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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-19 HEDC Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Thursday,January 19, 2017 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers -Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1.Call to Order 2.Roll Call 3.Approval of Agenda 4.Approval of Minutes: a.July13, 2016 5. New Business: a.2016Code Enforcement Year-End Report b.EEDD Update on Gladstone Neighborhood c.2016HEDC Annual Report d.Election of Officers (No Report) e.Recap of RecentBusiness Engagement Outreach Events(No Report) 6.Unfinished Business: 7.Visitor Presentations: 8.Commission Presentations: a.New Member Introduction (No Report) 9.Staff Presentations: a.Development Summary (No Report) 10.Adjourn MINUTES OF THE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY,JULY 13, 2016 7:00 P.M. 1.CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Commissionwas held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at7:01p.m.byActing ChairpersonTkachuck. 2.ROLL CALL Commissioners Brian Finley, CommissionerPresent Mark Jenkins, CommissionerPresent Jennifer Lewis, CommissionerPresent Joy Tkachuck, Vice ChairPresent Dennis Unger, CommissionerAbsent Warren Wessel, CommissionerPresent Staff Michael Martin, Planner, Economic Development Coordinator 3.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Jenkinsmoved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by CommissionerFinley.Ayes –All Themotion passed. 4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES CommissionerJenkins moved to approve the HEDC minutesfor April 13,2016as submitted. Seconded by CommissionerWessel.Ayes –Acting Chairperson Tkachuck, Commissioner’s Finley, Jenkins, Lewis & Wessel Abstention –Commissioner Lewis The motion passed. 5.NEW BUSINESS a.Consider Selection of a Business Engagement Program i.Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin gave the report and answered questions of the commission. Commissioner Unger could not be present but he let staff know his support for the program and hewould like to find a way to include the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce in the process. July 13, 2016 1 Housingand Economic Development CommissionMeetingMinutes Commissioner’s Jenkins moved to support the staff recommendation and enter into discussions with theSaint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC) andthe White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce (WBACC) on a Business Engagement Program. Seconded by Commissioner Lewis.Ayes -All The motion passed. The commission recommended inviting the city council to meet with the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce. b.Consider Amendments to the HEDC’s Rules of Procedure i.Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin gave the report on the HEDC rules of procedure and answered questions of the commission. Commissioner Wessel asked if the commission could meet on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays. Commissioners felt they could make the 6 p.m. time work but not earlier than that. Most of the commission feltThursday could work if the commission changed the day they meet. CommissionerWessel moved to recommendthat the HEDC meetevery secondthird Wednesday Thursday of every quarter and change the start time of the meeting from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Seconded by Commissioner Lewis.Ayes –All The motion passed. Commissioner’s Unger andTkachuck will need to get back to staff after checking their calendars. c.Resolution of Appreciation for Spencer Gansluckner i.Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin said Spencer Gansluckner resigned due to moving out of the city of Maplewoodand there is a resolution of appreciation for him. Commissioner Wessel moved to approve the resolution of appreciation for Commissioner Gansluckner. Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins.Ayes -All The motion passed. This item will go to the city council on July 25, 2016. d.Election of Chairperson (No Report) Due to the resignation of Chairperson Gansluckner the commission was required to elect a new chairperson. Commissioner Tkachuck said she prefers to serve as the Vice Chairperson. Commissioner Jenkins volunteered to serve in the role of Chairperson for the remainder of the year. Commissioner Wessel move to approve Mark Jenkins as the Chairperson of the HEDC. July 13, 2016 2 Housingand Economic Development CommissionMeetingMinutes Seconded by Commissioner Finley.Ayes –All The motion passed. Acting Chairperson Tkachuckturned the role over to the new Chairperson Jenkins. 6.UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 8.COMMISSIONPRESENTATIONS None. 9.STAFF PRESENTATIONS a.Development Summary(No Report) i.Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin updated the commission on the development in the City of Maplewood. 1.The North China Restaurant on White Bear Avenue will be demolished in order for a new AT&T retail building to be built there. 2.The Taco Bell restaurant at 1965 County Road D has been demolished and the city has a building permit for a new Taco Bell to be built in that location. 3.Costco on Beam Avenue has applied for their building permit for the liquor store that was approved and they haveapproval for expandingagas canopy and fuel pumpsbut havenot applied for that building permit yet. 4.1706 White Bear Avenue (formerly a Burger King and then Boca Chica taco house which vacated years ago)the city has met with representatives from Hardee’s restaurant who had inquired about building a new Hardee’s restaurant in this location. In order for this to happen changes would need to be made in the Mixed Use zoning district. The existing building would need to be demolished.There would need to be a change to the conditional use permit and the setbacks increased before this could be done. 5.A new 140,000 square foot medical office building will be built in two phases located across the street from St. John’s Hospital. The first phase wouldbe 80,000 square feet. The second phase to follow and there is a potential third phase for a retail space. 6.There is a vacant site on Gervais Avenue by Second Harvest, west of English Street, at 1205 Gervais Avenue there is a proposal for Koob Moo Spiritual Center for a funeral home. This will be going to the CDRB on July 26. 7.Plaza 3000, 3000 White Bear Avenue there is a proposal for an Aldi grocery store which will be going to the CDRB July 26 for a comprehensive sign plan amendment. 10.ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Jenkinsadjourned the meeting at8p.m. July 13, 2016 3 Housingand Economic Development CommissionMeetingMinutes MEMORANDUM TO:Melinda Coleman, City Manager FROM:Chris Swanson,Environmental and City Code Specialist DATE:January 10, 2017 SUBJECT:2016Code Enforcement Year-End Report Introduction Property maintenance codes exist to prevent blight, maintain a residential atmosphere, and promote safe and healthful neighborhoods. Code Enforcement responds to a number of issues relating to vehicles, long grass/weeds, junk and debris, exterior storage, exterior property maintenance, home occupations, lighting, signs and other code related issues. Discussion Code enforcement complaints and abatements have continued to decline over the past few years as the number of foreclosedproperties has decreased. There was a small increase in the number of violations in the past yearsbut most of those have been in response to smaller issues. We are no longer seeing the large full yardencompassing or abandoned homeissues of the past. There are still a few properties that have more substantial violations but staff is working with those homeowners to address those violations on a set schedule. In 2016 staff responded to a large number ofstandardof livingtype of issues. These include hoarder, sanitary, and housing maintenancesituations. These typesof issues tend to take more time than a normal code violation and requirea more goal oriented approach. The city has relied on the County to provide mental health, transitional housing,and abatement support for many of these issues. Since 2014,the Code Enforcement Department has been working closely with the Maplewood Police Department to foster a more united response to community issues. Many of these recent standardof living situations have come from reports sent by the police or Fire/EMS after they have responded to an emergency situation. This partnership has been very helpful in providing support to both the code enforcement team and the residents who may need some help with their current living situation. Code staff believes that the number of violations will continue to stay stable in the next few years as most of the formerly vacant homes are now occupied and a large number of the previous problem properties have switched owners. Enforcement Matters Resolved Number of Complaints Resolved315 Enforcement Action in Progress13(most with compliance dates in 2017) Total Number ofCode Violations Received500 Correction letters/Citations/Abatements Number of Correction Letters mailed236 (down 14%from 2015) Number of Citations Issued 1 Abatement FeesCharged $4891.15 Re-inspection Fees Charged$375 Type of ComplaintNumber of Complaints Received Pending Exterior Storage 98 11 Unapproved Parking 530 Lawn Maintenance 740 House / Property Maintenance 152 Junk Vehicles 440 Trash / Garbage 10 Trash Container Storage 80 Commercial Vehicle / Equipment 20 Home Occupation 10 Miscellaneous Concerns* 320 Total Number of Violations32813 *Animal complaints fall under “Miscellaneous Concerns”. 