EDA Meeting Minutes - 5/8/2024 (Workshop)MINUTES
WORKSHOP - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 — 4:30 p.m.
Academy Room, Monticello Community Center
Commissioners Present: President Steve Johnson, Treasurer Hali Sittig, 011ie Koropchak-
White, Rick Barger, Councilmember Tracy Hinz, Mayor Lloyd
Hilgart
Commissioners Absent: Vice President Jon Morphew
Staff Present: Executive Director Jim Thares, Rachel Leonard, Angela Schumann,
Hayden Stensgard
1. Call to Order
President Steve Johnson called the workshop meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.
2. Roll Call
President Johnson called the roll.
3. Block 34 Redevelopment Area Concept & Next Steps
a. Context
b. Next Steps
Community Development Director Angela Schumann provided an overview of the
agenda item to the EDA and the public. City staff met with multiple development
groups over the last month regarding the eventual redevelopment of Block 34
downtown, to understand better what the development environment currently is
for commercial, residential, and mixed-use. Through those meetings, the
development groups believed Block 34 could be redeveloped as a whole block, half
block, and even in quarters that include both commercial and residential. The groups
did note that the Broadway Street and Highway 25 corner is the most important
piece of the block for redevelopment, and should be addressed with the utmost
attention when the City receives inquiries on it. Staff recommended the EDA move
forward with gathering interest in redeveloping the block, but to be patient to best
achieve those development goals the EDA discussed at their November 8, 2023
workshop meeting. Staff also noted that there has been interest from local
businesses that want to be involved in the eventual redevelopment and that the
EDA has indicated they would like to work with them as feasible.
Treasurer Hali Sittig joined the meeting at 4:50 p.m.
Councilmember Tracy Hinz joined the meeting at 5:08 p.m.
After discussion, the EDA, in consensus, directed staff to develop a Request for
Proposal (RFP) for redevelopment of all or a portion of Block 34 to get a better sense
of developer interest and overall capabilities. Staff responded and said they would
develop the content of the RFP over the next coming weeks based on the EDA's
discussions and bring it back to the EDA for review.
No action was taken on the item.
4. Retail Market Analysis Proposal Discussion
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. At a
previous meeting, staff and the EDA prepared questions to be answered by the
McComb Group, who previously presented a proposal to complete a retail market
analysis for the EDA and the City of Monticello. Jim McComb, of the McComb Group,
responded to those questions and submitted them back to the EDA for review. Mr.
McComb also included references for previous analyses completed for other
communities around Minnesota. The EDA reviewed these responses with City staff.
The EDA expressed interest in reviewing sample reports that the McComb Group has
done in recent years to better understand the material that would be anticipated to
result from the analysis. Review of some of the referenced analyses previously
completed would be reviewed before the EDA would make a decision on accepting
the McComb Group's proposal.
No action was taken on the item.
5. Adjournment
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE MONTICELLO
EDA. HALI SITTIG SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 6-0.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:04 P.M.
Recorder: Hayden Stensgard
Approved: July 10, 2024
Attest:
s Thares, Economic Development Manager