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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-5-12 EDC Packet • DEN HILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION NOVEMBER 7,2012 8:00 AM CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Ed von Holtum called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Ed von Holtum,Dan Erickson and Dan Altstatt Also Present: Council Liaison Ed Werner; City Administrator Patrick Klaers, and Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher Absent: Jim Huninghake 111 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was the consensus of the Commission to accept the agenda as presented. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was the consensus of the Commission to accept the August 1, 2012,meeting minutes as presented. 3. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. EDC Appointment Community Development Director Hutmacher introduced newly appointed Commissioner Dan Altstatt. Commissioner Altstatt then provided some background information about himself and his career. B. City Video Tour Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated the City has been researching options for a video tour and the direction decided on was to use CTV. After discussions with CTV, staff • believes that a video tour could be created primarily using the City's 100-hour annual CTV labor allotment. EDC Minutes November 7, 2012 Page 2 of 7 • Community Development Hutmacher asked whether the EDC was interested in assisting with the economic development portion of the video and if so,what things the EDC felt should be conveyed in the video and what specific businesses or areas should be highlighted. Commissioner Erickson indicated he felt they should focus on the large businesses and also have an example of small and medium size businesses flourishing within the City. He also indicated they could highlight the corporate campuses and how they fit into the community and highlight that the City is only 15 minutes from either downtown area. Council Liaison Werner suggested that the Mounds View schools and Bethel College be highlighted as well. Community Development Director Hutmacher informed Commissioners that the video would be posted on the website and feels this would be a good resource for residents or businesses considering moving to Arden Hills. It was the consensus of the commission that they would be interested in assisting with the video. C. Economic Gardening • Community Development Director Hutmacher reported that economic gardening is an up and coming strategy for economic development. This approach focuses on stage 2 businesses, which are businesses that are past the start-up stage and have a lot of growth potential. These stage 2 businesses are the businesses that create the most jobs and have the most growth potential. She indicated Hennepin County did a pilot program and selected 15 stage 2 businesses. Each business received 50 hours of technical research assistance and also attended round table meetings which were facilitated by the Edward Lowe Foundation. She reported Hennepin County received positive feedback from the businesses in the pilot program. The businesses indicated the pilot program was, in fact, helpful and created a peer group for growing businesses. Commissioner Erickson questioned the cost associated with a program such as this. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated she believed that Hennepin County's cost was $150,000 ($10,000 for each business) and that they used their economic development funds so there was no cost to the City. She, however, is not sure if Ramsey County has the same resources as Hennepin County. Commissioner Altstatt questioned whether staff should actually approach the County to do this since it was not a City initiative. • EDC Minutes November 7, 2012 • Page3of7 Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated it probably would not be a City initiative but if the EDC did not want to go forward with this they could communicate that to the City Council and County. Ms. Hutmacher asked the EDC if they would be supportive of the County doing more economic development activities and whether the EDC would support participation if Ramsey County initiates a pilot program. Commissioner Altstatt indicated he felt this would be a good program especially since there potentially is no cost to the City. Council Liaison Werner and Commissioner Erickson also felt businesses could benefit from the program and could not see any reason to not support it. The consensus of the commission was to voice their support of Economic Gardening to the County. D. 2013 EDC Work Plan • Community Development Director Hutmacher asked the EDC for input on what they would like on the 2013 work plan since she would like to bring the work plan forward for Council consideration in January 2013. Chair von Holtum asked whether the County was interested in the TCAAP property. City Administrator Klaers indicated the County is considering purchasing the property but it will still need County Board and congressional approval. He then provided a further update on the current status of TCAAP. Community Development Director Hutmacher asked Commissioners if a presentation on history, the previous development plan, and current status of TCAAP would be helpful to the group. The commission did not feel a presentation would be necessary at this point. Commissioner Altstatt questioned if TCAAP should be added to the 2013 work plan. City Administrator Klaers indicated the County would only be in the planning stages in 2013 and would not be ready to build. Community Development Director Hutmacher asked for input on what business outreach activities the EDC would like to pursue in 2013 [i.e., State of the City, new or existing business N. EDC Minutes November 7, 2012 Page 4 of 7 40 visits, marketing new city website, economic development video (which has already been discussed), newsletter articles and anything else]. Chair von Holtum questioned how helpful the new and existing visits were, but felt that marketing the new city website,the economic development video and newsletter articles would go forward. He indicated he felt the best business outreach would be having the EDC acting as a resource. Community Development Director Hutmacher questioned if they would like to hold a State of the City in 2013. Chair von Holtum felt there would be a good turnout since TCAAP is starting to wind up again. Community Development Director Hutmacher suggested they hold a State of the City in September as, at that time,they would know whether TCAAP was moving forward or not. Chair von Holtum,moving on to the next item,questioned if there was any money in the existing revolving loan program. