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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986 09-03 EBFM' MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 3, 1986 EARLE BROWN FARM COMMITTEE MEETING CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Farm Committee was called to order at 7:53 a.m. by Chairman Orn. ' ROLL CALL Dr. Duane Orn, Ron Christensen, Leone Howe, Sylvia Kenney, Donald Peterson, and Phil Cohen. Also present were City Manager Gerald ' Splinter, Director of Public Works Sy Knapp, HRA Coordinator Brad Hoffman, Program Supervisor Kathy Flesher and Administrative Aid Patti Page. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 2, 1986 There was a motion by Leone Howe and seconded by Donald Peterson ' to approve the minutes of the July 2, 1986 meeting. The motion passed. PROJECT UPDATE The HRA Coordinator stated that the HRA has concluded the development agreement with Earle Brown Commons but that the sale of property has not been closed on yet. He stated that staff ' would like to appoint a development committee soon. EARLE BROWN COMMONS DINING FACILITY ' The HRA Coordinator stated that at the council meeting on September 8, 1986 one of the items before the HRA would be the write down option included in the development agreement with Earle Brown Commons. He noted that a decision must be made ' relative to food service on the farm or a $300,000 write down of the property. He stated that it is the staff's recommendation that Earle Brown Commons be given a write down up front and have ' the project stand on its own. He added that staff feels the City should not be locked into providing those services for an indefinite amount of time. He also noted that not being attached to Earle Brown Commons would give the farm development more flexibility. Phil Cohen asked where the project would stand if Earle Brown ' Commons does not receive Tax Exempt bonding. The HRA Coordinator stated that there would probably be no project if there is not Tax Exempt bonding. Phil Cohen asked if there is a back up project if Earle Brown Commons fails. The HRA Coordinator stated that Ryan Construction has the option to take over the Beisner contract or negotiate a new one. ' Ron Christensen asked what type of affect the City's decision about the food service program would have on the project. The HRA Coordinator stated that it would allow the project to begin ' now but that the $300,000 must be used for the food program within Earle Brown Commons. He noted that this decision does not mean there would not be any type of restaurant or food service on ' 9-3-86 1 y ' the farm, only that the farm would not be tied to Earle Brown Commons. Phil Cohen inquired as to the possibility of a convention center and tourism bureau being located on the farm. The City Manager noted that the tourism committee has suggested using the Hippodrome as a convention center. Phil Cohen stated that he ' felt the City should try to keep as much of the 3% tax from the City's hotels within Brooklyn Center. He added that if the City is going to spend money on the farm, we should work toward ' something that will make money. Dr. Orn stated that by using the Hippodrome as one large building would seem to preserve the building more naturally and also be ' easier to manage. There was a brief discussion regarding the Convention Center concept and how tourism and the Chamber of Commerce would compliment each others use on the farm. There was a motion by Phil Cohen and seconded by Don Peterson to recommend to the Council a $300,000 write down on the property cost for Earle Brown Commons to insure an appropriate development and to note that this does not preclude the City from any development which the Committee feels is proper to fulfill its previous discussions. The motion passed. ' There was a motion by Leone Howe and seconded by Don Peterson to recommend that City staff further explore the use of the Hippodrome as a Convention Center. The motion passed. ' There was a motion by Phil Cohen and seconded by Leone Howe to urge coordination of a Convention Center with the tourism bureau. The motion passed. ' DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Dr. Orn noted that staff would like to have a Development Committee formed and that if anyone is interested to please contact him or he would appoint members. The City Manager stated that the staff would do the preliminary work and review and would then make recommendations to the Committee. He added that the ' Committee would also be appointing a project manager who would watch over the architect. ' Dr. Orn appointed Ron Christensen and Leone Howe to the Development Committee. ADJOURNMENT ' There was a motion by Don Peterson and seconded by Leone Howe to adjourn the Earle Brown Farm Committee meeting. The motion passed and the committee adjourned at 9:00 a.m. 9-3-86 2 DEVELOPMENT TEAM COMMITTE• The HRA Coordinator stated that staff would like to start putting together a Development Team and asked if anyone from the Committee would be interested in sitting on a committee to select an architect, site planner and other people to form the Development Team. He stated that anyone interested should contact Dr. Orn. He added that he would like to have the Development Team in place by August 1, 1986. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Donald Peterson and seconded by Bill Eldridge to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Earle Brown Farm Committee adjourned at 9:08 p.m.