IDC Minutes 06-05-2007MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
• Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - 7:00 a.m.
Bridge Room, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mike Benedetto, Mary Barger, Bill Tapper, Don Roberts, Tom
Feaski, Lynne Dahl-Fleming, Zona Gutzwiller, and Patty Haiby.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Dick VanAllen, Dan Olson, Barb Schwientek, Don Tomann, Kelli
Huxford, and Jim Johnson.
STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak and Angela Schumann.
COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT: Council Members Wayne Mayer and Susie Wojchouski..
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.
Call to Order. (Please read the minutes and information prior to the meeting.)
• Chair Benedetto called the IDC meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. declaring a quorum.
2. Vote to approve the May 1.2007 IDC minutes.
MARY BARGER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAY 1, 2007 IDC
MINUTES. BILL TAPPER SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO
CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS, THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.
3. Follow-up Business or Reports:
A. Marketing Committee -The Marketing Committee met on June 1 to summarize the
SCSU presentation and to develop the next steps to proceed in identifying Monticello
as a place for the bio-science industries. Dahl-Fleming outlined the first steps: 1)
Define the scope of work and hire a consultant. 2) Explore the HRA as possible
funding source for consultant. 3) Visit Eden Prairie, a model bio-science city, as
suggested by Anoka-Ramsey. 4) Gain acceptance of the Council and O'Neill. 5)
Identify Bio-Science Campus within the Comprehensive Plan Update. Tapper who
attended the presentation thought the students did an outstanding job and agreed that
the Spike property next to the YMCA property was an excellent site for abio-science
park and did not see the cement plant as an issue upon completion of it's landscaping.
Tapper also agreed with the need for a designated space (site), developer for incubator
space (research & development), and angel investors for financing. Barger noted that
• Monticello has existing land available, access/location, and financial incentives.
Someone noted the need to narrow-down the four bio-science sectors, to apply for
Bio-Science Zone designation, and the need for a point person. Roberts who also
IDC Minutes
June 5, 2007
• attended the presentation expressed the need to gather more information by talking to
other communities and companies but agreed with the need to hire a point person. The
HRA will address the request for funds on June 6 and arrangements are being made to
visit Eden Prairie. Koropchak identified two key issues in order for Monticello to be
successful: The construction of the fiber optics network and a training facility/campus.
4. City Council Update:
A. Impact of Governor's Tax Bill vote. With the governor's veto of the Tax Bill, the city is
subject to an approximate $500,000 shortfall due to the tax capacity reduction on the
personal and property of the power plant. Within the Bill was a replacement provision
to off-set the short-fall created by the reduction, given the veto the city will consider
reduction in spending.
B. Monticello/Bi~ Lake Annexation Update. The City withdrew their letter of intent to
annex.
C. YMCA and Chadwick properties and appraisals. The YMCA numbers are not that
far apart. How does the city plan to finance the purchase of the YMCA, given the
reduction of property taxes associated with the power plant and housing market? The
appraisal of the Chadwick property is anticipated to be complete the end of July.
• 5. Old Business.
A. Election of IDC Vice Chair for 2007. Chair Benedetto asked for a volunteer to serve
as the IDC Vice Chair for 2007. Bill Tapper agreed to serve as vice chair.
B. Consideration to review and discuss IDC Organizational and Membership Guidelines
(Membership Attendance.) Members noted the IDC Guidelines state the size of the
committee is generally understood to not exceed 16-18 members. Currently, including
the resignation of Paul Kleinwachter and the replacement of Kelli Huxford with Patrick
Thompson, new communication manager at the Power Plant, the voting membership is
14. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO NOT REPLACE THE SEAT
VACATED BY PAUL KLEINWACHTER. SECONDED BY LYNNE DAHL-
FLEMING AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION
CARRIED. The IDC tabled for further discussion: Make-up of the Committee.
Individuals who are involved in an occupation or profession that provides service to the
community of Monticello but is not headquartered within the community may also serve
as members of the committee. Secondly, TOM FEASKI MADE A MOTION TO
DELETE THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL AND REPLACE WITH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR AS A CITY STAFF
MEMBER -NON VOTING. LYNNE DAHL-FLEMING SECONDED THE
MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION CARRIED.
Lastly, the IDC briefly discussed Membership Attendance: stating the purpose of
attendance was to make positive contribution and if a member is unable to attend on an
• frequent basis then the member should volunteer to step aside.
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June 5, 2007
• 6. New Business:
A. Tabled -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. Tapper stated this item is now irrelevant. When the topic was first
addressed at the IDC, it was prior to the City Council's authorization to obtain an
appraisal on all of the property owned by Chadwick in this area (commercial, proposed
14-acre residential, and Spike property.) He reminded Council members to not rule-
out aninterchange at this location given the city owns the parcel on the north side of I-
94.
7. Reports:
A. Economic Development Report. In addition, Koropchak noted she attended a meeting
at the Monticello Work Force Center. The topic "Enterprise Network Systems
Analysis"anew tool for using industry statistics in economic development. The joint
project was presented by DEED and Minnesota Technology (Knowledge Based
Solutions.) These agencies would be useful in our efforts to pursue bio-science/high
tech businesses. The West Metro Fringe includes Sherburne and Wright Counties.
