City Council Minutes 10-08-2007 Special
Special Council Minutes: 10/8/07
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday October 8, 2007 - 5:30 p.rn.
Members Present:
Clint Herbst, Wayne Mayer, Tom Perrault, Brian Stumpf and Susie
Wojchouski.
Members Absent:
None.
1. Call to Order.
The workshop was called to order at 5:30 p.m. A quorum of the Council was present.
2. Discuss Job Creation Strateeies.
Jeff O'Neill reviewed the agenda for the special meeting. The question posed for discussion
is to what extent does the City support household wage levels and what is the role of the IDC
(Industrial Development Committee). The goal of the workshop is to also discuss
organizational goals and the framework for achieving the goals as well as discussing how the
IDC can help bring household wage jobs into the City.
Jeff O'Neill said the City has been supportive of bringing jobs into the City as evidenced by
the industrial park, the fiber optics proposal and support ofthe bioscience initiative. The
question is what is the next level, what needs to be done to get there and what kind of plan
needs to be put together.
Economic Development Director, Ollie Koropchak outlined: "What does it take to place
Monticello as a competitive leader for job growth at household wage levels?" Ollie
Koropchak talked about the City's competition for job growth noting the competition is world
wide, national, state and local. She cited various examples of what other cities such as
Cambridge and North Branch, are doing. Monticello's criteria for wages is $16/hour. John
Simola asked if there was a recognized level for household wages. Ollie Koropchak said she
didn't know if there was but pointed out that most of the ones she has seen have been in the
$1 0-$14/hour range.
The Marketing Committee felt Monticello had a lot of amenities and could ask for job level
wages of $16/hour. The City set their standards high which may have caused some
businesses to turn away. The fact that the City allows no outside storage may have also
influenced businesses not to locate in Monticello.
The bioscience initiative was discuss and the importance of developing the financial
management plan which takes into account all the other demands on the City's finances.
Ollie Koropchak talked about the reasons businesses don't select Monticello as a location site.
Businesses perceive Monticello as being too far out from the metro and Monticello has the
image of being rural. Wayne Mayer asked ifbeing outside Hennepin County was a factor.
Ollie Koropchak stated that at one time businesses sought to locate outside of Hennepin
County because of the lower tax rate. The impact of the state created JOBZ zone was
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discussed. Ollie Koropchak felt that economic development needs focus and commitment to
remain competitive. She talked about the need to understand that industrial land is slow to
develop and that City needs to protect land investments purchased by taxpayers. To ensure a
skilled labor force the City needs to explore providing training options. Economic
development is both a time commitment and a financial commitment on the part of the City.
The EDA and Council need to work on a plan to accomplish the goals of job creation and
economic growth. Jeff O'Neill talked about decision making process and problem issues.
Staff is committed to provide the Council with the best information possible and give this
information to the Council using one voice. It is his role to bring this together internally.
Brian Stumpf asked how this was going to be accomplished. Brian Stumpf wants to see in the
Council agenda report who is in favor of the action and why and he wants to know who is not
in favor of the action and why. He wants to make sure all viewpoints are presented. Ollie
Koropchak said she does not disagree that staff should be united. She felt that the City
Administrator and staff as well as the Council needs to maintain a clear focus on growth. The
recent rezoning of a piece of industrial land was brought up. It was felt by some that not all
data was presented and that some views were presented in an inappropriate manner. Clint
Herbst felt this was a case where it appeared there was infighting among staff and it did not
project a positive image. Clint Herbst added that he doesn't care ifthere is staff opposition to
an item but it should be presented prior to the time the Council is asked to make a decision.
He thought the conduct at the hearing on the rezoning matter was a classic example of how
not to do something. Wayne Mayer agreed that dissenting views should be included in the
agenda. He believes that a united staff makes for a stronger Council. The more perspectives
presented in the Council agenda items, the better the decision making process is.
Brian Stumpf asked about the Council acting as the EDA. The Council discussed the pros and
cons of this suggestion. The cons included the perception that someone on the Council may
have an agenda they are carrying out or that the Council wants to control everything.
If one ofthe defined outcomes is to get the input and support of businesses the City has to
develop a level of trust with the business owners. There needs to be a trust level among staff
members as well. Ollie Koropchak said the Council should look at the recent rezoning action
as a land use issue and try to understand the business owners' point of view. The property
owners invested significant funds to locate here and are impacted by what happens to
surrounding property. It is understandable that the business owners were frustrated and upset
that they were made aware of the Chelsea Road improvements and rezoning very late in the
process. Clint Herbst said if there was a trust issue it is because Ollie Koropchak did nothing
to stop it and felt she allowed things to happen. Ollie Koropchak noted she was unaware of
the proposed Chelsea Road improvements and rezoning.
Wayne Mayer stated if the City was against development there would not have been a
referendum on fiber optics. Ollie Koropchak reiterated that people do not like to be surprised
by events and want communication on what is happening. Susie Wojchouski said she
appreciated Ollie Koropchak's presentation at the meeting because she didn't have that
information anywhere else. Susie Wojchouski felt that if the Council doesn't get all the
information they don't make an informed decision. Jeff O'Neill said opinions should not be
coming from left field and it is his responsibility to consolidate the different opinions. Susie
Wojchouski asked when was the venue for her to hear this information if Ollie Koropchak had
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not made her presentation at that time. Susie Wojchouski asked if all opinions are sought and
do all the views get presented to Council.
The Council discussed the IDC. Jeff O'Neill said the networking of the IDC is very important
and he doesn't want it construed that he is against the IDC. Previously legal counsel, Joel
Jarnnik suggested some insight as to the role the IDC could play. One of the suggestions was
that there be some kind of contract defining what the IDC does. A possible role for the IDC
would be to research issues and make recommendations to the appropriate authority. Wayne
Mayer felt the IDC could be a plus to the merged HRAlEDA. Rather than having the IDC
have direct access to the Council they would be working through the HRAlEDA. Wayne
Mayer felt the IDC coming in this way would provide more continuity for when Ollie
Koropchak retires. The IDC is a group of volunteers who truly care about Monticello and is
an important force in bringing things forward and sparking ideas and discussion. Wayne
Mayer suggested putting a couple of different scenarios out for how the IDC could operate.
The IDC could review these options or corne back with their own scenario. Wayne Mayer felt
the IDC was an asset to the community and should be involved in crafting the IDC's role in
the city. Ollie Koropchak agreed that if the IDC was not part ofthe city's planning in the
long range, the City would be short-changed. She felt the City needs the expertise and
perspective of the people who comprise the IDC. Wayne Mayer said where he is coming
from is that the IDC is important. After the 2008 election, there may not be the same
representation of the Council on the EDA so he would prefer to reinforce the IDC now. Susie
Wojchouski felt the role of the IDC should be defined as well as the means and the method
for expressing differing views.
3. Adiourn.
The workshop closed at 6:55 p.m.
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Recording Secretary
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