Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-23-23 EDA Approved: April 22, 2024 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING OCTOBER 23, 2023 5:30 PM CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, EDA President Grant called to order the Economic Development Authority meeting at 5:30 p.m. Present: EDA President David Grant; EDA Commissioners Brenda Holden, Emily Rousseau, Tena Monson and Tom Fabel Absent: None Also present: EDA Secretary Dave Perrault; Community Development Director Jessica Jagoe; Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen; Senior Communications Coordinator Luke Cardona; and Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Julie Hanson 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: EDA Commissioner Monson moved and EDA Commissioner Holden seconded a motion to approve the EDA meeting agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. October 24, 2022 EDA MOTION: EDA Commissioner Holden moved and EDA President Grant seconded a motion to approve the October 24, 2022 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 3. NEW BUSINESS None. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 5. EDA MEMBER COMMENTS ARDEN HILLS EDA MEETING – October 23, 2023 2 EDA Commissioner Holden asked about the gateway sign locations that was referenced in the October 24, 2022 minutes, and whether or not a list of locations exists. EDA President Grant also asked if there was a list and if the list could be distributed. EDA Secretary Perrault stated there was an existing list, but there was not a new list. He noted an updated list would be part of the upcoming workplan of the Economic Development Commission (EDC). He stated that staff could provide the existing list. EDA Commissioner Fabel indicated that there were also questions about what the sign would look like and asked if that had been resolved. Chair Grant stated he didn’t believe so. EDA Commissioner Monson asked if Council needed to give staff specific direction to bring that to the EDC. EDA President Grant stated he wanted to make sure the three new commissioners that haven’t seen the list, get the list, as he assumes they have not seen it. EDA Commissioner Monson commented that it’s been a year so she was assuming with the EDC up and running, this would be part of their agenda if it wasn’t already. Community Development Director Jagoe confirmed this was on the EDC’s agenda for discussion. EDA Commissioner Rousseau asked if there was an EDA levy every year or if one had been considered. EDA Secretary Perrault stated there has been an operating levy of $50,000 in the past but it was not geared towards specific EDA activities. EDA Commissioner Rousseau asked if this was just in the general fund then. EDA Secretary Perrault stated yes, the EDA fund, and mostly the funds were used for staff, the State of the City, and also gateway signs. EDA Commissioner Rousseau said that with the EDA, let’s say one day there is a development of 427 acres and we are looking at adding new businesses, would this be an opportunity to consider a levy and try to encourage unique businesses to come in to that area or even offsetting rent for family owned businesses for that first year. EDA Secretary Perrault stated that the specifics as far as what could and could not be done by the EDA would have to be brought back. He stated he believes the reason most EDAs exist is because they do have powers outside of a typical City Council as far as spending of funds. He noted that cities will utilize EDAs to fund opportunities for programs, special projects, or incentives. EDA Commissioner Rousseau said she would be interested in having a conversation about this next year. She commented on the unique situation in that the locations of Pace, Arby’s, and Big O are all ARDEN HILLS EDA MEETING – October 23, 2023 3 vacant as well as the unnamed grocery store location and that she doesn’t have an understanding about how many businesses are vacant in the community. She wonders if this should be addressed under the EDA scope as well. EDA Commissioner Holden explained Pace wants a large amount of money for the property and said she is not willing to throw money after money just to pay someone the overprice for a piece of property. She noted there is a specific reason why the properties are vacant. EDA Commissioner Rousseau agreed and noted the environmental cleanup at Pace but stated she would like to use EDA time to have a discussion around this topic in the future. She said the last meeting talked about signs and asked when did the EDA produce anything of value? EDA Secretary Perrault stated the City participated in a business retention and expansion program previously. EDA Commissioner Holden noted multiple surveys had been provided to businesses and said that EDA members went out and talked to every business in the city. EDA President Grant said that the EDA facilitated installation of three gateway signs but didn’t recall the years. EDA Commissioner Fabel said the last minutes of the EDA had just one discussion about signs. He asked if the City was in the process of trying to get the EDA going again and recruiting people to sit on it. EDA President Grant stated there are already five people on the EDA. EDA Commissioner Rousseau asked if EDA Commissioner Fabel meant the EDC instead of the EDA, and then said the EDC would have its second meeting coming up. She noted the various topics the EDC would be addressing and stated she had been in contact with Ramsey County’s EDA as well as some of the City of Shoreview’s EDC members in order to obtain recommendations. EDA President Grant said he and Director Jagoe had been talking about this over the past couple of months and noted the area is ripe for redevelopment. EDA Commissioner Monson stated the City could rezone that area and make it more attractive for businesses to come in. EDA Commissioner Holden stated there has been development over the past several years such as businesses like Dunn Brothers, Starbucks, Lexington Station Phases I, II and III and that it was not like they haven’t done anything for years. She stated again that developers that have been trying to buy the Pace property can’t afford it because an out-state Pace rents it from someone in New York. She said Pace is paying the lease and they aren’t about to give it up until they can get a break from the owner. She said the detailer guy is making money hand over fist and that’s a good business right now. EDA President Grant commented that the Welcome Back to Lexington program probably wasn’t funded by EDA funds. ARDEN HILLS EDA MEETING – October 23, 2023 4 EDA Secretary Perrault stated that was funded by Twin Cities Gateway. A short discussion ensued about the Welcome Back to Lexington initiative. EDA Commissioner Monson commented that she didn’t think anyone was saying the EDA hadn’t done anything. She said that is not what anyone is trying to say, rather there are a lot of vacant businesses. She would like to make sure there is a plan and the City was trying to do something with these specific parcels. She said she’s not talking about what was done in the past or about TCAAP, but having a good EDC and a plan about how to tackle the vacant buildings today, which is none of their faults. She wanted to find ways to draw businesses and said this is a good thing for the city. EDA Commissioner Rousseau said she would like to have a more detailed discussion about what is happening with other businesses such as were there other vacancies to be aware of. A short discussion ensued regarding the vacant Pace site and the other adjacent vacant properties in that area as well as strategies for the EDA and EDC. EDA Commissioner Holden noted there is a business retention and expansion whitepaper that has a lot of strategies in it. EDA President Grant asked EDA Secretary Perrault to send the BRE document and white paper out to the EDA and that could maybe be a jumping off point for future discussion. 6. ADJOURN MOTION: EDA President Grant moved and EDA Commissioner Holden seconded a motion to adjourn the Economic Development Authority meeting. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). EDA President Grant adjourned the Economic Development Authority meeting at 5:48 p.m. __________________________ __________________________ Julie Hanson David Grant City Clerk EDA President