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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-18-07 EDC Meeting Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JULY 18, 2007; 7:30 AM CITY HALL --1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Kunkel called the meeting to order at 7:37 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Bruce Kunkel, Ed Von Holtum, Rob Davidson, Community Development Director Karen Barton, Dale Beane, Ed Werner, Ray McGraw, Nancy Kneeland, Jim Paulet, Mayor Harpstead Absent: Chris Ashbach III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 20, 2007 The minutes from the June 20 meeting were approved as printed. IV. BUSINESS FINANCE POLICY DISCUSSION Community Development Director Barton indicated that the City does not currently have a city- wide business fmance policy. The City has a policy only for the TCAAP development. She indicated she would like to formulate a draft policy for the next EDC meeting after today's discussion and thought the committee could use the TCAAP policy as a base for formulating the City-wide policy. Chair Kunkel recommended that each of the EDC committee members review the TCAAP finance policy thoroughly and forward any recommended changes to Community Development Director Barton. Jim Paulet inquired as to what some complications are for adopting this TCAAP policy for a city-wide policy. Community Development Director Barton noted that when you get to pages 5 and 8 of the TeAAP policy, it is very specific to TCAAP the development. Chair Kunkel asked Community Development Director Barton to walk the committee through each section of the TCAAP policy and point out the areas she feels need review by the EDC members. Jim asked if the city-wide finance policy needed to go through the Council approval process. Community Development Director Barton acknowledged that it would need to go through an approval process that would include review by the City's Financial Planning Committee, review by the City Attorney and the City's TIF attorney, as well as final review and approval by the City Council. Nancy Kneeland indicated she thought she had heard TCAAP will be treated differently as far as fees. Community Development Director Barton said there are certain items by law that the City has to have the same as the TCAAP policy. Nancy asked why we can't have one policy and have the areas specific to TCAAP be an addendum to the City policy. The Mayor indicated that process wise, it would is easier to have a TCAAP policy already in place. EDC Minutes July 18, 2007 Page 2 of5 The Mayor indicated when reading other city policies, he appreciates brevity, scoring mechanisms, and that the Council can deviate from the policy in the future and not make it restrictive and binding to the Council. In reviewing the TCAAP policy for the group, Community Development Director Barton suggested keeping the General Policy Statement, City Objectives (with some additions to paragraph F on sustainable building practices), Section 3, Section 4. The Mayor asked why Section 4 is important because it seems like a "here's examples" section. Karen indicated she thought it was trying to layout minimum qualifications as opposed to examples. The Mayor then suggested to change the title then of Section 4. Nancy noted that tax increment qualifications are listed. She noted after this listing, there is a "catch-all" section and asked for the reason for this section. Community Development Director Barton indicated the "catch-all" allows for flexibility. The Mayor asked how this city-wide policy would be used and if it was going to help solicit developers or is it a message to developers that this is our policy. Ed Von Holtum thought developers are sophisticated enough to understand these types of policies. Rob Davidson said a policy is set in place to discourage certain uses and this policy may be a way to reframe that. Chair Kunkel said he would like to see the policy as a motivator. Ray McGraw said he said thought the group should make sure it is a guideline and not a directive. Rob indicated he thought the real question is what is the real policy of the community or overture of the community. The Mayor said the community will already be anxious because of TCAAP. He advised bringing the community along with the group as this policy is being developed. Community Development Director Barton stated that particular issues with the policy can be addressed at the next EDC meeting - after a draft is formulated from today's meeting. Community Development Director Barton continued her review of the TCAAP policy indicating Section 4 will continue to be the minimum qualifications sections and indicated a list of desired qualifications would be a good addition to our policy. She indicated it could be included as Section 4E or a Section 5. Ray pointed out that "shall" is used once and "must" is used more often through the policy. Chair Kunkel reminded the group that at the next meeting, the group can "wordsmith" the document. Community Development Director Barton said Section 5 of the TCAAP policy is specific to TCAAP and can be removed from the overall City-wide policy. Section 6A.1-7 could be left in place, but Sections 6B, 6C, 6D, and the paragraph on 6E that talks about economic development could be deleted. She thought Section 3 should be discussed; Section 4 can be deleted; Keep Section G and H; discuss Section I; keeping Section J and K; delete Section 7. Chair Kunkel asked the group to review the sections that Karen indicated are being kept. The Mayor asked if EDC Minutes July 18, 2007 Page 3 of5 the group is going to add the sections that were outlined on today's agenda. Community Development Director Barton indicated that was correct. The Mayor asked Community Development Director Barton to develop a proposed scorecard as well. Nancy asked that the draft policy be emailed to the group for review before the next meeting. Jim asked now that there is a finance