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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-08 EDA Minutes CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY MINUTES June 8, 2010 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Economic Development th Authority was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80 St. S., Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 on the 8th day of June 2010. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:31 a.m. by EDA President Bailey. ROLL CALL Members Present: Myron Bailey, EDA President Tony Jurgens, EDA Member Justin Olsen, EDA Vice President Craig Patterson, EDA Member Paul Poncin, EDA Secretary/Treasurer Richard Remackel, EDA Member Chris Reese, EDA Member Members Absent: None Staff Present: Howard Blin, Community Development Director Robin Roland, Finance Director Ryan Schroeder, EDA Executive Director Ken Smith, Communications Coordinator Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer Others Present: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by EDA Member Tony Jurgens to approve the May 11, 2010 Economic Development Authority minutes. Seconded by EDA Member Paul Poncin, all present in favor. Economic Development Authority - Minutes June 08, 2010 Page 2 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE / BR&E UPDATE / BUSINESS LEADS / Building Permits EDA Executive Director Schroeder gave the EDA a development update. He reported that the total permit value including residential remodels are up from 2009 which also had included 44 multi-family permits for senior housing. He mentioned that the BP Amoco gas station was being rebuilt. To date we are at 66 residential building permits, with detached housing construction accounting for 22 of those and attached housing construction accounting for 44 of the permits. BR&E We had 11 new corporation filings in Cottage Grove for the month of May, including a cleaning service, a landscaping company and a company called Magical Incarnations. River Oaks Golf Course Sign City Engineer Jennifer Levitt made a presentation before the EDA. She stated that the City Council has authorized the construction of a new golf course sign to be erected at the entrance to the facility. The plans for the new sign are enclosed for your information. The new sign will be a monument sign containing an electronic reader board. The electronic reader board will be 3’-4” x 11’-2” to provide for up to three lines of text of 9” letters. The color of the reader board is amber; an example of the proposed reader board can be seen in the Daktronics photo gallery image for Salem Schools. The cost for an upgrade to color was an additional $24,000 and was not considered necessary or cost effective. The reader board will provide for graphic options, but they will be static to comply with the City’s ordinance. The City will be seeking a variance on th June 16 from the City Council to allow for a larger reader board display for better readability in relation to a high speed principal arterial roadway. The sign will utilize a limestone veneer to provide continuity with the City’s current split face limestone signs used for parks and public facilities. There will also be limestone edging around the base of the sign, which will replace the existing keystone blocks. The City will design and install new landscaping around the sign, once construction of the sign is completed. The construction contract of the sign has a duration of 90 days. In July the contractor will submit shop drawings for the detailed cabinet, reader board, and stone veneer. Once shop drawings are approved there is approximately 6-8 weeks lead time for materials. The actual construction of the sign would most likely begin in mid-August, with a final completion date of September 14, 2010. The current engineer’s estimate for the sign is approximately $70,000. The existing sign thth would be relocated between the 11 tee and 17 green adjacent to Kingsborough Trail. EDA Member Reese asked if a variance was needed. Community Development Director Blin informed that it would not because only size is covered by the variance. EDA Member Jurgens asked where the $70,000 was coming from. EDA Executive Director Schroeder informed him it was coming from River Oaks operating budget. Mr. Schroeder stated that if you can’t read the sign that’s advertising events at the golf course no one will come. EDA President Bailey stated Economic Development Authority - Minutes June 08, 2010 Page 3 that current signs are not in compliance. It was stated that the Fish Fry was definitely affected when the sign was down. It was stated that the sign was being constructed out of good materials and is expected to last many years. EDA Member Remackel said he believes they can last up to 20 years. It was stated that the City logo might go on the sign but not the word municipal. EDA Vice President Olsen expressed his wishes that the sign will hopefully make the course busier and believes it is a necessity. Jennifer Levitt expected construction to begin in early August 2010. HOLIDAY DECORATIONS EDA Executive Director Schroeder reviewed Management Analyst Brian Voelker’s memo concerning holiday decorations. It stated that at the May 11 EDA meeting, City staff was directed to re-design the layout of the holiday decorations. The direction was given to incorporate the Christmas tree, candy cane, and banner together, rather than placing the Christmas trees on the signaled intersections only. Two figures that illustrate the layout of the Christmas tree, candy cane and snowman banner were shown. Figure 1 illustrated the East Point Douglas Road South business district area from thth VFW Red Barn to 90 Street South. Figure 2 illustrated