8. HRSR 08-07-2007ITEM ~ 8.
ver
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Developmen
DATE: August 7, 2006
SUBJECT: Update on Sub-Committee exploring Sherburne County Economic
Development Entity
Attachment
• Letter from County Administrator regarding establishment of committee, May 3, 2006
• Appointments to Committee to Recommend Economic Development Service Provider
At its May 15, 2006 meeting the City Council appointed Chair Wilson as the HRA representative
to serve on this subcommittee. Chair Wilson will provide a verbal update at the HRA meeting.
Sherburne County
ADMINISTRATOR
May 3, 2006
Mr. Cathy Mehelich
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Ms. Mehelich,
BRIAN BENSEN
13880 Highway 10
Elk River, MN 55330-4601
(763) 241-2701 0 1-800-433-5229
website: www.co.sherburne.mn.us
email: admin@co.sherburne.mn.us
Sherbur-,e County is establishing a cornrnittee pursuant to MN Statutes 469.1082 to explore
and recommend the type of entity appropriate for a county economic development service
provider (refer to attached Resolution #041106-AD-1089).
The Sherburne County Commissioners approved an economic development strategic plan
in Apri12005. Preparation of the strategic plan took place September 2004-March 2005
and involved a number of stakeholders from throughout the county, including city and
township officials, Sherburne County Economic Development Alliance (SCEDA),
members of local economic development authorities, development organizations, utilities,
and the County Board. Janna King, with Economic Development Services, facilitated the
planning process and prepared the plan.
The county's focus is to work cooperatively with local governments to build a strong tax
base and encourage the development of quality employment opportunities in Sherburne
County. Strategic goals are summarized as follows.
1. Preserve land for future industrial and commercial growth in key locations
through planning, zoning, and land acquisition in cooperation with affected
communities to ensure a strong and balanced tax base, a healthy employment
base, and convenient access for residents to goods and services.
2. advocate fcr #rarrsp:,rtatio^ .~.r;d ot!~er infrastructure critical to the cc;~^ty's
economic competitiveness.
3. Integrate consideration of economic development into other county planning
and decision-making.
4. Support local government efforts to plan and implement economic development
initiatives throughout Sherburne County.
5. Market the county for economic development.
6. Create the organizational capacity to effectively implement the 2005-2007
workplan.
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
` May 3, 2006
Fage 2
The county began implementing the strategy in the summer of 2005, undertaking a variety
of activities that lay a sound foundation for achieving Sherburne County's economic
development goals. Activities to date include:
o Preparation of market analyses that focus on long term development potential and
land requirements for retail, office, and industrial development.
o Workshop sessions with local planning and economic development officials
regarding the market studies as well as design of high quality commercial and
industrial development areas.
o Meetings with cities regarding development goals, especially business and industrial
park development.
o Exploration of the opportunity for alogistics/distribution oriented industrial park near
the St. Cloud airport.
o Support for cities with near-teen business/industrial park development projects.
o Begin discussion regarding long-term changes resulting from the proposed new river
crossing at Clear Lake
o Meetings with department heads and other county staff to begin integrating
consideration of economic development into other county planning and decision-
making processes.
To fully implement the economic development strategy and goals adopted by the County
Board in April 2005, we are creating a committee with 11-15 members to explore the type
of entity best suited to guiding this effort as we move forward. Th~mmittee will
undertake ashort-termQprocess (estimate: 90 da s) to:
o Review current economic, housing, and community development agencies and the
services they provide;
o Identify gaps in these programs and services;
o Evaluate the capacity of existing agencies to expand their services; and
o Recommend an organizational option for providing needed economic development,
housing, wnd community development services 1n the n'aost effici?*_?t and effective
way.
We invite you to nominate individuals to serve on this committee who have background
and interest in economic development. Because of the county's desire for geographic
distribution and because the committee size and composition are specified by MN Statutes
469.1082 (see below), we may not be able to appoint all nominees.
The committee must include 11 to 15 members appointed by the County
Board. The membership must include: a) at least one city official, b) at least
one housing and redevelopment authority official, and c) at least one
May 3, 2006
Page 3
township official. The county may also appoint a) school district
representative, b) representatives from political subdivisions that have
HRAs, c) nonprofit or for-profit housing and economic development
organizations, d) business, e) labor unions, and f) no more than two county
commissioners. Representatives of local governments must be selected by
their local government and local governments must constitute at least half of
the committee membership.
Please submit nominees in writing no later than Tuesday, May 30.2006 to:
Briar Bensen
County Administrator
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Highway 10
Elk River, MN 55330
The county board expects to make committee appointments at the meeting on June 5, 2006.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter and for your commitment to the economic
vitality of Sherburne County.
Sincerely,
,~i~, r3~, /~`
Brian Bensen
County Administrator
Sherburne County Board of Commissioners
Resolution ~,:~~f's~'ic,..,~i;...~j~:~to create
A Committee to Recommend a County Economic Development Service Provider
WHEREAS, in April, 2005, the Sherburne County Board approved an economic
development strategy plan; and
WHEREAS, under that plan, the primary focus of economic development activities
within Sherburne County is to work cooperatively with local governments to build. a strong tax
base and encow•age the development of quality employment opportunities within Sherburne
County; and .
WHEREAS, one of Sherburne County's strategic economic goals, as included in the
Sherburne County economic development strategy, is io preserve land use for future industrial
and commercial growth tlu•ough planning, zoning, and land acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Section 469.1082, Subdivision 2, authorizes a County
to adopt a resolution creating a committee to recommend options for a county economic
development service provider; and
WHEREAS, the statute mandates the committee be composed of between 11 to 15
members, all appointed by the County Board, and comprised of representatives appointed from
entities suc11 as municipalities, tov~nlships, housing and redevelopment authorities, economic
development authorities, and school districts; and
WHEREAS, the committee, i.f approved, will present a report to the County Board
within 90 days from its initial meeting, subject to extension approved by the County Board;
which will (1) Review cun-ent economic, housing, and community development agencies and the
services currentl}~ provided; (2) Identify gaps in existing services and programs; (3) Evaluate the
capacity of existing agencies to expand their services; and (4) Recommend an organizational
option for providing needed economic, housing; and community development in the most
efficient and effective ways; and
WHEREAS, the creation of such a connnittee is entirely consistent with, and will
facilitate, achieving the goals identified in the Sherburne County economic development strategy
plan;
Be It Therefore Resolved that the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners
hereby declares t].~at, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 469.1082,
Subdivision 2, a committee is hereby created to explore and recommend the type
of entity appropriate to serve as the Sherburne County economic development
authority.
Pursuant to MN Stat. 375B.06, this resolution shall be published in the official county
newspaper for three consecutive weeks and become effective 3U days after initial publication.
Appointments to:
COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND AN ECONOMIC SERVICE PROVIDER
John Babcock, Sherburne County Economic Development Alliance
Tom Barthel, Santiago Township Supervisor
Jim Dickenson, Big Lake City Council
Jeff Dotseth, Baldwin Township Supervisor
Patrick Dwyer, Elk River Economic Development Authority
Nancy Fisher, Haven Township/St. Cloud
Jerry Gumphrey, Elk River City Council
C. Sid Hagen, Sherburne County Economic Development Alliance
Greg LaFond, Zimmerman Housing and Redevelopment Authority/City Administrator
Darren Lahr, Xcel Energy
Rachel Leonard, County Commissioner
Norm Lsslie, Big Lake Township Supervisor
Hal Lofgren, Becker City Council and Economic Development Authority
Felix Schmiesing, Commissioner
Stewart Wilson, Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority