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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-03-14 EDC MinutesIt EN HILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DECEMBER 3, 2014 8:00 AM CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 1. 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 and Commissioners Dan Erickson, Jim Huninghake, Steve Heikkila, and David Radziej Also Present: Council Liaison Ed Werner and City Administrator Patrick Klaers. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was the consensus of the Commission to accept the agenda as presented. 3. 'APPROVAL OF MINUTES The October 1, 2014, minutes were not included in the packet and will be submitted for approval at the next EDC meeting. 4. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. 2015 Work Plan City Administrator Klaers stated that because of staff demands related to the TCAAP project, the 2015 Work Plan is not as extensive as previous work plans. He commented that the BRE program is expected to be moving forward and that there are some Outreach items to follow-up on including the City video tour. He informed the commissioners that the City video tour is progressing and that Associate Planner Bachler expects the video to be completed by the first quarter of 2015. B. Newsletter Assignments City Administrator Klaers commented that Community Development Director Hutmacher provided a list of possible topics for the newsletter and that staff is looking for volunteers to accept assignments. He also asked the commissioners if there were any other topics they thought were relevant. EDC Minutes December 3, 2014 Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Heikkila indicated that he did an article on the progress of the Round Lake Road improvements which are still underway. He indicated that when he distributed the postcards for the State of the City, all of the businesses in the Round Lake District were interested in the status of the project. Commissioner Heikkila indicated that he feels an update on the Round Lake Road improvements, as well as the 2015 bridge improvement on Highway 96, would be good topics for the newsletter and offered to do an article that would summarize those two topics. Commissioner Erickson asked whether there had been any progress with the Carroll's Furniture property. City Administrator Klaers informed the commissioners that the Carroll's Furniture property had been purchased by Frattallone's and he expects an application to be submitted to the City Council in the first quarter of 2015. He indicated Frattallone's will be using part of the building for storage and for offices and that it will not be used for retail. City Administrator Klaers indicated that the reuse of the Carroll's Furniture property, County Road E, and the Snelling Avenue bridge replacement could be topics for the newsletter. 5. UPDATES A. TCAAP Update City Administrator Klaers indicated that Community Development Director Hutmacher has provided a schedule of upcoming TCAAP meetings and assignments. He indicated that the timetable for completing the project has changed. City Administrator Klaers indicated that staff had hoped to get the TCAAP redevelopment code completed before the end of the calendar year, in part because of development pressures and demands and also for Councilmember Werner to see the conclusion of the project before his term expired. He indicated the current goal is to have everything approved by the City Council by the end of February, 2015. City Administrator Klaers stated that with the TCAAP Redevelopment Code, there has been a lot of information and new ideas for the Council to work through as this code is very different compared to the current City ordinance. City Administrator Klaers mentioned that there was a prospective buyer for the Thumb property, however, the company was purchased and the parent company has since reevaluated the plan to relocate the business to Minnesota. -City Administrator Klaers explained that the County has asked the Council to move the Spine Road to the east in order to accommodate a 20 acre retail parcel in the northwest corner of the site, south of the County Road H intersection. He commented that this change to the Master Plan Land Use map is expected to be made. EDC Minutes December 3, 2014 Page 3 of 3 Council Liaison Werner provided an updated draft of the map showing the realignment to the Spine Road. City Administrator Klaers mentioned that the Council has been meeting almost every Monday to discuss the TCAAP project. He commented that there are many items that need to be fine- tuned and decided. He mentioned that there will be a TCAAP Open House from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, in the Marsden Room. The Open House will provide information related to infrastructure improvements (roads, sewer, water, roundabouts, and the 96/35 divergent diamond bridge). Commissioner Huninghake asked what type of building was being constructed on Highway 96 City Administrator Klaers informed the commissioners that the Army Reserve was building a Readiness Center which is on GHATS property and is not part of TCAAP. City Administrator Klaers indicated that the EDA did not hold their regular meeting at the end of October and, therefore, did not approve the BRE project. Ile stated that this is an important project for 2015 and thinks that there is support from the EDA for the project as it is in the approved budget for 2015. C. Commission Members Chair Von Holtum indicated that James Huninghake's term is expiring at the end of December and thanked him for his service. D. Council Liaison Council Liaison Werner indicated that his term is also expiring and that it was a pleasure working with everyone on the EDC. He appreciated the work done by staff. He also mentioned that the Truth and Taxation hearing would be held at the City Council meeting on December 8 and that the proposed levy increase was 5%. E. Staff Comments There were no staff comments. ADJOURNMENT Chair von Itum adjourned the meeting at 8:50 a.m. Ed von Holtum, Chair Jill 1 macher Coy° imunity Development Director