IDC Minutes 04-04-2006
MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, Apri14, 2006 - 7:00 a.m.
Bridge Room -Monticello Community Center
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Paul Kleinwachter, Mary Barger, Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen,
Dan Olson, Lynne Dahl-Fleming, Don Tomann, Tom Feaski, Kelli
Huxford, Jim Johnson, and Zona Gutzwiller.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chair Mike Benedetto, Don Roberts, Barb Schwientek, and
Michele Hertwig.
COUNCIL LIAISONS PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst and Council Member Wayne Mayer.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak and Jeff O'Neill.
GUEST: Chuck Rickart, WSB Engineering, Inc.
IDC MISSION STATEMENT:. To increase the industrial tax base, to create jobs at
liveable wage-levels, and to maintain a favorable and
desirable industrial environment in the City of
Monticello.
1. Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.
Chair Kleinwachter called the IDC meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. declaring a quorum.
2. Presentation on the proposed City of Monticello Transportation Study. Chuck Rickart, WSB,
Inc.
Chuck Rickart introduced himself stating he is a transportation engineer with WBS, Inc. The
previous Monticello Transportation Plan of 1995 included the I-94/County Road 18
Interchange and completed up-grades to Highway 25 and County Road 75. The proposed
Monticello Transportation Plan is in draft form and can be found on the city's web site. A
Transportation Plan involves transit, trails/pedestrian, and transportation. Rickart distributed a
hand-out to IDC members. In preparation of a plan, they look at existing conditions, planning
and safety issues, transportation needs, and how it interacts with the township and county plans.
A transportation model includes calibrated traffic counts which identify such things as he
Highway 25 bottleneck. Ways to improve the bottleneck are the I-94/County 18 interchange,
proposed Orchard Road interchange, parallel collector roads to the north and south of I-94,
Cedar Street extension to County Road 106, and the Fallon Avenue bridge which was part of
the 1995 Plan. Rickart said MDOT did want Fallon Avenue bridge constructed before the
County Road 18 Interchange to relieve the traffic on Highway 25. The proposed Plan also
IDC Minutes - 04/04/06
includes parks, trails, \and a pedestrian system which he displayed on an over-head map.
Lastly, he noted the proposed plan also includes the development of standard guidelines such as
street widths. The 1995~P1an included the area just beyond School Blvd. The areas further
south of School Blvd and the southwest/northwest corridor were not part of the 1995 Plan.
Asked about the time-line, Jeff O'Neill noted the Transportation Plan supports the land use of
the Comprehensive Plan Update which includes about 10,000 acres and can be used as
supporting data or as an appendix to the Comp Plan.
A major collector road such as Fallon Avenue generally has traffic counts of about 8,000
vehicles and would be designed as two lanes with turn-lanes. Tapper asked if the city is
accounting for a river crossing? Rickart replied the proposed transportation plan does not
account for a river crossing because of the planned crossing to the west and no interest from
MDOT. Also, how would this tie in with the light rail? Koropchak noted if the proposed
Transportation Plan is a plan for the future and with the projected growth of the Monticello, Big
Lake, and Becker areas combined with the Comp Plan Update identifying downtown
redevelopment and its related traffic issues; it appears Monticello should identify a second river
crossing in the proposed Transportation Plan. This particularly true, if MDOT has no interest to
take the initiative and given the years the Fallon Avenue Bridge has been on the radar. IDC
members agreed Monticello needs to look at taking the initiative. Tomann asked "what does
MDOT do to help Monticello?" As a business owner, UMC wants to support the community
but not always through increase in taxes. How can the IDC help? Kleinwachter suggested the
IDC members interact with the Council or initiative a newspaper article. Koropchak requested
a list of legislative and other transportation contacts from Rickart. The members thanked
Rickart for the informational presentation.
3. Vote to approve the March 7, 2006 IDC minutes. (Not submitted)
Koropchak indicated the minutes were not prepared due to time await from the office.
4. Mayor's City Update.
A. Status of AVR litigation/ne~otiations.
Mayor Herbst reported the AVR has agreed to the city's offer but we'll see.
B. RFP for hiring consultant to update Comprehensive Plan.
The Council, Planning Commission, and township representatives will interview four consultant
firms for updating the Comprehensive Plan tomorrow starting at 4 o'clock.
