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IDC Minutes 04-01-2008• MINUTES MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - 7:00 a.m. Bridge Room, 505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mike Benedetto, Vice Chair Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Dan Olson, Lynne Dahl-Fleming, Jim Johnson, Zona Gutzwiller, Patrick Thompson, and Wayne Elam. • MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Roberts, Barb Schwientek, Don Tomann, Rich Harris, and Marshall Smith. COUNCIL AND CHAMBER LIAISONS PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst, Council Member Wayne Mayer, and Chamber Director Sandy Suchy. STAFF PRESENT: Ollie Koropchak and Angela Schumann. IDC MISSION STATEMENT: Call to Order. 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. IDC Chair Mike Benedetto called the IDC meeting to order at 7:06 a.m. declaring a quorum. 2. Welcome new IDC member and introductions. With the absence of new member Marshall Smith, this item will be addressed in the future. 3. Vote to approve the March 4, 2008 IDC minutes. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MARCH 4, 2008 IDC MINUTES. SECONDED BY DAN OLSON AND WITH NO CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS, THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. IDC Minutes - 04/01/08 • 4. Old Business: A. Copy of revised IDC membership list for committee use only and copy of revised Organization and Membership Guidelines. The membership list and guidelines were presented as informational only and no action was required. A couple of members made phone or email corrections. 5. New Business: A. Vote to elect 2008 IDC officers: Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretarv. LYNNE DAHL-FLEMING MADE A MOTION TO ELECT THE SAME 2007 OFFICERS FOR 2008: CHAIR -MIKE BENEDETTO, VICE CHAIR -BILL TAPPER, AND SECRETARY - OLLIE KOROPCHAK. SECONDED BY DICK VAN ALLEN AND WITH NO DISCUSSION OR OTHER NOMINATIONS, THE MOTION CARRIED. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO AMEND IDC ORGANIZATIONAL AND MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES, V., OFFICERS. TO READ: THE LENGTH OF TERM FOR THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE CONSECUTIVE • YEARS. SECONDED BY LYNNE DAHL-FLEMING AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION CARRIED. B. Review and vote to amend the IDC Action Statement. After some discussion to revise the recommended changes to the Purpose of the IDC Action Statement, the members agreed to the agenda recommendations for consistency with the adopted City Council Resolution recognizing the Monticello IDC. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO AMEND THE PURPOSE TO READ: TO OPERATE AS AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION SERVING AS AN ADVOCATE TO INFLUENCE AND ASSIST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN AND FOR THE CITY OF MONTICELLO. IN THE BROADEST CONTEXT FOCUS ON OVERALL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPERS. UNDER THE GOALS AND DIRECTION ANY REFERENCE TO HRA WAS AMENDED TO EDA. SECONDED BY JIM JOHNSON AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION CARRIED. • • IDC Minutes - 04/01/08 C. Review existing IDC Goals and Tasks and proposed Comp Plan, Economic Development Strate~aes Discuss development and process for establishment of IDC Objectives, Strategies, and Tasks (Work Plan). Koropchak noted the IDC should discuss how they might want to approach development of a Action Plan implementing and supporting the proposed Comprehensive Plan, atwenty-year plan. A summary of the Economic Development Chapter of the Comp Plan outlined the chapter's objectives, benefits, and development strategies. Of the eight development strategies, Koropchak suggested the IDC and EDA each work on four of the strategies. Tapper saw the strategies as overlapping. He did not agree nor see a defining difference between places to work and places to shop as identified in the Comp Plan noting as an example that big box uses and light industrial both are places to work and are compatible neighbors while heavy industry is difference. Some individuals viewed places to work as a focus on liveable wages. Chamber Director Suchy presented the IDC with a list of Chamber industrial goals and implementation strategies. She noted the Board elected to add Industry to its name as this is a growing national trend and asked: How can the Chamber help the IDC? Council Member Mayer views the Chamber as a private enterprise. Elam commended the Monticello Chamber as a lead Chamber in the County. Within the Chapter, it suggests different types of new businesses to • attract. Wayne Elam felt the question was: What does the City need? Noting he didn't agree with a planning format and left the last IDC meeting somewhat frustrated wanting to get things done. Dahl-Fleming noted perhaps this should be an Economic Development group not an Industrial Development group. Lynne Dahl-Fleming, Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Wayne Elam, Mike Benedetto, Angela Schumann, and Koropchak were appointed as a subcommittee to draft an action plan supporting the Comp Plan for recommendation to the IDC. They agreed to meet Tuesday, April 15, 1:30 p.m. at City Hall. D. Vote to adopt a resolution of support for the city-owned fiber optics and recommendation for City Council to proceed with bonding. Without a prepared resolution for the IDC to review prior to adoption, Koropchak recommended to pass on this item. Council Member Mayer noted the City Council will consider action on the fiber net bond before the next IDC meeting. Given that information, BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION REQUESTING KOROPCHAK DRAFT AN IDC RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE FIBER OPTICS BONDS BASED ON PREVIOUS IDC RECOMMENDATIONS. WAYNE ELAM SECONDED THE MOTION AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE MOTION CARRIED. • • IDC Minutes - 04/01/08 6. Reports: A. City Update. Mayor Herbst reported the YMCA property is part of the discussions or the bonding bill at the Capitol. Asked about the impact of housing foreclosure in Monticello, Herbst estimated local foreclosures at about 3 percent. B. Fiber Optic and Marketing Committee. Council Member Mayer thanked the IDC for their continued support of the fiber optics network. An engineering firm was hired for design and engineering and is currently on a walk- out of the city. He encouraged IDC members or others to contact himself or Bruce Westby of any concerns relating to the walk-out such as parked vehicles in driveways, etc. Lynne Dahl-Fleming stated relative to the fiber optics, a pre sign-up would start in about 30 days providing information but not commitment. They are inventorying space to lease for the fiber optics office and general management. Secondly, Dahl-Fleming reported the Marketing Committee is seeking proposals from four billboard vendors to compare pricing and location. With budgeted funds of $20,000 and $10,000 for city branding, individuals are looking to perhaps regroup. • C. Economic Development (Written report not available) Koropchak reported the Higher Education Group is scheduled to meet Apri14 and Anoka- Ramsey will present a job description for a facilitator for purpose to create a curriculum and awareness of a higher education center. Lynn Olson and Koropchak met with the Chamber Board requesting support for the proposed community economic development tool. The group is still unclear to which comes first - a needs assessment or a facilitator but understand both require an investment. D. Chamber. Director Suchy invited IDC members to a Chamber sponsored event at the High School Auditorium on Apri123, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -Making Connections that Move People. The newly formed Government Affairs Committee meets the first Friday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at First MN Bank. 7. Review the draft copy of the April 1 2008 Planning Commission Agenda for industrial related items. Discuss and vote on an IDC position or action if necessary. With no industrial planning items, no action was required of the IDC. Other Business. A. Next IDC meeting -Tuesday, May 6, 2008. • 4 IDC Minutes - 04/01/08 B. Other. Bill Tapper distributed a flier he received from Steiner Development, Inc. marketing 30 acres of industrial land in Becker for $.75 to $1.25 per sq ft. 9. Adjournment. BILL TAPPER MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE IDC MEETING. SECONDED BY WAYNE ELAM, THE IDC MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:30 A.M. v1, Ollie Koropchak, IDC Secretary •