Loading...
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 4 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. IEDC Minutes 8/07/12 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 2 IEDC Minutes 8/07/12 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 IEDC Minutes 8/07/12 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 4