the 80 Street South from Hinton Avenue South to Hadley Avenue South, East Point Douglas Road South from the Sunbelt car thth dealership to 80 Street, Hardwood Avenue South from 80 Street to East Point Douglas Rd South, and the Hadley Avenue South from Presbyterian Homes to Belden Boulevard business district areas. The pattern that was discussed at the May 11EDA meeting was to have the candy cane, banner, and Christmas tree on the street light poles as shown in figures 1 and 2. Also discussed at the May 11 EDA meeting was whether or not to purchase all lighted candy cane and Christmas tree decorations for both areas that have streetlights that have and do not have 120v outlets to light them. The other option is to purchase both lighted and non-lighted candy cane and Christmas tree decorations for both areas that have streetlights that have and do not have 120v outlets to light them. By purchasing non-lighted candy cane and Christmas tree decorations, there would be a savings of approximately $3,900.00. Public Works staff recommended purchasing all lighted candy cane and Christmas tree decorations to go with the snowman banners. It will make it easier to exchange decorations out if there are repairs that need to be made on the lighted decorations. The Public Works Department is also anticipating the replacement of the streetlights that do not have 120v outlets for power supply. The EDA was asked to provide staff with direction. EDA Executive Director Schroeder stated the costs are between $30,000 and $34,000. EDA Member Ramackel asked what the life expectancy of a bulb is. Mr. Schroeder said he couldn’t remember but would find out. EDA Vice President Olsen made a motion to go with the $33,000 option 2. EDA Member Poncin seconded the motion and all were in favor. Economic Development Authority - Minutes June 08, 2010 Page 4 RECON LAS VEGAS 2010 UPDATE EDA Executive Director Schroeder updated the EDA on the ICSC trip to Las Vegas which th occurred May 23 – 25. He stated that the City sent three representatives: Mayor Myron Bailey, Community Development Director Howard Blin and himself. They had over forty meetings and some went very well. Some of the companies they met with were Target, CSM, Chipotle, Dollar General and White Castle. EDA President Myron Bailey stated that they went out there with the intention of highlighting all available Cottage Grove sites but there was lots of interest in the Cottage View drive-in site. He said he also met with Hilton Garden Inns and discovered from Chipotle that they know about us but that they need a lunch time population of over 10,000 and we are at 4500. He mentioned he showed them the informal petition taken from our Facebook page but they want our numbers to go up. EDA Executive Director Schroeder said he was surprised by the number of companies that knew about Cottage Grove. EDA President Bailey remarked there was interest in the Home Depot sight but no one wanted to go it alone. He felt businesses were in expansion mood but more so next year. EDA Executive Director Schroeder shared that not having a booth was the right move. He didn’t see a lot of activity at the City of Ramsey booth. EDA Member Jurgens asked which trip Chicago or Vegas was more beneficial. President Bailey said Las Vegas. He said he wants Cottage Grove involved with the MN conference. He stated he’s gotten more phone calls than after the Chicago trip. The group went to the Wynn Hotel to meet with and entertainment group. Community Development Director Blin mentioned that a lot of Canadian developers are looking south. It was mentioned that they met with a broker that hooked them up with Hobby Lobby. Paul Poncin mentioned that Hobby Lobby buys old shells like Walmart type stores. EDA Member Jurgens asked if the City should be the general developer on vacant sites. EDA Executive Director Schroeder said more like a partnership. EDA Member Jurgens asked if they had conversations with any other restaurants. Director Blin replied he talked to Baha Sol. EDA Member Jurgens asked if Qdoba Mexican Grill was there. The answer was no. EDA President Bailey stated they won’t meet with some companies in the future because they are not relevant. EDA Member Jurgens asked if we are planning another real estate forum. He was told yes. He asked about similar event for commercial developers. Mr. Schroeder said it was something to look at in the future. EDA Member asked if we’ve invited anyone to the golf tournament. It was discussed with a possible idea being to comp the entry fee. EDA Golf Tournament Update th As of June 3, 2010 there are four foursomes registered for the August 10 EDA golf tournament, and this includes a Silver and Gold level sponsor. This is slightly behind the amount of registrants we had at the same time last year. EDA Executive Director Schroeder stated we would make phone calls like we do every year. For volunteer recognition another gift was discussed. CALENDAR ththnd There was a reminder for the, June 15 Chamber Golf Tournament, and the October 27 2 annual Real Estate Forum. EDA Member Jurgens said he was at a wedding reception at River Economic Development Authority - Minutes June 08, 2010 Page 5 Oaks and that the food and setting were wonderful. EDA Executive Director mentioned that grilling stakes was a big hit last year. Miscellaneous Business Items It was noted that the Chamber did not send a representative to the EDA meeting. Staff was directed to send agenda to the chamber as ex officio status. ADJOURN EDA Vice President Olsen moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by EDA Secretary/Treasurer Poncin, all present were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Ken Smith Community Services and Communications Coordinator