5. HRSR 03-06-2006ITEM # 5.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development~~~//f
DATE: March 6, 2006
SUBJECT: Downtown Revitalization Project Update
On February 28, 2006 the Amended and Restated Development Agreement by and between
the City of Elk River and MetroPlains Development LLC was completed and fully executed
by the Mayor, City Administrator and Vern Hanson of MetroPlains.
The next step in the development process is for MetroPlains to close on its construction
financing prior to commencing construction. Vern Hanson of MetroPlains will be in
attendance at the HRA meeting to provide a brief project update.
Attached are the River's Edge meeting minutes from January and February 2006.
Rivers Edge Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2006
Meeting was called to order at 8AM in the Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room.
Attending were: Patti Hipsag, Roger Hebeisen, Heidi Steinmetz, Fred McCoy, Jeff
Gongoll, Pam Hoye and Wendy Simenson
Treasurers Report from Jim Simpson: We have 1527.22 in the treasury, we are expecting
a check from MetroPlains to pay for Santa and his Reindeer for $950.00. Since it ended
up costing us $850 because the Reindeer were late, Ann Daly said that we could apply a
$100 towards their membership in Rivers Edge Downtown Business Assoc. First
National Bank paid Elk River Star News $835.46 directly for the advertising insert for
the downtown holiday open house.
Minutes had been sent out after the November Meeting. No changes have been received.
Old Business:
City Update from Heidi: The HRA has been working on a formal redevelopment plan for
North of Highway 10. They are working on their goals and strategies. The work to
develop the Park that will be located by the mural downtown will begin in the Spring of
2006. Some parking spaces will be removed adjacent to the park. Fred asked if there was
a way to not have to remove all the spots. Wendy will contact Chris Leesberg and discuss
the options. The Bank of Elk River will be expanding downtown in the Spring of 2006
also.
Revitalization Update from Heidi: The Flag pole was moved from Jackson Square. The
pole was planted 14 feet down in the ground on the King Avenue side of the employee
parking area in the King Avenue lot. A left turn arrow was put in at the lights on Proctor
and Highway 10 to facilitate getting out of downtown. The no left turn sign from Parrish
Street to Main Street was removed. MetroPlains has secured the necessary number (23)
of buyers for the Bluff Block to commence construction. There are still some details
remaining to be worked out with their financing. The site has been remediated and is
ready for construction. Jackson Square could be started in the Spring
Recap of Downtown Open House:Pam Hoye came to the meeting to discuss the open
house and discuss ideas for future downtown promotions. Thank you to the six people
who turned in their surveys.
Positive
-Nice traffic - an estimated 500 people came downtown.
- It was nice to see lost of people downtown.
- The weather was great.
- The time of year worked out well.
- Every Business downtown participated in some way -good sense of community.
Things that could be enhanced
- Mainstream communication so it is easier and faster for the main contact person.
- Some confusion with Santa placement, but that is easy to fix.
- Add another "big" concept, aka, a Sk race, parade, pig roast
- Have penguins next year instead of reindeer
Next Steps (by end of February)
- Pick date for 2006 event
- Ask for more volunteers from the businesses to get them involved.
- Pursue more corporate dollars in order to secure bigger concepts.
- Start thinking about a summer event!
Other comments from surveys and people at the meeting: Try and get people to stay
downtown longer. Increase the number of activities going on that day -make it a winter
festival with a holiday sweater fun run, sledding contest, old fashioned xmas festival.
Invite boy scouts to sell wreaths,
New Business:
Membership Dues Forms went out with January Meeting Agenda. Please return yearly
dues to Jim Simpson at the Bank of Elk River or Drop off at Kemper Drug.
Nomination of Officers. The following individuals have agreed to serve:
Jim Simpson: Treasurer
Patti Hipsag: Secretary
Fred McCoy: Vice President
Wendy Simenson: President
Additional nominations and elections will be held at the February Meeting.
Goals for 2006:
Better Signage directing people downtown from Highway 10.
