EDA Minutes - 12/13/2023 (Workshop)MINUTES
MONTICELLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WORKSHOP
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 — 5:00 p.m.
Monticello Community Center — Academy Room
Commissioners Present: President Steve Johnson, Vice President Jon Morphew, Treasurer
Hali Sittig, Rick Barger, Councilmember Tracy Hinz, Mayor Lloyd
Hilgart
Commissioners Absent: 011ie Koropchak-White
Staff Present: Executive Director Jim Thares, Angela Schumann, Hayden
Stensgard
1. Call to Order
President Steve Johnson called the workshop meeting of the Monticello Economic
Development Authority to order at 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Johnson Called the roll.
2. EDA Property Maintenance Discussion
Community Development Director Angela Schumann provided an overview of the
agenda item to the EDA and the public. In regard to the EDA owned property at the
corner of Cedar Street and East Broadway Street, City staff is scheduled to go out
and clean up the site of debris and the broken fence along the North property line.
Mr. Johnson noted that if the property is needed for snow storage through the
winter, that would not be a concern to the EDA.
Mr. Johnson asked if they plan to remove any of the trees currently on that site.
Ms. Schumann said that there will be no trees removed from the site at this time.
Vice President Jon Morphew asked if staff had determined the fence along the
North property line was in fact on the EDA's property. Ms. Schumann clarified that
staff received a right -of -entry from the adjacent property owners to remove the
fence.
3. EDA Property Review —Summary Report
Executive Director Jim Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA
and the public. In November, the EDA held a workshop to review their current land
holdings within the City and discussed development priorities for each of their sites.
City staff provided a summary of that meeting to the EDA, and the EDA was asked
to review the summary and provide any additional feedback from the discussion.
Staff noted that the Summary Report will essentially become part of the EDA
Workplan (the 2022-2024 Workplan).
4. Downtown Facade Improvement Loan Program
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. City
staff received an application for the Facade Improvement program from an owner
of a property that is currently outside the eligibility area as defined in the program's
policy. In response to the submittal of the application, the EDA will be asked to
consider amending the eligibility area.
Councilmember Tracy Hinz asked what the existing balance is for the program. Mr.
Thares clarified that the EDA originally allocated $250,000 for the program, and
only $50,000 of that total has been used to this point. In the event that the demand
for the program exceeds what has already been allocated, the EDA has the
opportunity to consider allocating more funds, if necessary.
Treasurer Hali Sittig noted that given the construction happening in the near
vicinity, it seems realistic for the EDA to discuss expanding the eligibility area for the
program downtown.
Erika Fisher, 109 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN 55362, addressed the EDA and the
public. Ms. Fisher noted that she submitted a Facade application for her property
that is currently outside the existing eligibility area for the program. Given the
building is adjacent to the EDA's redevelopment project, Ms. Fisher asked the EDA
to consider amending the eligibility area, so adjacent properties can improve their
existing buildings along the Walnut Street corridor.
5. Tax Abatement Scoring
Mr. Thares provided an overview of the agenda item to the EDA and the public. The
scoring sheet was created to reflect similar criteria for scoring Tax Increment
Financing district applications. The EDA was asked to review the scoring criteria and
provide their thoughts on whether the criteria made sense, or if changes should be
made.
6. Adjournment
TRACY HINZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE MONTICELLO
EDA. HALI SITTIG SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 6-0.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:58 P.M.
Recorded By: Hayden Stens and �k
Y 8
Date Approved: January 10, 2024
ATTEST:
m\Tfhares, Executive Director