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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 19, 1999PRIOR LAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Monday, July 19, 1999 5:30 p.m. Fire Station City Council Chambers Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance. Those present were President Barsness, Commissioners Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, Executive Director Boyles, City Attorney Pace, Planning Director Rye, Assistant City Manager Woodson, Assistant City Engineer Sue McDermott, Consultant Roger Guennette and Recording Secretary Meyer. Approval of June 21, 1999 Meetincj Minutes: MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECOND BY JADER, TO APPROVE THE JUNE 21, 1999 MEETING MINUTES, AS AMENDED. UNDERFERTH: Page 2, second to the last Underferth, change "City" to "businessperson". VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, and Underferth, the motion carried. Commissioner Schenck abstained. CONSENT AGENDA: Consider Approval of Payment of Invoices MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECOND BY SCHENCK, TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. PRESENTATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. OLD BUSINESS: Business Retention Interviews: (1) Interview Assignments, and (2) Questions. BOYLES: Reviewed the procedure for commencing with the business retention interviews by the EDA Commissioners. Asked for input from the Commissioners. SCHENCK: Asked if staff would be accompanying the Commissioners on interviews. BOYLE$: Clarified that past direction from the EDA was that businesspersons may be less intimidated if staff was not present. JADER: Commented that he would like to be included in the interviews with Mystic Lake and Norex. Also asked how the list of businesses was developed. RYE: Commented that the list is a compilation of City records and Chamber records. 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes July 19, 1999 KEDROWSKI: Asked about the timeline for completion of the interviews. BOYLES: Asked the Commissioners for direction as to the timeline, as well as the scope of the questions. BARSNESS: Suggested mailing a survey or list of questions prior to the individual interviews so that the business person is aware of the scope of information the EDA is seeking. MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH, TO APPROVE THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH A 60 DAY TIMELINE AND TO HAVE THE ITEM ON THE OCTOBER AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION. VOTE Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth, Schenck, the motion carried. Further discussion occurred among the EDA as to the specific questions to be included, deleted and amended. The EDA also discussed sending out the questionnaire in advance and the procedure by which the interviews will be completed. {~UENNETTE: Commented that if the EDA is taking the time to complete a survey of this extent, they should also focus on how the EDA is able to use this type of information. Suggested the initial contact should be to just listen to what the concerns are in the business community. Also noted that if business assistance is a concern within the business community, there may be local, county, state or federal programs available to develop a business assistance program. MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH, TO APPROVE THE SURVEY AS AMENDED. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, Nay by Kedrowski, the motion carried. The Commissioners agreed that the staff will revised the survey, distribute to EDA Commissioners, and send out the survey to business owners advising that Commissioners will be in contact to schedule a meeting. Findings of Funding Report for CSAH 42 Frontage Roads. MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH TO ACCEPT THE FUNDING REPORT AS SUBMITTED. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Recommend EDA Budget and Levy for 2000. BOYLES: Provided background information in connection with the staff report, together with the options available to the EDA. Also advised that the EDA should make a recommendation to the City Council for consideration. Further detailed the specific allowances within the proposed budget. KEDROWSKI: Asked for clarification that the City Council must approve annually any EDA special levy. Also asked if the money marked for the Downtown redevelopment were not used, would that decision go back to the Council. I:~ADVBODYS\EDA\MIN UTES\99\071999. DOC 2 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes Ju~y 19, 1999 PACE: Advised that the budget provided the Council is supplemental material and what the Council authorizes is the levy authority for the EDA. If money were left over, the use of it would be under the discretion of the EDA within those limits provided by statute. BOYL. ES: Given the magnitude of the funding, suggested being specific as to the allocation. Also noted that once the Downtown Redevelopment study is available in October, the EDA will be able to better determine to what degree the EDA is needed to and able to provide assistance. BARSNE$$: Asked the rationale for moving the travel and conferences expense and the consultant expense to the HRA levy, rather than the general funding. PACE: Clarified that when you include budget allocations from the general fund, you limit the levy authority of the City as a body. The EDA budget can come from the City's General Fund, an EDA levy, or a combination of the two. JADER: Believes allocating funds to Downtown redevelopment at this time is premature. UNDERFERTH: Understood Commissioner Jader's position, but in light of the input from the Downtown redevelopment workshops, and the failure of past plans, believes that the EDA needs to take the initiative now, and that some public assistance will be necessary. SCHENCK: Noted that if we do not approve the funds for the 2000 budget, we will have no funds to proceed with any type of Downtown redevelopment. GUENNETTE: Believes that if the EDA is not willing to approve the allocation of funds to the Downtown redevelopment at this point, they should never have begun the study in the beginning, it would undermine the planning process the EDA has already put in place. LARRY ANDERSON: Commented that it is imperative that some redevelopment in downtown take place. JADER: Agreed with the Downtown redevelopment and that this is probably the last chance we have to take the initiative, but without any specific application, a $70,000 levy will not get Council approval. BARSNESS: Asked what the budget deadlines are. UNDERFERTH: If the EDA recommends a levy, and the Council approves the levy, and a project is not defined in the meantime, the Council really has until December for a final levy. BOYLES: Provided that the budget limits can be reduced after the September resolution is adopted, but that cannot be increased. The Truth-In-Taxation hearing is scheduled for December 6th, and the City Council must adopt a budget by December 20th. BARSNESS: Believes it is time for the EDA to listen to the community and take the initiative. MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH TO APPROVE SENDING THE EDA LEVY BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. I:~DVBODYS\EDA\MIN UTES\99\071999.DOC 3 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes July 19, 1999 Award Bids for Wetland Mitigation in Waterfront Passage Business Park. BOYLE$: Reviewed the item in connection with the staff report. MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECOND BY SCHENCK TO AWARD BID FOR WETLAND MITIGATION IN WATERFRONT PASSAGE BUSINESS PARK TO K. A. WlTT CONSTRUCTION, INC. IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,692.00. JADER: Asked if we have worked with the proposed contractor in the past. Planning Director Rye advised that the Engineering staff had checked references, but that he was unaware if the City had worked with the contractor in the past. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. OTHER BUSINESS: None. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Letter to Scott County HRA Regarding Memorandum of Understanding. RYE: Bill Jaffa indicated that the Memorandum of Understanding will be on the HRA's agenda tomorrow, and that they should respond favorably. For Sale Sign on 4.5 Acre Parcel GUENNETTE: Advised the EDA of the steps currently being taken to market the property. Letter to CSAH 21 / TH13 Property Owners. BOYLES: Advised that the letters have been mailed, but as yet no responses had been received. UNDERFERTH and BARSNESS: Commented that the letter was well-written and staff did a great job on follow-up. Review 1999-2000 Goals & Objectives BOYLES: Reviewed several questions and concerns that staff had with respect to the current goals of the EDA. Asked for comments and/or input from the Commissioners to more clearly define the projects for the coming year. Consensus among Commissioners that the items (referring to specific properties and to long-range efforts) identified by Executive Director BOYLES in the staff report be removed at this point. MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH, TO REVISED THE GOALS AND TO-DO LIST. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. U~nd, the meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m. ~ecording S~retary I:~ADVBO DYS\E DA\M IN UTES\99\071999. DOC 4