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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-03 MINUTES (SPECIAL MEETING) COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION Special Joint Meeting March 3, 2010 CALL TO ORDER The Cottage Grove City Council and the Planning Commission of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a Special Meeting on March 3, 2010, at the Cottage Grove City th Hall, 7516 80 Street South. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Cottage Grove City Council Members: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Pat Rice, and Council Member Justin Olsen. The following were absent: Council Member Mark Grossklaus Planning Commission Members Present: Steve Messick and Ryan Rambacher. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator, Caron Stransky, City Clerk; Howard Blin, Community Development Director, Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer, and Robin Roland, Finance Director Mayor Bailey presided over the meeting. Mayor Bailey stated the purpose of the Special Meeting was to meet with members of the Planning Commission. He stated that the Council held a retreat in January, 2010 where the Council reviewed and amended the City’s goals and vision, which will be provided to each member of the Planning Commission. He stated that the goals are pretty much the same as last year, but there were some areas that were amended. Mayor Bailey reviewed the 2010 City Council Goals: 1.Continue to increase our marketing efforts for the City as it relates to new retail, commercial, industrial and retail business. 2.Willingness to look at new types of housing development, including lot sizes. 3.Construction of a community center. The Community Center Task Force will present their final report to Council in April 2011. The task force is trying to figure out the type of facility, what it is going to cost, how we pay for it, and will consider public, public/private partnership or a private facility. 4.Construction of a city hall/public safety facility. By the end of May 2010, staff will complete a space needs study on staff needed for community development, administration, finance, and the police department. By the end of 2010, the Council will have some type of idea of outside partnerships that they may want to be a part of, whether there are grant opportunities for cities that are pursuing joint ventures with other entities, where we would go, how big it would be, etc. Mayor Bailey stated the city hall/police facility could be funded internally while the community center would require funding through a voter referendum. He stated staff will look into various partnerships for both facilities. Cottage Grove City Council 2 March 3, 2010 Special Meeting Mr. Messick asked whether there was any intention of developing the Landon area for the Red Rock Corridor. Mayor Bailey stated a study (RFP) of the area is underway and as a part of that study is an option to develop the property before the Red Rock Corridor. The study also includes the Drive-in site, th Home Depot, and Co. Rd. 19 (Keats)/70 Street. The Council and Staff are willing to look at different types of projects, different opportunities for developers, whether it is in homes, commercial, or industrial projects, to get the economy moving again. Mayor Bailey stated that the EDA is sending him, Council Member Olsen, City Administrator Schroeder and Community Development Director Blin to Las Vegas in May for the “Shopping Center Convention”. He stated we have been getting a lot of positive feedback regarding how easy and how nice it is to work with our staff. Mr. Rambacher asked what kind of marketing items will you use to impress developers, do you have any CD’s, jump drives, etc., versus a piece of paper that goes in the garbage. Mayor Bailey stated we have put together a zip drive and our own EDA website, www.growthpartners.com., which includes a clearing house on development opportunities within the community. City Administrator Schroeder stated that when they meet with the various groups, developers or businesses, we also invite them to the City and provide them with a free pass to our golf course. One of the things learned in Chicago was we needed to have a bulls eye with a circle on a map showing the short distance from downtown Minneapolis or the airport to Cottage Grove. Mr. Messick asked whether we are promoting the expansion of businesses and job production in the industrial park. Mayor Bailey stated there has been discussion on attracting other types of businesses, such as a corporate campus. He stated that we hear from prospective restaurants that in order for them to come to Cottage Grove, we need a daytime lunch crowd. City Engineer Levitt stated that T.H. 61 will be upgraded this summer and two (2) road accesses will be permanently closed noting that the Minnesota Department of Transportation is very supportive of closures. City Administrator Schroeder stated there is a business meeting next week that will kick off the project and Community Development Director Blin stated he will give a little update at the next Planning Commission meeting. There was discussion regarding residential lot sizes, foreclosure of homes in Cottage Grove, holiday lighting for business districts, and the newly created Environment Commission. Mayor Bailey stated there will be two (2) new members appointed to the Planning Commission very soon, and asked Messrs. Messick and Rambacher to keep the lines of communication open between the Planning Commission and the Council, and if they know of anyone that would be interested in joining a commission, to direct them to the City’s website where they can download an application for an advisory commission. The Council thanked Messrs. Messick and Rambacher for attending the special meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Caron M. Stransky City Clerk