IDC Minutes 03-04-2003MINUTES
• MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 4 , 2003 - 7:00 a.m.
Academy Room - 505 Walnut Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mary Barger, Vice Chair Tom Lindquist, Dick Van Allen,
Don Roberts, Mike Benedetto, Barb Schwientek, Dan Olson, Kelli
Huxford, Tom Feaski, and Lynne Dahl.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Tapper and Tom Ollig.
COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Mayor Bruce Thielen.
STAFF PRESENT: Jeff O'Neill and Ollie Koropchak.
IDC MISSION STATEMENT: To maintain and increase the industrial tax base and to
create jobs in the City of Monticello, Minnesota.
Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.)
Chair Barger called the IDC meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.
2. Vote to approve the February 4, 2003, IDC minutes.
Tom Lindquist made a motion to approve the February 4, 2003 IDC minutes. Mike
Benedetto second the motion and with no corrections or additions, the minutes were
approved as written.
Welcome Mayor Thielen and Chamber Chair Tom Feaski.
On behalf of the IDC, Chair Barger welcomed the Mayor and Chamber Chair as members
of the committee.
4. Reports:
A. BRE Visit -Twin City Die Castings ~- Benedetto/Koropchak. Benedetto and
Koropchak reported a good visit with TCDC and the positive experience with city
staff. Greatest die castings production competition is China.
Follow-up Barer/B&B Metal and Olson/Bondhus. Barger reported she had
talked with B&B Metal Stamping relative to the EDA's decision to not amend
their Guidelines to include job retention. He was o.k. with that and said he still
plans to expand in Monticello. Olson reported he had followed up with John
Bondhus and encouraged John to call the local postmaster as the postmaster has
an open door policy.
B. Economic Development ReRort - In addition to the written report, Koropchak
informed members that she and Don Tomann, UMC, had lunch and toured their
Monticello facility on Friday. Don is so excited about moving to Monticello and
the whole family felt they'd made the right decision.
IDC Minutes - 3/4/03
C. Membership Committee -Lindquist reported that he, Olson, and Koropchak met
as recommended by the IDC to discuss township representation on the IDC. In
conclusion and given the efforts by Benedetto, the committee agreed that to have
a non-political individual as a member was to have anon-active representative
and the IDC is not short of members. Recommended to not recruit a township
representative at this time. IDC agreed.
5. Discussion on and to continue development of a list of potential tasks to accomplish the
goal of the IDC: To provide a continuous stream of available industrial land with
infrastructure potential.
A. Review the draft copy of the March 4, 2003 Planning Commission Agenda for
industrial related items. O'Neill. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action
if necessary. The IDC reviewed the entire Planning Commission Agenda for
items relating to industrial development. Koropchak submitted a copy of the full
written agenda item: Public Hearing -Consideration of a request for a concept
stage planned unit development approval for a mixed use development including
residential, commercial, and industrial. Applicant, Gold Nugget Development,
Inc. Upon seeing the concept plan, the following discussion took place: The
amount of industrial land (60 acres) is less and commercial land (10 acres) is more
than first thought. This due to the intersection access. The ponding approaches
into the industrial area. Industrial zoning I-lA is like Monticello Commerce
Center, light industrial with at least 50% exterior other than metal/sheet. The
original Gold Nugget plan had single family homes only, this plan shows 200
quads/row homes and 170 single family homes. The density is an over-all
question - 3 units per acre meets low density reported O'Neill. The Comp Plan
does not require a certain ratio of town homes to single-family or maximum
number of town homes. Perhaps, the comp plan should address this. The Parks
Commission will review the parks/trail design and have identified the need for a
play area in this area. Cedar Street is proposed as a through frontage road, 40-ft
wide from Chelsea south to 85 Avenue, parallel to Highway 25. O'Neill
anticipates between 40-80 homes constructed per year, given the economy and
completion of improvements. Entry-level market rate homes are planned. We
keep hearing about up-scale housing but it's the same thing noted one IDC
member. This due to the power lines, etc. The Maplewood development is zoned
R-1 A with starting sales price at $250,000 and 2,000 sq ft of finished space.
Feaski suggested as in Rogers an eight foot berm with plantings and
walkway/pathway creating a park like setting which serves as a buffer between
the c/i and residential area. Upon development of the industrial parcels, there is
no need to amend the PUD. Barger made a motion suggesting to preserve us
much land for industrial through a reduction in commercial and i°ecommending
6~ acres. for industrial use (11-A) and ~ ucres for commercial use. Van Allen
seconded the motion and with no further discussion, the motion passed
zmunimously. Noting the first motion did not address Feaski or Benedetto's
comments, Barger then made a second motion recommending to scale back the
number of~town homes (yuac~s and/or row homes) and to buffer the residential
IDC Minutes - 3/4/03
neighborhood,from the C/I by creating an 8 foot berm and park/walkway setting
on the residential neighborhood side. Seconded by Lindquist and with no further
discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
B. Review the list of recommended actions as prepared by Van Allen to assist in
accomplishing the IDC Mission Statement. Discuss and vote.
At the February IDC meeting, Van Allen requested the list of recommended
additional actions for the IDC be mailed with the March IDC agenda. Van Allen
noted items one and two were a means to improve communication and give extra
input on hot points or items. O'Neill felt the mailed IDC minutes and BRE
summaries were one-sided. Members added both the minutes and summaries
were approved prior to mailing. Another recommended action was use of funds
for industrial land or interchange. O'Neill noted possible negotiations for the
Gold Nugget industrial property.- Long-range plans for Osowski property: options
on land such as 25 years out -seller 25% of revenues, authorizing quick appraisal,
need for maps, access, usefulness of land from perception of the end user
(industrial business). No action was taken by the IDC on the recommended
actions.
6. Updates by Mayor Thielen.
A. Pro dress on annexation and development of new agreement.
Mayor Thielen reported that further annexation and development of the new
agreement is on a holding pattern until the appeal date has passed. Having met
with the attorney, the city hopes to negotiate a new agreement from a position of
power. The township - "Tell us what was wrong with the original agreement?"
Z'he city - "Where we want to be 20 years out?" Was suggested perhaps a 5 to 7
member council with township. No way, if they continue to disagree and for the
next twenty years not be productive. Or the city could request the state to annex
entire area. Currently, 350 acres being annexed.
B. Status of the Council recommendation to establish a task force for implementation
of the Comp Plan.
O'Neill reported nothing new on the proposed northwest corridor interchange.
The east-side interchange of highest priority. Interchange funding and
preliminary design to the council in 2-3 weeks. Developer wants committed plan
and funding for the 3-phase project.
C. Report on Council establishment of foals/projects for 2003-2008 (Community
Vision & Governing Policies).
Mayor Thielen reported Community Vision & Governing Policies were started
several years ago and is currently being reviewed for update. He continued
stating it is an open process and although the IDC is an independent group, he will
accept ideas from the IDC for the next meeting set for May. Working with
O'Neill, a meeting of the elected bodies: city, school, county, hospital, state
legislators is being planned for April 26, 9:00 a.m., Mississippi Room. City
looking at potential budget cuts of $300,000. Council Member Robbie Smith
may be assigned to the IDC because of "time difficulty" for the Mayor.
7. Other Business.
Chamber Golf Outing, May 15, Monticello Country Club.
IDC Minutes - 3/4/03
8. Adjournment.
Van Allen made a motion to adjourn the IDC meeting. Seconded by Roberts, the IDC
meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
o~ ~~~~
Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
•
4