The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2008-07-08 EDA MinutesCITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES July 8, 2008 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 8th day of July 2008. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by EDA President Luden. ROLL CALL Members Present: Tony Jurgens, EDA Member Fred Luden, EDA President Richard Remackel, EDA Member Sandy Shiely, EDA Vice President Gerry Weingartner, EDA Secretary /Treasurer Sara Westall, EDA Member Members Absent: Paul Poncin, EDA Member Staff Present: Joe Fischbach, Management Analyst Ron Hedberg, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Ryan Schroeder, EDA Executive Director Ken Smith, Management Analyst Jesse Swenson, Management Analyst Others Present: Jon Avise, South Washington County Bulletin APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by EDA Vice President Shiely to approve the June 10, 2008 Economic Development Authority minutes. Seconded by EDA Member Remackel, All Present in Favor. DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Economic Development Authority - Minutes July 8, 2008 Page 2 EDA Executive Director Schroeder gave the EDA a development update. The City has met recently with OPUS to release the 37 acres on the north side of 97 Street to allow for City marketing of that property and to complete 97 Street. Also, the 95 Street pond has been delayed due to the OPUS proposed spec building not moving forward on schedule. The Gateway Pond construction has currently been undergoing an environmental review due to nuisance levels of a petroleum product found in the soils along with pieces of a former foundation. The Hamlet pond was competed in July, and due to blasting activity at the Hamlet Pond seismic readings were required and a report is due back shortly. The owner of Zitzloff Auto Body (Dylanland) on 95 Street in the Industrial Park has closed into escrow on his mortgage pending entering a subordination agreement with the EDA. EDA Secretary /Treasurer Weingartner moved to enter into the subordination agreement with Dylanland. Seconded by EDA Member Remackel, All Present in Favor. The Hamlet Park (80 Street /Hadley) will not begin until 2009. The Red Rock Rail Corridor Commission has agreed to provide a station area plan for the Langdon Master Plan. In the future the EDA will want to do a Utility Plan for the Langdon area. The US Bank wall will soon be under construction. The City Council has approved both TradeHome Shoes 3,000 square foot expansion variance and Renewal by Andersen zoning text amendment to allow for construction of an outdoor window testing facility. The Cottage Grove Training Center has moved forward and a draft letter of support from the Mayor is included in the packet. EDA President Luden commented that Inver Hills Community College will begin pre- marketing the Center to Industrial Park tenants to find out their employee training needs. The hotel project, slated for the property north of Ruby Tuesday is not proceeding with the previous development team; however a similar project is anticipated at this location. The Ice Arena construction is on time. EDA Member Westall noted that the sponsorship tables for the arena are being made by ICHOR and they are still available for purchase. A new monthly BR & E report was included to show the status of businesses that the City has contacted to -date in 2008. This report will be updated each month and a code will be included to show each prospects status. The Buy Local program was submitted to the Chamber for review. The 2008 Comprehensive Plan will go to the City Council for adoption on July 16. The major change is a proposal to provide for transition guiding 300 to 400 acres across from River Oaks golf course for a future Business Park. EDA Member Jurgens asked about the status of the Langdon Master Plan and EDA Vice President Shiely noted that the City Council has opposed single site planning in the master plan, although the Council will look at this area in 2009. EDA Members Westall and Jurgens asked if a bridge from Cottage Grove to Inver Grove Heights would be included in the Comprehensive Plan. EDA Vice President Shiely asked that staff research maps and drawings that have been done in the past for a bridge in Cottage Grove and to bring that information back to the EDA. Building permits are on par to 2007. DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT MARKET VALUE GROWTH EDA Executive Director Schroeder and Management Analyst Swenson presented the EDA with data that identifies pre - development market values and current market values for parcels in the Gateway district and Industrial Park. Both direct and indirect taxable market value growth resulting from City development efforts within the Gateway total over $64 million and the Industrial Park total $70,603,800 in new development and related market value appreciation and future growth from these efforts will dwarf these numbers. Economic Development Authority - Minutes July 8, 2008 Page 3 COTTAGE GROVE POINTS OF PRIDE EDA Executive Director Schroeder and Management Analyst Smith presented the EDA with a Points of Pride campaign. The reason for the campaign is to serve as a marketing tool for the community and to show what the City has to offer. EDA Vice President Shiely commented that she liked the idea and that a follow -up step should be to determine a means of voting for residents. EDA Member Jurgens noted that staff should think about ways to market the campaign outside of Cottage Grove. Updates to the campaign will be brought to the EDA in the following months. RIVER OAKS GOLF COURSE 2007 UPDATE EDA Executive Director Schroeder and Management Analyst Smith gave a 2007 financial update on River Oaks Golf Course. Revenues at the course have reached a plateau in recent years at a level between $1.6 and $1.7 million. The annual debt payments average $396,000 per year through 2010. There has been little change in the rounds of golf played each season, but the green fees revenue did see an increase from 2006 to 2007. The amount of weddings has been increasing since 2003, up 32 %. EDA President Luden asked that a breakdown of revenue and expenditures for each area of the golf course be presented to the EDA members. GROWTH PARTNER AWARDS Each year at the EDA Golf Outing Growth Partner Awards are announced. These awards are granted to those developers, builders, architects, engineers, contractors and /or owners having completed a project of projects above and beyond the rest of the field during the prior calendar year. The EDA members were asked to vote on several nominees for this year's award winners. After two rounds of voting the list was narrowed down to a few, and EDA President Luden and EDA Vice President Shiely will pick the final winners to be announced on August 12 th . EDA GOLF TOURNAMENT UPDATE Management Analyst Swenson reported that fourteen foursomes have already signed up for the event. The premiums for this year's event will be a hat and ball marker. CALENDAR The EDA members were reminded of upcoming meetings and events. MISCELANEOUS BUSINESS ITEMS EDA Vice President Shiely asked that the EDA look into marketing to women business owners and CEO's, specifically in the Industrial Park, and that at an upcoming EDA meeting a brainstorming session should occur. Economic Development Authority - Minutes July 8, 2008 Page 4 ADJOURN EDA Member Jurgens moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by EDA Secretary /Treasurer Weingartner, All Present in Favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 AM. Respectfully Submitted, Jesse Swenson Management Analyst