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I I I Council Meeting Minutes January 23,2001 Page 3 2001 State of the City Address. continued I would like to thank those of you who worked so hard on the Healthy Youth Coalition. Recognizing that assets are the key to youth development is very important. The city remains a Community Of Promise and continues to work on important youth issues and projects. We must continue this eff0l1 to address the needs and concerns of our youth as we plan for tomorrow. The NW Quadrant redevelopment is ongoing with Ryan Companies being selected as the Master Developer. This project will take several years to complete and will require numerous meetings with property owners and businesses that exist today. The redevelopment ofthe northwest quadrant will require a significant investment on the part ofthe City. This investment will require the use of Tax increment financing, which we have been very successful with in the past. In fact, several years ago, the City received some special legislation regarding how we might utilize tax increment financing in the NW quadrant. This legislation will help us to implement a comprehensive redevelopment plan that will move this part of the community into the next generation. As part of this effort, we were successful working with Ramsey County to acquire the Coop site. We have acquired or are in the process of acquiring several additional parcels. Special thanks to Ramsey County Comm. Jan Wiessner for her help during the past year. Also, thanks to Sen. Novak, Reps. Haake and Chaudhary for their efforts in St. Paul. We will now be working with Sen. Chaudhary, Reps. Evans and Goodwin. 2001 presents new challenges in 5t. Paul that will require extra effort and political leadership by both City, County, and State Legislative representatives. We have been conducting studies to find out what should happen at Brighton Village (old Lunds site) and have discussed the findings with the property owner, Kraus Anderson, as well as the tenants. Next, comes a series of meetings with the neighbors to get feedback and ideas for future use of site and neighborhood impact issues. We recognize the critical importance ofthis commercial center to the neighborhood, City, and region. We intend to work very hard as a community partner in pursuing and encouraging the revitalization of this Center with quality businesses and tenants that meet New Brighton's long term needs and interests. We have also been examining spaCe need for our Public Safety Department to address long term need for our Police and Fire Departments. We hope to be able to present a long term space needs plan in the very near future that identifies the best way to deal with our long term space needs. This effort will obviously require the active participation and engagement of our taxpayers. That is a main reason for establishing the space needs task force. As our plans come together, our intent will be to hold numerous meetings to educate and inform you of the recommended solutions. We have been very busy this past year and will continue to be for the next several years. It would be easy to sit back and rest, but the future ofNB depends on a strong continued effort to stay proactive. NB median housing value has grown to $145,000(an increase of$35,000 over the past 5 years). Our housing stock is strong and diversified with more owner occupied housing our goal. We will continue to encourage Multi-family facilities to be operated so that they reflect the same values as single family owner occupied homes. We meet all of the affordable housing standards established by the Met Council. We are seeking volunteers for two task forces: Space Needs and Alternative Revenues. Contact City Hall if you are interested or sign up at the Neighborhood Grid meetings that are being held every Wednesday night ( excluding tomorrow night) at 6:30 at the F.e. through Mar. 7. The staff, employees, volunteer Fire Department members, boards and commission members and the volunteers in NB make this community second to none. You are all to be commended on ajob well done. Volunteers are the backbone of the community and we have the best in NB. Thanks for saying yes when asked to participate and doing such a good job.