IDC Minutes 06-06-2006MINUTES
• MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:00 a.m.
Bridge Room -Monticello Community Center
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Paul Kleinwachter, Vice Chair Mike Benedetto, Mary Barger, Bill Tapper,
Dick Van Allen, Don Roberts, Dan Olson, Barb Schwientek, Lynne Dahl-
Fleming, Jim Johnson, Tom Feaski, Zona Gutzwiller, and Michele Hertwig.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Tomann and Kelli Huxford.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak.
COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst.
GUESTS: Milda Hedblom, Dain International Services, and Brenda Krueger and Craig Rapp, Springsted,
Inc.
IDC MISSION STATEMENT: To increase the industrial tax base, to create jobs at liveable
wage-levels, and to maintain a favorable and desirable industrial
environment in the City of Monticello.
• 1. Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.)
Chair Kleinwachter called the IDC meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. declaring a quorum.
2. Vote to approve the March 7, 2006 and May 2, 2006 IDC minutes.
TOM FEASKI MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MARCH 7, 2006 AND MAY 2, 2006
IDC MINUTES. SECONDED BY DON ROBERTS AND WITH NO CORRECTIONS OR
ADDITIONS, THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.
3. Mar's Cit~pdate:
A. Status of AVR liti~ation/ne~otiations. Mayor Herbst reported there is a tentative agreement
between the City and AVR subject to approved plans. A closed meeting is scheduled for next
week.
B. Status of the Comprehensive Plan Update. Comp Plan is underway. A meeting between the
consultant and city staff was held yesterday morning.
C. Status of YMCA property. Within the next couple days a meeting will determine whether to
move forward.
D. Fiber Optics Task Force (Maier). www.monticellofiber.com Presentation to follow.
E. Question/answer period. Additionally, the Mayor reported that the water tower is scheduled for
• completion on time (this fall), the interchange is scheduled for completion August 31, 2006, and
the city has placed an ad for a new city administrator.
IDC Minutes - 06/06/06
• 4. Follow-up Business:
A. Discuss proposed language for the IDC Mission Statement (Benedetto) and call for vote if
necessary. Benedetto reported no meeting had been held between Bill Tapper, Don Tomann,
Koropchak, and himself. He recommended to table until the August IDC meeting.
B. Discuss recommended Ordinance Amendment for Open and Outdoor Storage (Barg_er and call
for vote if necessary. Gutzwiller reported Feaski, Council members Posusta and Mayer, Tapper,
and herself met and concluded they did not have the expertise on the subject matter to formulate
a recommendation. They referred the topic to staff (Angela and Jeffj, Council representation,
Barger, and Tapper. Jeff to set-up meeting on Open and Outdoor Storage. Based on last
months's report that the only remaining issues were open and outdoor storage in an I-2 District
and whether to allow front-yard storage in an I-2 District, Koropchak asked if the goal is to
maximize the use of land for out-door storage? If that's the goal, why not reduce the front-yard
building setback in an I-2 consistent with I-1 and I-lA creating additional space in the rear for
out-door storage. Tapper responded in order to address Pfeffer's concerns a broader and
common use is necessary. Kleinwachter noted the importance of an ordinance which is pleasing
to the eye.
C. Discuss follow-up b~BRE group on Feaski's development experience as reported in May.
Van Allen noted from his viewpoint and response to Feaski's report of last month on the Blue
Chip development, he views a stamped building permit as approved and now on to construction.
Feaski updated the IDC stating he and Barger met with the Mayor, Council member Posusta,
• and staff and the city agreed to reimburse the developer for cost associated with increasing the
pipe size from six inch to eight inch upon submitting an invoice. Schwientek suggested the need
for responsibility and accountability. Van Allen then noted the BRE group plans to create a data
base allowing businesses to communicate among one another (a linkage) and secondly, the group
plans to meet with Jeff, council representation, Koropchak to go over permit process (9 pages).
D. Discuss follow-up by Transportation group relative to traffic issues at School Blvd/Fallon Avenue
and Highway 25/River Street. Johnson reported they had not met since last month. Tapper
noted the traffic flow subsided at Fallon and School Blvd but may increase again when school
starts in the fall. Consideration by the City is to block the Highway 251eft-turn lanes at River
Street for the summer months.
E. Other reports by Subcommittees. Dahl-Fleming reported the marketing fliers are printed and
the entrance sign at 90`'' and Chelsea West is up. Supt. Johnson reported that classes are done
for this school year, clean-up from the fire in the pool, commons, and choir areas will be
completed in time for pool use by Big Lake and Becker.
New Business:
A. Vote to appoint IDC representative and alternate to the Comp Plan Task Force.
KLEINWACHTER MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT MARY BARGER AS IDC
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TASK FORCE. DAHL-
FLEMING SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE
• MOTION CARRIED. As no one volunteered to be an alternate, this will be on the August
agenda.
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IDC Minutes - 06/06/06
B. Discuss need to change IDC meeting format. Chair Kleinwachter suggested this item be on the
August agenda.
6. Presentation followed by ctuestions and answers: "Monticello Broadband" by Milda Hedblom, Brenda
Krueger and Craig Rapp "How can the IDC support the efforts of the Fiber Optics Task Force?"
Each guest introduced themself and explained their role as a member of the consultant's team hired to
complete the Fiber Optics Feasibility Study. Hedblom, project manager, gave a little background stating
the Council authorized further investigation of fiber optics to all homes and premise. A Request for
Proposal was prepared and mailed. The firm, CCG Consultants, was hired to complete the Fiber
Optics Feasibility Study. The study is now underway with residents being surveyed via random phone
samples and most businesses being surveyed. The study results will suggest options and give direction.
The community goal, if feasible, is "fiber optics - an investment as a utility" like water/sewer lines. Rapp,
financial consultant, explained "why fiber optics as an economic development tool?" Two main reasons:
competition and growth. Broadband capacity is an asset for marketing like location. Broadband attracts
a certain type of worker, an added value asset. Krueger, financial consultant, briefly talked about funding
sources. If a municipal debt, it must meet statutory requirements and include revenue streams.
Broadband provides home and businesses with the ability to download large files without limiting
creativity. For schools, it adds value between the home and school. With the Feasibility Study
underway and not complete, it was premature for the IDC to determine what kind of support would be
helpful to the task force. Again, it was stated the city's goal is fiber optics city-wide and city as investor.
7. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report. Feaski noted he too has seen aslow-down in industrial interest
which he tributes to rising interest rates. This is typical and soon settles down. Mayor Herbst
suggested the city look at the Osowski property for future industrial development, perhaps look
into aright-of--first refusal. Written report accepted.
8. Review the draft copy of the June 6 2006 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related items.
Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
A question was asked as to the length of the interim use permit for the Alternative Learning Program?
Three years was the response. With no industrial related items on the June 6`h Planning Commission
Agenda, no action was necessary.
9. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates -Chair Hertwig reported the Chamber has a retained membership of 91 %.
The golf event was successful. Upcoming events are Retail Analysis, June 27, 9 a.m.- 2:00 p.m,
Mississippi Room. Manufacturing and Food Processing Seminar, June 7, 8:30 am. in the
Mississippi Room., Walk'N Roll this Saturday. The new name of the Chamber is the Monticello
Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
• B. Next IDC meeting -Tuesday, August 1, 2006. NO MEETING IN JULY.
IDC Minutes - 06/06/06
. 10. Adjournment.
DAHL-FLEMING MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE IDC MEETING. TAPPER
SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING
ADJOURNED AT 9:12 A.M.
Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
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