HRA Minutes 06-27-2002
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SPECIAL MEETING MINlJTI'~S
MONTICELLO HOUSING AND RRDEV~~LOPMENT AUTHORITY
Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 6:00 p.m.
505 Walnut Street - Bridge Room
Commissioners:
Chair Brad Barger, Dan Frie, Bill Fair and Council Liaison Brian Stumpf
Staff:
Ollie Koropehak and Lori Kraemer
Guests:
Jim McComb, Steve Johnson, and Kevin Heaton
1. Call to Order.
CHAIR BRAD BARGER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:10 P.M. AND
DECLARED A QUORUM.
2.
Consideration to approve the June 5 and June 18.2002, liRA minutes and June 17,2002,
liRA Summary.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY BILL FAIR TO APPROVE 'THE MINUTES OF TilE
JUNE 5. 2002 REGULAR lIRA MEETING. TilE JUNE 18,2002 SPECIAL liRA
MEETING, AND THE SUMMARY OF TilE JUNE 17,2002 MEETING. DAN FRIE
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOLJSL Y.
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Consideration of adding or removing items hom the agenda.
Koropchak removed Item 5 from the agenda and added consideration to authorize
entering into a preliminary agreement with Product Stamping. 'fhis was placed as item 8.
Koropchak also added a request by Kennedy & Graven. This was placed as item 13.
4. Consent Agenda. None
5. Consideration to approve awarding the bids lor Front Street liRA Site Grading.
Koropchak and Bret Weiss, WSH & Associates, advised that bids were read at City lIall
earlier that day. Weiss advised there were six bids ranging from $67,913 to $108,326
with Veit & Company being the low bidder.
Weiss stated these were all competitive bids and recommended awarding the bid to Veit
& Company. Dan Frie asked if it was typical to award the bid to the lowest bidder or to
consider local bidders. Weiss stated that typically they do award to the lowest bidder
unless there are previous problems with that bidder. lIe also added that Veit & Company
is considered a local business and that they do a lot of work in Monticello.
HRA Minutes - 06/27/02
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A MOTION WAS MADE BY BiLl, FAIR AWARDING THE HID FOR THE FRONT
STREET HRA SITE GRADING TO VEIT & COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF
$67,913.00. DAN FRIE SECONDED TIlE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSL Y.
It was stated by Koropchak that the work will begin after July 4, 2002.
6. Consideration to review the completed McComb Development Feasibility Analysis for
Block 52 and authorization to proceed
Jim McComb advised the HRA of how they arrived at their numbers. Koropchak
questioned if the parking included landscaping and lighting and McComb stated
landscaping and drive aisles, but no lighting. McComb advised of the approximate costs
depending on which parking alternative was chosen.
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Fair asked based on this analysis where do the owners go to talk realistically about the
financing of the project and McComb stated he has referred them on to a mortgage
broker. They have also been speaking with KKE regarding building/construction costs.
Barger asked about square footages and types of uses, questioning if they have researched
what types of uses would go in to this type of building and McComb stated that was not
an authorized study at this time, but hc does know of some types of uses, just not how
many. He advised that professional uses would be on uppcr t100rs and that they would
need to see how much intcrest this generates, stating there is interest now, but they feel it
will take a new building to generate. I-Icaton stated they will be taking approximately
5,000 sq. ft. for their business to begin, and advised that they may start with contCrence
rooms on the main level and small oilices on the upper t100r.
Fair stated that he sees the II RA involvement as somewhat of a faeilitator for the
downtown revitalization plan and that this project could be a cornerstone. Barger asked if
there wcre any relocation costs figured in this analysis and McComb stated they were not
included. Fair felt it was beneficial for the partners to handle relocation costs versus the
HRA getting involved. Johnson stated that the leases would be ending near the time the
project would be started which would eliminate relocation costs. Frie asked if phase 2 of
the parking was in compliance with the city's ordinance and McComb advised that he did
not check the ordinance, stating he used 3 Y2 spaces as a number fix his analysis.
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They asked Johnson ifhe knew of Spring borg's intent /participation and he stated he
believes that Springborg is open to talking but does not know how much he will ask for
his building. Also added that Poirer may be an interested party and that Froslie is not
interested at this time. Fair asked McComb to clarify the development fee listed in his
analysis and what is actually covered under that. McComb statcd this is a standard part
of the proforma, and that it includes such things as managcment of the project. Fair
thought that a project of this magnitude needs to be kept moving along and closely
monitored.
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HRA Minutes - 06/27/02
The lIRA felt that the numbers in this proposal were high and Johnson stated they agreed,
adding that this is just at coneept stage right now and they also need some questions
answered. lIe also stated that they have been asking Koropehak how much funding is
available and that this will help them determine what they can proceed with. Johnson
added that this is a project that will bendit the city, businesses and schools as well.
