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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-09 EDA MinutesCITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES NOVEMBER 9,2004 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Economic Development Authority was held at City Hall, 7516 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota on the 9th day of November 2004. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by EDA President Wolcott. Rni i CAI i Members Present: Jim Wolcott, EDA President Gerry Weingartner, EDA Secretary /Treasurer Sandy Shiely, EDA Vice President Glen Kleven, EDA Member Mike Wennen, EDA Member Dick Pederson, EDA Member Members Absent: Al Boche, EDA Member Others Present: Ryan Schroeder, EDA Executive Director Kim Anderson, South Washington County Bulletin Howard Blin, Community Development Director Monica Percic, Management Analyst Scott Johnson, Management Analyst APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Sandy Shiely moved to approve the October 12, 2004 Economic Development Authority Minutes. EDA Member Wennen seconded and the motion carried unanimously. PROJECT UPDATES Economic Development Authority - Minutes November 10, 2004 Page 2 ED -04 -017 — Ryan Schroeder was contacted by Ryan Krzmarik from Welsh Companies about 50 to 100 acres of heavy industrial property for a client. A marketing packet was mailed to Mr. Krzmarik. Staff is waiting for more information from Welsh Companies. DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Ryan Schroeder updated the EDA on current projects in the City. ICC did not close on their project Friday. A closing will happen sometime in the near future. PRI will be closing on their project in the next 30 days. American Agco also plans on closing on their expansion parcel in the near future, but will not begin construction until 2005. Ruby Tuesday will open for lunch service on December 1 A grand opening ceremony will occur in December. Presbyterian Homes is scheduled to close November 22 on their project. Howard Blin has been working with them on their funding for this project and a communication piece that will be sent to the current tenants once the closing occurs. Mayor Shiely asked if Snyder's would be involved with the project. Ryan Schroeder said they are working with Presbyterian Homes to be a part of the project. Mr. Schroeder informed the EDA that Las Margaritas Restaurant and Cold Stone Creamery will be tenants in the Shoppes at Gateway North. The Summerhill project missed a closing deadline for their project, but we are expecting that they are working on an extension. The site work on the 1501 project is effectively complete. The City is waiting for a letter from the owner confirming that the work is complete. Jim Wolcott mentioned that a grand opening will be held for the Market Place project in December. EAST RAVINE Howard Blin informed the EDA members about the progress of the East Ravine Study. An open house will be held November 15 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the cafeteria at Cottage Grove Junior High. Staff is currently working on engineering and talking to commercial developers about the East Ravine. The developers thought 200,000 SF of commercial development would work in the Cedarhurst area. The developers thought the market for the Cottage View area would not develop for another 10 years, but they thought it was vital that the City try to keep the site as a single piece for development purposes. Mayor Shiely and Mr. Wolcott encouraged keeping the Cottage View site together as one project. Mr. Blin also mentioned that Washington County, the Met Council and the City are working on an agreement that would replace the property for the government center project in the future. The County is moving ahead by speaking to architectural firms. 2004 CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE PROJECTS Ryan Schroeder informed the EDA that 273 housing units have been built year to date in Cottage Grove in 2004, which is close to the same pace as past years. Without the East Ravine opening for development the City will be running short on residential property. Economic Development Authority - Minutes November 10, 2004 Page 3 HARKNESS AVE IN THE GATEWAY Ryan Schroeder informed the EDA that there are no major traffic problems at the Harkness and Hardwood corridors at this time traffic on Harkness has declined from past years. Hardwood Ave. seems to be doing its job. However, a new traffic count will need to be conducted after the Shoppes at Gateway North and Ruby Tuesday open for business. COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION RESOURCES Cottage Grove citizens seem to be taking advantage of this program. The interest rates for the energy and home fix -up loans were below market when the program was adopted by the City Council. THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE TASK FORCE Staff is seeking Commission members who would be interested in sitting on the task force. Any interested EDA members should speak to Mr. Wolcott. CHAMBER TRADE SHOW Monica Percic updated the EDA on the Chamber Trade Show. The name has been changed to business fair. The fair will be moved to the Armory site. The Gym and hall will allow for more room for the event. The group is seeking a $750 donation from the EDA for the event. Mike Wennen mentioned that the event was very popular and will be larger this year. It will cost over $300 to rent the Armory site. Jim Wolcott mentioned that the site will be less convenient for attendees. The event did make some money in 2003. Mayor Shiely and Jim Wolcott thought it would be better to wait and see if the EDA's support is necessary. Glen Kleven thought it would be worth the $750 for the publicity to the EDA. Mayor Shiely thought it was important that businesses from all three cities support the event. Mr. Kleven thought the other two Cities would contribute if the EDA made the first contribution. Gerry Weingartner suggested that the EDA start with a $200 sponsorship of the event and add more funds if needed at a later date. Mr. Weingartner made a motion to sponsor the event with a $200 sponsorship. Glen Kleven seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Mike Wennen abstained from the vote. GATEWAY FENCING The dentist office would like to proceed with the fencing and trail project. All of the property owners have now agreed to the project. The agreements are currently being drafted. The agreements will come back to the EDA for approval in the future. Economic Development Authority - Minutes November 10, 2004 Page 4 MISC EDA members were encouraged to call Jim Wolcott or Ryan Schroeder with their ideas for the speaker at the January 24 Chamber Business Breakfast. Glen Kleven thought it would be a good idea to have a speaker on the topic of staging development. Mayor Shiely thought a legislative update or the impacts of the Wakota Bridge would be a good idea. Dick Pederson thought a speaker on economic development would appeal to the audience. Ryan Schroeder and Jim Wolcott will discuss the idea further. Mayor Shiely and Ryan Schroeder will be speaking to the leaders of the Minnesota State Senate November 10th on the issues the City is currently facing. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m. Respectively Submitted Scott Johnson Management Analyst