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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.1 June 30, 2020 Special EDA Meeting Minutes CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY MINUTES Special EDA Meeting June 30, 2020 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a meeting of the Economic Development Authority was virtually held via Zoom at https://cottagegrovemn.zoom.us/j/91575887526 on the 30th day of June at 7:30 a.m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by EDA President Bailey ROLL CALL Members Present: Myron Bailey, EDA President Chris Carey, EDA Member Steve Dennis, EDA Vice President Dan Myers, EDA Member Rachel Smoot, EDA Member Eric Thiewes, EDA Member Members Absent: Erin Pash, EDA Member Staff Present: Jennifer Levitt, EDA Executive Director/City Administrator Robin Roland, Finance Director Christine Costello, Economic Development Director Matt Wolf, Economic Development Coordinator Others Present: Kori Land, City Attorney, LeVander, Gillen, and Miller P.A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Approval of the June 9, 2020 EDA Meeting Minutes EDA Vice President Dennis motioned to approve the June 9, 2020 EDA Meeting Minutes. EDA Member Carey seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0 vote). BUSINESS ITEMS 4.1 Newport Midwest Project LLC Project Support Economic Development Authority – Minutes June 9, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Economic Development Director Costello presented on the proposed 54-unit multi-family th development at 7601 79 Street by Newport Midwest LLC asking for a letter of support for tax increment financing for the project. EDA Member Thiewes stated that he had a conflict of interest since he worked for the Minnesota Housing Agency and the project was applying for tax credits through the Minnesota Housing Agency, so he was removing himself from the vote. EDA Member Myers motioned to adopt the resolution authorizing support of tax th increment financing (TIF) for the proposed 54-unit multi-family development at 7601 79 Street South by Newport Midwest LLC. EDA Member Smoot seconded. Motion passed (5-to-0 with EDA Member Thiewes abstaining). 4.2 Award Small Business Emergency Assistance Program Grants Economic Development Director Costello presented on the third round of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Program and the revised guidelines for the new applicants, which contained Oasis Chiropractic, Bonngard’s Family Meats, Integrity Dental Care PA, VFW Post No. 8752, and Pretty Nails. EDA Vice President Dennis asked the EDA to include the VFW as part of the program, which as a non-profit organization they currently do not qualify. EDA Vice President asked that the other applicants be voted on and then the VFW application be held for discussion until after the vote. EDA Vice President made a motion to approve of two Small Business Emergency Assistance Grants each for $10,000 to Oasis Chiropractic PA and Integrity Dental Care PA, approve one grant of $1,800 Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant to Bonngard’s Family Meats and approve one Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant of $8,500 to Pretty Nails. EDA Member Thiewes seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0). EDA Vice President Dennis requested that the VFW’s application be considered due to the fact they have a brick and mortar building and all the work they do in making the community a better place for its residents including their work in Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. EDA Vice President Dennis stated he worked with City Attorney Kori Land to adjust the language for non-profits so that non-profits with a focus to support military veterans could be included in the program. EDA President Bailey asked staff if the CARES money from the State of Minnesota to the City of Cottage Grove could be used to reimburse the EDA for the Small Business Emergency Assistance Program. City Administrator Levitt stated that staff has reviewed the guidelines for the CARES funds and the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant would be reimbursable through the CARES money from the State. EDA President Bailey asked City Attorney Land if the language that was put into the guidelines would not open the program up to other non- profits. City Attorney Land stated that she believes the language added is narrow enough that the new guidelines only apply to non-profits that support military veterans. EDA President Bailey stated that he was worried that if the guidelines were to broad a lot of non-profits would apply for the funds, which was not the purpose of the program and stated he liked the proposed new guidelines. EDA Vice President Dennis made a motion to support a $10,000 Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant for the VFW of Cottage Grove. Economic Development Authority – Minutes June 9, 2020 Page 3 of 3 EDA Member Carey asked if the VFW application to the program met all the other criteria set up in the program guidelines. Economic Development Director Costello stated that the only guidelines the VFW did not meet were that it was a non-profit and their income that was generated from gambling. Economic Development Director Costello stated in all other areas the VFW met the criteria of the program. EDA Vice President Dennis made a motion to support a $10,000 Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant for the VFW of Cottage Grove with the new revised guidelines for the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. EDA Member Carey seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0). PUBLIC HEARINGS 5.1 None OTHER BUSINESS 6.1 Calendar 6.2 EDA Comments EDA Vice President Dennis thanked everyone that was part of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Program. EDA President Bailey stated that the CARES money that the City will be receiving from the State of Minnesota can only be used for a narrow set of guidelines set by the State and the funding level is based on population. 6.3 Response to Previous EDA Comments WORKSHOP None AJOURN EDA Member Thiewes made a motion to adjourn. EDA Vice President Dennis seconded. The meeting adjourned at 7:58 a.m. (6-to-0 vote) Respectfully Submitted, Matt Wolf Economic Development Coordinator