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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-24-18 MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Meeting May 24, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Community Development Director Kienberger at 6:30 p.m. Members Present: Craig, Cordes, Corraro, Simmons, Wilson Members Absent: Larson, Jolley Also Present: Adam Kienberger, Community Development Director; Kara Hildreth, Farmington Independent 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL MOTION by Simmons, second by Cordes to nominate Member Steve Wilson as temporary presiding officer for this meeting. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 4. APPROVE AGENDA Member Simmons added item 8c) Dew Days Discussion. MOTION by Corraro, second by Cordes to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. CITIZEN COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS 6. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Simmons, second by Corraro to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Meeting Minutes (April 26, 2018 Regular Meeting) b) Received Monthly Financial Statements APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS 8. DISCUSSION ITEMS a) Highway 3 Corridor Plan Scope of Work The CDA approved the Redevelopment Incentive Grant application for a$15,000 planning study. These funds will be matched by CDBG funds. Staff provided a draft request for proposals. The plan area would be one block on either side of highway 3 from CR66 to the southern border. The downtown redevelopment plan recommended looking at key corridors into the downtown. The RFP includes six items in the scope of service. Staff asked members to discuss this portion of the RFP. If there are recommendations, such as zoning, it would be up to those commissions to approve the recommendations. It was suggested there is value in firms that know the city. The city does not have to EDA Minutes(Regular) May 24,2018 Page 2 accept the lowest bid because it is a professional service. Members could see there being an aesthetic outcome to this plan. It is up to the EDA to determine a process for this plan, but general practice would be to form a subcommittee to review proposals and include public meetings to receive comments. Members asked how MnDOT would fit into the process. They have authority over access points to the highway, but any land use control is up to the city. It was suggested to include in the RFP they help us identify short term and long term goals, similar to the downtown redevelopment plan. b) Progress Report on the 2016-2018 Strategic Plan for Economic Development Staff reviewed the priorities of the 2016-2018 Strategic Plan. Members discussed promoting the incentives the EDA has to offer. c) Dew Days Dew Days will be taking place before the next EDA meeting. Member Simmons noticed there is low participation from businesses in some of the key events. There is low participation with Flavors of Farmington and from street vendors. These matters are being addressed by the Dew Days committee. 9. DIRECTOR'S REPORT a) May Director's Report A ribbon cutting for E Z Auto will be held June 22, 2018. Staff suggested cancelling the June meeting. The next regular meeting would be July 26. Earlier in the year, Members Jolley and Simmons had discussed the planning the EDA is taking on and they wanted to be mindful of how many meetings we are cancelling. Member Simmons suggested meeting without staff or having a staff backup. Perhaps items could be discussed that don't need a lot of action. Staff noted the EDA can call special meetings with proper notice. Members would be in favor of finding an alternate date or having a staff backup rather than cancelling a meeting. Staff noted it also depends on the amount of agenda topics as to whether to have a meeting. Right now there are no topics for the June meeting. Member Simmons suggested continuing to discuss the Highway 3 RFP. She asked if we cancel meetings because staff isn't here or if there is no work to be done. It may be more challenging to call a special meeting rather than keep a standing meeting. We can cancel a meeting if no topics come up. Member Craig noted we could discuss the Rambling River Center Plaza. She would like to know more about the discussion from the last meeting regarding businesses assisting with funding the plaza. Staff is engaging the design consultant to start establishing construction level detail plans to refine the cost. They are also checking on the consultant's experience with capital campaign financing. Member Wilson agreed with holding the regular meeting date, but does not want to have a meeting just to have a meeting. An item for the strategic plan discussion could be how much oversight does the EDA want to have or should it be delegated to staff. The EDA is an advisory group and we have to be careful to not become more than we are. EDA Minutes(Regular) May 24,2018 Page 3 Members agreed they would like to meet in June if there is staff available and topics to discuss. Member Wilson noted one topic could be the funding for the plaza. Member Simmons noted another topic could be the façade program and getting businesses to take advantage of this program. 10. ADJOURN MOTION by Craig, second by Simmons to adjourn at 8:06 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Administrative Assistant