Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-10 Approved Minutes CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY MINUTES th May 10, 2016 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Economic Development Authority was th held at Business Enterprise Center 7516 80 Street South Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 on the 10th day of May, 2016. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:33 a.m. by EDA President Bailey. ROLL CALL Members Present: Myron Bailey, EDA President James Celkis, EDA Member Trent Cole, EDA Member Steve Dennis, EDA Vice President Tony Jurgens, EDA Treasurer Ramona Westerberg, EDA Member Eric Thiewes, EDA Member Members Absent: None Staff Present: Charlene Stevens, EDA Executive Director Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer Christine Costello, Economic Development Director Robin Roland, Finance Director Matt Wolf, Economic Development Assistant APPROVAL OF MINUTES th 3.1EDA Vice President Dennis motioned to approve the April 12, 2016 EDA Meeting Minutes. EDA Member Westerberg seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0 vote). EDA Member Celkis entered meeting at 7:34 and was present for the remainder of the meeting. BUSINESS ITEMS 4.1 Business Inquiry/Community Development Update Economic Development Director Costello gave an update on the business development inquiries in the City of Cottage Grove over the month of April. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt discussed the development update items that were presented in the packet. Economic Development Authority – Minutes May 10, 2016 Page 2 of 4 EDA President Bailey stated that the Hy-Vee contractor trailer was moved from the front of the building to the back. EDA Member Jurgens asked if any local contractors were going to be used in construction of the Hy-Vee building. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated that Hy-Vee’s Construction packages are out for bid so potentially local contractors could be awarded the bids. EDA Member Jurgens inquired if the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations were going to need the same level of parking as the current Park and Ride site. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated they were envisioning a 4 to 5 level parking deck and not a large surface lot. EDA Member Jurgens asked if one of the options for the BRT station was the site by Applebee’s and Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated that was correct; it would be right in front of the alternative High School entrance and the road would have to be realigned. EDA Member Jurgens asked if that building or the parking lot would have to be demolished to accommodate the BRT parking structure. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt said that the building would not be demolished and the current Park and Ride on West Point Douglas would be turned into a parking ramp. EDA Member Jurgens commented he is also on the Washington County Library Board, and that in the strategic plan Washington County is in the planning process to look at partnerships with cities and that the district center should be kept in mind as a partnership opportunity. EDA Member Thiewes asked where the parking ramp for the BRT station would be located by the future Hy-Vee location. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated that BRT station at Hy-Vee would not have a parking ramp; City is anticipating a parking ramp at the Jamaica station location. EDA Member Jurgens asked Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt to update the EDA about the Presbyterian Homes project. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt gave an th update to the Presbyterian Homes project at the corner of 80 Street and Hadley Avenue S. th EDA Member Jurgens asked if Jamaica north of 70 Street was paved. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt said it was completed. EDA Member Jurgens asked if in the six legged roundabout (CSH19 Improvement) plans, there were any plans for a roundabout on the other side of Highway 19. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated at this time that is not part of the scope of the project. EDA Member Jurgens stated his concern was traffic coming east after completing shifts at 3M there is an influx of traffic travelling at excessive speeds and whether there were ways to slow the traffic. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt said she would talk to Public Safety and see what options are available. 4.2 Consideration of Second Amendment to Purchase Agreement for Gardenworld Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated Gardenworld would not close on their th financing until May 18 so the EDA needs an extension to the current purchase agreement. EDA Member Thiewes motioned to approve the Second Amendment to Purchase Agreement for Gardenworld. EDA Member Jurgens seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote). 