Next, IDC members inquired into the purpose of merging the EDA and HRA. Council
member Mayer responded it was a means to stream-line the process. Koropchak
indicated in her evaluation, she was directed by the Administrator to spear-head the
• merger. IDC members asked "if the merger has any ties to the IDC?"
Lastly, IDC members commented on Big Lake's approach to economic development:
aggressive, excellent relationship between businesses and city, business friendly, and
streamline review process. Koropchak was unaware if Big Lake will again offer land
for $1 per acre on their recently purchased approximate 35 acres.
8. Review the draft copy of the June 5, 2007 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related
items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessarX
(81 Public Hearing - Consideration of a request for Amendment to PUD for expansion
of Open and Outdoor Storage Auplicant: Sunny Fresh Foods. Don Roberts explained
to the IDC the reasons why Sunny Fresh needs to replace the silos. He reported that
Sunny Fresh followed the application and review process with staff and the Design
Advisory Team and paid the approximate $2,000 fee, resulting in a sign-off and
recommendation for approval by staff. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION
CONCURRING WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION, RECOMMENDING THE
PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT AND/OR
ADDITION OF EIGHT SILOS FOR SUNNY FRESH FOODS, INC. LOCATED
WITHIN THE CCD, CENTRAL COMMUNITY DISTRICT. SECONDED BY
TOM FEASKI AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION
CARRIED.
(1 Ol Consideration of a request for Comprehensive Plan Amendment for a Chan e in
. land use designation from industrial to commercial and a request fora re-zoning from I-
lA to B-4 South side of Chelsea Road Applicant• Mills Properties Inc
The public hearing for this item appeared at the May Planning Commission (PC)
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June 5, 2007
. meeting. The public hearing was closed and the PC tabled any action until June. IDC
members were e-mailed the written June 5`h agenda supplement and the supporting
data was distributed at this meeting. The April IDC recommendation for the south side
and north side of Chelsea Road was part of the supporting data. Council Member
Wojchouski said she recognized the impact of the requested comp plan amendment
and re-zone from I-lA to B4 on the industrial businesses and supported the existing
businesses stating she would vote to deny. Council member Mayer said he was still
listening. Tapper, again, gave an illustration of a compatible use in the metro including
Gander Mountain and a manufacturing business. Feaski made the following comments:
Why would the School District want to be located next to a Fleet Farm? Is the city
interested in minimum wages? Is the city willing to give up industrial land which creates
jobs at wage levels to support the community when other commercial sites are
available? Or this is a quick-fix finance issue: A means of financing the purchase of
the YMCA property and a substitute for the loss of tax revenues from the power plant.
Some one else responded, if not a Fleet Farm, perhaps a distribution center would
locate on the 33 acres. Dahl-Fleming noted the IDC mission statement: to create jobs
at liveable wage-levels. Since the IDC had previously stated their recommendations for
the south and north side of Chelsea Road in an approved motion at the May meeting,
further discussion was ceased on the comp plan amendment or re-zone.
(11) Public Hearins -Consideration of a reauest for Comprehensive Plan Amendment
• for a change in land use designation from industrial to commercial and request for re-
zoning from I-lA to B-3 North side of Chelsea Road Applicant• Mills Pro erties
Inc. No further discussion, as the IDC recommendation was stated via a motion
approved in May, 2007.
10. Other Business.
A. Chamber Updates - Haiby reported that Walk & Roll is scheduled for Saturday, June
16 for 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with family activities in West Bridge Park. Riverfest
Celebration is scheduled for July 12-15. Information is available on the Chamber web
site.
B. Next IDC meeting -The IDC members elected not to meet on July 3rd; therefore, the
next IDC meeting is Tuesday, August 7, 2007.
C. Special Planning Commission meeting - Koropchak noted a special meeting of the
Planning Commission will address the Fleet Farm PUD and preliminary plat, June 12,
2007, 6:00 p.m.
D. Other.
A question was asked: Is the waste water treatment plant at capacity and what affect
will that have on the goals of the IDC? The question is the bio-solids capacity. Given
the change in the housing market, the city needs to be realistic. With discussions
relative to annexation between Big Lake and Monticello, perhaps, talks can focus on
• working together on waste water treatment. Don Roberts noted that Sunny Fresh
being a wet industry is a single big contributor (high nitrogen in egg whites.) About
three years ago during the housing boom, the City applied its Class Bbio-solids on a
160-acre field and today, the City is exploring going to aClass Abio-solid. This puts
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June 5, 2007
Sunny Fresh very much in the game as would partially pay for the upgrade ($10-$11
million.) Perhaps the situation is not as urgent today. In the next 60 day, Sunny Fresh
is tooling for options. Dollars verus growth will be evaluated: How to reduce load?
Future of housing market? etc.
11. Adjournment.
TOM FEASKI MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE IDC MEETING. ZONA
GUTZWILLER SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THE IDC MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:00 A.M.
Ollie Koropchak, Recorder
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