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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEDRA 10-08-09 Agenda NotesAGENDA NOTES 10-8-09 BILLS Ehlers $95.00 Hudson fiscal svcs Sebasta Blomberg $6,740.00 Intek Study - final BUSINESS A. Hudson Manufacturing MnDOT has made an offer to Hudson. The Intek feasibility report has been completed by Sebesta Blomberg and will be emailed to the Commissioners. Staff will report on recent developments and possible next steps for discussion and direction. B. Capital budget discussion Char Stark the Finance Director and EDRA Assistant Treasurer, will lead a discussion of budget planning for the future, specifically for the EDA levy. The revenue crunch for 2010 and 2011 makes EDA levy proposals for development funds more of a challenge for the Council. Ms. Stark suggests it would help make the case if the EDRA proposed a capital fund with specific purposes and timelines and an annual levy amount needed to achieve those goals each year. Other City departments establish these funds in collaboration with the Council Finance Committee. An EDA levy is a way for the City to fund economic development activities. Specifically economic or business development projects are not an authorized use of HRA levy funds. 1. A capital fund defined. 2. Consider the purposes of a capital fund: From the August 6, 2009 Workshop notes on business development: Business Park strategy, new and existing. Existing park has location issues. A new park should be on the west side of the City, closer to the ¼ airport and access to the western metro area. Sale of some existing industrial land could fund acquisition or development of a new park. ¼ Need to get started on location right away. New business park could be anywhere on west side. ¼ Public look at several options for the new location ¼ Consider whether the City needs to own it or can work with an owner ¼ A new park must have up-to-date and dependable communications and power. ¼ Clusters and niches are usually supported by nearby workforce training and education. There are ¼ four schools within 45 minutes of Hastings. Need to know what their specialties are. Marketing needs to be electronic as well. ¼ Business assistance. SBA is doing all it can to help business financing at this time. A loan program may not be needed ¼ at this time. A program has to be carefully crafted to avoid unnecessary duplication and drain on resources. ¼ Criteria need to be specific and objective. Budgeting needs to be economical. Commercial lending should not be emphasized, but special cases where other resources are not ¼ available will be considered. Communications. Rausch presented the CityImage marketing proposal for discussion. CityImages proposal is a good approach. The feedback study will be useful. ¼ General Hastings promotion: what to market and to whom? ¼ Avoid duplicating Convention & Visitors (Chamber of Commerce) marketing. ¼ Marketing is switching to electronic media. Print advertising may be irrelevant. Attending ¼ conventions and associations may also be helpful. Paying for marketing is an EDA role. Some former IP funds are available. ¼ Workshop Summary and direction Poll on priorities, 1 is high, 5 low. Business park development, focus on new location: 1.1 Commercial district revitalization, focus on Vermillion: 2.0 Communications: 2.3 Housing maintenance programs: 3.6 Business loan program: 4.8 Transit: continue existing role and support 3. What would “capital” funds be used for? 4. What amount would be needed? 5. Are there windows of opportunity or target dates to meet? 6. Are there financial resources other than the levy? 7. What levy amount should be requested annually? C. Assessment for 2008 Public Improvements EDRA property on both sides of Tyler will be assessed for public improvements completed in 2008. The assessment hearing and action will on November 2. Following the hearing, if the EDRA Board approves, the assessment can be transferred from EDRA to the Construction fund. The assessment totals $74,917.18. This amount was anticipated and included in the 2009 budget. The work included the following: The new water main from Vermillion to Lea, through the Park and Block 1, to ¼ serve the East side and the EDRA development parcels. Reconstruction of Ramsey Street, removal of the street north of the alley and ¼ regrading the east side of EDRA property on Lot 3. Reconstruction of Tyler Street from Second under the railroad to Lea. ¼ Trial connection from the Park to Bailly Street. ¼ Modifications to qualify for the Quiet Zone. ¼ ACTION: Approve payment of the assessment. D. Process for commissioner appointments Commissioner Martodam’s term ends December 31, 2009 and he has indicated he will not be requesting reappointment. His first appointment to the HRA was in August, 1993. He served the HRA and community well in some drawn-out and sometimes difficult planning efforts, negotiations and proposals and participated in many projects that will benefit Hastings and its citizens for years to come. The vacancy will be filled by appointment by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council. The authority may advertise, interview and recommend the appointment of citizens (not council members) to the Mayor and Council. One question is whether the entire board, or a committee of three members, should do the interviews. We assume that staff could be members of an interview team. The term will be for six years. The documents provide that one of the commissioners may be a non-resident of Hastings. Staff recommends advertising in the Star Gazette and on the city web site during October, inviting applicants to interview in November and forwarding a recommendation by early December. We assume that applications may be mailed to persons who have expressed interest in the past. ACTION: Authorize advertisement for comminssion applicants.