4.3 Acceptance of DEED and Minnesota Viking Marketing Economic Development Director Costello spoke about the desire for the City of Cottage Grove to increase their marketing by promoting the City and the Business Park. To accomplish this Economic Development Director Costello stated they wanted to take out a full page ad in the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) publication for 2017 at the price of $6,500. Additionally as this is the first year of the new US Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings Economic Development Director Costello stated they would like to take out a quarter-page ad in the Minnesota Vikings Yearbook at the cost of $3,000. EDA Member Jurgens stated he liked the idea of the Vikings Yearbook and only doing it for one year. EDA Member Thiewes asked how our advertisement is going to be different as opposed to Economic Development Authority – Minutes May 10, 2016 Page 3 of 4 last year. Economic Development Director Costello said she has reached out to a graphic artist at the cost of $1,200 to help design a new ad. EDA member Thiewes asked how much traction we got from the previous DEED publication. Community Development Director/City Engineer Levitt stated that the City mailed it to all the brokers, used it on-line and the ad was a good conversation starter with potential businesses. EDA President Baily asked if we should go bigger than a quarter sized ad in the Viking’s Yearbook. EDA Executive Director Stevens recommended we only do a quarter-page as the amount of marketing budgeted is limited for 2016 and doubling the cost on the Vikings Yearbook would use over half of the marketing budget for 2016. EDA Member Jurgens made a motion to approve the DEED and Minnesota Viking Marketing expenditures. EDA Member Westerberg seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote). 4.4 BEC Direction and Tour of Facility Economic Development Director Costello gave a presentation on the Business Enterprise Center (BEC) and its current concerns and challenges. At 8:25 a.m. the EDA went on a tour of the BEC. The EDA returned to the BEC Training Room at 8:41 a.m. Economic Development Director Costello continued her presentation on the concerns of BEC. Economic Development Director Costello concluded the presentation by asking the EDA for their thoughts, concerns or questions about the future direction of the BEC. EDA Member Jurgens asked about the leases ending in 2018 and what would happen to them if we shut down the BEC before 2018. Economic Development Director Costello said we would work them to find a new location in the community and the lease did not require the EDA to buy out the remainder of the lease. EDA Member Jurgens inquired about the solar panels that are on the roof of the BEC and what the lease required. Finance Director Roland stated the agreement has an option to transfer the solar panels to another City facility. Finance Director Roland said that the City has looked at the scenario and doesn’t view it as a major issue. EDA Member Jurgens asked about a potential Public/Private partnership for the building that was in the discussions previously, if there was anything still pending or potentially developing in the future. Economic Development Director Costello stated there is currently nothing planned or in development. Director Costello continued to state that the previous gentlemen who approached the City is no longer in discussions with the City. EDA Member Thiewes asked if the City does exit interviews with tenants that leave the BEC. Economic Development Director Costello stated that there haven’t been exit interviews with past tenants, and no tenants have left since she has taken over the position. There have only been two tenants who have left the facility in the life of BEC and one went out of business. EDA Member Cole stated that in regards to moving the Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) the biggest concern would be maintaining the Chambers relationship with Wakota CAER and their need for training room space EDA Member Cole asked that if there is an ability to work with the City to find a spot that has a large meeting space that would be ideal for the Chamber. EDA President Bailey stated given the current situation he would not want to extend any leases with current tenants and would like to try to find potential locations in Cottage Grove for the current tenants in the BEC. EDA President Bailey also requested that staff look into how the City of Prior Lake handles their business incubator leases with tenants and whether there is a penalty or payback provision if they didn’t locate in the City of Prior Lake after graduating from the business. Economic Development Director said she would look into that and determine if that was indeed the case in Prior Lake. EDA President Bailey asked if all the tenants are up to date on their rent. Economic Development Director stated that not all tenants are up to date on rent. EDA Member Jurgens made a motion for staff to create an exit strategy to begin to wind down operations of the Business Enterprise Center and establish a joint City Council/EDA Meeting in June. EDA Vice President Dennis seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote). PUBLIC HEARING Economic Development Authority – Minutes May 10, 2016 Page 4 of 4 None OTHER BUSINESS 6.1 Calendar EDA Members viewed the various upcoming events listed on the calendar. 6.2 EDA Comments None 6.3 Response to Previous EDA Comments None AJOURN EDA Vice President Dennis made a motion to adjourn. EDA Member Celkis seconded. The meeting adjourned at 9:09 a.m. (7-to-0 vote). Respectfully Submitted, Matt Wolf Economic Development Assistant