Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-17 EDA Meeting Minutes - Approved A PPROVED CITY OF CENTERVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City of Centerville held a regularly scheduled Economic Development Authority meeting on June 17, 2020. . I. CALL TO ORDER President Hanzal called the meeting of the EDA to order at 6:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: President Jeff Hanzal Commissioner Jim Weatherhead Commissioner D. Love Commissioner Tom Wilharber ABSENT: Commissioner Michael Giovinazzo STAFF: City Administrator, EDA Executive Director, Mark Statz III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA President Hanzal presented an opportunity to add any items to the agenda. Executive Director Statz asked that a presentation by Mr. Vannelli on this proposal to install decorative concrete in front of his building and apply for a grant through the EDA’s grant and loan program be presented at the beginning of the meeting. Motion by Commissioner Love, seconded by Commissioner Wilharber to approve the agenda with changes. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. Motion carried. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. April 29, 2020 EDA Commission Meeting Minutes President Hanzal provided an opportunity for modifications to be made to April 29, 2020 meeting minutes. Commissioner Love requested that the meeting minutes reflect that President Hanzal provided the opportunity for modifications to be made to the meeting minutes rather than he on page 1 of 4. City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes June 17, 2020 Discussion ensued regarding the use of titles (i.e. President, Treasurer, Council Member, Mayor and Commissioner), consensus was to be consistent and to use the title of Commissioner for all members going forward. Motion by Commissioner Love, seconded by Commissioner Weatherhead to approve the April 29, 2020 EDA meeting minutes with above stated amendments. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. Motion carried. 2. May 20, 2020 Meeting Minutes Motion by Commissioner Love, seconded by President Hanzal to approve the May 20, 2020 EDA meeting minutes. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. Motion carried. V. BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Bills (a) None 2. Communications (a) Business Feedback Discussion took place regarding the feedback businesses shared while providing their email addresses. Ideas were discussed such as grants to help pay for a sign that was suggested, and to install flags on city light poles to advertise recreation opportunities or the city’s history. (b) Email from A Home Enhanced Discussion took place regarding an email from Laurel McGinnity, owner of A Home Enhanced at 7095 Centerville Road. Michele Koch had contacted her about doing an ad through the CenterStage program and learned that Ms. McGinnity was about to close her business. Executive Director Statz informed her about the city’s grant program, and Open to Business from Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD). Ms. McGinnity has spoken with her landlord regarding better lighting and other improvements. A line in Ms. McKinney’s email was discussed, as she had noted that a lot of her customers asked why there was not more done with the city’s downtown area. Executive Director Statz pointed to A Home Enhanced as “the best looking storefront in town” and an example of what their current initiatives were trying to accomplish. Ms. McGinnity has decided to keep her business open as an occasional store, opening one weekend per month. (c) Roger Vannelli – M&M Endeavors - 7085 & 7087 Centerville Road Page 2 of 6 City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes June 17, 2020 (This item was handled out of order. Roger Vannelli was introduced directly after approval of the agenda and before approval of the minutes.) Executive Director Statz introduced Roger Vannelli of M&M Endeavors, managing owner of the former Vincenzo Catering building at 7085 and 7087 Centerville Road. Mr. Vannelli explained that he had decided to repair the driveway and remodel the front of his building with concrete. His new renter, was going to open as a catering and café business and Mr. Vannelli was informed that they would need to bring the front of the building up to code and add a wheelchair ramp. He stated that the interior of the building was already up to code because he had remodeled approximately 18 months ago, and he would like to add a patio seating with wrought iron and stamped concrete, but the cost of a wheelchair ramp was really expensive. He learned about the city’s grant program from Executive Director Statz and said that having to spend $20,000.00 in order to get a $5,000.00 grant, plus having to put in a ramp might raise the price enough that he would have to put in something that wasn’t as esthetically pleasing. There was discussion regarding the terms of the grant program, and possibly increasing it to a 2:1 match. The commission requested drawings and an application from Mr. Vannelli. Executive Director Statz and Commissioner Love both stated that they would be willing to attend an emergency meeting of the EDA to discuss a grant if Mr. Vannelli could provide sketches. Mr. Vannelli stated that he would get some drawings together and turn them in the following week. . VI. Reports 1. Administrator’s Report Parks: Governor Walz announced on June 10, 2020, that outdoor entertainment could have up to 250 people, and the committee is going to try to have Music in the