IEDC Minutes 01-04-2011IEDC Minutes 01/04/11
MONTICELLO
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
7:00 a.m., Mississippi
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Rich Harris, Vice Chair Luke Dahlheimer, Don Roberts, Bill
Tapper, Wayne Elam, Zona Gutzwiller, Patrick Thompson, Dan Olson, Chris Kruse, Dick Van
Allen
MEMBERS ABSENT: Wes Olson, and Elaine DeWenter
LIASIONS PRESENT: Mayor Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta, City Council, Sandy Suchy,
Chamber
STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Megan Barnett - Livgard, City
Administrator Jeff O'Neill, Bruce Westby, City Engineer, Bret Weiss, WSB
OTHERS: Rod Dragsten, Rachel Wernsing, Tom Perrault
1. Call to Order
2.
3.
4.
Chair Rich Harris called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Approve Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 7, 2010 MINUTES.
MOTION WAS SECONDED BY DAN OLSON. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Consideration of adding items to the Agenda None
Reports
a. Economic Development
Barnett noted that the Economic Development Report was included in the agenda
packet.
b. City Council
Jeff O'Neill reported that Public Works had received compliments on its prompt snow
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removal.
He indicated that City staff would be establishing a goal setting process with City
Council. Department heads will have input on the preliminary list of ideas. Final
Council approval is expected by March 2011.
The preliminary consultant report on FiberNet is on track. Clint Herbst indicated that
FiberNet has added four more staff to assist with some 130 hook ups per month to keep
up with demand.
Patrick Thompson reported that Xcel Energy is leasing the auto dealership for training
purposes to prepare for the upcoming outage.
c. Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Sandy Suchy reported the Frostbite Challenge Ice Fishing event is scheduled for
January 21 -23 with activities throughout the community. The Chamber's Government
Affairs meeting will be held on Jan 21, 2010 and the topic will be signage.
5. Consider recommending appointment of Joni Pawelk to the IEDC
Megan Barnett- Livgard indicated that Marshall Smith would be stepping down from the
committee at this time. He recommended that Joni Pawelk be appointed in his place as a
hospital representative.
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPOINT JONI PAWELK TO SERVE A THREE YEAR
TERM ON THE IEDC. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY CHRIS KRUSE. MOTION
CARRIED 10 -0.
6. Transportation presentation by City Staff and WSB
a. Consideration of adopting a resolution supporting the City Council in adopting the
Transportation Plan and initiating key transportation projects.
Megan Barnett - Livgard stated the results of the BR &E survey showed that the business
community believes transportation initiatives should continue to be a high priority for
the City. She asked City Engineer Bruce Westby and Bret Weiss from WSB to provide
an update on current transportation needs and projects.
Bruce Westby noted that the last transportation plan was adopted in 1994. The City has
grown considerably since then so the plan making the current plan outdated. As part of
the 2008 Comprehensive Plan update process, a draft Transportation Plan was
completed. Due to the challenges related to a potential second river crossing and
potential third interchange, the Draft Plan has not been adopted. It is very important
IEDC Minutes 01/04/11
that the City have in place an adopted transportation plan in order to obtain funding for
improvement projects in the future.
Bret Weiss from WSB pointed to several memos which provide general background
information about the necessary future transportation initiatives and required next
steps. He shared some of the history of these projects and noted how such
improvements can result in significant economic development.
Megan Barnett - Livgard reiterated that discussions regarding a potential second river
crossing in particular has cause some delay in achieving adoption of the draft
Transportation Plan. The resolution in front of the IEDS is asking the City Council to
adopt the Transportation Plan in 2011 and begin working on some of the outstanding
pieces to begin initiating key transportation projects.
Bret Weiss also briefly outlined several other transportation initiatives.
TH 25 /CSAH 75 Intersection Improvements
The City Council authorized a construction project for the NE quadrant in conjunction
with the Walgreen's development. Council also authorized preparation of a federal
funding grant request for completion of the remainder of the intersection. This project
will facilitate the traffic movements through and around the downtown area.
7th Street/TH 25 Intersection Improvements
The city is planning to undertake intersection improvements at 7th Street and Walnut
Street. The TH 25 at 7th Street intersection was identified with the city's draft
transportation plan as one of the top safety concerns.
Citywide Transportation Capital R niprovements Plan
Bret suggested that the City consider assembling a preliminary layout, cost estimate
and anticipated date of construction of all of the proposed transportation projects into
one document in order to estimate potential funding sources for those improvements.
There was some discussion of the future expansion of I -94 to Monticello. This project is
delayed by both MnDOT priorities in Maple Grove and a lack of funding. There may be a
possibility to expand the lanes utilizing a managed lane through a public partnership. These
initiatives are still a top priority for the I -94 Corridor Coalition.
PATRICK THOMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
ADOPTION OF THE MONTICELLO TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND INITATING
KEY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY CHRIS KRUSE.
MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Megan Barnett - Livgard agreed to bring the resolution forward to the City Council and continue to
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work with the BR &E Task Force.
7. Adjournment
DICK VAN ALLEN MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:30AM. MOTION WAS
SECONDED BY BILL TAPPER. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri�
_k,
Approved: February 4, 2011
Attest:
opment Director