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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA)
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
AUGUST 6, 2018
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by President, Marlaine Szurek.
Members Present: Murzyn, Schmitt, Buesgens, Novitsky, Herringer, Williams, and Szurek.
Staff Present: Walt Fehst, Joseph Hogeboom, Akua Opoku, and Shelley Hanson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- RECITED
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve minutes of June 4, 2018.
2. Approve Financial Report & Payment of Bills for May and June, 2018–Resolution 2018-010
Questions from Members:
There were no questions.
Motion by Murzyn, seconded by Herringer, to approve the Minutes of June 4, 2018, and the
Financial Report and Payment of Bills for May and June, 2018 as presented. All ayes.
MOTION PASSED.
RESOLUTIONNO.2018-10
AResolution of theEconomic Development Authorityof Columbia Heights, Minnesota, Approving the
Financial Statements for the Month of April 2018 and the Payment of the Bills for the Months of May
and June 2018.
WHEREAS,the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) is required by Minnesota Statutes
Section 469.096, Subd. 9, to prepare a detailed financial statement which shows all receipts and
disbursements, their nature, the money on hand, the purposes to which the money on hand is to be applied,
the EDA's credits and assets and its outstanding liabilities; and
WHEREAS,said Statute also requires the EDA to examine the statement and treasurer's vouchers or bills and if
correct, to approve them by resolutionand enter the resolution in its records; and
WHEREAS,the financial statement for the months of May and June 2018 has been reviewed by the EDA
Commission; and
WHEREAS,the EDA has examined the financial statements and finds them to be acceptable as to both form
and accuracy; and
WHEREAS,the EDA Commission has other means to verify the intent of Section 469.096, Subd. 9, including but
not limited to Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, Annual City approved Budgets, Audits and similar
documentation; and
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WHEREAS,financials statements are held by the City’s Finance Department in a method outlined by the State
of Minnesota’s Records Retention Schedule,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDby the Board of Commissioners of the Columbia Heights Economic
Development Authority that it has examined the referenced financial statements including the check history,
and they are found to be correct, as to form and content; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDthe financial statements are acknowledged and received and the check historyas
presented in writing is approved for payment out of proper funds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDthis resolution is made a part of the permanent records of the Columbia Heights
Economic Development Authority.
ORDER OFECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Passed this __6th____ dayof ___August_____, 2018
Offered by: Murzyn
Seconded by: Herringer
Roll Call: All ayes
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Award Façade Improvement Grant Funds and Approve Grant Agreements-Resolution 2018-11
Akua Opoku explained that the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (the “EDA”) collaborated with
the Columbia Heights Police Department (the “CHPD”) to solicit and evaluate requests for funding in support of
revitalization, rehabilitation, and restoration of exterior store fronts through the Façade Improvement Grant
Program (the “Grant Program”). Eligible applicants were given until Friday, July 27th at 4:30 PM to complete and
submit a grant application to the EDA.
The EDA received twelve (12) applications, and staff reviewed and scored them based upon completion, eligibility,
quality of design, and the capacity of the applicant to commence the project within 2018. Of the applications
received, eight (8) were complete and eligible, one (1) was ineligible based upon the façade improvements, and
three (3) were deemed incomplete due to the lack of required application materials. The applicants of the four (4)
applications deemed ineligible or incomplete were contacted and encouraged to re-apply for funding in 2019.
Table 1.1 below shows the eight (8) applications recommended by staff for funding through the Grant Program in
2018, as well as the potential impact of public funds and how they have encouraged private reinvestment. The
leverage ratio equates to 1:2.03; for every $1.00 of public investment, there will be $2.03 of private reinvestment
within a prominent commercial corridor throughout the Central Business District.
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Table 1.1 – Application Overview
Business Name Business Address Façade Improvement Potential
Costs Reimbursement
Northeast Auto Body 3918 Central Avenue $ 6,106.00 $ 3,053.00
Bad Hombre 3948 Central Avenue $ 10,346.00 $ 5,000.00
Hartley Law Offices 3988 Central Avenue $ 13,471.00 $ 5,000.00
McAlpin Agency 3990 Central Avenue $ 1,079.00 $ 539.50
Rapid Graphics & Mailing 4016 Central Avenue $ 30,261.00 $ 5,000.00
Big Cutz Barbershop 4020 Central Avenue $ 1,568.00 $ 784.00
Chet’s Shoes 4357 Central Avenue $ 3,226.00 $ 1,613.00
Midas Auto Repair 4415 Central Avenue $ 4,903.00 $ 2,451.50
TOTAL:$ 70,960.00 $ 23,441.00
* Façade Improvement Costs include the total cost of the eligible façade improvements, but also design work,
labor, and installation costs.
** Potential Reimbursement depicts the total cost to the EDA based upon the reimbursement of eligible
improvements up to fifty percent (50%); for a maximum reimbursement of $5,000.
Table 1.2 below summarizes the eligible façade improvements contained within each application from the
respective business.
Table 1.2 – Façade Improvement Overview
Business Name Eligible Façade Improvements
Northeast Auto Body Replacement of Windows and Doors
Bad Hombre Canopy or Awning Installation or Repair; Installation of New or Renovated
Attached Signage; and Exterior lighting
Hartley Law Offices Installation of New or Renovated Attached Signage
McAlpin Agency Canopy or Awning Installation or Repair
Rapid Graphics & Mailing Replacement of Windows and Doors; and Exterior Painting, Re-siding, or
Professional Cleaning
Big Cutz Barbershop Installation of New or Renovated Attached Signage
Chet’s Shoes Exterior lighting; and Exterior Painting, Re-siding, or Professional Cleaning
Midas Auto Repair Exterior Painting, Re-siding, or Professional Cleaning
Table 1.3 below distinguishes the total façade improvement costs for each eligible façade improvement contained
within the Grant Program. This table has been compiled to better understand the true need of façade
improvements for businesses and property owners in the Central Business District.
