HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 08-24 EDAPE conomic Development
Authority
V I RT UA L meeting being
conducted by electronic
means in accordance with
Minnesota S tatutes, section
13D.021 P ublic portion
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A ugust 24, 2020
AGE NDA
1.C all to Order
The C ity Council requests that attendees turn off cell phones and pagers during the meeting. A
copy of the full City Council packet, including E D A (Economic Development Authority ), is
available to the public . The packet ring binder is located at the entranc e of the council
chambers.
2.Roll Call
3.Approval of Consent Agenda
The following items are considered to be routine by the Ec onomic Development Authority
(E D A ) and will been acted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items
unless a Commissioner so requests, in whic h event the item will be removed from the c onsent
agenda and considered at the end of C ommission Consideration I tems.
a.A pproval of Minutes
- Approve the minutes from the August 10, 2020 meeti ng
4.C ommission C onsideration Items
a.Resolution Authorizing S taf f to P roceed F orward with the B C Beyond Covid
Community F ood Collective (G reenhouse) Pilot P roject, which will be F unded
by Economic Development A uthority with Available Cash Reserves
- Approve a resoluti on authori zing staff to proceed forward with the BC
Beyond COVID Community Food Coll ective (Greenhouse) Pilot Project,
whi ch will be funded by Economic Devel opment Authori ty with available
cash reserves
5.Adjournment
E conomic Development A uthority
DAT E:8 /24/2 0 2 0
TO :C ity Council
F R O M:C ur t Boganey, C ity M anager
T H R O U G H :N/A
BY:Barb S uciu, City Clerk
S U B J E C T:A pprov al of M inutes
B ackground:
I n accordance w ith Minnes ota S tate S tatute 1 5 .17, the official records of all mee6 ngs mus t be documented
and approved by the gov erning body.
B udget I ssues:
- None
S trate gic Priories and Values:
O pera6 onal E xcellence
AT TA C H M E N TS :
D escrip6on Upload D ate Ty pe
A ugus t 10 minutes 8/18/2020 Backup M aterial
08/10/20 -1- DRAFT
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
REGULAR SESSION
AUGUST 10, 2020
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in Regular Session called to
order by President Mike Elliott at 7:05 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Webex.
2. ROLL CALL
President Mike Elliott and Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence-
Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were Executive Director Curt Boganey, Deputy City
Director Dr. Reggie Edwards, City Clerk Barb Suciu and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
This Agenda Item was addressed following Agenda Item 4a.
4. COMMISSION CONSIDERATION ITEMS
4a. COVID-19 TENANT LEASE AMENDMENT
Executive Director Curt Boganey stated this item would be presented by Deputy City Manager
Reggie Edwards, Acting Director of Community Activities, Recreation and Services.
Dr. Edwards stated Innovative Presentations is an audiovisual company that has been leasing space
at Earle Brown Heritage Center since 2008. He added Innovative Presentations provides
audiovisual equipment and services for businesses and organizations that host their events at
EBHC. He noted City Staff is requesting the EDA’s consideration of a rent reduction for
Innovative Presentations in exchange for their ongoing services.
Dr. Edwards stated EBHC has seen a decrease in scheduled meetings and conferences due to
COVID-19, and Innovative Presentations has seen a decrease in demand for their services, like
many other businesses throughout the City and the country. No significant change in the industry
is anticipated in the coming months. He added providing rent support to Innovative Presentations
is in line with the City’s priorities of resident economic stability and a strong local economy. He
noted it is a benefit to have their operations at EBHC.
Dr. Edwards stated City Staff is asking the EDA to permit the City to waive rent for Innovative
Presentations for 6 months. He added City Staff will continue to monitor the market and resume
08/10/20 -2- DRAFT
rent payments when feasible. He noted Innovative Presentations currently pays $2,140 per month
in rent, which would be waived until February 2021. He added, under their service agreement, the
City pays Innovative Presentations an additional $1,500 if payments they receive from the City
remain under $100,000. He noted it is not anticipated that the City’s payments to Innovative
Presentations will reach $100,000.
Dr. Edwards requested the EDA’s feedback and comment on providing rent relief to Innovative
Presentations for 6 months.
Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she concurs.
Commissioner Graves asked what the rent will be for 6 months. Dr. Edwards stated the total would
be approximately $20,000. He added the City will save $1,500 in fees. He noted City Staff is
looking into the possibility of recouping this cost by using CARES Act funding.
Commissioner Graves stated it makes sense to her. She added it is unfortunate that the company
did not receive the City’s recent COVID-related relief funding. She noted the City is already in
partnership with Innovative Presentations, and it makes sense to support them.
Commissioner Butler stated she supports it as well.
Commissioner Ryan moved and Commissioner Graves seconded to approve a 6-month Suspension
of Rent Paid by Innovative Presentations due to Economic Hardship Caused by COVID-19
Pandemic.