committee in-place, shouldn't the group be working with that committee on this document. Community Development Director Barton said the group can do a first draft of the policy and then have the finance committee review it, as well as Ehlers (who is our financial advisor). The Mayor reminded the group that the newly formed finance committee is new and is dealing with a lot of back issues at this time. He agreed it is important for them to review it, but to do so maybe within the next 6 months as to allow them time to work on other tasks. Nancy asked if we can designate TIF for certain items. The Mayor noted that the City is never obligated to do TIF - everything in TIF is negotiated for each specific project. Rob thought that the administration of the document should be flexible and that the document should state what the City really wants to do. Community Development Director Barton said the first paragraph on the TCAAP policy states something to that effect. Ray noted that on top of Page 3, it deals with "carrying costs" and asked if we should rewrite this section. He said we have to be careful not to leave the door open for lawsuits. The Mayor suggested language be included that we understand state statutes may be broader than the City. Chair Kunkel said it will be important for Jerry Filla to review this document. V. COUNCIL UPDATE The Mayor provided a brief Council update on the PTRC work session and park dedication fees. The piece-meal process for developing trails, trail connections throughout the City and funding for these trails were discussed. He noted the Holiday Inn is being sold and that the buyer is proposing to develop senior housing on that site, a bank with a drive-in, a fast food store, and a restaurant. A proposed plan from the buyer was distributed to the group. He noted in the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process, variances are allowed and rezoning would have to occur to accommodate the current proposed plan. The PUD would also require sidewalks for the property. The Mayor reminded the group of the meeting on Thursday, July 19, regarding the composite plan for the TCAAP development. He noted the there are concerns regarding the density on the site. The Mayor presented information on the TCAAP process for developing a concept plan of the site. Chair Kunkel expressed that he thought in regard to the Holiday Inn site development that the city lost an opportunity to do something significant. He asked when it is appropriate to have the EDC Minutes July IS, 2007 Page 4 of 5 City and property owner talk about proposed development at that site. The Mayor said philosophically the City should have a long-term bigger vision for development in general; but when a developer approaches us with development plans, that we cannot go over the top of them with the eity's ideas of development for the site. It would change the negotiating for the City. Nancy suggested just encouraging the properties on both sides of County Road E to get together to talk about proposed development plans. The Mayor said a way encourage development consistency is to have design standards. The Mayor suggested that we let both parties and the Planning Commission know that the City is going to try to create uniformity with the two proposed development properties and it would be wise for them to sit down and talk with each other. Rob asked if the City had a vision for this corner. The group was in agreement that they did not know of any such vision. Ray noted that he thought the EDC committee should get a copy of anything submitted for proposed development. The Mayor asked Karen to develop a way for the EDC to be involved with these proposed developments. Ed Von Holtum thought in absence of a vision, the City is going to continue operating in a reactionary mode. Chair Kunkel said this brings us back to how do we develop a vision. The Mayor said an EDC fund allocation should be developed so the group could have capacity to hire an architect to draw the vision. Community Development Director Barton said it is a good time to incorporate visioning for the City as we go through the comprehensive plan update process. Ray asked for directive from the Council on what they want the EDC to do. The Mayor said the Council will effect change when they hear it coming from the community. He said if every member of every commission talked to 6 people within the community, momentum could be gained on a city vision. Chair Kunkel thought the group needs to continue to work on a short term and long term vision and educating the community is important. Nancy asked if a developer pulled a permit and it fit the zoning, would the City have any say on the development. Community Development Director Barton said each area is zoned for a particular use or uses and we are limited to working within the criteria set for each zone. Ed Werner asked how we can control development if we don't own the land. The Mayor reminded the group we can implement design standards across the City. Nancy asked if design standards can be incorporated in comprehensive plans. Community Development Director Barton said typically comprehensive plans do not get that specific, but it could recommend formulation of design standards. VI. OTHER BUSINESS Strategic Plan Budget Request: Community Development Director Barton distributed a budget for the group to review and asked how the preliminary budget request looks to the group. She noted the Council is intending to try to work $52,000 into the budget. The Mayor said City Hall staffing is a topic that will put competitive pressure on this EDC budget. The group agreed to submit the preliminary EDC budget. EDC Minutes July IS, 2007 Page 5 of5 Business Licensing: Because oftime constraints, this item was not discussed. VII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:09 a.m. /' .;Bruce Kunkel, Chair NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the EDC is scheduled for August 15,2007 at 7:30 a.m.