Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEDRA 02-12-09 MinutesØÛÜÎß Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority 6:00 p.m. Hastings City Hall Minutes of February 12, 2009 I. Called to order 6:00 HEDRA Commissioners Anthony Alongi, Dennis Martodam, Ron Toppin, Pam Holzem, Kurt Keena, and Danna Elling Schultz, present Commissioner Bob Hollenbeck, absent Staff present: HEDRA Director John Grossman, Planning Director John Hinzman, Community Relations Specialist Shannon Rausch, City Administrator Dave Osberg Other in Attendance: Don Kramlinger, Community Education Director II. Approval of Minutes Minutes from the January 8, 2009 meeting were presented, Keena moved to approve the minutes with no changes. Toppin seconded the motion; Motion passed 6-0 III. Bills Commissioner Keena moved to pay the bills. Commissioner Toppin seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-0 IV. Business A.Public Hearing and Resolution on Business Subsidy Criteria Director Grossman presented the Authority with information regarding what the Business Subsidy Criteria included and why it was necessary. Public Hearing on the Criteria was opened for comment at 6:08 and closed at 6:09 with no comment from the public. Discussion was had among the Authority regarding what the wage rates should be set at. Currently the minimum wage required is $7.00 or $10.00 depending on business type. The Board agreed that the required minimum wage would remain as it was, and that language would be added to the end of the resolution that stated that the Authority will review the wage parameters annually. Alongi moved to adopt Resolution 2-2009 with the amended language allowing the Authority to review the wage parameters annually, Schultz seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-0 B. HRA Land Transfers Director Grossman Presented the idea of transferring lot 1 block 3 (the parking lot behind the Gardner Hotel/Hastings Beauty School) and part of lot 1, block 14 (Oliver?s Grove) to the City rather than to the HEDRA. By transferring these to the City, the City would maintain each space and continue using them in the current capacity. Parking is at a premium in the Downtown area so maintaining lot 1, block 3 as such would be a benefit for the downtown HEDRA: 02/12/09 1 area. Lot 1, block 14 is a very awkward space for development and would remain being used as a park. Lot 1 block 3 is viewed as having great potential as part of the riverfront, both as a possible location for a visitors center/interpretive center, as well as potential commercial development. The Authority discussed these options and Alongi moved to prepare the deed to transfer lot 1 block 14, (Oliver?s Grove) from the HRA to the City at this time and to transfer lot 1 block 3 (parking lot behind the Gardner Hotel) to HEDRA with the intent for future development. Keena seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-0 C. Industrial Park Land Cost/Benefit and Prices Planning Director Hinzman reported to the Authority the information he had compiled so far regarding the cost/benefit of the Industrial Park. Planning Director Hinzman is working to convert all dollars to a consistent ?2009? dollar for the purpose of comparing them and is working to determine the tax benefit that the City is receiving by having the business located in the Industrial Park. As well as evaluating the land benefit program. Planning Director Hinzman is excepting to ask the Authority to re-evaluate the price of the remaining land once his analysis is completed. D. 315 East Third Street City Administrator Dave Osberg and Community Ed Director Don Kramlinger were in attendance to present to the Authority the status of the Senior Center. Currently the City and the School District (Joint Powers Committee) own and operate the Senior Center jointly 50/50. Together the two entities purchase the building and just recently paid off the loan the HRA had taken out to purchase the facility. Currently there is a need for more space at the Center and this need is only expect to increase with time. The Joint Powers Committee would like to acquire the other half of the building where the Senior Center is housed (Walker Chiropractic and the Drivers Education Office) and expand the Senior Center into the rest of the building. The Joint Powers Committee is asking HEDRA if they would be willing to be the financing entity for the purchase of the second half of the building and ?lease? it to the Joint Powers Committee as they did when they purchased the first half of the building with the help of the HRA. After further discussion Keena moved approval for the HEDRA to act as the financing entity if the school and City decide they want to pursue the project. Toppin seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-0 rd HEDRA Director Grossman presented details on purchasing 315 3 Street East, which included a budget of: $15,000 (demolition) $20,000 (relocation of current tenants, unless CDA would be interested in managing the property) $4,500 (acquisition and relocation consultant) $?????? (Purchase Price) Alongi moved authorization for staff to work with Dan Wilson to put together a deal to bring back to HEDRA. Schultz seconded the motion. Motion Passed 6-0. HEDRA: 02/12/09 2 E. Block 29 RFP HEDRA Director Grossman asked the Authority if they were