Minutes

New Brighton Economic Development Commission

Regular Meeting — March 14, 1995

7:30 a.m.

New Brighton City Hall

Present:	Jim Beran, George Gregori, Dennis Guldan, Ken Johnson, Mike Olson, Jay Scott, Jeff Schopf, Roger Williams

Absent:	Robert Benke, Neal Linnihan

Also

Present:	Kevin Locke, Community Development Director

Jill Hanson, Economic Development Specialist

Approval of Minutes — The minutes for February 14, 1995, were approved as written.

Business of the Year Nominations — Commission members were encouraged to nominate companies for the 1995 Business of the Year Award. The event will be held on May 4th at the Family Service Center. Mr. Mike Veeck, owner of the St Paul Saints, will be speaking at the luncheon.

High Technology Recommendations — A discussion was held concerning what kind of recommendations should be made to the City Council about technological issues facing our business community. To summarize the discussion, EDC members and the Cable Commission will be kept informed of new advances. Technological information, articles, and other communications will be distributed by staff to both commissions. Commissioners requested that the high technology issue be mentioned at the Town Hall Meeting and a handout be made available to anyone who is interested. Information could be collected at the Town Hall Meeting from anyone interested in the technology subject. A series could be featured in the local paper summarizing information from the various speakers with whom we have visited. Handout information could also be made available at local libraries. A discussion was held concerning the issue of whether a recommendation should be made for the creation of a new committee within the City structure. The subject was tabled.

Northern Gateway Plan — Locke lead a discussion about what the Commission would like to see at the northern entrance of the City. The consensus was that the southeastern site should provide for an office headquarters, "signature" building. The Commission specifically did not want to see a gas station, a warehouse, or a truck terminal on that site. It was recommended that the western area next to the lake be used for a company headquarters with perhaps a restaurant in the building to take full advantage of the location and view.

TCAAP Committee Update — Gregori explained that Bruce Vento created a committee to provide input on possible uses for the TCAAP in August 1995. The Army will be declaring that site "excess" and will be selling it. It is believed that the property will be sold in parcels. There are 14 sites that have been identified as contaminated and are being cleaned. No land will be released until it is clean. The site is 2,400 acres. When property is released, it must go through a process where it is made available in a specified order to other governmental entities. It looks like Arden Hills will have zoning rights to the property because of its location. A new town hall for Arden Hills has been discussed for a portion of the property. Preservation of major portions of the site will probably occur in the eastern and northern sections of the site. If the Commission would like to make a statement to Vento's committee, Gregori will take it to the meeting on our behalf.

New Brighton Project Updates — City Report - Locke and Hanson touched on some of the activities in New Brighton. Phase II of John Ordway's Village Center project will be breaking ground this month. Industrial Equities will be starting a new multi-tenant building at the corner of Old Highway 8 and 5th Street SW. The City will be installing a computer network system that will connect all City Departments. Discussions are continuing between the Church Upon the Rock and an interested developer concerning Rice Creek shopping Center.

Adjournment — The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 a.m.