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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 17 2012 EDA Minutes 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes December 17, 2012 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice-President Morris called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. Present were Hedberg, Morris, Choudek and Chromy. Myser was absent. President Hedberg arrived at 4:30 p.m. Also present was EDA Executive Director Boyles, Community & Economic Development Director Rogness, Community Development Specialist McCabe, and Andrew Cohill of Design Nine, Inc. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION BY CHROMY, SECONDED BY CHOUDEK TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH A CHANGE TO MOVE AGENDA ITEMS 8A AND 8B FORWARD BEHIND THE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA. VOTE: Ayes by Morris, Choudek and Chromy. The motion carried. 3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES MOTION BY CHROMY, SECONDED BY CHOUDEK TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 20, 2012. VOTE: Ayes by Morris, Choudek and Chromy. The motion carried. 4. CONSENT AGENDA The following items were presented on the Consent Agenda: A.Business Venture Fair Update B.Technology Village Update MOTION BY CHROMY, SECONDED BY CHOUDEK TO APPROVE THE TWO CONSENT ITEMS. VOTE: Ayes by Morris, Choudek and Chromy. The motion carried. 5. REMOVED CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS No items were removed. 6. PUBLIC HEARING No public hearing was scheduled. 8. NEW BUSINESS (Agenda #8 moved to this location) A. EDAC Report. McCabe: reviewed agenda items related to the last EDAC meeting held on November 29, 2012. Topics included EDA bylaws, elections, Farmer’s Market location, Meet-N-Greet event in 2013, and business re- tention/expansion surveys. B. EDA Bylaws Amendment. McCabe: summarized a proposed amendment to the EDA Bylaws, increasing the membership from five to seven. This proposed change is being discussed as a result of the City Council EDA interview process whereby Chromy was re-appointed to the EDA. Based on observations of other qualified candidates who applied, and increase in the EDA size of commissioners would allow more involvement by Prior Lake resi- Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com dents and business owners. McCabe also noted that the statutory term of office is six years, which is not reflected in the four-year terms in the EDA Bylaws. EDA Commissioners: generally liked the idea of increasing the size of the EDA from five to seven mem- bers. McCabe: explained that the proposed amendments to the Bylaws were prepared by staff and would need to be reviewed by the City Attorney. MOTION BY CHROMY, SECONDED BY CHOUDEK TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DRAFT EDA BYLAW AMENDMENTS ADDRESSING THE EXPANSION FROM FIVE TO SEVEN MEMBERS AND ADDRESSING THE SIX-YEAR TERM OF OFFICE. VOTE: Ayes by Morris, Choudek and Chromy. The motion carried. President Hedberg arrived at the meeting. 7. OLD BUSINESS C. Downtown Property Acquisition Opportunities. Rogness: summarized a response he received from the broker/owner of the downtown Professional Build- ing in relationship to the EDA’s previous discussion on this future redevelopment site. The EDA wanted to know whether the owner would be interested in combining adjacent city-owned property into a larger sale of property for redevelopment. Rogness stated that the owner was not interested due to the uncertainty this created for the existing tenants. The owner expressed concerns that tenants would not know whether the building would be there long-term, or be subject to a redevelopment plan for another use. Hedberg: said that the EDA should consider acquisition of this property due to the high probability that re- development would be planned once the CR 21 changes were fully implemented. Changes to CR 21 in- clude the closing of the full access intersection of Main and CR 21, resulting in the demolition of the Flow- ers Naturally building. Chromy: stated that two approaches were evident, including a more active versus passive strategy for fu- ture redevelopment. The active approach was for the EDA to pursue property acquisition now, and the more passive approach was to wait until a developer proposed a redevelopment project. Choudek: felt that it was important to explore all options before making a decision. Rogness: suggested that two options may be most strategic at this time, including: (1) ask the property owner if they would allow the EDA to secure an independent appraisal, and (2) inquire whether the owners would be open to a sale based on the EDA’s appraisal. MOTION BY CHROMY, SECONDED BY MORRIS TO HAVE STAFF INITIATE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL BUILDING OWNER ABOUT ACCEPTABILITY TO THE APPRAISLAL PRO- CESS. VOTE: Ayes by Morris, Chromy, Choudek and Hedberg. The motion carried. D. Fiber Optic Report. Rogness: introduced Andrew Cohill of Design Nine, Inc. to present preliminary conclusions of a second- party review of the June 2012 Fiber Optic Report completed by Lookout Point Communications. Cohill: gave a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the fiber report with recommendations to reconsider various parts of the report. For example, Cohill felt that the report did not give enough attention to the chal- lenges associated with a local 65% referendum vote, nor to the fact that incumbent providers would likely file one or more lawsuits if the city proceeded with Triple Play broadband services. EDA Commissioners: asked a few questions with the limited time available, and they thanked Cohill for his review with recommendations. A final written report will be submitted from Design Nine to the EDA by the end of 2012. No further action was requested of the EDA for this agenda item. 2 9. OTHER BUSINESS A. Draft January 22, 2013 Agenda. Staff and the Commissioners reviewed a draft agenda for the next EDA meeting in January. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY CHOUDEK, SECONDED BY CHROMY TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. With all in favor, the meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m. ___________________________ Frank Boyles, Executive Director 3