interested in reissuing the RFP for th Block 29 (Southwest corner of 4 Street and Sibley.) There is one Developer who is interested in submitting a proposal, but would be asking for 2 years to put the project together. The developer would put together a project that would meet the desires of HEDRA th Street with parking in back and would save al most all of the trees.) (2-story building facing 4 Commissioner Holzem expressed concern with losing 2 years of marketing if the project doesn?t end up happening. Commissioner Keena is interested in moving forward with the RFP. Although concerned with giving two-year site control, the reality is that in this market the developer may be the best opportunity. Alongi moved approval to advertise the RFP as presented by HEDRA Director Grossman, motion was seconded by Keena. Motion passed 6-0. V. Reports A.Potential and Pending Projects 1.Downtown Updates: Haley?s is looking to remodel their showroom and add windows across the o front of their building along Vermillion Street and is wondering if they would qualify for any sort of assistance from HEDRA. Federal Funding for Park and Ride: Stimulus funds to build parking lots on o block 16 for transit is unavailable with the current package. However, there are several grants available. The City would not be required to provide the parking for such a park and ride service, but could assist with these sources. Currently there is a study going on, and is yielding some positive results. If this park and ride were to go through there could potentially be 4 -6 buses heading north in the morning and south in the afternoon, plus possible a mid- day bus going both directions. Our lot would need some alterations to allow buses to park and load as well as to maneuver through the lot. There could potentially be two lots in Hastings, one in Downtown and another on the west side of town. 2.Vermillion Corridor: Wal-greens Parking lot and land between Walgreens and the Dairy Queen as o well as a house in the area are all being looked at for potential development. Ehlers and Associates have been hired to look at Ed Peterson?s property as o discussed at the January HEDRA meeting. rd and Vermillion) as a Sears is looking at the Mann property (near 23 o possible site to build a stand-alone store. HEDRA: 02/12/09 3 3.Industrial Park Signage ? better wayfinding signs and new monument signs at the entrance o of the Park has been discussed in the past by the Economic Development Commission. One thing to be considered would be to provide larger street name signs and include address ranges on these signs rather than direction signs that list specific businesses listed on the sign. After reviewing the proposed monument signs the Authority preferred the tall (more vertical) looking sign. Engineering is currently reviewing plans for improving Spiral Blvd. and some o of the other side streets throughout the Industrial park. Spiral Blvd. itself would see significant changes if the project goes through, including taking out the center ditch and widening the roadway. Curb and gutter and a drainage system would be installed along with different lighting and potentially a trail connection. A dental Lab has contacted the City for information and may possibly be o considering locating in the Industrial Park. There is no commitment from the company at this time. 4.Housing Program. HEDRA Director Grossman has continued to work with a resident who has o requested assistance in paying their unusually high assessment for a watermain repair. The cost was $9374, which is much greater than the usual $3,000 - $4,000. Recently the homeowners income was reduced by $2,100 due to reduced child support. The homeowner has been trying to get the mortgage restructured but isn?t sure if that will be successful. Authority advised staff to continue working with the homeowner to see if they are able to manage this on their own. If necessary the Authority may be willing to consider helping the homeowner. HPC would like a little more favorable treatment for historic properties since o they cost more to rehab. Following discussions the Authority decided not to alter the program at this time. 5.Bridge Update rd Mn/DOT has an open House scheduled at City Hall March 3 from 3 ? 6 pm o Currently the City and Mn/DOT are at odds over a few items including; o Parking underneath the Bride near Second Street. A water pond somewhere in down town vs. an underground filtration system. A de-icing structure which Mn/DOT would like to place on the Southside of the bridge in Downtown, whereas the City would like it to be placed on the north side or the river Currently the City is communicating with Hudson to see if they would be o interested in relocating to the Industrial Park. HEDRA: 02/12/09 4 B.Goal Setting and Work Plan Following discussion it was decided that a separate time should be chosen to get together and develop HEDRA goals and a work plan. It was recommended that this be done early this summer, somewhere off-site, once HEDRA has had a chance to get started and see what?s all about. VI. Adjournment: Keena moved to adjourn at 7:42 p.m., Martodam seconded; motion passed 7-0 Next meeting Is scheduled for March 12, 2009 at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers. _____________________________ Shannon M. Rausch HEDRA Secretary HEDRA: 02/12/09 5