IEDC Minutes 05-04-2010
MEETING MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
7:00 a.m., Mississippi Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Don Roberts, Vice Chair Rich Harris, Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Dan
Olson, Zona Gutzwiller, Marshall Smith, Elaine DeWenter, Luke Dahlheimer, Wes Olson, and Adam
Stolpestad
MEMBERS ABSENT: Patrick Thompson, Wayne Elam, Chris Kruse
LIASIONS PRESENT: Sandy Suchy, Chamber, Clint Herbst, Mayor, Glen Posusta, City Council
CITY STAFF PRESENT: Megan Barnett, Angela Schumann, Jeff O’Neill
Call to Order
IEDC Chair Don Roberts called the meeting to order at 7:03 a.m.
Approve Minutes
MOTION BY HARRIS TO APPROVE THE MARCH 2, 2010, AND THE APRIL 6, 2010 MINUTES.
MOTION SECONDED BY GUTZWILLER. MOTION CARRIED 11-0. .
Consideration of adding items to the Agenda
Roberts requested adding the appointment of a Committee Secretary to the agenda. Barnett suggested
instead that Administrative Assistant, Kerry Burri, continue to take the minutes since there seemed to be
little interest on the committee, at this time, to take on that role. She suggested that the committee revisit the
issue next year when officers are elected.
Economic Development Report:
Barnett stated that the Wright County Economic Development Partnership would meet on June 2nd for a
Wine and Beer Tasting to promote businesses and networking.
Barnett noted that staff had received seventeen proposals for the Embracing Downtown Monticello RFP.
She will get the steering committee together soon to review the submissions.
City Report:
Jeff O’Neill reported on the business expansion incentive program recently approved by Council. He
explained that $30,000 in liquor funds would be directed toward local businesses meeting approved criteria
for job growth and/or business expansion. The subsidies would be capped at $5,000 per business.
Chamber Report:
Sandy Suchy pointed out upcoming events such as the Jobs Forum with Michelle Bachman on May 10th
and the State of the State luncheon with Rep. Bruce Anderson and Sen. Amy Koch on May 18th.
She stated that a number of new businesses have moved or will be moving to town including a soccer store,
a driving academy, cycle shop, Computer Brains, GNC, Beef O’Brady and the Blue Stone Grill. The Movie
Gallery is closing. Roberts suggested that small business activity is really picking up.
She noted that the BR&E Leadership Team would meet tomorrow morning to discuss how the survey
process went. They planned to complete fifty more business surveys by June 2nd. The team will go to the U
of M at the end of June and bring back information to the task force. The IEDC will have a community
meeting to discuss the surveys at the end of August.
Review Proposed Zoning Code
Community Development Director, Angela Schumann pointed out that the City’s current Zoning Code has
been amended over the years but that it is greatly in need of a full update. She provided a brief overview of
the proposed Zoning Code revision stating that the process is 75% complete but needs input from the
community. The structure of the code has been simplified from 33 chapters to 8 chapters in length. She
specified that code revision will focus on making changes consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, making
the revision multi-format and therefore more usable, and meeting today’s development sta ndards. She
requested feedback from the committee specifically on Chapters 2-5 but also invited questions and
suggestions throughout the document.
She asked the committee to consider the goals and base standards for each district. She requested input on
landscaping, lighting, signage standards and allowable building materials for different districts. She also
asked that they consider requirements for off-street parking and loading for commercial and industrial uses.
In addition, the committee was asked to consider permitted or conditional uses by district and whether the
categories are appropriate and standards reasonable. Schumann also suggested that the committee consider
how properties maintain value and work to ensure that the revised code supports that.
She noted that another emphasis of code revision would be to make it easier for small businesses to comply.
The code enables more flexibility within existing uses and allows businesses to thrive without negatively
impacting those around them. Under the new code there would be a single set of standards for both
permitted and conditional use. New code would allow for alternative landscape or parking plan for greater
flexibility.
Revised sign ordinance and off street parking standards would be incorporated and grading, drainage, and
erosion control components added. The new code would also include sections on solar energy and
communication standards and how these fit into land use standards. Zoning standards for the CCD will be
updated after planning for downtown is completed. A Business Campus District would be created to allow
more commercial use services, which support industry.
Roberts, Smith, Dahlheimer, Harris, and Tapper volunteered to work further with Schumann and the
Zoning Steering Committee and provide a more detailed level of input in the next two weeks. There is a link
to the draft on the city’s website.
Discuss future focus of IEDC:
Barnett noted that the IEDC has been working primarily on a code revision focus and a business retention
plan. She asked the committee to think about areas in which they’d like to provide leadership for the
community. Smith suggested that the committee focus on the top three current priorities rather than many
different projects. Gutzwiller agreed that the group should find something to focus on that makes a
statement.
Barnett pointed out that the IEDC was established from a resolution and needs to be included as a formal
recommending body as part of the city code.
Adjournment:
MOTION BY DAHLHEIMER TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY OLSON. MOTION CARRIED 11 -0.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.