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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP - April 15, 2014ANDOVEA 0 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV Special City Council Meeting 1. Call to Order— 5:30 p.m. 2. Agenda Approval 3. Interviews of EDA Applicants 4. Adjournment H H Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Conference Rooms A & B A ' O � Wit.,:. ;` ANDOVER EDA COMMISSION INTER VIEWS APRIL 15, 2014 MINUTES The Andover EDA Commission Interviews was called to order by Mayor Mike Gamache, April 15, 2014, 5:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Sheri Bukkila, Tony Howard, Mike Knight, and Julie Trude Councilmember absent: None Also present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson Community Development Director, Dave Carlberg INTERVIEWS 0 Tim Cleven Mr. Cleven stated he serves as a Commissioner on the Planning & Zoning Commission. He indicated he is a semi - retired Electrical Engineer. Councilmember Bukkila asked for his thoughts on creating a TIF District. Mr. Cleven answered he thinks they are a good idea, but it also depends on what type of business it is. Councilmember Trude asked what kind of businesses he would like to see come to Andover. He indicated more restaurants and retail stores. Councilmember Howard explained the EDA is working on a redevelopment area, would he be aggressive in buying the property or wait until the property went up for sale. Mr. Cleven stated he would buy the property if the price was reasonable. Mayor Gamache asked if he has any issues with the City buying property and not developing it right away. Mr. Cleven indicated he has no problem with that. The Council thanked Mr. Cleven for applying and coming in for an interview. Ron Nelson Mayor Gamache asked why he is interested to be appointed to the EDA. Mr. Nelson answered serving on the EDA would be his way of giving back to the community. © Andover City Council Interviews for EDA Commission Openings Minutes —April 15, 2014 Page 2 Councilmember Bukkila asked if he knew the task of the EDA. Mr. Nelson said the EDA gives guidance to the City Council on businesses coming into the City. Councilmember Trude asked for his thoughts on spending money to improve a redevelopment area along Bunker Lake Boulevard. Mr. Nelson stated he would like to see the area redeveloped. He said there would need to be thoughtful planning and to do what is best for the community. Councilmember Knight asked if there is any particular area he would like to see a new business go into. Mr. Nelson stated he doesn't have a particular area, it depends on the business and where it fits best in the city. Mayor Gamache asked for his thoughts on the industrial area on Round Lake Boulevard and 161St Avenue. Mr. Nelson said the area is, looking better with some of the businesses updating the area with new fencing and by cleaning up their property. He believes it. is difficult to attract businesses to the area since it is well and septic. The Council thanked Mr. Nelson for applying and coming in for an interview. Mr. Nelson thanked the Council for the opportunity. © Joyce Twistol Mayor Gamache asked why she would like to be reappointed to the EDA. Ms. Twistol answered she enjoys being on the EDA, she had spent 30 years in government and 6 years on the EDA Commission. She has seen things happen in the community and it makes her proud that she was a part of There are projects she has been involved with that are not complete yet and she would like to be a part of finishing those projects. Councilmember Howard asked what projects she would like to see completed. Ms. Twistol indicated she would like to see the medians on Bunker Lake Boulevard taken care of, and landscaping around the City entrance signs and around City Hall. Councilmember Howard asked for her thoughts on the Bunker Lake Boulevard redevelopment area. Ms. Twistol stated she would like to see the area redeveloped as soon as possible. She believes there are resources available to use for the project without raising taxes. Councilmember Trude asked what she would like to see done with the area on 7th Avenue and Bunker Lake Boulevard. Ms. Twistol answered with the EDA owned property dwindling she would like to see the EDA purchase more property even if it means changing the zoning on the property. She feels the City needs to be an advocate for all the residents. X ® Andover City Council Interviews for EDA Commission Openings Minutes —April 15, 2014 Page 3 Councilmember Trude asked if the City has too much of something, such as too much housing or businesses. Ms. Twistol stated she does not think so, she thinks it is a very good mix of housing and businesses. The Council thanked Ms. Twistol for applying and coming in for an interview. Robert Nowak Sr. Mayor Gamache asked Mr. Nowak why he would like to be reappointed to the EDA Commission. Mr. Nowak indicated he has always had interest in bringing businesses and jobs to the City. He feels he brings financial knowledge to the commission, after working 38 years in the finance industry. Councilmember Knight asked if he has any projects he would like to see done. Mr. Nowak answered no, but he has opinions for some projects. Mayor Gamache asked how fast the EDA should move on the redevelopment area. Mr. Nowak stated as fast as we can, we have to be imaginative and creative on where the money comes from. © Councilmember Trude asked what he would like to see in the redevelopment area. Mr. Nowak feels the land is valuable and he would like to see both residential and commercial in the area. Councilmember Knight asked for his thoughts if the area on Bunker Lake Boulevard was solid commercial from County Road 9 to Hanson Boulevard. Mr. Nowak replied he does not have a problem with the concept, but it would be a big project. He feels the economy is still poor and it could be difficult yet to get businesses into the City. Councilmember Bukkila asked what he would like to see redeveloped first the Bunker Lake Boulevard area or the Kottkes parcel. Mr. Nowak stated the Bunker Lake Boulevard area. Councilmember Trude asked what project he is most proud of. Mr. Nowak stated the entire Station Parkway area. The Council thanked Mr. Nowak for applying and coming in for an interview. Sharon Cramer Councilmember Trude asked if any of the current projects interest her. Ms. Cramer stated all the projects look interesting. Councilmember Howard explained the redevelopment area on Bunker Lake Boulevard and asked © if the EDA should move fast in the process, maybe spending a little bit more money or should ® Andover City Council Interviews for EDA Commission Openings Minutes —April 15, 2014 Page 4 the EDA purchase the parcels as they come up for sale or go into foreclosure. Ms. Cramer stated there has to be a plan and implementing a long term strategy. Councilmember Knight asked if she knows how a TIF District works. Ms. Cramer answered she is not experienced in it, but believes it is an incentive to bring businesses into the City. She would be supportive of a TIF District, believing that the business will bring value to the City. Councilmember Trude asked as a resident does she have any ideas on what the City may be overlooking. Ms. Cramer stated more restaurants, industry/manufacturing which off sets retail and a thorough understanding of consumer needs. Mayor Gamache asked for her thoughts on the Hughes Industrial area on Round Lake Boulevard and 161St Avenue. Ms. Cramer indicated she does not pay a lot of attention to the area but she thinks that as the population continues to grow that area will become more important. Ms. Cramer thanked the Council for giving her the opportunity to interview. She asked what the responsibility and expectations are of the resident member. Mayor Gamache stated the Council likes the input from an appointed member. They like to hear what the resident member is © hearing from the community. They also like a resident member that voices their opinion. Ms. Cramer indicated she failed to write on her application that she is a small business owner. The Council thanked Ms. Cramer for applying and coming in for an interview. CANDIDATE DISCUSSION Mayor Gamache stated all the candidates are very qualified. The Council discussed the candidates. Motion by Trude, Seconded by Howard, to reappoint Joyce Twistol and appoint Tim Cleven to the EDA Commission, and Sharon Cramer as an alternate. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Trude, Seconded by Howard, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Hartner © Recording Secretary