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Home My WebLink About2010-09-14 EDA Minutes CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY MINUTES September 14, 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 14th day of September 2010. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:32 AM 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 Chris Reese, EDA Member Richard Remackel, EDA Member Members Absent: Staff Present: Howard Blin, Community Development Director Robin Roland, Finance Director Ryan Schroeder, EDA Executive Director Ken Smith, Communications Coordinator Jesse Swenson, Economic Development Coordinator Others Present: Craig Woolery, Director of Public Safety APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by EDA Secretary/Treasurer Poncin to approve the August 10, 2010 Economic Development Authority minutes. Seconded by EDA Member Remackel, all present in favor. Economic Development Authority - Minutes September 14, 2010 Page 2 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE / BR&E UPDATE / BUSINESS LEADS EDA Executive Director Schroeder gave the EDA a development update. The City Council st adopted the preliminary tax levy September 1. The City’s tax rate will drop below the mean in 2011 for the first time in at least 20 years, and there will not be a tax increase in 2011 for the average tax payer. Council entered into an agreement with 3M Cottage Grove for up to 3 years of ambient air monitoring of VOC’s, metals and particulates. EDA President Bailey noted that it was determined by the MPCA that a better location for the air monitoring station would be at the test track at 3M instead of at the original location at River Oaks Golf Course. A planned 2011 rehab of the Grey Cloud Bridge for structural repairs may have to be repaired sooner in order to provide continued truck traffic across the bridge. The construction will directly affect Aggregate Industries. The major storm pipe under Highway 61 has serious deterioration and will need to be reclaimed. The City received one bid for the project but it far exceeded the engineer’s estimates, resulting in the City rejecting the bid. th El Sol Supermercado is opening a 1,800 square foot bay in the 80 Street Village Green shopping center. The grocer also plans to serve take-out food. Also, the KFC property on East Point Douglas is for sale or for lease, but no closing date has been specified. There were 6 new single family budget permits issued in August with a value of $1,627,518. Director of Public Safety Woolery addressed the EDA with information regarding the proposed Public Safety/City Hall project. Director Woolery noted that there is an operational need for a new public safety building for several reasons, some of which include the fact that the current building does not have adequate facilities for the public, the detention areas are in the middle of the department and are not secure, and there are not enough jail cells or juvenile detention areas. Currently there is also a lack of space for evidence, specifically DNA. Beginning next week staff will be offering tours of the current facility. EDA Member Remackel asked about current and future staffing needs. Director Woolery stated the 70-75 employees currently use the facility and the new building will accommodate up to 145 employees. EDA Member Jurgens asked if the department moved to the new proposed location on Hwy 19 would there be a detrimental effect on the apartment buildings near the current building. Director Woolery reported that the officer’s patrol by district and that will not change, so the service to all areas of th the city will remain the same, but the current footprint on 80 Street cannot accommodate the new building. It was also noted that the proposed building will include community rooms and meetings rooms for citizen use, which currently do not exist. EDA Member Remackel noted that this was a great time for the City to move forward with this project and that the government should lead the way with spurring the economy. Economic Development Authority - Minutes September 14, 2010 Page 3 COMMUNITY CENTER MARKET STUDY Community Development Director Blin asked the EDA for direction on whether or not the EDA should partner with the YMCA on a community center market study for a cost to the EDA that would not exceed $20,000. The YMCA is a private, non-profit entity that has partnered with other metro area cities, including Lino Lakes, Andover, and Elk River in the creation of community centers. The market study would be a telephone survey to up to 1,000 Cottage Grove houses. EDA Member Jurgens asked about the funding mechanism. Finance Director Roland indicated that it was budgeted in the general fund for 2011, so there would be a budget transfer from the 2011 general fund budget into the 2010 EDA budget. EDA President Bailey asked staff to determine how many Cottage Grove residents are members for the Woodbury YMCA and bring that information back to the next EDA meeting. A motion was made by EDA Secretary/Treasurer Poncin to approve partnering with the YMCA on a market study not to exceed $20,000. Seconded by EDA Member Remackel, all present in favor. UPCOMING RETAIL & INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCES Economic Development Coordinator Swenson asked the EDA to provide direction on which upcoming conferences staff/EDA members should attend. Staff was already approved to attend the October 13-14 MD&M conference in Minneapolis. EDA Secretary/Treasurer Poncin recommended that staff attend more manufacturing conferences like MD&M. EDA President Bailey recommended that staff/members not attend the October 2010 ICSC Chicago conference since the MD&M conference was already planned and staff has the realtor forum that same week. A motion was made by EDA Member Reese to approve sending up to 4 people to attend the May 2011 ICSC RECON event in Las Vegas. Seconded by EDA Member Jurgens, all present in favor. HOLIDAY BANNERS UPDATE The City has received over $650 in donations for the holiday lighting displays that will be on display starting this winter. Staff continues to advertise the opportunity to donate and encourages EDA members to donate to the initiative. GOLF TOURNAMENT RECAP The 2010 EDA golf tournament was a great success with 17 foursomes that included developers, engineers, bankers and local Cottage Grove businesses. Staff identified several ideas on attracting more golfers for next year’s tournament. Also, the premium item given this year (a $20 River Oaks pro shop gift certificate) was well received and staff recommends giving the same item at next year’s tournament. METRO MSP WEB SITE UPDATE During its second full year of operation, MetroMSP attracted up to four times more page views than three peer regions of similar size that also use ZoomProspector technology. MetroMSP Economic Development Authority - Minutes September 14, 2010 Page 4 edged up its performance in the "unique visitor" category - beating two of the three markets by 31-41%, and showing well against a larger market that had established its website in 2003. A new, more sophisticated geographic information system (GIS) now powers the interactive "Prospector" side of the MetroMSP website. The new navigational platform provides enhanced search capabilities and brings important site selection information to the foreground. CALENDAR The EDA was provided a calendar of upcoming events. EDA President Bailey noted that the st Holiday Tree lighting has been scheduled for December 1 and the Holiday Train will be th December 12. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS ITEMS None ADJOURN EDA Vice President Olsen moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by EDA Member Remackel, all present in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 AM. Respectfully Submitted, Jesse Swenson Economic Development Coordinator