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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-10 MinutesHastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority 7:00 p.m. Hastings City Hall Minutes of October 21, 2010 HEDRA Commissioners Pam Holzem, Dennis Peine,Bob Hollenbeck, Danna Elling Schultz,and Ron Toppin,present HEDRA Commissioners Absent: Kurt KeenaandAnthony Alongi. Staff present: City Administrator David Osberg, Community DevelopmentDirector John Hinzman and Community Relations Specialist Shannon Rausch. Others Present: Eric Hesse, Consultant with Liesch Environmental Q: UORUM A quorum was establishedand the meeting was called to order at 7pm with fivemembers present. I. M INUTES Commissioner Toppin motioned to approve the minutes from the September 16, 2010 meetings, Commissioner Holzem seconded the motion. Motion approved 5-0 III.B ILLS Commissioner Elling Schultz moved to pay the bills. Commissioner Toppin seconded the motion. Motion Passed 5-0 IV.B USINESS A. Hudson Manufacturing – Contingency Items. HEDRA has until October 25, 2010 to waive or satisfy contingency items per the Hudson Manufacturing Purchase Agreement. In late September, on-site environmental testing was conducted, including: • Installation of test pits to determine the existence of buried waste and debris. • Installation of groundwater monitoring wells. • Installation of vapor probes to identify subsurface vapors • Installation of hand auger borings inside the existing building to determine evidence of waste or contamination beneath the building Results were analyzed at thelab andEric Hesse from Liesch Environmental was at the meeting toprovide a reportto the commissionon environmental testing results. Overall the site is in better condition than anticipated, and no worse than any other site the HRA has acquiredin the past. There will be clean-up of the site necessary but there are several opportunities for grant dollars to help with the cost of clean up. With the City’s involvementHEDRA will be eligible for assistance from the County, State and Federal Government that other investors would not have access to. After much discussion Commissioner Toppin motioned to approve resolution No. 8 – 2010 with additional language that clearly states that Hudson will “mitigate damaged asbestos and lead paint and hold the City and HEDRA harmless.”Commissioner Peine seconded the motion. Motion passed 5– 0 C. Marketing RFQ Following the September 16th HEDRA meeting Community Relations Specialist, Shannon Rausch continued to work withLocal Pigeononspecific items that wereleft out of their original RFQ submission, as well as forwarding a copy to Himle HornerInc.who is part of the consulting team that MN/DOT has brought on board to work on the Communication/Public Relation portion of the bridge project. Community Relations Specialist Shannon Rausch shared with the commission what she has learned following discussions with both Local Pigeon and Himle Horner. The Commissioners directed staff to end conversations with Local Pigeon and continue working with Himle Horner to see what kind of proposal they can present at the November meeting. D.Minnesota Main Street Program The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota has launched the Minnesota Main Street Program to assist in commercial district revitalization. The alliance is accepting applications to participate in the program. The annual membership fee is $2,000. Members can receive up to $6,400 in technical assistance and training. Hastings participated in an earlier version of the Main Street Program during the 1980’s. Commissioner Topping movedto authorize staff tosubmitanapplication and to pay the fee with part of the $10,000 budgeted for 2010 marketing efforts.Commissioner Holzem seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0 E.Hastings Beauty School – Request to adjust interest rate Dan Lynch of Hastings Beauty School, 221 East 2nd Street (Gardner House) has submitted a request to adjust the interest rate on his $58,000 promissory note issued by the HRA on June 21, 2005. The note had an initial interest rate of 4% per annum, and adjusted to 9% on June 21, 2010. Mr. Lynch seeks a lower rate and has suggested 7%. Commissioner Hollenbeck emphasized what a wonderful job Mr. Lynch has done in restoring this property. Commissioner Holzem motioned to accept Mr. Lynch’s recommended interest rate of 7%, Commissioner Topping seconded the motion. Motion Passed 5-0 F. Hastings Beauty School – Skateboard Damage Dan Lynch of Hastings Beauty School, 221 East 2nd Street (Gardiner House) has submitted a letter asking for assistance to alleviate damage caused tohis structure by skateboarders. Currently HEDRA doesnot have commercial grant funds specifically allocated within the budgetthat could be used to assist Mr. Lynch. The Commission discussed various options and suggest Mr. Lynch look into adding some type of wrought iron fence to stop skate boarders from being able to jump onto the window sills and thus prevent the damage which is currently occurring. The commission suggested that then perhaps there possibly would besome type of grant available that he could apply for with HEDRA’s assistance. IV.R EPORTS A. Hudson Manufacturing Bond Sale HEDRA has received two responses to our bond sale proposal. It appears our annual debt service on the 20 year general obligation bonds will be less than originally anticipated. We had planned on a $260,000 annual debt payment; the lowest response submitted had an annual average debt service payment of $230,000. HEDRA isscheduled to take final action on the bond sale at its November 9th meeting. B. TH 61 Bridge Update The September 22nd groundbreaking and open house attracted about 250 people. Attendees were given the opportunity to review bridge lighting and colors, as well as the mural located on the 2nd Street southabutment. The Visual Quality Team met on October 13th to discuss bridge lighting and color selection.Those attending the open house preferred a blue color. The VQT discussed whether a bold color orlighter color was preferable. The bridge design staff will present updated color rendering at the next VQT meeting and have discussed having the community vote on three final colors. C. Park and Ride Lot Update City staff met with Metropolitan Council to discuss the grant agreement for use of the $600,000 allocation from the Red Rock Corridor. Metropolitan Council was designated as the fund disburser. The language of the original allocation requires Met Council to be owner of the property. City Staff voiced its concern over conveying the property.Community Development Director isstill awaiting the actual grant agreement.Commissioners agreed they may consider a Partnership with Met Council but they are not interested in turning over the ownership of the property. A: DJOURNMENT Commissioner Toppinmoved to adjourn at 8:40 p.m., Commissioner Holzemseconded. Motion Passed 5-0 TUESDAY,November 9, 2010 Next meeting is scheduled for at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers. Shannon M. Rausch, HEDRA Secretary