Better communication between downtown businesses -block leader?
More group advertising including all of the businesses downtown.
The meeting adjourned at 9AM
Rivers Edge Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2006
Meeting was called to order at 8AM in the Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room.
Attending were: Roger Hebeisen, Heidi Steinmetz, Fred McCoy, Jeff Gongoll, Cliff
Lundberg, Tony Mikols, Marlys Ellingson and Wendy Simenson
Treasurers Report from Jim Simpson: We have $2844.33 in our treasury. (We are still
waiting on the check from MetroPlains for Santa and Reindeer). At this time we have
received dues from Elk River Chiropractic, 1St National Bank of Elk River, Houlton
Investment Co., Elk River Chamber of Commerce, The Bank of Elk River, Jarmoluk
Real Estate and Kemper Drug. Wendy will send out a dues reminder with February
Agenda and Minutes.
Minutes accepted from the November Meeting.
January 11, 2006 minutes were presented no changes from those present. Will send them
out to the entire membership and vote on at March Meeting..:
Old Business:
City Update from Heidi:
HRA has 1St 10 page draft of redevelopment north of HWY 10 includes their goals and
strategies.
The downtown park is scheduled to be completed in August. The budget has been
downsized so some of the elements of the design will be changed to reflect that. The alley
adjacent to the Sunshine Depot will be removed. Jcihn Houlton is working with the City
on parking and access behind The Bead Bag and 1St National Bank of Elk River. Wendy
has been in contact with Bill Maertz and Chris Leeseberg to talk about losing parking
along Main Street immediately adjacent to the park and also about park design. They
have indicated that. it is only 4 parking spaces will be lost and that it is a public safety
issue. Fred said with the vacating of the alley it is closer to 8 spaces. There was much
discussion about this and_Wendy was asked to invite Bill Maertz and the Police Chief to
our next meeting to help clarify the issue.
Revitalization Update from Heidi: A new downtown revitalization QA went out in the
Star News to Elk River residents a~ld businesses in January. It is available on the cities
website at http:~'; wuFw.ci.elk-river mn us,%index.asp'?rI,~e=B EV&SEC-={A158AAB3-
SAF:>~-4606-BEDB-C875 ~ 19B319C~&~DE-i62A236C5-857A-49~)~-9C57-
DEC44B72EEFE
Election of Officers
The following nominees were elected by unanimous vote to serve a one year term.
President: Wendy Simenson (Kemper Drug)
Vice President: Fred McCoy (McCoy's Pub)
Treasurer: Jim Simpson (The Bank of Elk River)
Secretary: Patti Hipsag (The Bead Bag)
New Business:
Group Advertising Downtown: Marlys Ellingson from the Elk River Star News brought
in some sample ads that could be modified and used for a downtown ad. A '/4 page ad
would be $414.50 less 15% and an 1/8 page would be $221.25 less 15% if we chose to
add 1 color it would be an additional $120.00. The goal is to get every Downtown Rivers
Edge Business included in the ad. We still have to discuss what the boundries should be.
We would like to see the ad go on the police report page or the community page. Wendy
will work with Marlys to get this rolling. The first ad would come out of Rivers Edge
funds and we will see how it goes from there.
Sign pointing toward downtown off of highway 10. Wendy talked to MnDot about
getting a green sign listing what is available downtown East of Downtown on Highway
10. MnDot said that because we aren't "rural highway" our location can't get a sign like
that. We would have to find an acceptable locationalong Highway 10 for our own sign.
There is currently a sign, that Rivers Edge Business Group paid for, on the Chamber of
Commerce corner which says "Historic Downtovc~n Elk River." There is not an arrow
pointing left however. We will pursue our options in modifying that sign.
Wendy also checked on prices for billboards east of downtown on Highway 10. A
lOftX40ft billboard would run $1100/month plus the cost to produce the sign ($800.00).
They prefer a contract for 1 year rental but sometimes have seasonal openings. There
were no signs available at this time. -
The meeting adjourned at 9AM