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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-07 EDC Meeting Minutes ~ ~HILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MARCH 7, 2007 7:30 A.M. CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 Attendance: Bruce Kunkel, Chair Nancy Kneeland James Paulet Call to Order: 7:43am Chair Kunkel notes that there is not a quorum. Chair Kunkel states that the objective of the meeting is to discuss the specific recommendations to send to the Council regarding the Strategic Plan. The Mayor requested the EDC to work through the Plan, and the costs to implement specific recommendations from the plan. Commissioner Paulet and Chair Kunkel discuss the history of presenting the plan to the Council. The Plan was presented to the Council and accepted in August. Chair Kunkel noted the plan has not yet been adopted by the Council. Commissioner Paulet is concerned that there has not been much discussion about the content and more about the money. Asked ifthere was a Council worksession to discuss the plan. Chair Kunkel states that he does not recall a Council worksession to discuss the plan. Commissioner Paulet states that we need to be prepared to focus on the strategy and less focus on the dollars. Commissioner Kneeland states that we should include the strategies with minimal cost and the greatest impact. Ifwe focus on the most expensive strategies right away, that will be a turn off to the Council. Commissioner Paulet asks if we are presenting the Plan to the Councilor are they just going to ask questions? Chair Kunkel states that we can revise the recommendations in the Plan if needed. EDC Special Meeting Minutes March 7,2007 Page I of5 Commissioner Kneeland states that a presentation needs to be made to the Council and then open for questions. If we do a presentation, we should focus on the nominal costs for some benefits and include some longer term goals. Chair Kunkel states that in terms of cost, he would rather see implementation of the Plan ramp up as opposed to go up and down in the plan. Commissioner Paulet discusses the gateway signs and removing those would reduce the cost in the short-term. Chair Kunkel suggests spreading out the cost of the signs over more time. Commissioner Paulet states that he does not get a sense that there is very much buy-in to the Strategic Plan as a necessary tool for the City. States that before we start talking about money, it is important to talk about whether there is any buy-in to the Plan from the City. States he would like to initiate a discussion about the value ofthe strategic plan and try to get a sense on whether people see a value in the plan. Commissioner Kneeland asks how you do that. Commissioner Paulet suggests focusing on the ideas and strategies in the Plan. Commissioner Kneeland states that somehow we have to present the benefits of doing the Plan as opposed to not implementing the plan. The Plan needs to be connected to preserving and increasing property values and keeping a vibrant community. The taxpayers need to see a benefit from the Plan. Chair Kunkel states that we need to have a discussion on the opportunities that we have to make some changes. States, for example, the changes that can be made to the ordinances in the Grey Fox/Red Fox area. There are opportunity areas in the business/commercial area. There is also the Chesapeake property and the old City Hall site. We need to relate the strategies toward new and redevelopment. Commissioner Kneeland states that we need some minimum desigu standards for parts of the City. Chair Kunkel asks if we should have a discussion about TIF in the red fox/grey fox area and for potential Wellington redevelopment. Commissioner Kneeland states no. Ifwe want something higher than what the market wants, particularly on the Wellington property, then we look at TIF. Chair Kunkel states that this could be the opportunity to put a stake in the future of Arden Hills in the Wellington property redevelopment. He notes that this is not implying Wellington will do a bad job, we just want the best development possible. EDC Special Meeting Minutes March 7,2007 Page 2 of 5 Commissioner Kneeland and Chair Kunkel discuss design considerations for the County Road E/Lexington Avenue area and it is a high priority. Commissioner Kneeland states that the high priority in the strategic plan is that there should be design standards, and that should be recommended to the Council. States the first step seems to be on the Council's feelings on the Plan. Commissioner Paulet agrees. We need to find out what the Council want to do with the Plan. Commissioner Kneeland agrees. Commissioner Paulet asks if the plan needs to be adopted. Chair Kunkel says that it has not been adopted, and the Council is looking for recommendations from the Plan. Commissioner Paulet states that the Council is looking for results without a huge expense, and we need to show the benefits ofthe Plan. Chair Kunkel asks if you want to spend some time going through the Strategic Plan? Commissioner Paulet and Commissioner Kneeland agree. Commissioner Kneeland states we need to show that implementing parts ofthe Plan will make Arden Hills a more desirable place to live. The EDC discussed the benefits of strong commercial areas in supporting the residential areas, and that the property taxes from residential areas often do not support themselves, which makes a strong commercial/office/industrial area particularly important. Discussion on title change for Karen Barton. EDC supports adding "Economic" to her title. Commissioner Kneeland asks if need to discuss which parts of the Plan the EDC does not find as useful or necessary. Chair Kunkel states that we need to pick out what parts are important and then see where the overlap is. States that Desco included the change to Karen's title, in part, to show to that the community does reach out to the economic community. Commissioner Kneeland states that it may be important to show that the title change does not include a change in authority or salary. Chair Kunkel states that the new economic position was suppose to be an assistant as opposed to a director. EDC Special Meeting Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Kneeland asked at what point do we need more support staff. Chair Kunkel states that that depends on where the City is with TCAAP and financing and how that relates to new positions. Discussion on how a new administrative/assistant position would be funded and the role ofthe position. Commissioner Paulet asks how many positions are outlined in strategy number two. Commissioner Kneeland states that the Plan recommends two new positions. One would be used for TCAAP development and one for redevelopment overall. Chair Kunkel states that includes an administrative level person and a redevelopment director. Continued discussion on the potential role of new economic development positions. Chair Kunkel discusses page 14 regarding the redevelopment director position and the positions role outside of the TCAAP. Commissioner Kneeland asks if the plan can be modified. Chair Kunkel states it absolutely can. It must represent the needs and what is acceptable to the community. Commissioner Kneeland asks if the idea of sharing resources with neighboring cities could be explored. We need to have a regional perspective. Chair Kunkel states the new position could be added at a later date. Commissioner Kneeland states she likes strategy number three regarding the training sessions for the Council on various economic development topics. It helps with Council turnover and keeps everyone up to speed. Chair Kunkel and Commissioner Paulet agree. Chair Kunkel discusses strategy four, which includes strengthening the City Administrator's position. States he agrees with that idea, but we need to explore what parts of that position would need to be strengthened. Commissioner Kneeland and Commissioner Paulet agree but also states it requires more discussion. Chair Kunkel discusses community awareness of the Plan. Commissioner Kneeland agrees it is important. EDC Special Meeting Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 4 of 5 Commissioner Paulet points out that there is no direct money involved in keeping the community informed of economic development in the City. Information can be included in the newsletters, the web site, and the newspaper. Chair Kunkel discusses strategy six regarding the redevelopment director. Before I would support the position, we need to review the workload and determine ifthe position is needed. Further study will be needed. Commissioner Kneeland states that the gateway signs are a must but it can be done over time and spread out the cost. Chair Kunkel recommends adjourning. Commissioner Kneeland states we will need to review what we did at the next EDC meeting and then finish going over the plan. Commissioner Paulet suggests meeting again before the next regular EDC meeting. Commissioner Kneeland states that we need to look over the B-2 District sooner rather than later. Adjourn at 8:50am. Minutes approved by: . Bruce Kunkel, Cfialr EDC Special Meeting Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 5 of5