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HomeMy WebLinkAbout122121 EDA MINUTESECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY City of Apple Valley Dakota County, Minnesota December 21, 2021 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Economic Development Authority of Apple Valley, Dakota County, Minnesota, held December 21, 2021, at 6:15 p.m., at Apple Valley Municipal Center. PRESENT: President Tom Melander, Commissioners Clint Hooppaw, John Bergman, Ruth Grendahl, and Ken Johnson ABSENT: Tom Goodwin City staff members present: City Administrator Tom Lawell, Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist, Finance Director Ron Hedberg Meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by President Tom Melander. APPROVAL OF AGENDA President Melander asked staff if there were any changes to the agenda. – None. MOTION: of Hooppaw, seconded by Bergman, approving the agenda. Ayes - 5 - Nays - 0. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION: of Hooppaw, seconded by Grendahl, approving the minutes of the meeting on May 27, 2021. Ayes – 5 – Nays – 0. REGULAR AGENDA A. Recommend Approval of Joint Powers Agreement with the Dakota County Community Development Agency and Participating Dakota County Cities for “Open to Business” Program Planner Alex Sharpe provided a brief presentation. President Melander asked if there were any questions – None. MOTION: of Grendahl, seconded by Bergman, to approve the Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County CDA and various participating communities to participate in the “Open to Business” program. Ayes – 5 - Nays – 0. Economic Development Authority City of Apple Valley Dakota County, Minnesota December 21, 2021 Page 2 B. Adopt Resolution Approving 2022 EDA Budget Finance Director Ron Hedberg provided a brief presentation. Commissioner Grendahl asked what the benefits and rate of return for the membership with Greater MSP as half of the EDA’s budget goes towards this membership. CD Bruce Nordquist stated that the biggest concern is if we will continue at the rate we have been which is based on our population. Greater MSP was recently recognized as a second phase participant with over 600 cities that have applied and now down 60 that are still competing for federal dollars. Commissioner Grendahl asked if a list of which cities still belong to Greater MSP is available. CD Director Nordquist replied that a list can be provided. Commissioner Grendahl stated she would like the list prior to making any votes. Commissioner Bergman asked if Greater MSP has had any factor in the roughly 300 acres left to develop and what has been developed there already. CD Director Nordquist stated that the current commercial retail development underway would not have been a part of the work plan for Greater MSP, but the health clinic proposed for 2022 on Pilot Knob Rd. also came from the promotion by the retail development team with HJ Development and Rockport. The current interest is what comes next for the about 160 acres that is available for development. Commissioner Bergman asked if the current drive of the economy would not help the sale of those properties without Greater MSP. CD Director Nordquist stated that it makes for a viable marketplace to that acreage to the north and that the City Council will be reviewing the AUAR in January 2022. The AUAR commits 3 million square feet to the area north of 155th St. which will require more than retail brokers and developers to attract the regional and national types of businesses interested in the Twin Cities. Commissioner Hooppaw stated that the typical users in the Rockport development are not the types of users Greater MSP will attract. They will attract a large user looking for significant space which will attract others. City Administrator Tom Lawell answered that the Greater MSP website has all of their current members, some of which include Apple Valley, Bloomington, Chaska, Edina, Eagan, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Rosemount, and Saint Paul as well as various cities in Scott County. Dakota Electric is another member as well as some other private companies. Economic Development Authority City of Apple Valley Dakota County, Minnesota December 21, 2021 Page 3 Commissioner Grendahl stated that an internal review of this program showing what benefits are provided to the City be conducted since the membership is half of the budget and only 3 cities in Dakota County are members. Commissioner Hooppaw asked what the impact is on delaying action for the Greater MSP item. Finance Director Hedberg stated we would hold off on any expenses before paying the membership. Commissioner Hooppaw asked if Greater MSP can be removed from the EDA Budget and leave everything else and then come back to discussing Greater MSP at a later date. Finance Director Hedberg stated this would be the preferred option. Commissioner Bergman stated that Apple Valley has such a small amount of land left compared to the other two cities (Eagan and Rosemount) in Dakota County that are members of Greater MSP and questions whether Greater MSP is looking at these areas that have a lot of land and infrastructure as opposed to Apple Valley which has a much smaller amount. He agrees that this item should be removed from the budget and discussed at a later date. Commissioner Grendahl pointed out that the EDA Budget states “Major Objectives for 2022 and 2023” and had concerns that her vote would lock her in for 2023 as well. Finance Director Hedberg stated that the 2nd year is not formally adopted and is more of a look into the future. President Melander stated that Greater MSP should be deleted from the budget and the resolution be amended. MOTION: of Hooppaw, seconded by Bergman, to approve the 2022 EDA Budget with the removal of Greater MSP services to be discussed at a later date. Ayes – 5 - Nays – 0. STAFF UPDATES City Administrator Tom Lawell noted that there is a vacancy on the Economic Development Agency and the application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on January 14, 2022.