C. Status of YMCA property.
The city and county are interested in the property and need to establish a price. It appears the
developers of Heritage, Popular Hills, and Niagra Falls/Hidden Forest are debating whether to
proceed and the redevelopment project proposed for the Ruff's Auto site was turned down by
Council. O'Neill added there are ample residential developments approved with enough lots to
issue 200-250 permits per year. With an increase in park fees from $1,500 to $3,500 per lot
and the residential developers charged this park fee for development, the plan would be to help
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IDC Minutes - 04/04/06
finance the open space and ballfields within the YMCA property while reducing or
consolidating the neighborhood parks. Tomann asked: Within the Comp Plan is there a
relationship between home values and wage-levels? This to tie home values and types of
industries together.
D. Fiber Option Task Force (Maier).
Last week, members of the Fiber Optics Task Force and some city staff interviewed three
consultant firms to prepare a Fiber Optics Feasibility Study. The Task Force met yesterday to
compare notes and to recommend one firm to prepare the Feasibility Study. This to be on the
upcoming Council meeting of April 10, 2006.
E. Question/answerperfod.
None.
Restate role of the IDC subcommittees.
A. Break-up session -each subcommittee will review tasks, discuss how they wish to
proceed and perhaps, set a time schedule.
IDC members broke into four sub-committees of business recruitment, BRE, available land,
and transportation to discuss how to accomplish their respective goals.
6. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report - Koropchak.
* The plat for Karlsburger Foods, Inc. was approved by Council on March 27, the TIF
process and preparation of the Purchase and Redevelopment Contract have begun. 20,000 sq
ft building, 20 jobs, 3.75 acres.
* 10,000 sq ft user -Toured Otter Creek sites on Friday before I left on vacation. Preliminary
Development Agreement being reviewed by their attorney. It was clarified the $10,000 non-
refundable deposit is not earnest money and the company noted an image of a cement truck is
much different than an image of a delivery and warehouse truck.
* April 10 -TCDC Grant Writing Ceremony at 2:30 p.m.
* Apri120 - MN DEED workshop in Elk River on "Six targeted industries."
* April 19 -Sunny Fresh receives 2005 Malcolm Balridge Award of Excellence in Washington
DC.
* April 12 -Industrial Park Development in MN and NW corridor by C.B. Richard Ellis and
hosted by Wright County Economic development Partnership. 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., Russell's in
St. Michael.
* Second meeting with Ehlers on April 12 with Rick, finance department, myself relative to
HRA matters.
* HRA Transformation Home Loan program criteria amended, brochures amended, and
mailed to qualified area of homeowners with. assessed market value of $175.000 or less for
2006.
* Spring City Newsletter features B & B Stamping and TCDC.
* Landmark Square II by Fluth on-hold, Target Super Store and Home Depot scheduled to
open late fa112006.
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B. Marketing Committee.
Lynn Dahl-Fleming reported city information and advertisement was designed and submitted
• for Wright County Economic Development Membership Book.. A cost estimate for sign at the
entrance of Otter Creek Crossing is being obtained from Randy Salo. Preliminary work on the
marketing brochure has begun. The Marketing Committee plans to meet prior to the May IDC
meeting.
7. Review the draft copy ofthe Apri14, 2006 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related
items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
Tapper informed the IDC that the sub-committee members received the last draft of the
proposed Outdoor Storage amendment in the mail. It appears what is discussed and proposed
at the sub-committee meetings and what is written in draft form is inconsistent. The intent of the
proposed ordinance is to minimize the need for conditional use permits (CUPs) in the I-2 Zone.
He felt CUPs were used for things that can not otherwise be enforced. Tapper suggests the
need to define "front yard setback in an I-2 Zone" and requested support in the form of a
motion from the IDC. Other ambiguous items discussed were dust control and screening.
Tomann asked: What industries is the IDC or City wanting to attract? Does the city want to
provide incentives to fund outdoor storage? DICK VAN ALLEN MADE A MOTION
SUPPORTING THE REQUEST FOR A DEFINITION ON THE FRONT-YARD
SETBACK TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS IN AN I-
2ZONE. TAPPER SECONDED THE MOTION. YEAS: 2. NAYS: 9. THE MOTION
DIED DUE TO A LACK OF INFORMATION OR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE
SUBJECT MATTER.
8. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates - In the absence of Chair Michele Hertwig, no Chamber update was
given.
Re-enforce solicitation of industrial /manufacturing businesses -Chamber of Commerce
Letter. The manufacturing members of the IDC said they'd already received the letter
from the Chamber of Commerce and noted the inconsistency in membership fees
between the cover letter and attachment. Since the Chamber Letter was already
mailed and received, no action was taken.
B, Next IDC meeting -Tuesday, May 2, 2006.
Tapper requested a proposed modification to the IDC Mission Statement be on the
May IDC agenda for discussion, The proposed modification simply softens the
language of the mission statement.
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9. Adjournment.
The IDC meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. by a consensus of its members present.
Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
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