IEDC Minutes 03-06-2012MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 7:00 a.m., Boom Island Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Joni Pawelk, Rich Harris, Patrick Thompson, Bill
Tapper, Dick Van Allen, Dan Olson, Zona Gutzwiller, Wayne
Elam, Jim Johnson, Wes Olson
LIASIONS PRESENT: Sandy Suchy, Chamber
Glen Posusta, City Council
Clint Herbst, Mayor
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Luke Dahlheimer, Tim O'Connor, Chris Kruse, Don
Roberts
STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Megan Barnett - Livgard,
Community Development Director, Angela Schumann
1. Call to Order
2.
3.
Vice Chair Joni Pawelk called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Approve Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 7, 2012 MINUTES.
MOTION WAS SECONDED BY PATRICK THOMPSON. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Consideration of adding items to the Agenda
a. Update on the Bertram Chain of Lakes project
b. Discussion about proposed zoning change for old Simonson property
WAYNE ELAM MOVED TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE ADDED
DISCUSSION ITEMS. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY WES OLSON. MOTION
CARRIED 10 -0.
4. Reports
a. Economic Develo ment
The City Council did not approve moving forward with initiating a City -wide branding
project. Staff will conduct further research to address questions and concerns and bring
a revised proposal forward at a future date.
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The EDA, City Council, and Planning Commission held a joint meeting to hear an
update on Embracing Downtown implementation steps. Dan Wilson, of Wilson
Development, has been negotiating the purchase of the Montgomery Farms building to
allow for the future Highway 25/75 intersection improvement project. The City has
been working to put together a relocation package for tenants. IEDC members asked
some questions about the redevelopment process. Staff pointed out that transportation
improvements would be a key initial component in overall project success.
City Council modified the EDA enabling resolution to eliminate the residency
requirement and changed the language to specify that EDA members be either business
or property owners. Staff would like to fill the open seat on the EDA by its April
meeting.
The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) will conduct a feasibility study of
the site north of the planned athletic fields at Bertram Park. Glen Posusta noted that the
City needs to make arrangements to handle the sludge from the sewage treatment plant
should the MYSA athletic complex project move forward in that location.
Staff noted that Angela Schumann would provide an update of the Bertram Chain of
Lakes Project later in the meeting.
b. City Council
Mayor Clint Herbst outlined a few issues currently facing Council. Bondholders are
working to try to reduce the City's interest rate for FiberNet Monticello. City officials
will testify about spent nuclear fuel storage at the Capital. Council agreed to direct staff
to contact Fleet Farm to obtain a status update about their project proposal. The mayor
noted that some business owners have concerns about relocating as part of the
Embracing Downtown plan. He pointed out that the City would provide relocation
benefits and assistance to businesses.
c. Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Sandy Suchy reported that the Chamber held a public meeting to provide property
owners an opportunity to discuss their property taxes. Bill Tapper pointed out that all
non - residential property taxes would increase significantly as an unintended
consequence of changing the homestead rules for homeowners. Business Day at the
Capital is scheduled for March 14th from 7:30 am -2:00 pm. The Chamber newsletter,
including a City insert, will soon be distributed to all businesses and property owners.
Chamber staff may need some additional information as they update their database of
downtown property owners. The golf tournament is the next planned Chamber
activity.
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5. Continued discussion with the Monticello School District
Monticello School District Superintendent Jim Johnson asked if there were any questions
related to his presentation last month regarding STEM (science, technology, engineering,
math) programs and initiatives.
There was some consideration about the school district's ranking in comparison to districts
in surrounding counties and the importance of marketing those positive statistics to the
region as part of the City's economic development effort. There was discussion about how
the applicant pool is shrinking for manufacturers and vocational training programs which
had directly funneled into the workplace no longer exist.
Bill Tapper suggested that kids aren't exposed to real world opportunities early enough.
Staff noted that the school district currently partners with some local businesses to
encourage students to explore employment options in the community and that additional
connections are encouraged. Sandy Suchy offered to ask that the Minnesota Chamber get
behind amending legislation to enable students to get more involved in learning in the
workplace.
There was some discussion about re- crafting the annual "college fair" to include an
emphasis on marketing vocations in the community as a priority. The district agreed that it
would be useful to begin that conversation at the ninth grade parent meeting. Staff
suggested that a flyer about the hiring needs of local businesses would be an effective
communication tool. Jim Johnson agreed to propose options for the IEDC to tour high
school programs.
6. Items Added to the Agenda
a. Update on the Bertram Chain of Lakes Project
Angela Schumann summarized that the 496 land and water acres owned by the City of
Monticello and Wright County are open and accessible to the public. Existing facilities
within the park include hiking trails, a canoe/kayak launch, and a small parking area
and informational kiosk. The City and County have reached an agreement with the
YMCA to allow weekend public boat access to Bertram Lake from June through
August. The two largest lakes, Bertram and Long, are to be open to electric motors no
wake only. Motorized traffic will not be allowed on the two smaller lakes. There is not
yet an agreement in place for use of the beach. Plans are underway to restore the oak
savannah in the park thanks to a Cargill grant. The YMCA will move its day camp to
the northwest side of Long Lake. The Friends of Bertram plan to hold small events in
the park throughout the year rather than hosting the Family Fun Day. Parcels 9, 10 and
12 are scheduled for acquisition in 2012. The City and County continue to seek grant
funding for the park project. Senator Koch introduced a bonding bill for Bertram Park.
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Representatives from outside the district may be willing to write the House legislation.
b. Discussion about proposed zoning change for old Simonson property
Bill Tapper shared his concern about the loss of heavy industrial property within
Monticello should the old Simonson property be rezoned. Clint Herbst agreed that he
would not want to see prime property taken out of circulation in the industrial park.
While there was some discussion about the potential for future site conflicts should the
Quarry Church locate in the industrial park, Angela Schumann pointed out that the
property proposed for rezoning is guided for commercial in the Comprehensive Plan
and that the land use is at issue rather than the proposed use of the property.
RICH HARRIS MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PLANNING
COMMISSION DENY THE QUARRY CHURCH REZONING REQUEST FROM
I -2 (HEAVY INDUSTRIAL) TO B -2 (LIMITED BUSINESS) FOR THE OLD
SIMONSON PROPERTY. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY WES OLSON.
MOTION CARRIED 6 -0. JONI PAWELK, BILL TAPPER, WAYNE ELAM, DICK
VAN ALLEN ABSTAINED.
7. Consideration of creating a BR &E Follow-Up Survey (per adopted work plan)
This item was not considered.
8. Adjournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:46 AM. MOTION WAS
SECONDED BY RICH HARRIS. MOTION CARRIED 10 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri _
Approved: May 1, 2012
Attest: m�ki4 &,MW(&00JA
egan Ba I tt- i d, Economic Develop e t Director