Park. Bald Eagle Waterski Shows are starting to practice for likely shows this summer. They probably won’t initiate the market they were planning due to time frames and reluctance to kick off a new event with all the restrictions in place. City Hall is closed to the public until June 26, 2020, at which time there will be a limited opening for in-person voting. Permits and other items are still encouraged online or in the drop box. Bayview villas has two lots left. Old Mill estates has six homes out of 14 under construction. Mini Storage has submitted an application and we are days away from issuing. Page 3 of 6 City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes June 17, 2020 Downtown street reconstruction started back up on June 17, 2020, and water mains are being installed downtown. Executive Director Statz and Commissioner Love met with the school district today to discuss a potential expansion. They do not anticipate expansion of the building footprint that will necessitate land acquisition or parking lot expansion There is a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 24, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at Midwest Best Water and Triplex Systems. 1. Review of Presentation to Parks & Recreation Commission (6/3/2020) Commissioner Weatherhead gave a review of his presentation to the Parks and Recreation Committee. He thought that it was well received and that there were areas identified where the two boards could assist each other, and where there was overlap of their duties. VII. OLD BUSINESS 1. CenterStage – Review Program Progress to Date There have been three videos so far and reaching businesses has been difficult because they are either busy, or skeptical of the program. Discussion took place regarding the timing of posting videos on YouTube and posting them on Facebook or other social media. The media expert that was hired felt that running the videos at different times on the platforms would be a better way to get maximum exposure. VIII. NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution #EDA 20-03 Establishing an Interstate Blue Logo Sign Pilot Program Discussion took place the cost of the signs, the types of businesses that could be advertised on the sign, and how much the commission was going to contribute. An idea was put forward to include the Wargo Nature Center, as it was partially in Centerville, and visitors on their way to a campsite might stop at other local businesses along the way. Considerations were discussed regarding how much the Commission would contribute and how much they would ask businesses to contribute to the cost. The possibility of paying 100% of the cost for the first year, and if the business got positive results from the program, we would ask them to pay 50% the following year. Final consensus was to have the EDA participate at 75% of the costs for the first year. Motion by Commissioner Love, seconded by President Hanzal to adopt resolution EDA #20-003 to establish the Interstate Blue Logo Sign Pilot Program, with the change to a 75% Page 4 of 6 City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes June 17, 2020 EDA share of the costs. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. Motion carried; Resolution adopted. 2. Resolution #EDA 20-04 Revising the EDA’s Revolving Loan and Grant Program There was discussion on different ways to structure grants programs for businesses, and whether to offer a 3:1, 2:1 or 1:1 match. There was discussion on cutting the 3:1 to 2:1, keeping the $5000 max and cutting down years from 10 years to five years. Executive Director Statz stated that there was very little interest in a low-interest loan, and suggested that we look for ways to get businesses into a grant program instead of a loan program. Finances were discussed and how much the commission could afford to contribute. Commissioner Love asked if we could make it just a grant program instead of a loan and grant program, since there was no interest in loans. Executive Director Statz discussed the nature of the funding source for the program, which is the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority funds, administered by the county. Statz will discuss the funding availability with county staff Motion by President Hanzal, seconded by Commissioner Weatherhead to approve EDA Resolution #20-004, revising the EDA revolving loan and grant program guidelines to a 1:1 match and reflecting all other revisions made by Executive Director Statz to retain the $5,000.00 maximum reduce the renewal period to five-years, also approving as eligible expenses, the streets scaping costs on private property, landscaping visible from the street, and decks or patios used for business purposes. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. Motion carried. 3. Resolution #EDA 20-05 Establishing a Newspaper Advertising Campaign to Support Local Businesses Executive Director Statz suggested running a large ad saying “Shop Local”, as getting logos from all businesses would be challenging. He suggested using the CenterStage logo. Other members discussed the commission’s budget, and whether or not advertising in a newspaper would seem antiquated. There was a suggestion regarding placing the ads at Christmas time. The commission decided to table the discussion until the July 15, 2020 EDA meeting. IX. ADJOURNMENT Page 5 of 6 City of Centerville EDA Meeting Minutes June 17, 2020 Motion by Commissioner Weatherhead, seconded by Commissioner Wilharber, to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. Motion carried. Page 6 of 6