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Home My WebLink About2012-08-23 BEDC Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Thursday,August 23, 2012 6:00P.M. Council Chambers -Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1.Call to Order 2.Roll Call 3.Approval of Agenda 4.Approval ofMinutes: a.July 26, 2012 5.NewBusiness: a.Economic Development Consultant –Janna King 6.UnfinishedBusiness: 7.Visitor Presentations: 8.CommissionPresentations: 9.Staff Presentations: a.Development Summary (No Report) 10.Adjourn MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA 6:00 P.M., THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012 1.CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Commissionwas held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 6:00p.m.byChairperson Jenkins. 2.ROLL CALL Commissioners Gary Kloncz, CommissionerPresent David Hesley, CommissionerPresent Mark Jenkins, ChairpersonPresent Jennifer Lewis, CommissionerPresentuntil 6:59 p.m. Beth Ulrich, CommissionerPresent Warren Wessel, CommissionerPresent Staff Michael Martin, Planner 3.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Jenkins requested moving visitor presentations ahead so Mayor Rossbach can go to another meeting. Commissioner Klonczmoved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by CommissionerHesley.Ayes –All The motion passed. 4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Hesley moved to approve the minutes for March 22, 2012, as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Wessel.Ayes –Chairperson Jenkins, Commissioner’s Hesley, Lewis, Ulrich & Wessel Abstain–Commissioner Kloncz The motion passed. Commissioner Kloncz moved to approve the minutes forMay 24,2012, as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ulrich.Ayes –Chairperson Jenkins, Commissioner’s Kloncz, Ulrich & Wessel July 26, 2012 1 Business and Economic Development CommissionMeetingMinutes Abstentions–Commissioner Hesley, &Commissioner Lewis The motion passed. 5.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Mayor Will Rossbach addressed the commission. Thanking the members for serving on the commission and for their assistance and input in helping the city council. He spoke about the development of the Gladstone and Savanna area. Mayor Rossbach mentioned the potential of combining the HRA and BEDC that will be discussed later in the meeting. The city council encourages commissioners to bring ideas forward to the staff and commission and then to the city council. 6.NEW BUSINESS a.Economic Development Consultant –Janna King i.Planner, Mike Martinaddressed the commission and introduced Janna King. ii.Economic Development Consultant, Janna King addressed and answered the commission regarding sites for economic development and creating a business retention program and how this best works in Maplewood. iii.Mayor Rossbach addressed the commission. The commission thanked Ms. King for her input and plan to see her at an upcoming BEDC meeting. b.Combination of HRA and BEDC i.Planner, Mike Martin briefly discussed combining the HRA and the BEDC and to let staff know by the end of August if the city council decides to combine the commissions. 7.UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8.COMMISSIONPRESENTATIONS None. 9.STAFF PRESENTATIONS a.Development Summary i.Planner, Mike Martin gave an update on the projects in Maplewood. -RSI Recycling onCope Avenue (the old Wipers Recycling site) -Keller Golf Course, Club house and Pro shop (demo in fall and rebuild the site to reopen in 2014) b.Update on July 9 EDA Meeting i.Planner, Mike Martin gave an update on the July 9, 2012, EDA Meeting. -The EDA voted to elect new officers. Councilmember James Llanas was elected as Chair of the EDA and Mayor Will Rossbach was elected as Vice Chair of the EDA. -BEDC Chairperson Jenkins was at the meeting to speakas well. July 26, 2012 2 Business and Economic Development CommissionMeetingMinutes -The EDA and the City Council approved the purchase agreement to see the property from the City of Maplewood to the EDA. The purchase price was $585,000 that the city paid for the condemnation. If the EDA is able to sellthe property for more than $585,000 the profits will stay with the EDA. If the EDA is unable to get the profit the money will go back to the city. -The EDA approved direction for the Director of the EDA which is also the City Manager to continue discussions and negotiations with the property owner for a potential purchase for a property affected by the Highway 61 and County Road B improvements. 10.ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Jenkinsadjourned the meeting at 8:15p.m. July 26, 2012 3 Business and Economic Development CommissionMeetingMinutes MEMORANDUM TO: James Antonen, City Manager FROM: Michael Martin, AICP, Planner SUBJECT:Economic Development Consultant –Janna King DATE: August 15, 2012 INTRODUCTION Janna King will be attending the business and economic development commission (BEDC) meeting on August 23, 2012. Ms. King is assistingthe city indevising strategies for effective business retention visits and redevelopment projects. DISCUSSION At the August 23BEDC meeting, the commission will continue its work with Janna King, the city’s economic development consultant. Ms. King was hired by the city to assist in developing strategies for redevelopment projects and a business retention program. At the meeting, Ms. King will go over an “Economic Development Priorities, Implementation Activities and Timeline” work plan that she and city staff hasdeveloped since the BEDC’s July meeting. This work plan addresses issues related to creating a business retention program, includingfollow-up capacity issues, geography, types of businesses and level of involvement. BEDC should review the work plan which is attached to this report and be prepared to discuss it at the next BEDC meeting. RECOMMENDATION Cometo the August 23, 2012 BEDC meeting prepared to discussthe “Economic Development Priorities, Implementation Activities and Timeline” work plan with Janna King and city staff. Attachments 1.Economic Development Priorities, Implementation Activities and Timeline First Draft 8-16-12 Maplewood Economic Development Commission Economic Development Priorities, Implementation Activities and Timeline Economic Development Priorities Redevelopment The Maplewood Business and Economic Development Commission recommends actively exploring opportunities for redevelopment in three potential areas in 2013. Redevelopment is a multi-year process; the BEDC would lay the foundation by exploring market opportunities, building familiarity with business and property owners in the target areas, and