IEDC Minutes 04-02-2013MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC) MEETING
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 — 7:00 a.m., Boom Island Room
Present: Joni Pawelk, Wayne Elam, Luke Dahlheimer, Rich Harris, Patrick Thompson, Bill
Tapper, Dan Olson, Mary Barger, Don Roberts, Dick Van Allen
Absent: Zona Gutzwiller, Jim Johnson, Tara Thurber
Others: Jeff O'Neill, Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta, Sandy Suchy, Tim O'Connor
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 a.m.
2. Approve Minutes
a. January 15, 2013
RICH HARRIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 15, 2013.
LUKE DAHLHEIMER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 9 -0.
(Bill Tapper did not vote.)
b. February 5, 2013
DON ROBERTS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 5,
2013. BILL TAPPER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
c. March 5, 2013
PATRICK THOMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 5,
2013. LUKE DAHLHEIMER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
9 -0. (Bill Tapper did not vote.)
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
• I -94 Coalition
4. R.. eports
a. Economic Development
City Engineer Position — Jeff O'Neill reported that City Engineer Bruce Westby had
recently taken a position with the City of Ramsey. Staff has been evaluating the scope
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of the position to develop a strategy for distributing the workload and determining a
longer term plan to handle duties. The fact that WSB contractor Brett Weiss has
significant familiarity with past and ongoing Monticello engineering projects will help
to smooth the transition. There was some discussion about the importance of
maintaining a staff position to administer the overall City engineering effort and
oversee the services provided by contract. There was also some concern noted about
the tight and costly job market for such a position. Joni Pawelk suggested that
transportation remain a priority for the City.
Economic Development Position — The City Council and the EDA will meet to
clarify the scope and details of contracting with WSB to provide an economic
development professional to market Monticello (along with other communities) to
prospects throughout the nation.
b. City Council
The City Council will prepare a response to the letter recently received from St.
Henry's Church regarding the City's request to move forward with planning for the
Fallon Avenue Overpass. Jeff O'Neill summarized that, although current church
leadership agree that the 70' Street road improvements are necessary, they question the
validity of the previous property agreement. Negotiations will continue.
C. Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber Assistant Director Rachel Wernsing's last day on the job will be April 12'.
Event coordinator from River City Extreme, Marcie Anderson, will step into the
position at that time. Staff has identified a process for conducting interviews for the
Grow MN update.
d. TAC
Staff and elected officials will meet with representatives from Sherburne County to
discuss potential alignment options for a second river crossing on May Sth. Coming
to an agreement between jurisdictions is a critical first step in the planning process.
There was some mention of broadening citizen awareness of this issue by expanding
coverage beyond local newspapers to include local community channels and
Chambers of Commerce.
5. Continued - Comprehensive Plan Update — Economic Development Chapter
The IEDC had asked for additional time to consider the Comprehensive Plan update to
Chapter 2, Community Context and Chapter 4, Economic Development which had been
presented at its April meeting. IEDC representative Wayne Elam, who had participated in
the small group involved in revising the document, summarized that the economic
development emphasis had shifted since 2008. Recent discussions had led to the
conclusion that, rather than looking to attract bio- science industries, Monticello recraft its
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vision to build on its current strength of attracting and retaining manufacturing industries to
the community. It was also noted that Monticello's logo should be prominently featured on
the Comprehensive Plan document and others that are to be handed out to prospects.
DICK VAN ALLEN MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 2 - COMMUNITY CONTEXT AND
CHAPTER 4 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2008 MONTICELLO
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. RICH HARRIS SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED 10 -0.
6. Consideration to review Building Materials Re uirements onticello Zonin
Ordinance for LmdustriaIlv Zoned Properties
Monticello Zoning Ordinance regulations may not reflect the intent of IEDC members
involved in re- drafting code changes related to building materials standards in industrially
zoned properties due to a clerical error. In an effort to complete a more extensive code
review, staff asked for further IEDC participation. Wayne Elam and Mary Barger agreed to
assist in developing draft standards for each of the three industrial districts. Staff will
utilize the draft standards to prepare amendments to Monticello Zoning Ordinance Section
4.11(E) —Building Materials, Industrial Requirements.
7. Added 'items
I -94 Coalition — Bill Tapper shared his concern that traffic congestion on I -94 will
increasingly prohibit local economic and population growth and asked that the IEDC
support the I -94 Coalition's effort to add a third freeway lane to the west corridor.
There was some discussion about how the MnRoad test section near Albertville may
limit options for road expansion. Local business owners were encouraged to contact
legislators to discuss freeway traffic impacts.
BILL TAPPER MOVED THAT THE IEDC RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL JOIN THE I -94 COALITION. WAYNE ELAM SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
8. Admournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:08 A.M. WAYNE
ELAM SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Recorder: Kerry Burri /
Approved: May 7,20j I
Attest:
Development Director