IDC Minutes 05-01-2007MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 7:00 a.m.
• Bridge Room, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Mike Benedetto, Mary Barger, Bill Tapper, Dick Van
Allen, Dan Olson, Tom Feaski, Lynne Dahl-Fleming, and Don
Tomann.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Roberts, Barb Schwientek, Kelli Huxford, Jim Johnson, Zona
Gutzwiller, and Patty Haiby.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak, Angela Schumann, and Jeff O'Neill.
COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst and Council Member Wayne Mayer.
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 informationprior to the meeting.)
• Vice Chair Benedetto called the IDC meeting to order at 7:03 a.m. declaring a quorum.
• 2. Vote to approve the March 6, 2007, and Apri13, 2007 IDC minutes.
TOM FEASKI MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MARCH 6, 2007 AND APRIL 3,
2007 IDC MINUTES. SECONDED BY DICK VAN ALLEN AND WITH NO
CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS, THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.
3. Follow-up Business or Reports:
A. Marketing Committee -Dahl-Fleming reported that on April 30 a group consisting of
Paul Kleinwachter, Brad Barger, Don Tomann, Dan Frie, Mayor Herbst, Angela
Schumann, Koropchak, and herself heard the findings of the Feasibility Study
conducted and presented by the nine SCSU students. The Feasibility Study was an
assessment of the City of Monticello as a potential location for the life sciences. After
identifying the city's strengths and weaknesses, the students identified steps to
becoming a life science park: Create partnerships with UofN1, SCSU, Anoka-Ramsey;
apply for State of Minnesota BioScience Zone designation and LifeScience Alliance
memberships; tap resources such as Cargill (Sunny Fresh); think in-terms of regional
assets (clusters), recognize this takes long term planning, investment, and commitment
by the City. Those who attended the presentation were energized by the possibilities to
create a vision for Monticello and agreed for the need to spread the energy to key
• stakeholders of the community. Two hard copies and an electronic version of the
. presentation is available. Tomann sees the IDC as an advocate for the Council/City to
IDC Minutes - 05/01/07
keep this plan alive. He sees life science manufacturing as the continued immediate
• focus with the life science incubators as a five to ten to fifteen-year process. Monticello
has the lead with the upcoming fiber optic network and don't forget the Mississippi
River. Land size appeared not to be the issue stated Dahl-Fleming. Koropchak will
schedule a meeting of those who attended the SCSU presentation to plan the next step
in keeping the energy moving forward and to stimulate questions.
4. City Council Update:
A. Stabilization Agreement. Mayor Herbst reported for now it looks good with
Legislators as the agreement has been dropped by both houses.
B. MonticelloBig Lake Annexation Update. The City of Big Lake is considering a
resolution to jointly form a transportation study committee and at this time, the
Monticello is unclear to the status of a Big Lake Township resolution.
C. Chadwick/Spike property meeting: Staff has met with Chadwick a couple of times and
the council has ordered an appraisal.
D. Comprehensive Plan Update. Planning Commission and Council met on April 30 and
expressed their concerns. The next step is the preparation of a draft copy of the Plan
for review by Jeff/Angela thereafter distributed to others prior to the last community
meeting. The Comp Plan should be a good road map to the city's future.
5. Old Business.
• A. IDC letter of recommendation to Planning Commission -The attached IDC letter of
recommendation to the Planning Commission was submitted with the Planning
• Commission agendas.
6. New Business:
A. Consideration to discuss Area A of Otter Creek Crossing for possible acquisition for
the purpose to construct an interchange. Vote on an IDC position or action if desired.
Discussion tabled to the June IDC meeting. Council authorized an appraisal of the
property.
7. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report.
Accepted as written.
8. Review the draft conv of the Mav 1.2007 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related
items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary.
Public Hearing - Consideration o a request for Comprehensive Plan Amendment, or a
than a in land use designation from industrial to commercial and a request or a re-
zoning from I-IA to B-4.
IDC members previously received the written supplement of the May 1 Planning Commission
• agenda. The supporting data was distributed at the meeting including various maps of the
• Chelsea area. Tomann noted of the ten most recently recruited industrial businesses, the wage-
levels far exceed the average ($12 ph) paid by big box retailers. Manufacturing wages allow
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IDC Minutes - 05/01/07
individuals to purchase decent housing, increases the value of housing stock, and discourages
individuals from commuting. Herbst responded that the City is considering replacement of
• industrial land with the authorized appraisal of the Chadwick property. The question of why
this spot (industrial zoned) for Fleet Farm when other commercial zoned property is available?
Is there a precedence set of people and business? Weinand made an investment in Monticello
some twenty years ago and has the right to make a request to re-zone said Herbst. Why didn't
Weinand request the re-zone prior to development by industrial businesses? Barger noted the
land values, the difficulty of working with the broker (Pfeffer), and cost to build infrastructure
(Dundas Road extension) has delayed development of the 33 acres. Again,
manufacturing/industrial businesses create towns (jobs). Hiring local individuals was brought-
up. Tomann stated they look to hire locally. The last individual hired was from Coon Rapids as
they require skilled workers. Combined with good paying wages and the amenities of a
community, employed workers look to purchase or build houses within a community. Given
Monticello has commercial zoned land available for Fleet Farm, why does it become an
either/or situation when the reality is existing industrial businesses made a commitment and
investment in Monticello consistent with the Comp Plan and Zoning Ordinance? The assessed
property values may increase resulting in higher taxes but the real estate value may decrease
resulting in a loss of investment by existing industrial businesses with the proposed Fleet Farm
adjacent. Vice Chair Benedetto indicated further discussion was counter-productive and the
system will work it out.
9. Annual Meeting:
• A. Tabled -Vote to elect 2007 IDC Chair.
Given the year is about one-half over, Vice Chair Benedetto volunteered to be 2007
Chair of the IDC. The IDC membership accepted Benedetto as Chair. Election of a
Vice Chair for 2007 tabled until June.
B. Replacement of membershi~nosition vacated by Kleinwachter. Koropchak informed
members that two names came up for consideration: A representative from the
Monticello Work Force, Tim Zopy or lender, Bob Viering, First Minnesota Bank.
Given the lack of quorum at meetings, Fleming-Dahl suggested the IDC revisit their
Organizational and Membership Guidelines in particular the section on Membership
Attendance at the June meeting. Annually, an attendance report is complied which
notes the consistent lack of commitment by a member(s). It was agreed to address the
Organizational and Membership Guidelines at the June meeting.
10. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates - In the absence of Haiby, Feaski reminded individuals of the May
17 Chamber Golf Event at the Monticello Country Club, check-in time, 11:00 a.m.
B. Next IDC meeting -Tuesday, June 5, 2007.
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11. Adjournment.
TOM FEASKI MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE IDC MEETING. SECONDED
• BY BILL TAPPER AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING
ADJOURNED AT 8:45 A.M.
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Recorder
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