IEDC Minutes 08-07-2012MINUTES
MONTICELLO INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 - 7:00 a.m., Boom Island Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Joni Pawelk, Rich Harris, Bill Tapper, Dick Van Allen,
Dan Olson, Zona Gutzwiller, Wayne Elam, Don Roberts
LIASIONS PRESENT: Sandy Suchy, Chamber
Glen Posusta, City Council
Clint Herbst, Mayor
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairman Luke Dahlheimer, Patrick Thompson, Jim Johnson,
Wes Olson, Tim O'Connor, Chris Kruse
STAFF PRESENT: Angela Schumann, Community Development Director, Jeff
O'Neill, City Administrator
1. Call to Order
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3.
Vice Chair Joni Pawelk called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. She also congratulated Dan
Olson for being named Citizen of the Year.
Approve Minutes
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 5, 2012 MINUTES. DAN OLSON
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 8 -0.
Consideration of adding items to the Agenda
a) Chamber of Commerce Update
b) Sign Ordinance Information
DICK VAN ALLEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 7, 2012 AGENDA. BILL
TAPPER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 8 -0.
4. Reports
a) Economic Development Director Transition
Angela Schumann and Jeff O'Neill have stepped in to maintain momentum on the
many tasks with which Megan Barnett - Livgard had been involved as Economic
Development Director. She had accomplished much and will be missed. Staff will
inventory the scope of the position and determine a direction for staffing by year -end.
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b) City Council
Second River Crossing Regional Meeting - Clint Herbst reported that the City Council
and City staff members met with representatives from surrounding cities and townships
to begin exploring issues involved in locating a second river crossing. He said that,
despite the traffic data from recent studies, Sherburne County representatives don't
seem to think a second crossing a big priority. Traffic engineers have run analyses for
proposed river crossing locations. The Washington Street river crossing option would
take the most traffic off of the road system and is the least expensive. Engineers will
work with small groups of stakeholders to continue to move the project forward.
Transit — There was brief discussion about the lack of transit options in the community.
The Northstar Commuter link train schedule doesn't seem to be addressing the full
range of needs for transportation in and out of the metro area. The IEDC may review
MnDot statistics and consider the idea of requesting the establishment a Northstar
commuter link hub in Monticello at some point in the future.
Fallon Avenue Bridge — Staff are working with stakeholders to obtain input about the
three locations proposed for the bridge and clarify funding scenarios.
c) FiberNet
FiberNet conducted a 90 -day study to determine next steps in response to HBC's
decision to end its contract with the City by the end of August. It has become clear that
FiberNet requires new management with a focus on growth. The City has been making
decisions as to how FiberNet should be operated and what type of partner might have
those capabilities. Contracts are being revised based on those findings. The City is
working with Mark Pulthusker and Gigabyte Squared to make changes to the business
plan to address operating issues, get costs in order, and increase system capacity,
service levels, and scope to ensure that FiberNet remains competitive. Jeff O'Neill
noted that in a recent regional meeting held with the City of Monticello as host, nearby
communities have expressed interest in contracting for service.
d) TAC
The Second River Crossing Regional Meeting was discussed as part of the City
Council update.
e) reStoreing Downtown
Jeff O'Neill indicated that the Downtown Leadership Group is committed to
maintaining the momentum established as part of the Embracing Downtown project.
They are providing valuable input to the EDA about priorities for spending TIF funds
due to be decertified by year end. Their top two spending priorities are for projects that
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are currently in the works and public improvements. The group also recommended that
the City try to acquire options to tie up property to demonstrate site control to interested
developers. This issue may come before the EDA at some point.
Clint Herbst shared his concern with the issue of potentially spending a great deal of
money to move forward with the downtown plan for Block 34 without tenant interest in
the anchor site. The City had selected the McComb Group to prepare the plan in
expectation that it would also bring development prospects into the area. Some
prospective businesses have shown interest in the downtown and would likely make a
commitment at the 25/75 intersection if that site were currently developable. Staff noted
that redevelopment can be complicated especially as it involves relocation.
There was some discussion about retail and general office options for the downtown and
specific mention that Kohls might potentially be interested in the Kmart site. Joni
Pawelk shared her concerns that the City owns too much property that sits vacant and
that the focus needs to be on taking action to assist businesses like Ace in making the
downtown plan a reality. Jeff O'Neill said that Ehlers is working on defining a more
viable financing strategy to make that happen. Sandy Suchy suggested that it would be
useful to keep the community apprised of the status of the downtown project.
5. Future industrial nark analysis: schedule ioint meeting with the Planning
Commission
The 2012 IEDC workplan indicated that an assessment of the need for future industrial
land area is a top priority. Staff recommended that the Planning Commission, IEDC and
EDA work together to review the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 4, Economic
Development as a first step in addressing this goal, as the plan is the primary tool for
guiding land use decisions. This would provide an opportunity to validate or update
guiding policies and baseline data in the document. Don Roberts and Wayne Elam agreed
to represent the IEDC in this effort. The group will hold a worksession in September and
keep the IEDC apprised of its progress.
6. Future business visits and Mavor /Administrator breakfast meetings
Staff thanked the Chamber for setting up a business tour with Walker -In -Store for
September 19th at 10 AM. A Mayor /Administrator breakfast meeting will soon be
scheduled with a local business.
7. Items Added to the Agenda
a) Chamber of Commerce Update
Sandy Suchy noted that the Chamber's summer event schedule had ended and the busy
legislative session is underway. A Local Candidate Forum has been scheduled for
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October.
b) Sign Ordinance Information
Don Roberts complimented Angela Schumann for her hard work on the Temporary
Sign Ordinance. He also, however, wanted to make the City aware of some issues that
the ordinance had created for Cargill in an effort to provide useful input as staff
continues to develop policy. Cargill had created pennants to use as temporary signage
to advertise hiring opportunities and found that they were then limited to one permit to
be used for no more than 40 days per year. Staff explained that the interim ordinance
wasn't a moratorium of signage but rather an expansion of sign rights based on
significant input from the business community. The interim ordinance allowed for one
portable changeable copy board temporary signage per business for an unlimited
number of days. Banners and pennants were unfortunately not included in that
expansion at this time. The City requested feedback as to the number of days signage
was actually utilized from current temporary sign permit holders. This data, along with
information about violations, will be prepared for City Council consideration. The
Planning Commission will revisit the temporary sign issue at their December meeting
with the intention of reasonably accommodating the sign needs of businesses,
incentivizing rather than mandating, and keeping the ordinance simple and easy to
enforce.
c) Additional items discussed
MYSA — City staff are in property negotiations with the MYSA. There is not, at this
time, a formal agreement in place for proceeding with this project.
Planning Application — Staff have received a planning application for a new /used auto
dealer. Cornerstone Chevrolet intends to rezone the old Ford dealership property and
create a PUD. The Planning Commission will conduct a joint Collaborative Stage
meeting with the City Council prior to considering a site plan proposal.
8. Adiournment
BILL TAPPER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:37 AM. DON ROBERTS
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 8 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri
Approved: September 4, 2
Attest:
S0um�ru#, Community Development Director
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