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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999/01/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - Economic Development Authority - Regularry I ArthCITYOF ST. LOUIS PARK MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 4, 1999 1. Call to Order President Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. Roll Call The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Jeff Jacobs, Chris Nelson, Susan Sanger, Robert Young, Jim Brimeyer and Mayor Gail Dorfman. Ron Latz arrived at 7: 11 p.m. Also present were the Executive Director (Mr. Meyer); EDA Attorney (Mr. Lindall); Finance Director (Ms. McBride); Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Anderson); and Director of Community Development (Mr. Harmening). 3. Approval of minutes of December 21, 1998 meeting With a minor correction, the minutes were approved as presented. 1 ) Approval of agenda 4a. Approval of agenda of January 4, 1999 meeting It was moved by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Young, to approve the agenda. The motion passed 7-0. 4. 5. Reports Sa. Vendor Claims It was moved by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Brimeyer, to accept the report for filing. The motion passed 7-0. 6. Old Business - None 7. New Business 7a. Approval of Budget for 1999 and Revisions to 1998 Mr. Anderson, Economic Development Coordinator briefly outlined the major programmatic issues related to the EDA for 1999. Mr. Meyer, City Manager recommended that the City Council plan a time to review the long term economics of the tax increment districts and the Park Commons redevelopment project in a few months when staff was farther along with developer in the planning process. M s. S an ger questioned the contribution received fr om a developer. Mr . An derson stated that the acquisition of the lan d by the developer m ay be one fu ndin g source. Mr . M eyer in dicated the num bers w ere very conserv ative because staff w an ted to m ak e sure the C ity did not overext end them selves. Mr . B rim eyer ask ed staff to cl arify the debt servi ce schedule, tables refe rrin g to the E xcelsior B oulevar d summ ary of revenue expenditu res an d fu nd bal an ces, an d developm ent fu nd. Staff cl arifi ed issues in question. M s. D orfm an stated the M et C ouncil has gi ven appro val to the L ivable C o mm uni ties Gr an t w hi ch w ould be pri m ari ly fo r the par ki ng ram p. It w as m oved by C ouncilm em ber B rim eyer, seconded by C ouncilm em ber N elson, to appro ve the pro po sed 1999 an d revised 19 98 budgets. The m otion passed 7-0. 7b. 1998 Annual Referendum Levy Payment to ISD #283 Mr . M eyer, C ity M an ager bri efly comm ented on the purp ose of the paym ent. Mr . N elson asked if thi s paym ent w as incl uded in the 19 99 budget. Mr . M eyer, C ity M anager stated that the 19 99 budget w as in gr eater detai l than the 19 98 budget an d al though the fu nding has alw ays been avai lable, it m ay not have been earm ar ked. It w as m oved by C ouncilm em ber N elson, seconded by M ayor D orfm an , to appro ve paym ent of $44 1,553.90 to IS O #283 representing tax increm ent pro ceeds collected in 19 98 in the E xcelsior B o u levar d an d O ak Park V ill age T ax In crem ent Finan cing D istricts attributable to the in crease in the tax capacity ra te as a result of the S chool D istrict's R efe rendum L evy . The m otion passed 7- 0. 7c. Park Commons Acquisitions Mr . H arm eni ng, D irector of C omm uni ty D evelopm ent presented a staff report an d recomm ended appro ving the R esolution A uthorizi ng E mi nent D om ai n Pro ceedings to A cquire C ert ai n R eal Pro pert y. H e explained that staff is recomm ending that the C ity C ouncil take thi s action now to pro tect the C ity's ri ghts to acquire necessary pro pert ies if the C ity is not able to accom plish thi s on a fri endly cooperative basis an d pro vide affected pro perty own ers wi th an understan ding of the pro cess and the timi ng associated w ith it as w ell . Mr . B ri m eyer asked staff to cl arify the affected pro pert ies on m ap. M s. S an ger asked staff w hi ch tw o pro pert ies w ere not in volved wi th emi nent dom ai n pro ceedin gs. Mr . H arm eni ng indicated that the pro pert ies that w ere not incl uded w ere 23, 24, 25, 26 because staff w ere not as fa r al ong w ith acquisition discussions w ith these pro pert y ow ners as others. M s. S an ger questioned if C ity w as sending a mi xed m essage by doin g thi s. ~ J Mr . Harm ening indicated that this property was not originally included in the first priority development area. The reason why the single famil y residential were included was because of the need for the Town Green construction, street construction, and need for interim parking. Mr . Meyer, City Manager stated that this comm ercial property was not included in the pre- development agreement with A val on Bay so this was a consistent action. Mr . Nelson asked if there were any properties in Phase I, Block I that are not included in this resolution. Mr . Harm ening indicated that they were all included. Mayor Dorfm an asked what the impact this action would have on continuing friendly negotiations with the single family home own ers. Mr . Harm ening stated that the home own ers have been aware that the City has the ability to take this action and staff will draft a letter to them explaini ng the action taken and the process that will take place in future. He believed that this resolution may assist in those negotiation and expedite the process. Ms. Sanger asked if the home own ers affected were notified of pending action. Mr . Harmening stated that they were not notified about pending action. Mr . Latz believed that although they were not notified they should have expected this at this point in the proceedings and believe there was a need for closure on this issue and asked staff to comm ent on timing of property possession. Mr . Harmening stated that the date could be moved back based upon discussions with the developer and their ability to undertake the project and start construction. Mr . Brimeyer believed that image of governm ent was important. His preference would be to proceed with this issue, but would be inclined to table this issue until the next EDA meeting on January 19, 1999, so that letter from staff to home own ers could go out notifying them of action to be taken in process. Mr . Nelson asked the EDA Attorney ifthere were any unlawfu l retainer issues in this case. Mr . Lindall stated that the strongest position would be to have an order that compels them to leave by June 1, 1999 and then negotiate from that position of strength and comm ented on provision that has been added to statute which enables the condemni ng authority to obtain possession by a motion to the court for a specific order for recovery of possession. Mr . Nelson asked what changes if item is tabled. Mr . Harm ening stated that it would not have a negative impact on the EDA in terms ofits ability to gain control of the property, but would make the EDA more comfortable with process and make affected property own ers look at approach that is being used as more friendly. Mr . Nelson desired to see property possession schedule stay firm. It was moved by Councilm ember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to table this item until the Ja nuary 19, 1999 meeting. Mr. Brimeyer withdrew the motion. Mayor Dorfman asked if the negotiations with the single home owners been directly between staff and the home owners or was their representation. Mr. Harmening stated that the negotiations involved an initial contact with staff and after staff received permission by property owners to undertake appraisals and calculation relocation benefits, Evergreen Land Services comes in and undertake analysis and examine comparables. Mayor Dorfman agreed with Mr. Brimeyer recommendation to table the item so that home owners may be notified of action being taken. It was moved by Councilmember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to table this item until the January 19, 1999 meeting. The motion passed 6-1. Councilmember Nelson opposed. 8. Communications Jeff Jacobs commended staff on their work on the bond issue noting the favorable bond refinancing rate. 9. Adjournment It was moved by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. The motion passed 7-0.