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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-07 "-Mt ,`IQEN HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, January 17, 2007 7:30 a.m. Upstairs Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. December 20, 2006 IV. BUSINESS RETENTION — Chair Kunkel A. March 29 event VO STRATEGIC PLAN/GOAL SETTING — Chair Kunkel • VI. EDC VACANCIES — Chair Kunkel/Karen Barton VI I. TCAAP UPDATE — Karen Barton VIII. ADJOURN AND SET NEXT MEETING DATE i • City of Arden Hills 1245 West Highway 96• Arden Hills Minnesota 55112 Phone 651.634.5120-Fax 651.634.5137 www.cl.arden-hills.mn.us e6 a • �.E-���i C Lp l� ��A't-rn.+-toa-res ,Oep 4 1 s 7 a�,6{Q • • � �, � �i �'s�w� �Ij�, ¢rFvr�ST-�. 'l �c� i � ,�- � '�lG�— iS �bti:, r ����1�,� c�k. ti'LFJ� GL(�—i G%w�a-Lc� R EN HILLS • CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION December 20,2006 7:30 A.M. CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 Bruce Kunkel called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m. Those in attendance: Bruce Kunkel, Chris Ashbach, Dale Beane, Ray McGraw, Ed Werner, Jim Paulet, Rob Davidson, Mayor Aplikowski and Mayor-elect Stan Harpstead. Staff. Community Development Director Karen Barton. Absent: Nancy Kneeland, Kevin Kelly Approval of Minutes Bruce Kunkel asked if there were any corrections to the December 20, 2006 meeting minutes. Jim Paulet requested the statement regarding the Council's level of understanding of public financing be changed to state that the"concept of public financing does not appear to be fully understood by the Council." Ray McGraw moved approval of the minutes as amended. Ed Werner seconded. Motion carried • unanimously. Chair Kunkel introduced Mayor-elect Harpstead to the Commission. Mr. Harpstead stated that he will be the liaison to the EDC after the first of the year and indicated that there would be a number of changes ahead. He stated that the City needs to grow towards a longer tern vision and policies. Committees will play a vital role in this process. We need to find venues to think outside the box and to set foundations for the next 15 years. He stated he hopes to get to know each of the members better and to improve relationships with chairs of committees and the City Administrator. He wants to create a Finance Committee and envisions that each of the committees and commissions will work with the Finance Committee. He asked if anyone had any questions of him and went on to state that he is a business person in the sciences. He is used to working on projects that don't have an end-point. He thanked Mayor Aplikowski for her service to the City. Chair Kunkel asked Mr. Harpstead how long has he been a resident and where does he live. Mr. Harpstead replied he has lived on Karth Lake since 1986. Mr. Kunkel welcomed Mr. Harpstead. Review Council Action rep-ardinp-Economic Development Strategic Plan Karen Barton stated that the Council received the strategic plan at their November 27 meeting and referred it back to work session for further discussion. Ms. Barton also noted that DeSCo would like to print final copies of the plan if we're ready. Chair Kunkel stated that we are not ready yet; the Council needs to review and approve. • Mr. Harpstead asked what are we going to get for the investment in this plan? He indicated that he would like it brought to the March work session to discuss specific actions and budget items associated with the plan. Chair Kunkel stated that the EDC would take a short hiatus from the plan in working with the Council until they are ready. Mayor Aplikowski noted that there was $5000 budgeted for business retention activities in 2007 Red Fox/Gray Fox Business Area Discussion Chair Kunkel indicated that he believes this area is critical for redevelopment and we need to identify the property owners in the area. Ms. Barton noted that we can obtain a list of owners of record through the GIS system. Ray McGraw stated that the I-Flex district is very restrictive. We need to review these restrictions and make recommendations to Council. Rob Davidson asked what Mr. McGraw was referring to specifically. Mr. McGraw stated that the district does not permit general education uses. . Mr. Harpstead asked staff to review and make recommendations. Staff also needs to keep the EDC informed of zoning change requests. Mayor Aplikowski stated that our zoning is very restrictive but that is by Council design. East Side Beverage wants to move. We need to be more business-friendly. Ms. Barton stated that staff can review and make recommendation regarding the zoning code,but policy changes need to be driven by the committees, commissions, and Council. Mayor Aplikowski stated that the Royal Oaks development should not have gone away. Mr. Davidson inquired as to the status of that development. Mr. Harpstead replied that we did not have an RFP process for the original sale. We need to develop an RFP process and policies. The EDC should develop the criteria for the RFP but Council hasn't gotten to that point yet. Chair Kunkel stated that he felt Mr. McGraw had raised an interesting point. We should ask James Lehnhoff to present the zoning regs for these development areas. We need to look at these areas specifically. Jim Paulet stated