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Table 1.3 – Façade Improvement Overview
Eligible Façade Improvements Façade Improvement Costs
Architectural Improvements $ 0.00
Canopy or Awning Installation or Repair $ 8,579.00
Exterior lighting $ 4,637.00
Exterior Painting, Re-siding, or Professional Cleaning $ 10,053.00
Green Façade Improvement $ 0.00
Installation of New or Renovated Attached Signage $ 15,704.00
Masonry Repairs or Tuckpointing $ 0.00
Replacement of Windows and Doors $ 31,987.00
Restoration of Exterior Finishes and Materials $ 0.00
TOTAL:$ 70,960.00
Staff recommends approval of Resolution 2018-11 as presented and awarding grant funds to the applicants listed
in Table 1.1.
Questions/comments from members:
Members wanted to know what type of business “Bad Hombre” was. Hogeboom stated he thought it was some
type of Real Estate Holding or Management Company.
Szurek asked if all the businesses were aware of the security camera requirement, and she responded that they
were all aware of that. Szurek asked if the businesses that submitted applications were in the target area that the
Police were hoping for. Opoku said that staff had met with Sgt. Markham from the Police Dept and they did get
some in the targeted area.
Schmitt said that Big Cutz recently sustained damage from a vehicle that ran into the building and that most of that
damage should be covered by insurance. Opoku stated that insurance will not cover what they wanted to do
under this grant application (improved signage), and getting payment and repairs done by insurance could take
some time. This grant would allow them to start the improvements by installing the new signage.
Szurek thought the grant was to improve the façade, and wasn’t intended for signage.
Buesgens thought upgrading signage from banner type to professionally designed signage is an improvement and is
a start to owner’s investing in their businesses. She stated she is excited about this program and is hoping the
outside work will encourage surrounding businesses to also make improvements. She noted that the businesses
are investing twice as much as the City’s share of grant funds.
Hogeboom stated this is a pilot program and it’s possible that the program could be enhanced or expanded in the
future if this first phase is successful.
Herringer asked if the professional cleaning mentioned in the applications referred to power washing the outside
of the buildings. Opoku stated that is what the term referred to.
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Motion by Schmitt, seconded by Murzyn, to waive the reading of Resolution 2018-11, there being ample copies
available to the public. All ayes. MOTION PASSED.
Motion by Schmitt, seconded by Buesgens, to adopt Resolution 2018-11, a resolution approving the form and
substance of the Façade Improvement Grant Agreement, and approving Authority staff and officials to take all
actions necessary to enter the Authority into Façade Improvement Grant Agreements with various grant recipients,
as recommended by staff. All ayes. MOTION PASSED.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-11
A RESOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS,
MINNESOTA, APPROVING THE FORM AND SUBSTANCE OF THE FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT
GRANT AGREEMENT, AND APPROVING AUTHORITY STAFF AND OFFICIALS TO TAKE ALL
ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ENTER THE AUTHORITY INTO FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT
AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS GRANT RECIPIENTS.
BE IT RESOLVED BY
the Board of Commissioners ("Board") of the Columbia Heights Economic Development
Authority (the "Authority") as follows:
WHEREAS,
the City of Columbia Heights (the “City”) and the Authority have collaborated to create a certain
Façade Improvement Grant Program (the “Program”); and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to guidelines established for the Program, the Authority is to award and administer a series of
grants to eligible commercial property owners and/or tenants for the purposes of revitalizing existing store fronts,
increasing business vitality and economic performance, and decreasing criminal activity along Central Avenue
Northeast, in the City’s Central Business district, pursuant to a Façade Improvement Grant Agreement with various
property owners and/or tenants (the “Grant Agreement”); and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Program, the City is to coordinate a surveillance camera monitoring program by
placing surveillance cameras on some of the storefronts that are part of the Program for the purposes of improving
public safety in and around the Central Business District; and
WHEREAS,
the Authority has reviewed copies of the proposed form of the Grant Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that the Authority hereby approves the form and substance of the Grant
Agreement, and approves the Authority entering into the Grant Agreement with various grant recipients, as
recommended by the Community Development Department of the City, in accordance with the Program guidelines.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Marlaine Szurek, as the President of the Authority, is hereby authorized,
empowered and directed for and on behalf of the Authority to enter into the various Grant Agreements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Marlaine Szurek, as the President of the Authority, is hereby authorized and
directed to execute and take such action as he/she deems necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose of the
foregoing resolutions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that these actions shall be effective as of August 6, 2018.
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Aug 6, 2018
ORDER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Passed this 6th day of August, 2018
Offered by: Schmitt
Seconded by: Buesgens
Roll Call: All ayes
President
Attest:
Assistant Secretary
th
Hogeboom told members that a Special Meeting will be called for August 27 at 6 pm to review the budget. He
explained that the EDA must approve the budget for the 204 fund and that it will go to the City Council later that
night.
Motion by Buesgens, seconded by Novitsky, to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Shelley Hanson
Secretary
20180806_EDA_Minutes