EDA Meeting Minutes - 01/12/2022MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 — 6:00 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Commissioners Present: Vice President Jon Morphew, Treasurer Tracy Hinz, 011ie
Koropchak-White, Hali Sittig and Councilmember Jim Davidson
Commissioners Absent: President Steve Johnson and Mayor Lloyd Hilgart
Staff Present: Executive Director Jim Thares, Angela Schumann, and Hayden
Stensgard
1. Call to Order
Vice President Jon Morphew called the regular meeting of the Monticello EDA to order
at 6:02 p.m., filling in for President Steve Johnson.
2. Roll Call
Mr. Morphew took roll.
3. Consideration of Additional Agenda Items
None
4. Consent Agenda
a. Consideration of Approving Regular Meeting Minutes — December 8, 2021
b. Consideration of Approving Payment of Bills
c. Consideration of Approving 2022 Wright County Economic Development
Partnership (WCEDP) Membership and authorizing payment of Annual Fee
in the amount of $2,606
HALI SITTIG MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. OLLIE
KOROPCHAK-WHITE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
Regular Agenda
5. Consideration of Authorizing Solicitation of Quotes for a Full Vacant Land
Appraisal of 16.71-acre parcel, Country Club Manor, Outlot A
Executive Director Jim Thares provided an overview of the agenda item. It was noted
that this is the EDA owned parcel that Headwaters Development is proposing to develop
twin homes and an apartment complex on. The EDA was introduced to this proposal
initially at the August 11, 2021 and again for consideration of a TIF application at the
December 8, 2022 meeting. The EDA is required to approve expenses greater than
$1 NO. It is unclear now if the appraisal will cost more than that, but it is expected to be
slightly above the board approval threshold. An RFP had been drafted to send out
pending the EDA's approval.
Mr. Morphew asked if it was almost certain that the appraisal would be over $1,000. Mr.
Thares confirmed and said this one may be closer to $2,000.
OLLIE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR A VACANT
LAND APPRAISAL OF COUNTRY CLUB MANOR, OUTLOT A. HALI SECONDED
THE MOTION...
DISCUSSION
TreasurerTracy Hinz asked if once proposals were received for this request, it will be
coming back to the EDA to award it to the proposers. Mr. Thares confirmed and said that
the deadline for submittals is before the next regular scheduled EDA meeting on January
26, 2022, so these proposals can b addressed at that meeting.
...MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
6. Consideration of Adopting Resolution #2022-01 authorizing submittal of
Redevelopment Grant application to MN -DEED in the amount of $517,500
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. It was
noted the application is for assistance with the redevelopment project proposed by
Deephaven Development LLC in Block 52. The funding may help pay for structure
demolition costs or utility relocates.
Ms. Hinz noted the high quality of grant writing staff has proved to be capable of in
recent years.
Mr. Morphew asked if the timeline for submittal was realistic for staff to complete it by.
Staff was confident the grant deadline of February 1, 2022, can be met.
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2022-01, AUTHORIZING
SUBMITTAL OF A REDEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATION TO MN -DEED IN
THE AMOUNT OF $517,500. JIM DAVIDSON SECONDED THE MOTION,
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
7. Consideration of 2022 WSB Economic Development Assistance Contract Renewal in
the amount of $10,800
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public.
Mr. Morphew asked if the work WSB does for the City is mainly behind the scenes, as in
the EDA does not do hands-on work with WSB. Mr. Thares confirmed but also
mentioned that it is possible that the EDA could work with WSB in strategy meetings etc.
Ms. Hinz noted she has a lot of trust in staff s recommendations when it comes to behind
the scenes work such as what WSB does for Monticello's economic development.
JIM DAVIDSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2022 WSB ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONTRACT RENEWAL. HALI SITTIG SECONDED
THE MOTION, MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
8. Consideration of authorizing a Professional Services contract with LHB, Inc. to
complete TIF Blight Study Findings for Block 52 in the amount of $16,400
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. It was
noted that this inspection is crucial to defining Block 52 as a redevelopment area.
Mr. Davidson asked what percentage of the potential redevelopment area needs to be
blighted. Mr. Thares said that it is not 100% of the area, but he is confident that there is
enough to qualify.
011ie Koropchak-White asked if there was a timeframe to act following the results of the
study. Staff did not have a definitive answer but will provide in the near future.
OLLIE KOROPCHAK-WHITE MOVED TO ACCEPT THE QUOTE FOR BLOCK 52
TIF BLIGHT INSPECTION SERVICES FROM LHB ENGINEERING AND
AUTHORIZE ENTERING INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH
LHB ENGINEERING IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,400 FOR BLIGHT INSPECTION
SERVICES. TRACY HINZ SECONDED THE MOTION, MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
9. Consideration of authorizing a Professional ei vices Coiit1.1 act withh 101
Marketing Service in the amount of $24,971
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. The
source of funding for this agenda item will not come from the EDA general fund, it will
be provided through the awarded CET Grant for the City. The funds will be transferred
to the EDA for this service in the future.
Ms. Sittig asked if there was limit set on what could be spent from the CET Grant award
for a marketing service like this. Mr. Thares explained that the grant amount in total was
$500,000, and the amount set for marketing expenses is $25,000.
Mr. Morphew mentioned the reference feedback provided by groups who have worked
with AE2S in the past and found them to be very helpful.
JIM DAVIDSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
CONTRACT WITH AE2S COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND
COMPLETION OF AN IMCP IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,971. HALI SITTIG
SECONDED THE MOTION, MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
10. Consideration of discussion of Proposed 2022-2024 EDA Workplan
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. The
EDA will hold a workshop meeting prior to their regular meeting on February 9, 2022, to
further discuss the Workplan.
Ms. Hinz liked the idea of extending the workplan to a multi -year plan, due to many EDA
projects having longer timeframes. No action was taken on the item.
11. Economic Development Director's Report
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. Included
in the report was an update on The Pointes at Cedar Small Area Plan, and summaries of
progress made by subcommittees created to assist with the development.
Mr. Thares also addressed the redevelopment proposal of Block 52 that was introduced to
the City Council, EDA, PARC, and Planning Commission on January 10, 2022. He noted
that there is potential to help the remaining buildings on the block that will not be a part
of the redevelopment by extending the Downtown Fagade Improvement Program to
Block 52. Originally, the improvement program was exclusively for Block 35. It was
noted that there are three interested applicants on Block 35 still, and the EDA has roughly
$200,000 for this program.
Ms. Hinz asked if the privately owned buildings on Block 52 would work with the
developers to help create similar facades around the block. Mr. Thares said that is the
presumption.
Mr. Morphew asked if the guidelines for buildings on Block 52 would be the same as on
Block 35. Mr. Thares confirmed.
Ms. Hinz asked if there were any applications in for this program from businesses on
Block 35. Community Development Director Angela Schumann confirmed. Ms. Hinz
added that .she does not want to count those pending applications out.
Mr. Thares asked if the EDA had a volunteer to be a part of a group to work with AE2S
and their efforts in developing a marketing strategy. Ms. Hinz expressed interest and said
she would volunteer.
12. Adiourn
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
MONTICELLO EDA. HALI SITTIG SECONDED THE MOTION, MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:08 P.M.
Recorded by: Hayden Stensgard �W
Date Approved: February 9, 2022
Att
Jim Th es, Executive Director