that we need to develop goals for the commission for the next year. Mr. Harpstead added that we need a big vision then to develop the goals. • 2 • Mr. McGraw made a motion to have the City Planner make a presentation to the EDC. Ed Werner seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Aplikowski said the EDC got pulled away from the visioning and goals with the Public Financing Policy, etc., so we are actually right on track. Chair Kunkel requested staff to have James presentation include tax info as well. Mr. Paulet stated that strategy is important for the EDC. Mr. Harpstead further noted that Roberts rules are clear about Council accepting a report. Better to request Council adopt the 5 principles and define a return for this. Chair Kunkel said there are a number of residents in the City that have a knee-jerk reaction to spending money. Mayor Aplikowski stated that the Council was not proactive in setting the tone; they always felt the market would set the tone. The Council needs to become more proactive. Mr. Harpstead asked, as the EDC's liaison,how can he help the EDC get the sense of empowerment they would like. Mr. Davidson said that the EDC has worked on projects only. We need a tool that the Council can use to further promote a broader agenda. We appear to Council and others as a renegade group. Chair Kunkel added that if the EDC is going to do anything of significance, the Council has to approve. Chris Ashbach asked what the Council wants or expects of the EDC? That question needs to come before the Council. Mr. McGraw added that the Council needs to give the EDC authority and support its recommendations. Otherwise it is a waste of time. Chair Kunkel recommended asking Mr. Harpstead talk with the Council to define what they see the EDC's role as. The Council can help the EDC become more effective. Mr. Harpstead stated that he will have the Council review the charters for all committees and commissions at the January 22nd work session, and make recommendation. Ed Werner added that the EDC is a great commission and we all need to be patient. Ms. Barton noted that the EDC had invited Council to attend a number of meetings throughout the strategic planning process,but they choose not to participate. Mayor Aplikowski stated that the EDC has accomplished a number of things. The Council approved the development of the strategic plan but didn't follow through with the process. 3 Chair Kunkel stated that there is a new Council coming on and things will change. The EDC • needs to reaffirm their mission. The EDC has accomplished a number of things and he would like to commend this group. As we move into 2007 we need to work to be more effective. The transition will be fuzzy but we'll get through it. Business Retention Ms. Barton distributed a list of attendees from the luncheon. Mr. Beane asked if we are using this list for business licensing. Ms. Barton stated that business licensing is on the agenda for discussion, and noted that it is severely lacking. The EDC needs to revisit the purpose of licensing to determine the benefit to the businesses. Chair Kunkel asked if the EDC could get a summary of last years licensing and an update in February or March. Ms. Barton stated she would arrange for that. Chair Kunkel stated that the next business retention meeting would be in March. Mr. Beane noted that we should start planning now and suggested we contact Boston Scientific or whomever to host? Mayor Aplikowski stated that Boston Scientific would be her first choice. Also Land O'Lakes needs to be brought back in. Mr. Paulet stated that Mr. Dave Reimer at Boston Scientific is very interested in participating and that he would contact him to host the next luncheon or breakfast. Mr. Harpstead stated that he also has contacts at Boston Scientific to help build relationships. Mr. McGraw added that the Mayor and CD Director should meet with a business each week. An EDC member and the CD Director should meet with the I-Flex business owners and vacant building owners each week. Mr. Harpstead stated that larger meetings are beneficial to networking and providing information to the community. Chair Kunkel suggested March 29 for the next business retention event. Mr. Paulet stated he would inquire with Boston Scientific. Business Licensing Chair Kunkel would like a report on what surround communities are doing for business licensing in January or February. Mr. Ashbach suggested talking to other EDC's . Mr. Harpstead noted that Shoreview has expressed an interest in having a joint EDC meeting. It is important that we don't compete with our neighbors. 4 • TCAAP Update Ms. Barton provided a brief TCAAP update. Mr. Davidson asked Mr. Harpstead what his feelings are about TCAAP. Mr. Harpstead stated that the Framework Vision has to be updated in a short period of time. Mr. McGraw inquired as to who is in the best position to say what gets developed there. Mr. Harpstead stated that we need to set the foundation for a phased development. Ms. Barton asked the EDC members if they were intending to remain on the commission in 2007. All in attendance replied they would be. Chair Kunkel thanked Mayor Aplikowski for her service to the city. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 am Next Meeting January 17, 2007. • • 5