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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-14 EDA MinutesCITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES October 14, 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 14th day of October 2008. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:32 a.m. by EDA President Luden. ROLL CALL Members Present: Tony Jurgens, EDA Member Fred Luden, EDA President Paul Poncin, EDA Member Richard Remackel, EDA Member Sandy Shiely, EDA Vice President Gerry Weingartner, EDA Secretary /Treasurer Sara Westall, EDA Member Members Absent: None Staff Present: Howard Blin, Community Development Director 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 Myron Bailey, City Council Member APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by EDA Member Poncin to approve the September 9, 2008 Economic Development Authority minutes. Seconded by EDA Member Remackel, All Present in Favor. Economic Development Authority - Minutes October 14, 2008 Page 2 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE EDA Executive Director Schroeder gave the EDA a development update. Commercial, institutional and industrial permits remain strong in 2008, with approximately 85 percent of the value coming from institutional permits. At the current trend it is likely that the City will issue between 95 and 100 new home building permits for 2008. The White Pines Senior housing facility is now open. Allina will hold a groundbreaking for their expansion project on October 31 Culver's will have a ribbon cutting October 15 The ice arena will host a grand opening on November 18 The enhancements to the building and parking lot at 80 St. Crossing continue. The opening of 95 Street Auto Body will also occur in October. RESIDENTIAL LOT INVENTORY Community Development Director Blin presented this item. Currently the City has 218 buildable lots within the City limits. This is a low point in recent history but reflects the slowdown in residential housing developments. The City does have 181 approved lots that have not been developed yet that could be on the market within 6 months if the demand is there. An example of this would be Oak Cove. During this discussion EDA President Luden asked what the status was of the Mississippi Dunes Townhome project. CD Director Blin indicated that the foreclosure process was complete and ownership has been transferred back to the financing company. They are looking to finish up the project and sell all the units. INDUSTRIAL PARK PROPERTY ENCROACHMENTS There have been several property owners on Heath Ave. that have encroached on the private property in the industrial park. Staff is working with the owners of the affected properties to mitigate these encroachments. LANGDON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The City has the opportunity to purchase 10.6 acres of land in the Langdon area for future storm water ponding needs. As part of this purchase process an environmental review is to be conducted. Staff is proposing to do a phase one environmental review of the whole Langdon area. It proves to be efficient to do the whole area at once. EDA Secretary /Treasurer Weingartner moved to ratify Council direction to provide a phase one environmental review for the Langdon neighborhood. Seconded by EDA Member Poncin, All Present in Favor. PCA APPROVAL OF GATEWAY DRAP The City has been moving forward with plans to create the Gateway Pond in the area of Highway 61 and 80 St. While doing so a small amount of petroleum contamination was identified. As a result, the City was required to do a phase two environmental assessment and a Development Response Action Plan (DRAP). The DRAP was approved by the MN Pollution Economic Development Authority - Minutes October 14, 2008 Page 3 Control Agency. This allows the City to move forward under the guidelines of the DRAP. The City will try to recoup these costs through the PCA Super Fund program. TCCCF BUDGET EDA Executive Director Schroeder presented the budget and performance data of the Twin Cities Community Capital Fund. The City has been a member for a few years and has yet to have a business take advantage of it. Staff will continue to market the fund to businesses. BR &E UPDATE EDA Executive Director Schroeder gave a BR &E update. There are two meetings scheduled for October, one for the Gateway businesses and one for the industrial park businesses. CHAMBER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES The meeting minutes of the October 1 St Chamber Economic Development Committee were presented to the EDA. CAI FNnAR The EDA members were reminded of upcoming meetings and events. ADJOURN EDA Member Poncin moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by EDA Secretary /Treasurer Weingartner, All Present in Favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:28 AM. Respectfully Submitted, Joe Fischbach Management Analyst