HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998.04.14 EDA MINUTES-APPROVED • CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MINUTES
April 14, 1998
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 April 1998.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by Mayor Denzer.
ROLL CALL
• Members Present: Donna Boehm
Bill Buth
Jack Denzer
Glen Kleven
Fred Luden
Gerard Weingartner
Jim Wolcott
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Kirstin Barsness, Economic Development Director
Neil Belscamper, Personnel/Economic Development Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Denzer moved to approve the March 10, 1998 Minutes. Wolcott
seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
4.A. LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Barsness detailed the new legislation recently passed at the Capitol, which will allow for
TIF districts in any area of the City. She said the legislation calls for any business using
tax-increment financing to offer at least 160% of the federal minimum wage for salary.
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• Economic Development Authority- Minutes
April 14, 1998
Page 2
4.B. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Barsness stated that the discussion items from the last EDA meeting would be presented
to the Planning Commission. Kleven highlighted previous Planning Commission
discussions over the transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan, including the
development of arterial routes, as well as some of the issues involved with a new river
crossing. He felt the river-crossing issue should be looked at now, and a concept plan put
in place. Denzer and Luden concurred.
Kleven raised concerns over the placement of a collector road in the Keats Avenue/90th
Street area, and Wolcott emphasized the importance of the City maintaining areas along
Keats for commercial development. Several EDA members agreed with his position, and
Kleven suggested that the land-use component of the Comprehensive Plan could make
provisions for commercial/industrial development in that area. Buth felt the idea of
convenience-store-type businesses for the area would be a more realistic proposition
while many commission members reiterated the difficulties associated with rezoning any
land that was already residentially zoned.
4.C. 1997 ANNUAL REPORT
• Buth moved to accept the 1997 Annual Report. Wolcott seconded. Motion carried
unanimously.
4. D. TIF DISTRICT 1-9
Barsness outlined the process for designating a TIF district, adding that all funding would
be internal.
4. E. PROJECT UPDATES
Barsness said a local car rental business had reconsidered locating to a site along 80th
Street, due to unforeseen costs.
Kleven informed EDA members that there had been talk of a second set of railroad tracks
running through the City.
Barsness stated that a major restaurant chain has delayed their project in Cottage Grove
because of the poor revenue generated at their Inver Grove Heights location.
Commission members speculated that there may well be other conditions beyond those
involving the Inver Grove Heights location as to the delay in constructing the Cottage
Grove restaurant.
Barsness said site selection by a major manufacturer is down to two location—River Falls
and Cottage Grove—and will bring approximately 200 jobs into whichever community they
choose.
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. Economic Development Authority- Minutes
April 14, 1998
Page 3
4. F. WELFARE TO WORK
Barsness said Washington County is very active in the Welfare-To-Work Program, and
will be organizing an exposition in September—most likely at the Bielenberg facility in
Woodbury—where different organizations will set up informational booths.
5. A. ARTICLE IN MINNESOTA INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES.
A recent article in Minnesota Industrial Properties about the Southeastern Metro Area
contained information about Cottage Grove, Barsness informed EDA members.
5. B. VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION EVENT
Barsness said a volunteer recognition event is being planned by the Public Works
Department and will be held at the New Moon Restaurant on April 30.
5. C. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOINT MEETING
Barsness stated that Fred Luden had been elected Vice-President of the Chamber of
Commerce.
• ADJOURN
Wolcott moved to adjourn. Denzer seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
N I Be!scam r
E onomic Development Secretary
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