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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 19, 2000 PRIOR LAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Monday, June 19, 2000 5:30 p.m. Fire Station City Council Chambers Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance. Those present were President Barsness, Commissioners Criego, Mader and Walsh, Executive Director Boyles, Planning Director Rye and Recording Secretary Meyer. Commissioner Schenck was absent. Consider Approval of Minutes from the March 28, 2000 Regular Meeting. MOTION BY CRIEGO, SECOND BY MADER TO APPROVE MARCH 28, 2000 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Criego, Mader and Walsh, the motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: A) Approval of Invoices to be Paid MOTION BY MADER, SECOND BY WALSH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Criego, Mader and Walsh, the motion carried. PRESENTATIONS: NONE. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE. OLD BUSINESS: Election of Officers (Vice-President and Treasurer) MOTION BY CRIEGO, SECOND BY MADER, TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER WALSH AS VICE- PRESIDENT. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Criego, Mader and Walsh, the motion carried. MOTION BY MADER, SECOND BY WALSH TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER CRIEGO AS TREASURER. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Criego, Mader and Walsh, the motion carried. 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 June 19, 2000 NEW BUSINESS: Consider Discontinuation of Retainer with Advance Resources for Development, Inc. BOYLES: Discussed the relationship with Advance Resources for Development over the past 7 seven years, including projects such as Waterfront Passage Business Park, but advised that the commercial development is seemingly at a crossroads pending further action on the Downtown Redevelopment Project. As such, both the City and the consultant do not feel a need to continue the retainer agreement. MOTION BY CRIEGO, SECOND BY MADER TO APPROVE DISCONTINUATION OF THE RETAINER WITH ADVANCE RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT, INC. EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2000. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Criego, Mader and Walsh, the motion carried. OTHER BUSINESS: Review 2000 EDA Goals and Objectives BARSNESS: Suggested deferring the item to the next meeting by which the EDA will have had its next Downtown Redevelopment workshop. CRIEGO: Asked for clarification as to why the funds proposed for Downtown Redevelopment in the Capital Improvement Program was removed. BOYLES: Clarified that the City Council determined through a series of workshops that the allocation of funds for the street and landscaping reconstruction of Main Avenue. Several factors with respect to the project were discussed including that extreme care needed to be used in allocation of our limited resources, and it had not been determined that the street reconstruction project was the most vital. It may be that property acquisition, for example, would come to be a more prudent use of the funds. The Council determined that the allocation should remain, but be given a designation of "to be determined". Also noted that for the street reconstruction project, assessments could also be used. CRIEGO: Agreed with the Council's rationale, but asked if the money was still in the budget MADER: Stated that the money was never in the budget, it was in the Capital Improvement Program which is a planning document. Any one of the items needs to be justified prior to its initiation. Relating to the street reconstruction project on Main Avenue, much of the engineering work for project for next year are already started. With no plan for Main Avenue, limited funding available for the Downtown project, and a plan that is not yet complete, it seemed premature and impractical to think any project could be started as soon as next year. The CIP does, for the upcoming year, direct staff to proceed with engineering and feasibility studies, so the Council and staff concurred that it was appropriate for it to be delayed. BARSNESS: Asked if, from a staff perspective, there was no feasible way to put a plan in place a start a project next year. MADER: Commented that the implication was that engineering for a complete street reconstruction needed to be started, and there wasn't a clear indication of what project was going to take priority. I:~,DVBODYS\EDA\MIN UTES\00\061900. DOC 2 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes June 19, 2000 BARSN£$$: Commented that since the final Downtown Redevelopment Plan will soon be completed, and if it is determined that the street reconstruction is the next phase, it seems that by pushing the project out to 2001 just because we can't start it right now would be detrimental to the overall project. Believes we need to put all forces in place to make the project happen and that it should not be deferred until we know it can't be done. MADER: Clarified that the project is not necessary pushed out to 2001. It was deferred until we have a plan and funding sources for what will happen Downtown. The CIP can be readdressed by the Council at any time when there is a final plan. CRIEGO: Commented that his concern was that if an opportunity comes about that the EDA feels important to kick-off that the funding be available. MADE[R: Stated that there is a finite amount of money. The Council would have to make some priority decisions on how to allocate funds. For example, there was no discussion on a special tax levy. The allocation was to come from a combination of collector street funds, assessments and a number of other sources. The money is still there unless assigned to another project. No other project was put in place of the Downtown street reconstruction. WALSH: Noted that her understanding was that this project would proceed and that funds were in place for the general engineering requirements that could take a year, and that the larger dollars would be required for the hard costs or once the construction work has been started. Asked for clarification on how far this project can go with the current funding, or if it's possible the project might be stopped. BOYLE[S: Advised that a list of current and potential financial resources were distributed at the last workshop, and that those current resources had not been expended although there is an issue of whether TIF funding is available. MADER: Advised that his understanding is that no budget or planning document has carried specific cost allocations for Downtown Redevelopment. The initiation and implementation for this project will works just as any other improvement project by the estimated costs being determined, the staff advising where the funding will come from, and then it will go to the Council for consideration. Whatever is available is still there, but it becomes a challenge as to whether we can spend what we have in that TIF district. More decisions will come from a review of the final Downtown Redevelop Plan. BARSNESS: Reiterated that his belief there be a commitment to this project, and that we work towards moving forward with the project. Consider Participation in Fall Community Fest. BOYLES: Advised that the Fall Community Fest is scheduled for September 18th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm, and asked if the EDA is willing to participate. MOTION BY WALSH, SECOND BY CRIEGO TO AUTHORIZE PARTICIPATION IN THE FALL COMMUNITY FEST. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Criego, Mader and Walsh, the motion carried. I:~DVBODYS\EDA\MIN UTES\00\061900. DOC 3 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes June '19, 2000 Update on Gekko Sports Corporation. BOYLES: Noted that the City staff and President Barsness had met with Gekko Sports Corporation, who make ski boats, and we are hopefully that the discussions would bring the new business into Prior Lake. CRIEGO: Asked if there is anything the EDA can do as a body to encourage the business to come to Prior Lake. BOYLES: Advised that the business has some needs that are fairly unique to the business, including outdoor storage. We did do some brainstorming to address their concerns. It was left that if they would come forward with a proposal, the City staff would be happy to examine it to meet both their short-term and long-term needs. The City representatives were enthusiastic, but that they have some present business relationships to consider. BARSNESS asked for a new schedule of meeting dates and workshops. Upon a motion and second, the meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m. to a Workshop session regarding the D n. Recording Sec~{ary I:WDVBODYS\E DA\M IN UTES\00\061900. DOC 4