determining the level of city support needed to stimulate new investment. ^ƚ͘:ŽŚŶ͛Ɛ,ŽƐƉŝƚĂůƌĞĂ͗ Growth is anticipated in the health care sector. The reuse of Gander Mountain by HealthEast reflects market interest inĂůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶĐůŽƐĞƚŽ^ƚ͘:ŽŚŶ͛Ɛ͘ŶĐŝůůĂƌǇŵĞĚŝĐĂů office buildings have the potential to generate significant property tax revenue as well as quality ĞŵƉůŽǇŵĞŶƚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ͘dŚĞůŽŶŐƚĞƌŵƉůĂŶƐŽĨ^ƚ͘:ŽŚŶ͛ƐĂŶĚŵĂƌŬĞƚƉŽƚĞŶƚŝĂůĨŽƌĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶĂů health care related development/businesses should be explored. Gladstone (Frost Avenue and English Street): Historically, this area of the community served as a key commercial node in the community and is considered the original settlement site of Maplewood. However shopping, traffic patterns, retail formats and typical retail parcel sizes have changed, and market forces alone may not be sufficient to stimulate reinvestment. Highway 36 and English Street: Change is underway in this area with the major reconstruction of Highways 36 and 61 in 2013. This can serve as a stimulus for redevelopment within these key transportation corridors. Underutilized buildings, vacant parcels and redevelopment opportunities exist within this area. Business Retention The BEDC recommends that it undertake a business retention effort, with an emphasis on relationship building. Starting in 2013, the focus of retention efforts will be primarily on businesses in potential redevelopment areas. There are approximately (will have number at Aug. BEDC meeting) businesses in the three potential redevelopment areas, distributed as follows. ^ƚ͘:ŽŚŶ͛Ɛ,ŽƐƉŝƚĂůƌĞĂ Gladstone Highway 36 and English Street Corridor Ideally, visits to redevelopment area businesses will involve one staff member and one volunteer. City staff would be responsible for scheduling and maintaining pertinent information; volunteers can bring a business perspective to the visit and send a strong message that the city cares. A simple interview guide should be developed to make sure that key information is gathered while creating an opportunity to listen to the business and build a relationship. It is estimated that staff capacity allows for approximately 3 visits each month. In addition, the BEDC recommends that the Mayor or City Manager notify GREATER MSP and Ramsey County that the city would like to be informed of visits in the community, so that it might send a representative of the city as part of delegation on visits to major employers. Implementation Activities and Timeline The following implementation strategies and timeline are suggested. Third Quarter 2012 a. Redevelopment areas broadly defined and agreed to by BEDC and EDA. b. Funds budgeted for market analysis in early 2013 c. Business lists developed for redevelopment areas; interview guides developed Fourth Quarter 2012 d. Develop and issue RFQ or RFP for market analysis for the three key market areas with preliminary redevelopment feasibility analysis to help determine the level of city support that may be needed to stimulate investment. e. Complete 3 business retention visits; review & refine the process f. Send letter to GREATER MSP and Ramsey County requesting that the city be invited to participate in business retention visits to major employers in the community First Quarter 2013 g. Retain consultant and begin market analysis & preliminary feasibility to determine level of city support needed to stimulate investment h. Conduct 9 business retention visits to businesses in the potential redevelopment areas Second Quarter i. Consultant completes market analysis and preliminary feasibility; shares results 2013 with EDC j. Conduct 9 business retention visits to businesses in the potential redevelopment areas Third Quarter 2013 k. Consider market analysis and preliminary feasibility. Develop a strategy for the potential redevelopment areas. Set priorities and determine the level of city engagement that may be needed to stimulate private investment in revitalization of these areas including the following: Do nothing • ID area only & indicate city is receptive to redevelopment of the area • Create vision or physical concept plan • Conduct environmental review • Purchase property, assemble sites, clean-up sites, provide incentives for • redevelopment Align comp plan, transportation, zoning, design standards, development • review process Create implementation strategy based on market opportunities, catalyst • sites, financing tools and funding opportunities ^ŚĂƌĞǁŝƚŚŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌƐΘƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐʹĞ͘Ő͘ĂƌĞĂƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ͕ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐŽǁŶĞƌƐ͕ • Met Council, MnDOT, county, watershed district, others Market to developers • l. Review business retention process. Is it meaningful? Does the number of visits per month work well for staff & volunteers? How might it be improved or adjusted? Continue conducting visits based on insights gained from the review process. 2 First Draft 8-16-12 Possible Future Activities The BEDC also considered strengthening electronic communication with businesses. Because the city has a business base of more than 1,000 businesses, personalized outreach to all businesses would require a substantial commitment of resources. Electronic communications would allow the city to reach a broader base of businesses and a visitation approach. One option is to work with the city communications department to build a database over time of e-mail addresses for businesses and develop a newsletter targeted specifically to businesses. As taxpayers, businesses have different concerns and service needs than residents. It could include positive messages about growing businesses in Maplewood and identify specific ways that businesses might access a variety of city services (e.g. expansion assistance, fire safety, employee participation in park and recreation opportunities, etc.). A business oriented newsletter would ideally be distributed 2-4 times per year. Another option is to conduct annual or semi-annual business events, sponsored by the city, to which ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐĂƌĞŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ͘ƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐĂDĂǇŽƌ͛ƐƌĞĂŬĨĂƐƚ͕ůƵŶĐŚĞŽŶƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŽƌĞǀĞŶƚƐƚŚĂƚĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ city facilities such as parks or the community center provide an opportunity for relationship building with businesses. 3