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated there is money but that staff needs to do • some additional research on whether it can be used for things other than the revolving loan program. Chair von Holtum indicated this should be done in conjunction with one of the commercial bankers in the City because the City does not have the skill set to do the proper underwriting. He asked that staff look to see how much money there is and what the restrictions are and then contact the banks. City Administrator Klaers indicated he felt this should be a work item for next year since it has been sitting dormant for a time and staff is hoping to get the Economic Development Authority active and reestablished and have the EDA become the focal point for economic development separate from the City Council. Mr. Klaers indicated he is not sure if the loan was given to the City or the EDA. Chair von Holtum indicated he believed it was the EDA. City Administrator Klaers indicated the EDA is meeting November 26 to update their bylaws and approve their budget and then they will set up regular quarterly meetings and the revolving loan program will be one of their work items. Chair von Holtum agreed that this should be part of the EDA's work plan. City can identify the Chair von Holtum indicated he is not sure businesses considering 4110 expansion or at risk of leaving. EDC Minutes November 7, 2012 Page 5 of 7 Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated she would like some direction from the EDC as this has been on the work plan for 2011 and 2012. Chair von Holtum stated there is nothing the City can really do about a business that is considering leaving. Commissioner Altstatt agreed that they have limited ability to address the situation but he feels it really is the same as business outreach and opening lines of communication. He indicated there is no mechanism to put in place to know unless they tell us. Chair von Holtum indicated a way to open the lines of communication is to recruit members from the B2 and Red Fox/Grey Fox area. He added that by expanding member commissioners it would give the EDC access to the information by word of mouth. Commissioner Altstatt asked if the EDC has actively been recruiting members. Chair von Holtum indicated that part of the recruitment problem is there are some issues and bad feelings when talking to past commission members. City Administrator Klaers clarified that the EDC worked hard on some projects that the Council then rejected and that there was not good communication between the EDC, staff and the Council, and that is why it is important to have a work plan approved and everyone on the same page. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated that if the EDC is going in one direction and does not have the Council's buy-in there is bound to be conflict. She stated that when she presents the draft work plan it is going to include the Council's goals. Commissioner Altstatt suggested that the EDC reach out to developers and owners of some of the major office building complexes and let them know the City wants to retain their businesses in the City. It was the consensus of the EDC to focus on the building owners and ask them if there are any resources that they need. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated she feels it is easier to talk to the businesses since the landlords are usually not in Arden Hills or even the Twin Cities. • Chair von Holtum moved the discussion to the item"market city website." EDC Minutes November 7, 2012 Page 6 of 7 • Community Development Director Hutmacher reported the new website will have a more professional online format and the intent is to try to get people to the website to access information. Commissioner Erickson indicated there was prior discussion about getting involvement with some of the commercial real estate listings or MLS listings. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated the property page on the new website will provide a link to the Minnesota Commercial Realtors Association website. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated she has visited and created a database on property owners and businesses and business reps in the B2 district. This year her focus will be visiting the businesses in the Gateway District in order to obtain contact information. Once she has the contact list the EDC will have to decide what to do with the information and on whether to have the entire EDC meet with the property owners, landlords or with the businesses. Community Development Director Hutmacher asked if there was anything else in the work plan that the commissioners wanted to see because she would like to get it approved in December. Chair von Holtum added the EDC would like to stay apprised of the revolving loan program and TCAAP but does not know how they can stay apprised of businesses that need improvement. 4. UPDATES A. TIF Policy No updates needed—information in packet B. Gateway Signs No updates needed—information in packet C. Holiday Inn Reuse Proposal Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated the City did receive a proposal from the Holiday Inn developer, Rob Davidson, on Monday. The proposal is for up to 75 units of apartments with 1 to 4 unit configurations marketed towards student housing. The McGuire's area would be reused for 25,000 square feet of retail space. The common areas would include amenities geared more towards a student population like pool area,theater, gaming room,and bicycle storage. She stated the developer would like to get approval before the end of the year and hope to have a Special • EDC Minutes November 7,2012 Page 7 of 7 • Planning Session scheduled for November 28 to discuss that and would allow it to go to a Special Council meeting on December 17. Ms. Hutmacher indicated the developer would like to have some mock units available so he can begin marketing to students in February. D. Council Liaison Council Liaison Werner reported that the City received a proposal from Bent Drewstillery to open a pub and distillery in the B4 zone and this has been approved and will be moving forward. Council Liaison Werner reminded the commissioners that there is an open house this evening from 4:00-6:00 pm for Ulteig, a new business that moved into the former Fair Isaacs space at 4285 Lexington Avenue North. It was also mentioned that there will be a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Walgreen's. Mr. Werner invited the commissioners to attend the annual meeting of the Ramsey County League of Local Governments which he has become involved with. The meeting is November 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn and the key speaker will be Tom Hauser, KSTP Channel 5. E. Staff Comments None 5. ADJOURNMENT Chair von Holtum adjourned the meeting at 9:35 a.m. '14.4.•(//-444— Ed von Holtum, Chair Ji utmacher Community Development Director