2 Code Enforcement 100 Animal Commercial vehicle / equipment 80 Exterior Storage Home Occupation 60 House / Property Maintenance Junk Vehicle 40 Lawn Maintenance Trash / Garbage 20 Trash Container Storage Unapproved Parking 0 Type of Violation Code Enforcement Count by Year Issue 2010 2011 201220132014 2015 2016 Total Commercial vehicle / equipment 1518 14 1 3 42 57 Exterior Storage102 103 97 95 86 98 98 679 Home Occupation 1523 17 10 10 11 77 House / Property Maintenance5438 55 39 37 19 15 257 Junk Vehicle 111 80 67 35 37 51 44 425 Lawn Maintenance 235 196 13412841 43 74 851 Trash / Garbage 3550 35 27 18 81 174 Trash Container Storage 1523 21 16 10 23 8 116 Unapproved Parking124 123 12360 50 62 53 595 Misc. Complaints 8282 82 91 40 22 32 431 Total 788 736 645502332 331 328 3662 Summary The number of foreclosed and abandoned properties in Maplewoodhas substantially decreased over the past few years. Thishas caused a significant drop in the number of code violations and abatements. Code Enforcement continues to work through a community outreach model with a focuson educating violators and including stakeholders like landlords, residents, renters, and commercial 3 property owners. This approach helps the community understand what is expected for property upkeep. Code Enforcement will continue to work to keepMaplewood clean, safe, and attractive for the residents in the community. Budget Impact Code Enforcement is planned and budgeted through the General Fund. Recommendation Review the information provided in the report. Attachments None 4 MEMORANDUM TO:Melinda Coleman, City Manager FROM:Michael Martin, Economic Development Coordinator DuWayne Konewko, Environmental & Economic Development Department Director , 201 DATE: SUBJECT: Introduction At the , staff fromthe city’s Environmental& EconomicDevelopment Department willbe updating the city council on several projects and initiatives the department is currently workingonthat will continue through 2017andbeyond. Discussion Gladstone Neighborhood Redevelopment Gladstone House For the past several weeks, staff has been in negotiation with Dr. Elmer Salovich over the purchase of 1375 Frost Avenue – the former “Gladstone House.” This structure has been home to several uses – bakery, church, furniture store, etc. – but has beenvacant for more than 10 years and is in very poor condition. The intention is to demolish the structure and ready the property for new development. The city also owns a vacant parking lot across the street, adjacent to the Philippine Center of Minnesota. The Philippine Center of Minnesotain turn owns a vacant parking lot next to the Gladstone House building. City staff will explore options with thePhilippine Center of Minnesotaof transferring ownership of the two lots. Frost-English Village Staff has recently met with Sherman Associates, the developer of the Maplewood Bowl redevelopment, regarding phase twoof its project. Sherman Associates intends to submit for land use approvals over the winter with a spring construction start targeted. Phase two is now intended to be a fully market rate building for seniors, with added amenities such as an in-ground pool. The developer has also indicated it has had ongoing discussions regarding commercial tenants for the third phase and strongly believes this will become a reality once the residential portions of the project are complete. Upcoming Potential The city has made substantial progress in seeing its vision implemented in this neighborhood – The Shores and Frost-English Village redevelopment, Gladstone Savannah and public improvements along Frost Avenue and English Street – staff is looking at future potential projects to continue this work. At the workshop, staff will go over a map of the neighborhood to show where the next potential opportunities exist. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update Background Over the past two years, Environmental & Economic Development Departmentstaff have worked to better reach out to the city’s business community. This has resultedin several successful outreach eventsand the creation of a business engagement programwhich is being led by two of the city’s chambers. For manyyears nowthe department has also been a leader–metro and state-wide–in implementing severalenvironmentally sustainable programs. Looking forward staff wants to build on our past experiences and seek opportunities with housing. Knowing the city has limited resources and not wanting to duplicate programs already available, staff is proposing to take advantage of the required 2040 comprehensiveplan update to determine where best to use the city’s dollars. This process also allows the city to take full use of its housing and economic development commission (HEDC) – the Maplewood citizen commission set up to review housing policy decisions. In addition, staff