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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 08-19 EDAM Special Session1 1 MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SPECIAL SESSION AUGUST 19, 1991 EARLE BROWN HERITAGE CENTER CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Economic Development Authority met in special session and was called to order by President Todd Paulson at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL President Todd Paulson, Commissioners Celia Scott, Jerry Pedlar, Dave Rosene and Philip Cohen. Also present were EDA Director Gerald Splinter, EDA Coordinator Brad Hoffman, Director of Public Works Sy Knapp, Earle Brown Heritage Center General Manager Judith Bergeland, Director of Planning and Inspection Ron Warren, and Assistant EDA Coordinator Tom Bublitz. HUMBOLDT AVENUE APARTMENT UPDATE The EDA Coordinator informed the EDA commissioners of two apartment complexes along Humboldt Avenue that were experiencing financial difficulty. He explained one building is going into receivership, and the bank is now responding to compliance orders on the property. He explained there were also four buildings next to the building going into receivership that are also experiencing difficulty, and the property may be going back to the bank. He pointed out staff is currently monitoring the situation with regard to these two buildings and reviewing any options the City may have under existing state statutes. Commissioner Cohen inquired whether the staff believes there is a need for a formal Council resolution on these apartment buildings. The EDA Coordinator responded by indicating it may be advisable to have some type of formal action taken by the Council with regard to monitoring the situation at these locations, and he indicated he would have a resolution prepared for formal consideration by the Council. HERITAGE CENTER UPDATE The EDA Coordinator explained to the commissioners that the Wildlife Art Festival sponsored by Ducks Unlimited will be held at the Earle Brown Heritage Center this year. For the past 15 years, the festival has been held in Dayton's Minneapolis store. The EDA Coordinator pointed out the festival could generate as many as 25,000 to 30,000 people in a weekend since it is a regional draw. 8/19/91 -1- Commissioner Pedlar arrived at 7:20 p.m. The EDA Coordinator pointed out one of the questions the City must consider is whether or not they would like to make the festival a formal, annual event, which would require some volunteer assistance to work on the planning of such an event annually. There was a general consensus among commissioners to support the idea of holding it as an annual event, and Commissioner Scott volunteered to serve on the volunteer committee for planning the event. SUPER BOWL /FINAL FOUR ACTIVITIES Ms. Bergeland explained that NFL Properties, the souvenir arm of the NFL out of New York, has toured the Earle Brown Farm site and will likely use the site to do a trade show in conjunction with Super Bowl activities. She explained the trade show would be for buyers of NFL souvenirs. The EDA Coordinator pointed out the NCAA Final Four activities will also provide similar opportunities for the Earle Brown Heritage Center. ADDITIONAL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS The EDA Coordinator explained there has been a significant request for more breakout space by various groups, and he stated he believes the Heritage Center can capture additional groups who need this type of space. He then reviewed a memorandum regarding improvements that would need to be done to provide the breakout space and explained he would be bringing a formal proposal to the EDA at their next regular meeting. SOUNDPROOFING HERITAGE CENTER CHILLERS The EDA Coordinator pointed out the need for soundproofing the chillers for the Heritage Center facility. He explained the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is involved in the project, and there is a need to soundproof the area. Presently, a wall has been built to reduce sound levels; but this has not proven completely effective, so there will need to be additional work done to soundproof the area. "C" BARN (BLACKSMITH SHOP) OFFICE SPACE VERSUS ADDITIONAL MEETING SPACE The EDA Coordinator discussed the use of the "C" barn, pointing out one option is for creating a smaller meeting space, with the other being development as rental space for a tenant. Commissioner Pedlar requested staff to provide information on the existing leasehold improvements in the blacksmith shop and tack room and projected revenue for those areas. 8/19/91 -2- 1 1 1 1 1 MARKETING STRATEGY The EDA Coordinator explained staff is in the process of reviewing the marketing needs of the Earle Brown Heritage Center. He explained the needs have changed since opening, and the Heritage Center is considering proposals from several marketing firms. OVERALL DIRECTION OF HERITAGE CENTER The EDA Coordinator explained summer is typically a slow time for meetings, but business has been picking up recently. The staff will be contacting 100 of the largest public companies to ascertain their interest in the facility. Other marketing areas the Heritage Center is looking at are training services, such as the Government Training Service (GTS), and other groups. The Director of Public Works arrived at 8:05 p.m. The EDA commissioners discussed the use of the Heritage Center site as an historical site and the possibility of adding any additional buildings. The EDA Coordinator