HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002.02.06 MINUTES • CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MINUTES
February 6, 2002
Special Meeting
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 6th
day of February 2002.
CALL TO ORDER
Jim Wolcott called the meeting to order at 7:35 AM.
• ROLL CALL
Members Present: Glen Kleven, Sandy Shiely, Jim Wolcott, and Fred Luden.
Members Absent: Dick Pederson and Gerard Weingartner.
Others Present: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator
Michelle Wolfe, Assistant City Administrator
Scott Johnson, Management Analyst.
EDA Strategic Plan
Format - Fred Luden suggested we keep the report short and add a reference section
for information.
Objectives — The EDA thinks master planning needs to be done prior to development.
A master plan should be formulated under the Council with input from the EDA,
Community Development, and other commissions. Staff has already started a master
plan for the intersection of Keats and Highway 19.
The EDA also thought it would be a good idea to begin a master plan for the Langdon
area. The master plan would also help fill the gap between the Comprehensive Plan
and what the Council wants for development. Jim Wolcott gave the example of the
Menards project when discussing a master plan. The Menards site and the surrounding
4110 sites were supposed to be set aside for commercial development. Since there was no
• Economic Development Authority - Minutes
February 6, 2002
Page 2
master plan to guide the development town homes were built on a large piece of the
site.
Most members thought the EDA should have its own master plan. The EDA's master
plan should be separate from any other City master plans. A master plan would allow
the EDA to react to what projects contractors want to bring to Cottage Grove.
The EDA was also looking for another word besides brownfield to put in the Strategic
Plan. However, Ryan Schroeder explained to the members that brownfield is the
accepted term by DTED. To receive funds to clean-up brownfields the City needs to
use this definition in its plans. Less than 1% of the property in Cottage Grove would
qualify as a brownfield. Mayor Shiely thought it would be a good idea to change the
language to "Any brownfield site may..." to cover any unknown brownfield sites.
Fred Luden suggested for any goals or objectives to include a scorecard to keep track of
future accomplishments by the EDA. Members also thought Page 10 should include the
language "graded industrial sites" and "good working relationship with the City."
Next, EDA members discussed the marketing plan. Staff needs to respond to inquiries
quickly and emphasize more positive press through press releases. EDA also wants a
section added to the Strategic Plan to compare goals from 1991 to today. This will allow
• the EDA to evaluate why or why not goals were successful. Mayor Shiely would like to
see an insert in the Cottage Grove Reports to update citizens on development projects
throughout the City. City staff should also pursue restaurant opportunities and female
business owners. The staff also needs to advertise its website and post up to date
information about City meetings and projects.
A language change was proposed on the Red Rock Corridor. It is uncertain what the
route of the commuter train will be in the future. Mayor Shiely proposed changing the
language on Page 23 to "proposed to connect to the North Star commuter line."
Finally, the EDA discussed the future direction section. A service road through the 3M
property could be a future project depending on commuter rail. A river crossing near
Cottage Grove is also a future goal through the Comprehensive Plan language. EDA
members also thought a conclusion section is not necessary for this document.
Keats and Hwy 61
A proposal on Commercial development will be proposed at the next meeting.
ADJOURN
EDA President Jim Wolcott adjourned the meeting at 8:55 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
• Economic Development Authority - Minutes
February 6, 2002
Page 3
Scott Johnson
Management Analyst
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