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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-15 EDA Meeting Minutes - Approved Approved CITY OF CENTERVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES April 15, 2020 6:30 p.m. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City of Centerville’s Economic Development Authority held a regularly scheduled Meeting on April 15, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER Vice President Weatherhead called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Vice-President Jim Weatherhead Mayor D. Love Commissoner Michael Giovinazzo STAFF: City Administrator, EDA Executive Director Mark Statz Finance Director Bruce DeJong GUEST: Real Estate Broker, Mike Brass ABSENT: President Jeff Hanzal joined the meeting at 6:54 p.m. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 1. Call for Changes to the Agenda Administrator Statz asked to add a proposal from a consulting firm named Excipio as a new item under new business as item #4. Motion by Commission Member Love, seconded by Vice President Weatherhead to approve the agenda with changes. All in favor. Motion carried. 2. Call for Changes to the Agenda Mayor Love suggested that Mr. Brass’ presentation be added as item #1 under “Reports”. Motion by Commission Member Weatherhead, seconded by Commission Member Giovinazzo to approve the agenda with changes. All in favor. Motion carried. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes April 15, 2020 1. None V. BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Bills a. None VI. REPORTS 1. Mike Brass – Broker for 1737 Main Street Mr. Brass introduced drawings for a building on the site and presented short-term and 20-year analyses on rates of return for the first floor retail and office space and the second floor apartment space. There were discussions regarding the color scheme and overall look of the building and parking issues in the neighborhood. Motion by Commission Member Hanzal, seconded by Commission Member Weatherhead to Recommend that Council enter into an agreement with Mr. Brass to list the property with the concept layout shown of $50,000, or assign the property to the EDA and allow the EDA to do the same. All in favor. Motion carried. 1. Administrator’s Report Administrator Statz gave a report on general development activities around the city. New Mayor – D. Love New Council Member – Tom Wilharber Administrator Statz emailed the developer on the downtown redevelopment project and intended to have the project on next council agenda as a workshop item to discuss general direction of the project to get a feel for the council as a whole based on the fact that we have a new council member and have had significant public input. The city is continuing to work with Atlas Villas Memory Care on design issues with their kitchen, and their concrete encased storm shelter. Mini-Storage anticipates they will be moving soon. They have moved to a three building layout and eliminated the northern building. We have received architectural plans and should see a permit application soon. Old Mill Estates pulled their item from the agenda to approve Phase II. They would like to look at building more this fall, but may look at a smaller investment. Bayview Villas has four lots to go. VII. OLD BUSINESS Page 2 of 4 City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes April 15, 2020 1. Strategic Plan Review-COVID 19 Adjustments a. Revolving Loan and Grant Program b. Developing Email List for Business Communications c. Rebranding d. Other discussion Administrator Statz stated that he would like to get the downtown redevelopment, rebranding and City Hall renovation on the next agenda, but said that they could not go forward with rebranding without the support of Council. The Commission discussed ideas to help local businesses in equitable ways such as utility discounts and advertising dollars. They also discussed putting together a list of business emails so they could send out information regarding different programs when they became available. Fete des Lacs was discussed, and different ways the Commission could redirect the $3,000 that was set aside for branding support to help local businesses advertise during the festival. VIII. NEW BUSINESS 1. Community Video The person who created the first promotional video no longer does drone work. Administrator Statz has tried to contact her but she has not responded. He said that they had hoped to make a more community based video with people from Fete des Lacs. The Commission decided to table the discussion until May 4, 2020. 2. Naming Depository Finance Director DeJong explained that State law requires EDA expenditures and City expenditures to be kept separate, and right now they are joined together in the General Fund. He asked for authorization to establish a checking account separate from the city’s account, and will ask Council to do so at next regular meeting. Administrator Statz explained that we are essentially asking Council to deposit money in the EDA account and not take unexpended funds back at the end of the year. Motion by Commission Member Hanzal, seconded by Commission Member Weatherhead to adopt Res. #20-01 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried. 3. Business Recycling Grant Program Administrator Statz stated that Centerville has finished at the bottom of the list for recycling in the business community and The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has a business recycling program that has not run out of money for two years. Businesses can get free recycling bins and trash bins, signage, box crushers, etc. The Commission discussed ideas about how to get this information out to the public, such as social media, email blasts and developing an overarching communication Page 3 of 4 City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes April 15, 2020 strategy. Commission Members Hanzal and Giovinazzo volunteered to put together an “elevator speech” for staff to make phone calls and make lists of email addresses. 4. Excipio Proposal Administrator Statz defined the Minnesota Technology Corridor as a partnership between Anoka County and Washington County to promote the area from the south end of Centerville through Forest Lake along 35E as a technology corridor and a place that has a good source of power and broad band to attract high tech businesses such as data centers. The Rehbein property on Fairview Ave has been identified as prime real estate for a data center. Excipio is a consultant that specializes in performing feasibility studies for data centers. The commission discussed. The commission discussed contributing a portion of the $15,000.00 fee for the study. Motion by Commission Member Weatherhead, Seconded by Commission Member Giovinazzo to contribute 15% of the study of the Rehbein property as part of the Minnesota Technology Corridor. All in favor. Motion carried. Administrator Statz gave an update on city operations. He said that City Hall is closed to the public, but there is one staff member there for accounts payable/receivable and payroll. All meeting are on Zoom, broadcast live, streaming and recorded on North Metro TV. Public Works are working two on/two off, and Police and Fire ae fully staffed. There are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Centerville. Playgrounds are shut down. IX. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commission Member Weatherhead, Seconded by Commission Member Hanzal to adjourn the meeting at 8:57 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried. Page 4 of 4