wants to take advantage of the work being done by Ramsey County and the survey being conducted right now by the League of Women Voters and incorporate these elements into the city’s housing plan. Plan Update Every 10 years, all Twin Cities metro communities are required to update its comprehensive plan to ensure compatibility with the plans adopted by the Metropolitan Council. Chapters and areas of focus include land use, housing, sustainability, parks, natural resources, transportation, historical resources, surface water and sanitary sewer. State statute requires the planning commission to review and make recommendations to the city council regarding all comprehensive plan matters and this group will serve as the main citizen group focused onthe plan update. But the intention is to utilize all six of the city’s commissions and its 40 citizen volunteers to review the relevant sections of the plan update – for instance the city’s Environment and Natural Resources Commission will work heavily on the natural resources chapter of the plan and the aforementioned HEDC will work on the housing chapter. Staff has already received approval for a $32,000 planning grant from the Metropolitan Council and will continue to work interdepartmentallyto refine a scope of work to assist in the selection of a consultant which is expected to occur early next year. Once selected, the consultant will work with city staff in identifying areas of focus – other than areas already mentioned – and will work to set up several citizen open houses to ensure feedback from the city’s residents and businesses are ingrained in the plan update. These open houses will be expected to beginin late summer or early fall of 2017. These open houses will be key in the development of the plan and work toensure the plan will have support when it is time to be implemented. The intent is to have an updated plan ready for review by mid-2018 and adopted asrequired by the end of 2018. The willbe asked to be engaged with the comprehensive plan update processat several points over the next 1-2 years. As will the city’svolunteer citizenboard and commissions.Staff seesgreat opportunitiesto use the plan update to expand upon severalof the city statedgoals.The updated planwill provide staff withthe policy guide to continue to workand implement these initiatives. Budget Impact None Recommendation No action required. Attachment 1.PowerPoint Presentation Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 Attachment 1 MEMORANDUM TO:Mark Jenkins,Housingand Economic Development Commission FROM:Michael Martin, AICP,Economic Development Coordinator DATE:January 11, 2017 SUBJECT:2016Annual Report Introduction Attached to this memo is thedraft of thehousingand economic development’s (HEDC)2016 Annual Report. This report isproduced every year and then forwardedon to the city council for its review of the HEDC’swork throughout the previous year. Discussion The format of the 2016Annual Report is similar to last year’sreport andwhat other city commissionssubmit to the city council. Recommendation Recommend approval of the HEDC’s 2016Annual Report. Attachments 1.2016HEDCAnnual Report Attachment 1 MEMORANDUM TO: Melinda ColemanCity Manager FROM: Mark Jenkins, Housingand Economic Development Commission DATE: January 19, 2017 SUBJECT:Approvalof 2016 Housing Economic Development Commission Annual Report Introduction Annually, the housingand economic development commission (HEDC) is required toreport the HEDC’sactions and activities for the city councilfor the previous year. In 2016, the HEDC reviewed the following 15items during its meetings: Type of Proposal # Reviewed 6 HEDCReviews 1.Update on Agreement between Maplewood Area EDA and Larkin Dance Studio (February 10, 2016) 2.Consider Selection of a Business Retention Program (February 10, 2016and July 13, 2016) 3.Recap of Recent Business Engagement OutreachEvents (February 10, 2016) 4.Business Retention – University of Minnesota Extension Presentation (April 13, 2016) 5.Consider Amendments to the HEDC’s Rules of Procedure (July 13, 2016) 6.Development Summaries (every meeting) 3 Miscellaneous Reviews and Actions 1.2015 Code Enforcement Year-End Report (February 10, 2016) 2.2015 HEDC Annual Report (February 10, 2016) 3.Election of Officers (February 10, 2016,April 13, 2016and July 13, 2016) Total9 Attachment 1 Comparative Information Year Number of Items Reviewed 201017 201115 2012 14 201321 201418 201515 20169 Membership TheHEDCconsists ofsevenmembers appointed by the city council. Membership terms are for threeyears, with extensions for additional terms approved by the city council. During 2016, Commissioners Tkachuck, Lewis and Jenkins were reappointed to additionalthree-year terms. Commissioner Gansluckner resigned from the board in 2016 as he moved out of the city. On August 