EDA Minutes 06-02-2016 (Workshop Meeting)Meeting Minutes
WORKSHOP- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Thursday, June 2nd, 2016 (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
Academy Room, Monticello Community Center
Attendance
EDA: Bill Derneules, Bill Tapper, Steve Johnson, Tracy Hinz, & James Davidson
Council members: Tom Perrault & Charlotte Galder.
Staff: Angela Schumann, Jim Thares
Facilitator: Phil Barnes (WSB & Associates)
Meeting Minutes
• Angela Schumann kicked off the meeting by thanking all those in attendance & describing the
agenda for the meeting. The goal is to create more focus for EDA & City efforts related to
Economic Development.
• Phil Barnes (WSB & Associates) suggested that the goal for today is to begin finding key &
focused actions. Phil then described the workshop process & developed ground rules with
participants that are conducive to effective partnerships.
• Phil then discussed the structure for the discussion. This included the development of a brand
statement & discussion on Industrial Development, Downtown & Housing barriers. Major
barriers would then help create focus for development of actions for the EDA & City.
• Phil then facilitated a short branding exercise & discussion that resulted in the following brand
Monticello is an energetic community engaged as a leader in technology, creating
a positive environment and pathways for innovative commerce and business.
Industrial Development
BARRIERS TO THE MONTICELLO BRAND: Participants agreed that a barrier to industrial
development is the reputation of Monticello. This includes the developer's perspective of
Monticello's decision making process. Developers can potentially see Monticello as difficult to
work with. Monticello may have challenges aligning EDA and Council messaging to developers.
Discussions also focused on the lack of strategy on the business type and size Monticello is
pursuing. It was suggested that Monticello may undervalue or underestimate its assets and
potential and therein focus too much on attracting smaller businesses and compromising standards.
The participants agreed that Monticello may have opportunities with larger publicly held
businesses.
• AGREED UPON AREA OF ACTION & FOCUS #1: Participants envisioned that Monticello
should focus on creating a communication structure and a shortened application for business
development guiding developers in their investment decision. The guidance will focus messaging
around what Monticello can do for them; to help facilitate their development proposals. Guidance
will also attempt to align EDA and Council messaging to developers.
AGREED UPON AREA OF ACTION & FOCUS #2: Participants would like to see the
development of a marketing package and plan that shares the story of Monticello in a positive
light. This marketing effort will focus on attracting high technology and precision manufacturing
firms. The package and plan will be re- focused on an agreed upon brand statement. This package
and plan will feature the investment in gigabyte fiber technology, reduced occupancy costs, access
to energy and transportation network, productive tax rate, development success stories and other
components that will showcase Monticello.
• AGREED UPON AREA OF ACTION & FOCUS #3: Re- evaluate standards to ensure
flexibility is available to facilitate cutting edge business development. Consolidate a
communication package that discusses and features the positives and benefits of standards and a
pathway of being flexible with developers.
Downtown Development
BARRIERS TO THE MONTICELLO BRAND: Given changes and recent investments in
downtown, participants agreed that there is no longer a valid vision for downtown and they will
struggle to move forward without a vision. Other discussions included traffic, unrealistic
redevelopment and feelings that Monticello "takes what it can get ". Monticello previously
envisioned an "anchor" retailer and it appears that downtown may now lack the space.
• AGREED UPON AREA OF ACTION & FOCUS #4: Develop a scaled down and focused
vision for areas where there is real potential and momentum for development. The visioning
process should not be extensive and instead be focused on areas west of TH 25 and near the "four
corners ". The visioning process should create a dialogue with interested and potentially impacted
major stakeholders like Cargill. The visioning process should proceed with caution and be budget
minded. The process should include researching Walgreens' location decision and the possibility
of a senior housing anchor for the development of convenience retail.
Housing
• BARRIERS TO THE MONTICELLO BRAND: Participants agreed that there is no focus or
experience working on the housing program(s). There is limited interaction with the Minnesota
Housing Finance Agency or County programs. There is no aggressive policy on affordable
housing and there remain questions regarding how the term "affordable" is defined.
• AGREED UPON AREA OF ACTION & FOCUS #5: Participants see an opportunity to learn
through working through one major project and completing a research scan of other housing
programs. The Merrill Busch Rand Mansion was discussed as the potential project that could be
redeveloped into senior housing with preservation of cultural and historic features. After
identifying housing program best practices, staff will work on a process to ensure the residents and
developers interested in rehabilitation of blighted housing are offered housing program incentives
automatically.
SUMMARY NOTE: A consensus derived among the EDA members regarding the priority of the
work objectives is as follows: The top priority is to focus on downtown redevelopment of blocks
52, 34 and other core central business district parcels. With that in mind, the EDA should consider
completing a small area study in the near future to guide the redevelopment of a core area of the
downtown. The second and third priorities are to focus respectively on industrial development
activities and housing programs /projects and /or tools offering residential rehab opportunities like
blight mitigation and facilitating processes that help in meeting the needs of the affordable and
senior demographic segments of the community.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:00 pm
Recorders: Beth Green and Phil Barnes
Approved: 7 -13 -2016
ATTEST:
, Economic Development Manager /EDA Executive Director