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IDC Minutes 09-04-2007MINUTES MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - 7:00 a.m. • Bridge Room, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mike Benedetto, Vice Chair Bill Tapper, Dan Olson, Lynne Dahl-Fleming, Don Tomann, Zona Gutzwiller, Patrick Thompson, and Patty Haiby. MEMBERS ABSENT: Mary Barger, Dick Van Allen, Don Roberts, Barb Schwientek, and Jim Johnson. STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak and Angela Schumann. COUNCIL LIAISON: Council Member Wayne Mayer. 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 Benedetto called the IDC meeting to order at 7:07 a.m. declaring a quorum. 2. Vote to approve the August 7, 2007 IDC minutes. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 7, 2007 IDC MINUTES. SECONDED BY PAT THOMPSON AND WITH NO CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS, THE IDC MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. 3. City Council Updates. A. YMCA and Chadwick/Spike properties. State representatives are scheduled to tour the YMCA property on Friday morning. The state representatives are interested in the property and for the potential to create a partnership with the city/county for funding the acquisition of the property. Staff and Chadwick did meet but no update was available. B. Fiber Optics Network. The telephone exchange referendum vote is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Community Center. The city remains natural and encourages residents to "vote." Monticello is a blue-print for other communities in advocating "choice." Tapper asked if he was clear that the referendum was for the telephone switch only and why the referendum? Yes, the referendum is for the telephone switch only and a 65% "yes" vote is additional security for the bond holders and a triple net package allows the city to offer a more economical pricing. • C. Comp Plan. Schumann reported staff will meet with the consultant on Monday to review the second draft of the Comp Plan. Upon a presentation by the HRA/IDC to include the potential of bio-science/high tech, an Economic Development Chapter has IDC Minutes - 09/04/07 been added as well as a Parks Chapter. The Council and Planning Commission will review the document prior to review by the task force and/or the community. The Comp Plan Update is a guide in land use and long-range planning. Currently, the Plan will address land use by places to live, work, shop, recreate. Council Member Mayer expressed his concern about the unknown of the Orchard Road/I-94 Interchange in relationship to long-range land use planning. D. Other updates. None. 4. Follow-up Business. A. Recommended role of the IDC. At the August IDC meeting, Council/staff was asked to come back to the IDC with their plan for the IDC and the IDC would look at it and discuss. Koropchak stated following the August IDC meeting she talked with the City Administrator about the request of the IDC and the Administrator said he'd attend the September meeting. Via an email early this morning from the City Administrator, he indicated he may stop by the IDC meeting but would not be addressing the topic of the IDC role. His suggestion is for the City Attorney, Personnel Committee, Tom Kelly, Angela Schumann, and Koropchak to meet to provide a menu of positive options/opportunities for continued IDC/volunteer participation in economic and industrial development efforts. This anticipated prior to the HRA/EDA consolidation workshop of September 24th. 5. New Business: A. History of the IDC -Bill Tapper informed the members of the history of the IDC stating the Oakwood Industrial Park was owned and built by local bankers and others who later saw the need for marketing and a city economic development director. This position was funded by the City, IDC Banquet, and Chamber. Since the IDC had no legal tax exempt status for the sale of the IDC Banquet tickets, the IDC granted the Chamber sole revenues and expenses of the banquet and breakfast fund raisers and the IDC was not under the Chamber. The IDC became an independent lobbying group in about 1995/96. Koropchak added in 1975-1980, there existed a Business & Development Commission and in 1982 the Industrial Development Committee was formed by City Administrator Tom Eidem who served as its first Chairperson and the first director was hired in 1983. Formal ties between the IDC and city continued through the paid position of the economic development director. Schumann noted the great organizational skills of the IDC but questioned: "If a taxpayer, I'd ask: Who lobbies for commercial, housing or redevelopment?" Council member Mayer said the legal issue surfaced in a question to the City Attorney associated with the fiber optics and his concern of the city staffing an independent lobbying group. Tomann responded that as a business owner and non-resident, I can't vote but in this group I can be pro- active. Tapper agreed with Tomann and asked "How does the IDC make it clear, they independently lobby to promote interest in support of business and care for the city? Chair Benedetto noted there are all kinds of "stickiness" in life and in his experience, . independent groups created healthy communities. Tomann noted he agreed with the comments made by Feaski at the August IDC meeting. Schumann noted the importance for the IDC to find solutions, not just provide input. Tomann responded 2 IDC Minutes - 09/04/07 stating as to the number of times; he, Haiby, and Benedetto telephoned O'Neill to discuss the road improvements after WSB informed the businesses of their proposed assessments, only to get promises and no discussion. Tomann turned the question around stating: Was the City looking to find solutions? Gutzwiller felt the IDC has found solutions. Dahl-Fleming asked, if there was a need for change? Perhaps the IDC should frame a question. Tapper said the IDC needs the continued involvement of the Mayor/Council and Economic Development Director. Benedetto expressed that the IDC was interested to hear from O'Neill as to the suggested role of the IDC. Tapper felt the merger of the HRA/EDA made sense but questioned the role of the IDC, separate or part of the city. Olson felt the IDC represents the best interest of the industry and felt abreak-down started with the AVR. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE DEBATE AND REQUESTED A RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FROM O'NEILL AT THE OCTOBER IDC MEETING: DOES THE CITY SEE A NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IDC)? THE IDC DESIRES THE CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IN THE WORK OF THE IDC. LYNNE DAHL-FLEMING SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION CARRIED. B. Members to consider options as to the role of the IDC. Koropchak noted she had prepared information on industrial development opportunities in Cambridge, North Branch, and Norwood-Young America and of their respective organizational structures. However, time did not allow for the presentation. 6. Reports: A. Economic Development Report. Koropchak asked if there were any questions regarding the Economic Development Report. With no comments, the report was accepted. 7. Review the draft copv of the September 4.2007 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary. No industrial related items on September 4 a enda. No action required. However, a question was asked on the difference between an B3 and B4 zone and the Preliminary Plat for applicant, Chelsea Road LLC. Schumann noted that a B4 zone is a more liberal use and staff s question is not the zoning but how the plat is carried out 8. Other Business. A. Chamber Updates and Industrial Luncheon -Date is Tuesday, October 16, 2007. IDC members were open to assisting the Chamber. B. Next IDC meetins -October 2, 2007. C. Other business. Given the current housing market and foreclosures and to stabilize neighborhoods, Bill Tapper suggested the City take a progressive approach and to look • at ways to spur home building ahead of the cycle. How can the city promote housing? Find ways to work with builders, suppliers, purchase local goods, land costs, city costs, etc. IDC Minutes - 09/04/07 • 9. Adjournment. The IDC meeting adjourned by a consensus of its members at 9:15 a.m. Ollie Koropchak, Recorder • • 4