HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-13 HEDC Minutes
MINUTES OF THE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
7:00 P.M., WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015
1. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order
at 7:04 p.m. by Acting Chairperson Tkachuck.
2. ROLL CALL
Commissioners
Spencer Gansluckner, Commissioner Present
Mark Jenkins, Commissioner Present
Jennifer Lewis , Commissioner Present
Joy Tkachuck, Vice Chair Present
Dennis Unger, Commissioner Present
Absent
Warren Wessel, Chairperson
Staff
Michael Martin, Planner
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Jenkins moved to approve the agenda as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Gansluckner. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Jenkins moved to approve the minutes for November 12, 2014.
Seconded by Commissioner Gansluckner Ayes – Acting Chairperson Tkachuck,
Commissioner’s Jenkins, Lewis
& Unger
Abstention – Commissioner Lewis
The motion passed.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Business Engagement Plan – Susan Fronk
i. Planner, Mike Martin introduced the item and turned the discussion over to Susan Fronk.
ii. Business Consultant, Susan Fronk gave a presentation on how to attract businesses to
Maplewood and how to keep them successful. The outreach plan includes SCORE
(Senior Core of Retired Executives) Saint Paul Workshop Series, SBA Workshops,
Pathways to Opportunity for Youth, Small Business Success Workshop, Maplewood
Business Environmental and Sustainability Forum, and the State of Maplewood Event.
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Mark Jenkins asked where the city is in the process. Some of the events listed began before this
commission had a HEDC meeting since the HEDC hasn’t met since November 2014.
Commissioner Jenkins stated the MCC has had an annual business event but that was not listed
as part of the list of events. Commissioner Jenkins asked how the HEDC is going to be engaged
in these activities in the future? Commissioner Jenkins would have preferred the event dates to
be spaced out more so they are quarterly rather than 4 events at once and then spaced out for
months. Commissioner Jenkins asked how does the city engage current Maplewood businesses
to let them know the city appreciates those businesses in Maplewood? Commissioner Jenkins
asked if the city has discussed rebranding the city?
Items that were mentioned in which the plan should work towards:
Bring people together
Educate people
Discuss Marketing
Be informative for the city’s diverse cultures who want to own businesses here
A teaching tool for people to own a business
Should include information for youths for the future
Should build a customer base.
Commissioner Jenkins asked how they plan to market Maplewood?
Maplewood Resident, Mark Bradley addressed the commission regarding business potential and
new development and redevelopment in Maplewood.
Commissioner Jenkins moved to recommend approving the business engagement plan with the
comments from the HEDC meeting for consideration at the city council meeting.
Seconded by Commissioner Unger. Ayes – All
b. Approval of Redevelopment Tax Increment Financing District, Villages at Frost-English,
1955 English Street
i. Planner, Michael Martin introduced the item and turned the presentation over to Tom
Denaway from Springsted, Inc.
ii. Tom Denaway, Springsted, Inc. addressed and gave a presentation to the commission.
iii. Shane LaFave, Sherman Associates, addressed and answered questions of the
commission.
Commissioner Unger moved to recommend the TIF Plan to support the Villages at Frost-English
redevelopment project.
Seconded by Commissioner Gansluckner – Ayes – Commissioner’s Ganslucker,
Lewis & Unger
Nays – Commissioner’s Jenkins
& Acting Chairperson Tkachuck
The motion passed.
Commissioner Jenkins will attend the city council meeting for the public hearing on Tuesday, May
26, 2015.
c. 2014 Code Enforcement Year-End Report
i. Maplewood’s Environment and Code Specialist, Chris Swanson gave the 2014 Code
Enforcement Year End Report and answered questions of the commission.
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No action was required.
d. 2014 HEDC Annual Report
i. Planner, Michael Martin reviewed the 2014 HEDC Annual Report.
Commissioner Jenkins moved to approve the 2014 HEDC Annual Report.
Seconded by Commissioner Unger. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
Commissioner Jenkins will represent the HEDC at the May 26, 2015 City Council meeting.
e. Election of Officers (No Report)
i. Planner, Michael Martin stated the commission needs to elect a Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson for the HEDC for 2015.
Because Warren Wessel was absent and he is the current Chairperson the commission decided
to wait until the next HEDC meeting to elect a new Chair and Vice Chairperson for 2015 when all
commission members are present.
Staff stated this will come back to the HEDC meeting in June.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
Maplewood Resident, Joseph Waters addressed the commission regarding an article in
Minnesota Business magazine about a title company in Maplewood on County Road D. He also
asked if he could get an update on the status of Larkin Dance Studio regarding the loan to
improve their business in Maplewood. Mr. Waters mentioned a parcel of land in Minneapolis that
the city advertised to get help with developing the parcel. It was approved to build a 32 story
multi-use building. He thought that might be a way the City of Maplewood could get properties
that Maplewood has on the books developed. See what the developers could bring to the table
using the city’s parameters.
The Century Avenue Fire Station was sold to a lawn care company. The city also accepted a
purchase agreement for the property at Castle and Van Dyke Street that would be sold to the
VOA facility to expand and incorporate the city’s lot with that. The McMenemy Fire Station was
sold to an Auto Glass company. Staff does not have an update on the Larkin Loan question but
staff will bring information back to the next HEDC meeting.
8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
None.
9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. Development Summary (No Report)
i. Planner Michael Martin updated the commission about current projects that are going on
in the city. The city council has approved a final plat for Sherwood Park View for a 4 lot
subdivision on Hazelwood north of Cope Avenue.
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Planner, Martin said the former Yocum Warehouse at 2728 Geranium Avenue was sold to
a private entity to store collector automobiles and have indoor storage with a conditional
use permit (CUP). Planner Martin stated the Porsche car dealership has requested an
addition to their site at 2780 Maplewood Drive for a new showroom and they are replatting
their elevations so the whole site will have a refreshed look. Volvo is also doing a refresh
and get a new exterior look. Harmony Learning Center at County Road C had a request
for a new cell tower added to that site but city staff recommended denial of the request
and then the applicant removed their request. There is a request at 1055 Gervais Avenue
for Laughlin Pest Control and snow removal business that will be heard by the city council
May 26, 2015.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Acting Chairperson Tkachuck adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
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