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
EDA President Jeff Gongoll returned to the dais and presided over the balance of
the meeting.
9. Consider the 1994 Economic Development Annual Report
Bill Rubin presented the 1994 Economic Development Annual Report to the EDA.
President Gongoll commended the City staff in its efforts to attain the Star City
Awards.
COMMISSIONER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE 1994 EDA REPORT.
COMMISSIONER DWYER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
Economic Development Authority Meeting
February 13, 1995
Page 4
10. Other Business
Executive Director Bill Rubin reviewed with the EDA a letter from the Chamber of
Commerce regarding the State of the City Address.
11. Adiournment
There being no further business, COMMISSIONER DWYER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE
MEETING. COMMISSIONER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED
6-0.
The meeting of the Elk River Economic Development Authority was adjourned at
5:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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City Clerk