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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-15lt -A�Hui.s CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MAY 6, 2015 8:00 AM CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Steve Heikkila called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Steve Heikkila and Commissioners Dan Erickson, Michael Hands, and Ed von Holtum. Also Present: Council Liaison Robert Woodburn; City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; Jonathan Weinhagen, Vice President, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce; Planning Commission Chair Roberta Thompson; and Jim Huninghake. 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 March 4, 2015 and the April 1, 2015 meeting minutes as presented. 3. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Business Retention and Expansion Jonathan Weinhagen provided the Commissioners with a progress report on the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program. He then introduced the interview training that he would be providing for the business visits. Mr. Weinhagen provided an outline of the types of questions that would be included in the business interview survey. He stated that the survey should only be used as a "guiding instrument" and that the interviews should be comfortable and conversational. He noted that the EDC Minutes May 6, 2015 Page 2 of 5 BRE participants would be acting as representatives of the City, but that they should not try to resolve problems brought up during the interviews. Mr. Weinhagen noted that the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC) would handle contacting and scheduling meetings with businesses, but that BRE participants would need to confirm the visits in advance. The goal is to have the schedule for interviews finalized by the end of May and to complete the visits in the months of June, July, and August. Mr. Weinhagen stated that participants should introduce themselves at the beginning of the interview and at the end thank the business for their time and investment in the City. He recommended that participants request a tour of the facilities as part of their visit. Mr. Weinhagen noted that SPACC would provide businesses with a follow-up questionnaire and that any issues identified during the interview would be forwarded to City staff. He added that each company would receive a final copy of the BRE program results later in the year. City Administrator Klaers asked how participants should respond to breaks in the conversation during interviews. Mr. Weinhagen commented that SPACC would be providing a one-page handout with sample questions to help facilitate conservation. Commissioner Erickson questioned if there was a minimum amount of time needed for an interview to be worthwhile. Mr. Weinhagen noted that a minimum of 30 minutes would be needed to go over the questions on the survey. He commented that he expected the interviews to take approximately one hour. Council Liaison Woodburn requested that SPACC provide the City Council with an update on the progress of the business interviews at a future work session meeting. Mr. Weinhagen commented that he would work with City staff to schedule a time to update the City Council on the BRE program. Jim Huninghake requested information on how the priority visit list was created. Mr. Weinhagen noted that priority visit list includes companies within projected high growth industry sectors, major employers in the City, and landmark businesses that have operated in the City for a long period of time. Community Development Director Hutmacher requested that Commissioners and participants provide staff with any additional businesses they know of with high growth potential. Roberta Thompson asked how participants should respond if the person being interviewed is not familiar with the City's BRE efforts. EDC Minutes May 6, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Weinhagen stated that SPACC would provide the businesses with background information on the BRE program prior to the interview. Associate Planner Bachler questioned whether participants should divide up responsibilities for asking questions and taking notes during the interview. Mr. Weinhagen stated that it would be up to each individual team whether they wanted to split up the tasks of posing questions and taking notes. He recommended that participants build on natural connections between the interviewers and business. Roberta Thompson commented that it would be helpful if participants could provide businesses with a handout that provided staff contact information and addressed transportation issues, and the TCAAP redevelopment project. She added that the question in the survey on the City's Revolving Loan Fund program should be posed as a general inquiry and that participants should not make any commitment of City funds. Chair Heikkila questioned how SPACC will ensure proprietary information on individual businesses is not included in the BRE program report. Mr. Weinhagen noted that all of the data collected from the interviews would be aggregated and that no individual business names would be mentioned. He added that it would be helpful to promote the State of the City event at interviews. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that it would be helpful if a date for the State of the City event could be included on the handout provided to businesses. She requested that the EDC make a recommendation on whether a State of the City event should be held again this year. She noted that a final date would be confirmed with the City Council. It was the consensus of the Commission that a State of the City event should be held in mid- September. Community Development Director Hutmacher noted that completed surveys should be sent to Mr. Weinhagen and that SPACC would follow-up directly with City staff regarding any issues that came up during the interview. Mr. Weinhagen commented that SPACC would be putting together the interview teams and contacting participants in the next few weeks about scheduling. 4. UPDATES A. Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) Update Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that the Joint Development Authority adopted the Energy Integration Resiliency Framework (EIRF) on April 6, 2015. She noted that EDC Minutes May 6, 2015 Page 4of5 the JDA authorized staff to move forward with the implementation steps regarding a Solar PV site on the former Primer Tracer Area and a district geothermal energy system. Community Development Director Hutmacher commented that Kimley-Horn has completed the Fit Test for the TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) and has presented the results to the City Council. She added that the City Council continues to discuss the TRC and that a deadline for preliminary approval has been set for May 26, 2015. Community Development Director Hutmacher noted that Solar PV was identified as a good economic use of the Primer Tracer Area land because of poor access and high levels of environmental contamination. Commissioner Erickson asked what the footprint of the Solar PV would be. Mr. Weinhagen stated that the facility would require approximately 40 acres of land, most of which would be taken up by the solar panels. Chair Heikkila commented that a Solar PV installation would significantly contribute to the marketability of the TCAAP redevelopment. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that it was impressive that the City Council and County Board were looking seriously at alternative energy options for the TCAAP site. She added that this is not the conventional approach taken with most development. None. B. Commission Members C. Council Liaison Council Liaison Woodburn provided an update on the City Council's work on the TRC. He noted that the City Council discussed restrictions on warehousing uses on the TCAAP site at a recent Special Work Session meeting. None. D. Staff Comments ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Commissioner von Holtum moved and Commissioner Hands seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously (4-0) Chair Steve Heikkila adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m. EDC Minutes May 9, 2015 P 5 of 5 Steve Heikkila, Chair 7&Jill utrnacher Community Development Director