8, 2016, the city council appointed Benosi Maduka to fill the open spot. In 2017, commissioners Wesseland Finleywill be up for reappointment. The membership as of the date of this report: Board MemberMembership BeganTerm Expires Warren Wessel12/13/109/30/17 Brian Finley01/25/169/30/17 Benosi Maduka08/08/169/30/18 Dennis Unger07/25/119/30/18 Joy Tkachuck09/25/069/30/19 Mark Jenkins01/25/109/30/19 Jennifer Lewis04/25/119/30/19 Discussion 2016 Actions/Activities In 2016, theHEDC continued its commitment to development and redevelopment in the city of Maplewood by working on several projects. The HEDC spent a good portion of its year giving direction and guidance to the creation of the city’s business engagement program. The city worked with the University of Minnesota Extension office to get a better sense of what goes into a business engagement program and several member of the city council, HEDC and city staff took and completed an educational course in business retention and expansion. The HEDC parlayed these lessons leaned into recommending the city choose to work with its area chamber of commerce on conducing the business engagement program. The city executed a contract with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce to conduct 25 business visits in 2017, while also working with the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce to collaborate on selected visits. The results of these visits will be presented to the HEDC at one of its quarterly meetings in 2017. In addition, these results will act as a basis of a presentation and discussion held at the city’s annual business engagement breakfast this October. Attachment 1 Speaking of the business engagement breakfast, which is a direct result of the efforts and guidance of the HEDC, thesecond annual eventwas held on October 12, 2016. This breakfast fostered a discussion regarding demographic trends and changes that will be affecting the future of the local business community and the City. Speakers for the event included Matt Kramer, President of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and Peter Frosch, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Greater MSP. They shared information regarding trends in population shifts, workforce development, and an increase in demand for high-skilled and service industry jobs. Mayor Nora Slawik also unveiled Maplewood's business engagement program and City Manager Melinda Coleman discussed the Maplewood Awards Program. Also part of the HEDC and the city’s continued and evolving effort at business outreach the first State of the Maplewood event was held on January 14, 2016 where the then HEDC chairperson, Spencer Ganslucknerrepresented and spoke on behalf of the HEDC and handed out the Maplewood Awards. The second annual State of the Maplewood was recently held on January 12, 2017 and Mark Jenkins represented the HEDC. The HEDCalsoled the creation of the Maplewood Awards program, which works to inspire, recognize and reward business achievements in terms of growth, environmental awareness and contributions to the community.The HEDC reviewed nominationsfor the programs second year and selected the following winners for the three categories: Sherman Associates – Entrepreneurship/Innovation/Growth Award 5-8 Tavern Grill and Bar – Environmental Sustainability Award Tubman Center – Community Contribution Award Finally, the HEDC reviewed its rules of procedure and recommended a couple of changes in terms of how the group functions. The group agreed to meeting formally on a quarterly basis and will also meet for additional meetings if the need arises. The HEDC also changed its meeting time and date. The HEDC now meets the Third Thursday of every January, April, July and October at 6 p.m. The city council reviewed and approved these changes. 2017 Activities In 2017, the HEDC will continue to implement its workplan and concentrate on key redevelopment areas within the city. The HEDC’s work plan has identified the Gladstone neighborhood as an area the city and the HEDC would focus its efforts on. As an example, the HEDC hadreviewed and recommend approval of the tax increment-financing request by Sherman Associates for the Frost-English Villages project.The city is now in a position to continue its efforts in this neighborhood. Starting with the January meeting the HEDC will be considering projects related to site acquisition and preparation for future development projects. The HEDC will be a key guiding force as the city embarks on becoming more aggressive in implementing it vision for a revitalized Gladstone. In addition, the HEDC will be asked to continue meeting directly with businessesas part of the business engagement programand work to enhance and improve the city’s business engagement events. Recommendation Approve the HEDC’s2017 annual report.