HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDA MIN 02-19-02COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 19, 2002
CALL TO ORDER - The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Heights Economic Development
Authority (EDA) was called to order by Vice President, Jindra at 8:20 p.m., Tuesday, February
19, 2002, in the Parkview Villa Community Room B, 965 40th Avenue NE, Columbia Heights,
Minnesota.
ROLL CALL
Commission Members Present:
Commission Members Absent:
StaffPresent:
Patricia Jindra, Marlaine Szurek, Gary Peterson, Julienne
Wyckoff, Bruce NaWrocki, and Bobby Williams
Robert Ruettimann
Walt Fehst, Executive Director
Randy Schumacher, Acting Community Development Director
Mark Nagel, Housing Assistant
Cheryl Bakken, Secretary
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Minutes
Approve the Minutes of Regular Meeting held on January 15, 2002.
Financial Report and Payment of Bill.~
a. Financial Statement for January, 2002.
b. Payment of Bills for January, 2002.
MOTION by Williams, second by Wyckoff, to approve Resolution 2002-02, Resolution of the
Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) approving the financial statement
for January, 2002 and approving payment of bills for the month of January, 2002. All ayes.
Motion Carried.
ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
Adopt Resolution 2002-03, Amending and Restating the EDA Bylaws,
Schumacher indicated staff and Steve Bubul of Kennedy and Graven, Chartered, have updated
the EDA Bylaws to meet the current status of the authority. Schumacher stated that a decision
needed to be made to Article III- Meetings, Section Ion page 3, as to when and where the
authority is to meet in the future.
MOTION by Szurek, second by Williams, to amend page 3, Article III- Meetings, Section 1,
Regular Meetings, whereby the first sentence should read: Monthly meetings will be held on the
third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, with the exception of the months of
January, April, July and October, where the meetings will be held in conjunction with the HR~
at Parkview Villa and starting immediately following the HRA meeting. All ayes. Motion
Carried.
MOTION by Szurek, second by Williams, to Adopt Resolution 2002-03, a Resolution to Amend
and Restate the Bylaws of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority. All ayes.
Motion Carried.
Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes
3/4/02
Page 2 of 5
Adopt Resolution 2002-04, Approving and Ratifying the Terms of an Interfund Loan
Policy and Approving the lnterfund Loan Implementation Memorandum in Connection
with TIF District No. I (P3)
Nagel stated this item should be tabled until a meeting is held with the Finance Director to
discuss the issues.
Adopt Resolution 2002-05, Approving and Ratifying the Terms of $109,852 Internal Loan
in Connection with TIF #4, Multi Plan Cargill District
Schumacher indicated Shelly Eldridge, Ehlers & Associates reviewed the Interfund Loans that
were noted in the Financial Statements for the TIF Districts. The 2001 law change ratifies any
districts with a negative balance prior to August 1, 2001. Any expenditures that would increase
the negative balance in a district must have an Interfund Loan (IFL) set up prior to the
expenditures. The earlier districts for which the increments are paying the bonds, have had
resolutions adopted to establish those loans and no further action is necessary. The MURP, K2
TIF District has a negative balance as of December 31, 2000 and the law requires a resolution
ratifying the highest negative amount, which is $109,852, according to the 1998 Financial
Statements.
MOTION by Peterson, second by .Wyckoff, to Adopt Resolution 2002-05, a Resolution
Approving and Ratifying the terms of $109,852 Internal Loan and Memorandum in Connection
with TIF g4, Multi Plan Cargill, MURP K2 Tax Increment Financing District; and furthermore,
authorize the President and Executive Director to enter into an agreement for the same.
Nawrocki asked where the $109,852 funds went. Schumacher indicated that as Shelly Eldridge
prepared the documents enclosed, he did not have the information, but could get it from the
Finance Department for the Board.
MOTION by Nawrocki, to table this item until the Board can determine where the $109,852
went. Motion Failed for Lack of a Second.
Upon Vote of the Original Motion: Peterson- Aye, Nawrocki- Nay, Szurek- Aye, Williams-
Aye, Wyckof£- Aye, Jindra- Aye. Motion Carried.
Consideration of a Resolution to Recommend City Council Adopt a Redevelopment Process
Relating to the Redevelopment of Industrial Properties
Schumacher stated the number one Community Development Department Goal for 2002 relates
to the development of industrial property in Columbia Heights. Staff met with representatives
from the Beard Group, Dunbar Development, John Allen Industrial Equities, and Welsh
Companies, and has meetings set up with GSR Development, Hartford Company, United
Properties, and Opus. All have shown interest in redevelopment of the industrially zoned
property in the southwest part of the City. In the meeting with Welsh Companies, possible
approaches for handling the process of or redevelopment of the industrial area were discussed.
One approach would be to gather more site information through the CDBG Grant and a Phase I
Environmental Report before proceeding with a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) and the
other would focus on a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), selecting a firm to work immediately
Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes
3/4/02
Page 3 of 5
on the planning grant and Phase 1. Welsh Companies provided the attached listing of the pros
and cons of both approaches.
MOTION by Peterson, second by Szurek, to make Recommendation to City Council to Adopt a
Resolution for Option A, to select a Development Consultant to assist the City/EDA in preparing
a detailed RFP for developers seeking Redevelopment Proposals for designated Commercial and
Industrial Redevelopment areas. All ayes. Motion Carried.
Approve Community Development Goals for 2002
Fehst stated that staff, the EDA Board and P & Z Chair, Tom Ramsdell met to establish Goals
and Objectives for the Community Development Department for 2002. The City Council has
previously approved the Top 10 Goals for 2002. Each of the Goals, have at least five objectives.