Barger advised that generally an applicant needs to go through the but-for test first,
advising the HRA of what the costs are, showing where they are short, and the lIRA will
make a determination from there. Frie asked Johnson if what they are asking is that the
HRA finds a way to fill the gap of 1.3 million and they stated that is basically what they
are looking for. Frie stated he was in f~lvor of the conccpt and would like Mark RuiT of
Ehlers and Associates to look at it and advise the HRA, stating he was in f~lVor of the
project if it is feasible.
Koropchak advised that she had provided this same information to Grittman and Weiss.
Bargcr asked Koropchak if there had been any feedbaek from staff yet and she stated no.
Shc also added that the gap shown isjust on the development of the property, not
parking. Frie asked if they would still be responsible for relocation costs even if the
leases were up. Koropchak also stated the dollars would have to be up-front, not pay as
you go, and advised that if the HRA does up-front they would need to make sure the
project gets done at a specified time. Barger asked McComb why thc land acquisition
costs were included since they already own the land, and McComb advised that the land
costs had to be included to make the ratc of return numbers work.
Fair stated he would like stafT and Ehlers to rcview and come back with a report on
feasibility. He would like a time table fronl the applicants as well. Johnson said that it
would make sense to be have the building rcady when the current leases expire, adding
that it might make sense to start the project in 2003 and phase 2 in 2004, one year to build
and move in. It was advised that money needs to be expended by August of2004. It was
discussed that they would like to see something from the applicants and city staff in 60
days, and they will discuss further at the August meeting. Johnson asked for specifics
that they would like at that meeting and Fair stated perhaps getting input from financial
people; Koropchak advised that the lenders will require a 80% commitment for funding.
McComb stated that typically a broker would go out and get interested tenants versus
completing a market study.
It was thc consensus of the lIRA members to get input tt'om city staff and Mark Rutl as
well as more information from the applicant including floor plans and lender information.
7.
Consideration to approve authorization to enter into the Contract for Private Development
among the CMHP, the HRA. and the City.
Koropchak updated the BRA on the status of the project and fair asked when it was
proposed to start. Koropchak advised that they needed to have 5 units completed by
December of2002 with the remaining 6 by December 2003. StafTis still reviewing the
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HRA Minutes - 06/27/02
design and it was noted that there has been a request to include basements which is still
being looked into. Koropchak stated there are 9 detached units proposed along
Minnesota Street and the 2 on 6th Street are to be twin homes. She also advised that
CMHP is requesting to have 3 finished units this year instead of 5.
A MOTION W AS MADE BY DAN FRl1.: TO APPROVE AUTlIORIZA TION '1'0
ENTER INTO TilE CONTRACT FOR PRIV ATE DEVELOPMENT AMONCr '1'1 IE
liRA, THE CITY, AND TI-II~ CENTRAL MINNESOTA Il0USING P ARTNERSI-lIP,
AMENDING 'rHE CONTRACT TO STATE THREE COMPLETED UNITS BY
DECEMBER 2002. I3ILL FAIR SECONDED TI-]E MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
8. Preliminarv al2:reement with Production Stamping.
Koropchak advised that Les Wurm of Production Stamping signed the preliminary
agreement and provided a deposit. She is asking the HRA to authorize entering into this
agreemcnt stating that Mark RufT has advised this as well.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY BILl, FAIR AUTI IORIZING THE HRA TO ENT[~R
INTO A PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT FOR PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT WITII
PRODUCTION STAMPING. DAN FlUE SECONDED TIlE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
9.
Consideration of a request f()r a Ictter of explanation as to the decision of the HRA not to
pay business movinQ costs.
Koropchak provided a copy of the check issued to Michael O'Connor and cover letter to
Ilcfvey as dirccted by the lIRA, stating that Mr. Helvey has requested a letter from the
II RA explaining why they elected not to pay f()[ the business moving costs, adding that
they may wish to appeal this.
It was the consensus of the HRA to provide a letter stating that thcy would rcquire proof
that the business existed and if it did, that the business was operating at this location. It
was discusscd that if it is found that thcre was a business and it was operating at this
location, it was opcrating without the necessary conditional use permit and was in
violation of city ordinance as it was a noncomforming use in the Central Community
District. The liRA advised Koropchak to preparc this letter.
10.
Consideration to authorize paymcnt of HRA bills.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY DAN FRIE TO AUTIIORIZE PAYMENT OF THE I-lRA
BILLS. BILL FAIR SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSL Y.
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I IRA Minutes - 06/27/02
11.
Considcration of Executive Dircctor's Report.
Koropchak providcd thc report adding a rcquest from a real cstate agent asking if the
I-IRA would be intercstcd in acquiring a substandard property on Linn Street. It was the
consensus of the members that they had no intcrcst.
12. Committee Reports. Nonc
13. Other Business.
Koropchak stated that she had spoken with Dan Greenwieh who asked if the llRA would
have any concern with him represcnting the HRA, EDA and the City. The HRi\ had no
conflict with this as long as they wcrc not double billcd.
14. Adiournment.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY BRAD BARGER TO ADJOURN TI IE MEETING AT
8:00 P.M. DAN FlUE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSL Y.
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