explained the Minnesota State Historical Society would likely object since it is on the Historical Register and adding buildings from the outside would not likely comply with the stipulations of that designation. Ms. Bergeland pointed out that self guided tours of the facility are becoming very popular. Commissioner Pedlar suggested the possibility of using senior citizens to work with this aspect of the Heritage Center. MONTHLY EDA WORKSHOPS The EDA Coordinator posed the option of the EDA meeting on a regular basis in a work session setting. Commissioner Cohen suggested the work sessions be held as issues build up and there is a need to meet. He also suggested the EDA work sessions would be useful for monitoring the upcoming legislative session. He posed the option of meeting in November to prepare some type of legislative package. The commissioners discussed the option of setting up a meeting each month dedicated to discussion and work items. The EDA Coordinator stated a regular night could be set aside and then could be canceled if there is no need to meet. The EDA Coordinator stated he would bring this item back as a formal discussion item at a future meeting of the EDA. DEVELOPMENTJREDEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR BROOKLYN CENTER The EDA Coordinator pointed out the City has two completed studies from the Maxfield Research Group: one for housing and the other for commercial /industrial development. 8/19/91 -3- The EDA Director arrived at 8:25 p.m. The EDA Coordinator reviewed the Economic Development Authority commercial /industrial policy framework prepared by staff, including the proposed mission statement and discussion of priorities for commercial and industrial development. The Assistant EDA Coordinator reviewed the proposed Economic Development Authority housing policy framework and redevelopment /development policy issues. He explained the format of the framework is that the policy directives are the most general categories; the next are the goals which are more specific, such as housing redevelopment goals; the third area is activities, such as specific housing programs as recommended by the Housing Implementation Plan; and finally, the procedural guidelines, which are very specific items related to the execution of the policies on a working project basis. The EDA Director explained, with the Maxfield studies and the Housing Implementation Plan, the City has obtained a great deal of information in the "middle" area with regard to policy development, explaining the "top" area would be a more general policy directive and the "bottom" area would be a more specific procedural guideline directive. He pointed out we now have to fill in both the top and bottom of the framework. Commissioner Cohen also pointed out he believes the EDA needs to set some time lines when things have to be done. He suggested the City has, for example, ten years to get the infrastructure in place. He explained the City needs to set time lines, set priorities and determine funding. Commissioner Pedlar stated he would like to see how the City's maintenance code compares to other cities, such as St. Louis Park and Crystal. He suggested the City needs to look at whether more controls are necessary with regard to housing maintenance. The EDA Director suggested the EDA address this issue at an upcoming work session. The commission continued its discussion on the policy issues related to housing and commercial /industrial development and redevelopment. The EDA Director stated it should be kept in mind that we have a great deal of information in the middle area of the policy process, but we need to get more information of a general nature with regard to policy development and more information with regard to being more specific with regard to policy execution. President Paulson suggested the need to develop a priority of what the City is seeking in terms of commercial and industrial development. He suggested the purpose would be to establish some key goals for the major commercial and industrial areas. 8/19/91 -4- 1 1 1 1 1 The commissioners discussed various development issues, including a possible focus on entertainment facilities and restaurants as a general direction. Commissioner Cohen suggested the Earle Brown Heritage Center is a good start, and the issue of tourism is one that should be considered. Commissioner Scott suggested distributing information on the availability of commercial and industrial land available in Brooklyn Center to corporate people attending events at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. President Paulson noted the City of Burnsville had prepared a visioning report and suggested the City of Brooklyn Center do something of this nature, which would give us some idea of what is possible within the city. The EDA Director pointed out there are essentially three areas of concern: single family, multifamily, and commercial and industrial property. He suggested the EDA develop an overall mission statement in each area with sub statements prepared to work in conjunction with the overall mission statement. We would then be able to address specific items, such as development of plans for specific areas of the city. The EDA Director suggested that the EDA start at the top in terms of establishing policy and mission statements and that staff would try to get as much of this done as possible by the end of October. ADJOURNMENT President Paulson adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. Todd Paulson, President