Minutes

New Brighton Economic Development Commission

Regular Meeting – November 14, 2000

7:30 a.m.

Members/Liaisons Present:

Bob Benke, Eugene Delaune, Dennis Flahave, Carol Frey, Ann Hoffman, Ken Johnson, John Kaufhold, Steve Larson.

Members/Liaisons Absent:

Rakesh Agarwala, Linda Harmon, Mark Nelson, Maxine Pierson.

Staff Present:

Matt Fulton, Kevin Locke, David Black, Judy Goepel.

Others Present:

Jim McComb (McComb Group, Ltd.).

Call to Order

Chair Ken Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the October 10, 2000 meeting were presented for approval. All approved.

Brighton Village Update

Grocery Store Responses: McComb told the group that he had called and written several grocery operators, and sent them copies of the market study. These were GJ's, Jerry's, Knowlan's, and Rainbow. He had a lengthy conversation with the general manager of GJ's, who lives in New Brighton and banks at the adjacent Firstar Bank. The manager was not interested in recommending the site because he had concerns about the traffic flow into and out of the center at Palmer Drive. McComb had previously had contacts with Kowalski's and knew that they were not interested in opening any new stores at this time. The others had not responded to calls and e-mails, indicating that they weren't interested.

Delaune suggested that we take more holistic approach in looking at the Brighton Village, to avoid having to "fix" the center every few years. McComb noted that the service sector was growing much more rapidly than retailing, changing the typical tenant base for a neighborhood center. Many of the existing stores can continue to succeed without a grocery anchor. Kraus-
Anderson is currently working with a prospective hotel operator, in partnership with a senior cooperative. McComb suggested that by working to keep the center in retail/service uses, less investment would be needed from the public and/or private sectors.

Market Study: McComb referred to Table 11 in his market study on other potential uses, showing retail purchasing power, and Table 12, showing the market for services. In particular, he noted the potential for medical services, suggesting that the existing configuration of the grocery space (one floor, no windows) would be workable for many clinic and lab operations. He also suggested that drug stores are succeeding in anchoring neighborhood centers, partly driven by managed care reimbursements, which allow smaller but convenient locations to compete with larger stores.

Proposed Planning Study: Referring to the draft RFP for a comprehensive planning study, Delaune indicated that it was well thought out. Larson suggested that the neighborhood meetings be used to hear what the public would like to see. Locke noted that he envisioned some sort of public process. Benke suggested that if the City was comfortable with the capabilities of DSU, that the RFP process could be shortened, and Delaune agreed that DSU would be capable. Fulton suggested that we first needed to determine the status of any marketing efforts by owner Kraus-Anderson, then involve the neighborhood. McComb suggested that Kraus-Anderson, the neighborhood, and the city staff probably each have different visions, that the visions should be merged, then fitted onto the site. Fulton suggested that perhaps a specific meeting dealing with the center should be held.

Other Business

Franchise Fee: Kaufhold asked about the status of the proposed franchise fee, discussed at the previous meeting. Fulton indicated that he would recommend to the Council that the fee not be implemented at this time, but that all potential non-property-tax sources of revenue be further explored.

Northwest Quadrant: Black noted that staff had met the previous week with DSU, and saw some good progress on a concept plan for the area. Acquisitions of the Brighton Bowl and Darling properties are proceeding.

Brighton Corporate Park III: Locke reported that the soil remediation process continues on the Dalco site. A section of the Williams pipeline needs to be moved, which is one of the last pieces of this project.

Main Street Village: Locke reported that designs for housing on the north end must still be worked out with the neighborhood interests and the Planning Commission. Johnson asked whether a restaurant tenant had been landed; Locke indicated that there were no commitments yet.

Staff: Locke noted that Cary Teague had left his City Planner position the previous week. Mark Andrle accepted the City's offer for Community Development Specialist, and would be starting the following week.

Commissions: Larson noted the recent death of Mike Livingston, a planning commissioner, at age 59. Mike had been ill for some time.

Rice Creek Center: Delaune asked about progress on the traffic study at the center. Locke noted that SEH had shown staff some preliminary designs. He also indicated that he had been told that business had increased at the Cub store since the change from New Market.

Workforce Investment Board: Locke distributed a report on economic and workforce characteristics of Ramsey County, that he had received as part of his participation on the Board.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m.