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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-07 EDC Meeting Minutes ~ ~ILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MAY 16, 2007; 7:30 AM CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 Chair Kunkel called the meeting to order at 7 :31 a.m. Attendees: Chair Bruce Kunkel, Nancy Kneeland, Dale Beane, Chris Ashbach, Rob Davidson, Ray McGraw, Jim Paulet, Mayor Harpstead, Community Development Director Karen Barton. Absent: Ed Werner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 25.2007 The minutes from the April 25 meeting were approved as corrected. REVIEW OF EDC PLAN Chair Kunkel explained that currently we have two versions of the EDC plan - one the Mayor revised and the one developed by Desco - and asked the group how they wanted to proceed with fmalize the EDC plan. Jim asked if we accepting both versions of the document and editing them both. Chair Kunkel said one ofthe ideas could be to work with both documents; or, if the group so chose, they could accept or reject one of the versions and move forward with the accepted version. The Mayor reminded the group that it is their objective to bring a document to a Council Worksession. Ray expressed his concerns with the current EDC plan and that it didn't fit into the needs of the City. He indicated the group did not have to go with all of Desco's recommendations. He also expressed what he thought were the City's main three issues at hand: curb appeal, redevelopment, and the location ofthe current City Hall. Chair Kunkel acknowledged Ray's passion and concerns and expressed that he thought the Mayor is trying to develop a plan to allow the City to move forward and gather momentum. The Mayor asked if the three items Ray expressed concern about are in the Desco version of the EDC plan. Ray acknowledged that they were in the Desco plan. Nancy asked if she could make a motion to proceed on the Mayor's amended plan being we have already progressed beyond the Desco plan already. She indicated it is her desire to work on one plan. Dale Beane seconded the motion. Chris said he thought there wasn't enough substantial difference between the Desco plan or the Mayor's version to lose anything by working on one versus the other. The Mayor indicated the timing of the plan is important due to the budget cycle. EDC Minutes May 16, 2007 Page 2 of 4 The group agreed to work on the Mayor's version ofthe plan. Chair Kunkel asked when this plan should be presented to Council. Karen noted that it is on the June City Council W orksession. . Chair Kunkel asked if there are any issues that are of significant substance that the group wanted to discuss. The Mayor said that any strong passions should be incorporated into the Executive Summary portion of the plan. Nancy indicated her idea of an issue of substance for her is the City Administrator position. She indicated she believed the Administrator should have more authority to help with the day to day activities of the City. She thought maybe the title doesn't have to be changed from Administrator to Manager, but maybe the Council could give more authority to the Administrator at their discretion. The Mayor reminded the group if there were a City charter change, it would have to go before the citizens of Arden Hills as a referendum and once passed it was not irreversible. Nancy suggested the plan be changed by no longer suggesting the Administrator have a title change to Manager. Chair Kunkel noted the group needed to vote on this suggestion. Nancy moved to change paragraph 4 to reflect this change. Dale seconded. The group agreed with the exception of Ray abstaining. Chris expressed he thought we should focus on the City Center designation. He asked if the group should address this item. Jim said until that TCAAP committee goes through their process if the EDC should tackle the City Center issue. Chris indicated he thought because of the way the freeways go through Arden Hills, that it will create an old district and a new district once TCAAP is developed. The Mayor said there is a lot of action items embedded within the City Center issue. Chair Kunkel expressed that he doesn't believe the plan should get into tactical ideas but rather point out the issues. Ray said he believes the Council should be told they need to plan to spend money on redevelopment. Rob reminded the group that the plan already does state the City needs to plan for this. Ray said he believes we can't present a 21 page document to the Council and expect them to approve it. Nancy said she thought the City had already decided that the downtown district is within TCAAP and that was evident by where the City Hall was placed. She thought anything south of 694 is going to become a suburb of Arden Hills and those living there will continue to shop along County Road E. Jim said he thought the group that is most interested in the City is south of 694 and there is always going to be an interest from them in maintaining County Road E. Chair Kunkel said that area also serves a significant portion of Shoreview. Karen noted she believes we do not have to designate only one downtown area. The Mayor said the big burden in the County Road E area is the bridge. EDC Minutes May 16, 2007 Page 3 of 4 Jim asked if the group if they truly thought City Hall was located in the wrong place. Three members agreed that it was in the wrong place. The Mayor asked if the City should have some kind of facility presence south of 694. Chair Kunkel said he liked the idea of some kind of City presence south of 694. Jim said he thought as a result of the City Hall being in a wrong place then that is why he believes discussion is occurring as to placing a City presence south of 694. Chris said he didn't think in his estimation a city presence south of 694 wouldn't make a difference to business activity. The Mayor said the curb appeal in that area is suffering and one ofthe ways other cities have changed this problem is to put in a City facility. Nancy asked if a committee could be formed to look at redevelopment. Chair Kunkel said he thought a lot of the City's current committees have a similar goal but are operating on their own sphere. He asked if bringing the City committees together could help bring a united front to City Council. Karen said she could put together another committee but she believes the EDC could serve in that capacity with the PTRC and PC. She said in her previous experience other committees were brought in to EDC meetings when needed. The Mayor asked Karen to put her thoughts together on her previous experience with EDC plans and present it at the next EDC meeting. Jim asked why they couldn't ask the other City committees to give their input and help finalize the document. Nancy said the group could make this recommendation. Rob thought this would delay the process and the group needs to start doing things and stop talking. Rob said he believes the group is trying to get a blue print so they know how they can move forward and after this blueprint is approved, they can start working on action items. Jim indicated it appeared to him the Council did not look upon the group in a favorable manner. The Mayor said he would ask each Council member their impression of the group and let the group know Council's feelings. Chair Kunkel said he believes what he is hearing is that the group wants to get moving forward. He said if the group feels comfortable with this current document that they can take a vote or it can continue to be worked on at the next meeting. Rob moved and Dale seconded a motion to accept the document and present it. Chris said he thought it was a good idea to present the document as is and at least get input from the Council so they can continue working on it. Dale asked if we are trying to develop a City plan or satisfying just a couple council members. The Mayor said he hoped it was the latter. Rob said he thought it was okay for the group to present a document that maybe wasn't quite perfect just so they can get some starting point. Chair Kunkel said he would not want to go to Council and have them fully reject the plan. He said he wants them to be able to say this is an acceptable vision and have them buy into with some tweaking so they have ownership. EDC Minutes May 16, 2007 Page 4 of 4 Ray asked if the Executive Summary is supposed to combine everything in the document. Chair Kunkel said that is the reason for an Executive Summary. The Mayor reminded the group that it shouldn't be considering asking the Council for money at this point when they do not know where the money is coming from and what they should be asking Council is to "walk with them" on the plan. Chair Kunkel suggested that next Wednesday's meeting include a vote on whether to present the current document or not to Council as is. He also said the meeting should include Karen's presentation on past experiences. Karen also indicated Business Licensing, the 5-year ClP, and some redevelopment marking pieces also needed to be discussed at next week's meeting. Rob said the new president of Anchor Bank will be on the next meeting. Karen indicated Chesapeake Companies may be attending the June EDC meeting. She also indicated there is a joint picnic with the PTRC, PC, EDC, and CC on July 17 at a park location to be determined. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the EDC is scheduled for May 23,2007 at 7:30 a.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 a.m. edby: Minutes a