Minutes

New Brighton Economic Development Commission

Regular Meeting - December 8, 1998

7:30 a.m.

Roll Call

Present:	Rakesh Argarwala, Bob Benke, Linda Harmon, Eugene Delaune II, John Kaufhold, Maxine Pierson, Dean Tollefson

Absent:	Carol Frey, Ann Hoffman, Ken Johnson

Also Present:	Jill Bishop, Economic Development Specialist

Kevin Locke, Community Development Director

Matthew Fulton, New Brighton City Manager

Approval of Minutes

Vice Chair, John Kaufold, opened the meeting with roll call. The minutes of the November 10, 1998, Economic Development Commission meeting were approved as written. It was noted that Ann Hoffman was absent because of the recent passing of her mother-in-law. The EDC expressed their sympathies to the family.

1999 Officer Elections

Elections will take place for Chair and Vice-chair at the February meeting. There will no openings on the Economic Development Commission this year. Council representation on the Commission will be announced in January.

Comprehensive Plan Update

Delaune handed out information from the recent Comprehensive Task Force Meeting and explained the process the Task Force would follow. The EDC Commissioners were invited to participate.

NW Quad Redevelopment

Staff has been meeting with some major development companies to assess the interest level for participation in the NW Quad. From those meetings, several questions have arisen concerning what process the City would be using for the redevelopment of that area. Staff will be doing research on how other communities have handled similar situations with projects of this size.

An update was given on some of the property holders in the NW Quad. The Preston Trucking site has changed ownership recently and the Darling Transfer property is for sale. Mr. Bury, the owner of the property under the Midwest Asphalt Company, has a meeting scheduled with staff for later today.

Locke provided an update on the M-X Mixed Use District zoning changes stating that the Planning Commission would be holding another public hearing at the December Planning Commission to consider changing the zoning of the property in the NW quadrant. The issue would then be brought before City Council for action. Hearings had been held on the issue on August 4 and on October 29 and at the November Planning Commission for the affected property owners to discuss the ramifications and ask questions. The moratorium is still in place until the end of January.

BCP III Update

The final phase of clean up at BCP III will begin in 1999 on the O.U.1 immediately surrounding the pond. The latest estimate of costs was approximately $25 million.

The second phase of the storm water retention ponds for BCP III is the pond next the I-35W on the E-Z Mini Storage site. Negotiations are ongoing with E-Z Mini for the pond site and also with Hypro and PrintCraft for the connecting pipes.

The Stoney Lake/Pratt Homes project will be brought before Planning Commission and Council in December.

Other Business

Silver Crest/ Snyder Drug project

The retail portion of the Rice Creek Shopping Center is nearly complete with Snyder's , the tailor, and the dry cleaner reopened for business. The remainder of the retail area is being demolished this week and will be made ready for the construction of the senior housing project scheduled for next Spring.

Tank & Tummy Closing

The operation was sold and is closed for the winter. A new owner will be demolishing and redesigning a new gas/convenience facility and replacing the tanks next Spring.

Ken's Market Project

The office/retail project for the corner of County Road D and Cleveland is still moving ahead slowly. Mr. Bernu has now teamed with Shingobee Construction and is still planning on a Spring start date.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m.