Fehst listed the goals: 1)focus on redevelopment of the industrial zoned property; 2) evaluate
development issues for Lomianki Park; 3) redevelopment of 40tn and University; 4) to evaluate
the options for Parkview Villa; 5) to improve the housing stock of Columbia Heights; 6) tax base
increase; 7) redevelop 37~h and Central; 8) redevelop Mady's Bowl site; 9) promotion of
Columbia Heights; and 1 O) redevelop 40a and Jackson to Van Buren and redevelop Radiator
Shop at 4201 Central. In order to accomplish the Goals, the first step would be to come up with
some funds, by looking at their assets and how can we make a profit from them.
As to Goal number four, evaluation of the options for Parkview Villa. Fehst stated that the
rumor that the City is considering selling Parkview Villa as was discussed on Cable TV is true.
One of the Councilmembers did say that would be a possible option for the South building only.
However, that doesn't mean that a decision has been made to sell the building, but to consider
the options. The South building is not government subsidized, but tenants have been charged
lower than the standard market rates for apartments in the area.
Renie Sufka, apartment 104, asked for clarification that they are considering the options for the
South building only. Fehst stated that this was true.
Resident, Dick Dustin indicated that he worked with Nawrocki years ago to build Parkview Villa
for the seniors of Columbia Heights. Dustin expressed his concern that the Board wants to sell
Parkview and use the money on the Industrial area. Seniors have moved into Parkview thinking
they can spend the rest of their life there and would be they would be displaced. He also felt
that Parkview is an asset to the City and should not be sold. Fehst stated there has been no
decisions made to sell the building. They are not looking to change the building from a senior
building, nor are they telling the seniors their rent is going up or they need to move out.
Nawroc/a' indicated he was on the committee to build Parkview as Mr. Dustin stated. At that
time an application was made for Federal Funding for the Parkview Villa North project and was
turned down. He then went to Congressmen, Bill Frenzel, with the problem. Frenzel went to bat
with HUD for the City and the funds were obtained. The South building was built to provide
senior housing to the residents of Columbia Heights at a higher rate than the North building as it
was not government subsidized, but still at a lower than market rate. The commitment was to
make a senior building for housing Columbia Heights seniors, and freeing up the homes for
Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes
3/4/02
Page 4 of 5
younger families to move into. Nawrocki stated he strongly objects to the possibility of selling
the building.
Renie Suflca, apt. 104 asked for Mayor Peterson 's opinion. Peterson agreed with Nawrocki that
there was a need for senior housing in the Community. However, if we want to improve our
Community, and fill the needs for not only the seniors, but the young and middle aged families,
we need to look at all our options.
Wyckoff indicated that if the City decided to sell the South building, it would take years and if the
building was sold with the intent that it wouldn't be used as a senior building, the seniors would
be relocated.
Fehst recommended Mr. Dustin be on the committee to explore Parkview Villa's options, or
Goal number 4for the Community Development Department.
MOTION by Szurek, second by Wyckoff, to approve the "Top 10" 2002 Goal Priorities for the
Community Development Department. All ayes. Motion Carried.
Resident, Harold Hoium, used abusive language towards I4~illiams demanding a copy of his
Revitalization Plan for the City by the next Council meeting, which he has been waiting for the
last 14 months for. He then, directed his anger towards the rest of the Commissioners for not
doing their jobs as City Councilmembers.
Approve Application 1998-12, CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program
Cochumacher indicated the Center for Energy and Environment has prepared a CDBG Housing
Rehabilitation Deferred Grant for the property at 1032 Gould Avenue NE in the total amount of
$18,475 with Norling Exteriors for replacing windows, doors, insulation, garage repair, and
making health and safety improvements to the property.
MOTION by Wyckoff, second by Szurek, to approve the CDBG Housing Rehabilitation
Deferred Grant/Loan Application for Grant # 1998-12 in the amount of $18,475 for housing
rehabilitation to Norling Exteriors, and the Center for Energy and Environment subject to
meeting all program requirements; and furthermore, to direct staff to submit the loan application
to Anoka County and authorize all related expenses to be reimbursed from Fund 202-46350-
4600/3050. All ayes. Motion Carried.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Update on Fiber Optics
Schumacher indicated he included in the packet, the minutes of the Telecommunications
Committee meeting and a memo from Jean Kuehn, Special Projects Coordinator summarizing
the meeting discussing the installation of Fiber Optics in Columbia Heights when Central
Avenue is reconstructed this summer. At the Telecommunications Committee Meeting it was
determined the cables are already in place on Central Avenue. The Telecommunications
Committee recommended the City not get involved in the placement of Fiber Optics at this time.
Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes
3/4/02
Page 5 of 5
Update on Columbia Park Medical Grou0 Parking Ramp Contract
Schumacher indicated he would like to discuss this item at a future date.
GMHC List of Homes
$chumacher indicated that Jennifer Bergmann, GMHC has provided the enclosed list of homes
that GMHC has built in the area, as requested by the Board at their January meeting.
OTHER REPORTS
Resident Council Minutes for January and February, 2002
Jindra presented the Resident Council Minutes for the months of January and February. There
were no corrections. Jindra asked for Board direction on if she should still be attending the
Resident Council Meetings each month and taking minutes for the EDA as Park'view P'illa is a
function of the HRA. It was the consensus of the Board, that it wasn't necessary for Jindra to
attend the meetings as Dennis Ecklund Jr. is on the Board as a representative of Parkview Villa
Residents and he can provide the minutes to the Secretary for all future meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice President Jindra, adjourned the meeting at 10:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Bakken
Recording Secretary
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