IDC Minutes 01-06-2004•
MINUTES -ANNUAL MEETING
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 7:00 a.m.
Academy Room - 505 Walnut Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Tom Lindquist, Bill Tapper, Mike Benedetto, Barb
Schwientek, Kelli Huxford, and Lynne Dahl.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Mary Barger, Dick Van Allen, Tom Ollig, Don Roberts, Dan
Olson, and Tom Feaski.
COUNCIL LIAISON ABSENT: 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.)
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In the absence of the IDC Chair, Vice Chair Tom Lindquist called the IDC meeting to order at
7:00 a.m.
2. Vote to approve the December 2, 2003 IDC minutes.
No action taken due to a lack of quorum.
Schwientek and Tapper indicated they would not be present at the February IDC meeting.
Feaski will also be absent.
Annual Meeting:
A. Review and take action to amend or re-affirm the IDC 2003 Action Statement and
Organizational and Membership Guidelines.
B. Acceptance of IDC membership, three-year term - Barer, Van Allen, Olson, and
Schwientek..
B. Acceptance of Standing Committee Members: President or Chair of Chamber and
Mayor of Monticello.
C. Election of 2004 IDC Officers: Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary.
Tapper asked if he was off the IDC due to poor attendance and if Ollig is still on a leave of
absence?
No action was taken on A., B., or C. due to a lack of quorum. The Membership Committee
of Barger, Lindquist, and Olson will meet sometime before the February IDC meeting.
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IDC Minutes - 01/06/04
4. Follow-up and discussion of the Citv Council action to authorize a purchase agreement for
acquisition of industrial land.
A. Follow-up of second meeting between Industrial Group and Chadwick.
Koropchak reported the Small Group including Mayor Thielen met with Chadwick and Billouta
on December 19, 2003. Chadwick presented acounter-offer. Major points within
Chadwick's counter-offer included: increased per sq ft acquisition cost, changed infrastructure
costs and assessment ratios, advanced closing date, and extended time for mining and hauling.
The Small Industrial Group set January 8, 2004, at 4:00 p.m. to review the City's prepared
response prior to submission to Chadwick.
B. List of bullet points for lobb-yid.
Chair Barger preparing the bullet points.
C. Lobby efforts and next scheduled Small Group meeting and Council workshop.
At the December 19 meeting, Mayor Thielen suggested a closed workshop with Council
members at 5:00 p.m. prior to the Council meeting of January 26, 2004. Mayor Thielen felt
Council members would be more at ease to ask questions in a closed session. Wolfsteller to
check with the City Attorney on legality of a closed meeting. According to the Attorney, a
closed meeting of the full Council for this purpose is illegal. Closed workshop only for purpose
of litigation. Given this information and without list of bullet points, Benedetto, Feaski, and Frie
will be notified of plans for lobbying individual Council members after the January 8 Small
Group meeting. Koropchak distributed a report from the Economic Development Partnership
of Wright County listing Wright County cities who owned industrial land and the acreage.
5. Updates by Mayor Thielen:
A. Update on annexation.
In the absence of Mayor Thielen, Deputy Administrator O'Neill reported that the City is
preparing a pamphlet of questions and answers most frequently asked about annexation. The
pamphlet will be mailed to residents within the proposed 11,000 acre annexation area. As part
of the mediation process and beginning in late January, three to four meetings will be scheduled
between the city and township to negotiate an agreement.
B. Meeting of city officials to set 2003 Council's Community Vision & Governing Policies.
None.
C. Update on the proposed 1-94 and County Rd 18 interchange and I-94 realignment.
O'Neill reported on January 12, 2004, the Council will be asked to authorize completion of a
benefit analysis for the proposed interchange which is anticipated to take about four to six
months. Because MDOT has not determined if the realignment of I-94 will go over or under the
railroad tracks nor has the proposed folded interchange at County 18 been approved and the
City not received the completed appraisal for ready mix facility; interchange development costs
remain a moving target and are difficult to estimate. Initially, the City was hopeful to begin
construction of the interchange in 2004, but realistically it now appears 2005.
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IDC Minutes - 01/06/04
6. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report.
Koropchak reviewed the written report which was acceptable to those present.
7. Review the draft copy of the January 6 2004 Plannin~Commission Agenda for industrial
related items Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
In a housing mix study completed, the City of Monticello had a little higher than average of
attached homes except for St. Michael which has 12.5% attached homes and 87.3%
detached single family homes.
Given the Planning Commission will discuss an acceptable mix of single family and attached
housing in low density residential districts, O'Neill distributed tables showing the development
project housing mix for low density areas as of January 5, 2004 and the proposed phasing
inventory for 2004. The January 5, 2004 table identified 9 residential developments for a total
of 1,425 units (detached single family 875 and town homes 550) fora ratio of 1.59:1. The
proposed phased 2004 table identified the same 9 residential developments for a total of 710
units (detached single family 411 and town homes 299) for a ratio of 1.37:1. The City defines
low density residential development as three units per gross acre and/or four units per net acre.
A guide ratio of 2: 1. Through the use of a PUD and a large area development, the definition
has been construed differently by some developers resulting in higher density. The question is:
What is the proper mix? Lindquist said he would not invest in an expensive home with town
home development around the fringes but instead would select a lot with direct access to a
detached single family development. Developers are looking for a fast turn-around of their
investment, complete the project, and leave the community. The City needs to plan for
development which benefits the community long-term. Benedetto noted that if not for open
enrollment, the Monticello School District would have a declining enrollment while neighboring
school districts are growing. Town home developments attract retirees and low-incomes. The
Planning Commission will discuss this issue of an acceptable mix of housing at their regular
meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. Additionally, O'Neill informed the IDC that a contractor is
submitting a revised village concept (commercial, housing, recreational mix) for the Schluender
property. This village concept defined in the Guide Plan is a mixed commercial, high density
neighborhood use with some detached single-family housing on the fringe.
Other Business.
O'Neill reported that the Parks Commission is introducing a park dedication fee for
commercial development but not for industrial development.
IDC Minutes - 01/06/04
Chamber Updates - Koropchak reminded IDC members to sign-up and support for the
upcoming Chamber Banquet on January 24 at Silver Springs Golf Course. Casino Night and
Silent Auction.
9. Adjournment.
With no further discussion, the IDC meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m.
Recorder
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