Motion passed unanimously.
3. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
President Elliott stated the Agenda and Consent Agenda still need to be approved.
Commissioner Graves moved and Commissioner Butler seconded to approve the Agenda and
Consent Agenda, and the following item was approved:
3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. June 22, 2020 – Regular Session
Motion passed unanimously.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Graves moved and Commissioner Ryan seconded adjournment of the Economic
Development Authority meeting at 7:17 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
E conomic Development A uthority
DAT E:8 /24/2 0 2 0
TO :C ity Council
F R O M:C ur t Boganey, C ity M anager
T H R O U G H :N/A
BY:M eg B eekman and D r. Reggie Edwards
S U B J E C T:Res olu,on A uthorizing S taff to P roceed Forward with the B C B ey ond Cov id Community
Food C ollec,ve (G reenhous e) P ilot P roj ect, w hich w ill be F unded by Economic
D evelopment A uthority w ith Available Cas h Reserves
B ackground:
O n J uly 13, 2020 s taff pres ented to the C ouncil and E DA C ommis s ion the pur pos e, proces s and pilot
projects for B C B ey ond C O V I D I nnova,on I ni,a,ve.
T he purpos e of the ini,a,ve w as:
To w or k w ith r es idents and busines s es , s o that they may survive, r ebuild and thriv e in the era of
C O V I D -1 9 Wor ldw ide Pandemic.
T he guiding principles for comple,ng the ini,a,ve w er e:
We w ill ens ure opportunity for all res idents and busines s es to surv ive and thr ive
We w ill focus our efforts where the needs ar e greates t
We w ill act in profound and unprecedented w ay s to match an unprecedented event
We w ill embr ace and shape the City ’s new nor mal
We w ill commit C ity necessary res our ces (i.e. human, skills , and capital) to meet imminent needs of
res idents and bus ines s es
T he following fr amewor k was us ed in defining innova,on:
Crea,ng an innova,v e organiz a,on
New ideas and w ay s of doing busines s
L ooking for oppor tuni,es to create a break-thr ough idea
S olve uns olv able problems
Exceeding ci,zen expecta,ons
T he process involv ed the follow ing steps :
1. I den,fy the need (res earch actual and s imilar ev ents, interview res idents )
2. Research (S imilar ev ents and innova,ons /s tr ategies )
3. Brainstorm s trategies
4. Mockup pr ojects efforts and internal s cenario tes t
5. P ilot (res ident capacity, city service, city oper a,ons )
Bas ed on community r es earch the following top needs were iden,fied:
Resources life es s en,als (i.e. food, rent/hous ing, etc.)
H ousing S tability
Emo,onal and M ental H ealth Well-Being
F inancial A s s is tance to Bus iness
Communica,on on C O V I D -19 and A cces s to Res ources
H igh S peed I nter net
Job C rea,on
S taff iden,fied over 70 innova,ve strategies to addres s thos e needs . S taff w ere asked to iden,fy
innova,ons that w ould bes t addr es s all or as many of the needs as possible. O ne of the top innova,ons
iden,fied was "B C C ommunity Food Collec,ve (G r eenhous e)".
T he des ired outcomes fr om this ini,a,ve are:
O vercome a lack of access to affordable healthy food
O vercome inter rup,ons in food s upply chain
O vercome a lack of know ledge about how to grow and cook with fres h produce
W ith that said, the following opera,onal goals for the ini,a,v e would be des ired:
P rovide educa,onal clas s es and w orks hops on how to grow your ow n food, how to compos t, build a
rais ed healthy gar den, prepare and cook w ith fres h food, etc.
H ire res idents of various ages , experiences and backgrounds as onsite s taff to prov ide clas s es ,
oversee plan,ng and harves ,ng, organize garden clubs , etc.
H ire res idents to as s is t w ith the work for money or C S A s hares
S olar pow er to the greenhous e for the hea,ng
U,liz e a cis tern s y s tem to collect stormw ater r unoff to water the plants
L imited res ources play ed a s ignificant factor in the implementa,on of the four pilot projects . C A R E S A C T
F unding prov ides the opportunity to fund tw o of the four proj ects, which the B C Community Food
Collec,ve w as not one of them. Because of this pilot addres s es sev er al economic needs it does qualify as
an E DA expenditure. S taff recommends moving forward with this pilot as a E D A funded ini,a,ve.
B udget I ssues:
T he total budget for this pilot is $115,000, w hich would be funded by the Economic D evelopment A uthor ity
F und w ith available cas h r eserv es.
S trate gic Priories and Values:
Resident Economic S tability, I nclus ive Community Engagement, S afe, S ecur e, S table Community
AT TA C H M E N TS :
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resolu,on 8/20/2020 Resolu,on L eHer
Member introduced the following resolution and
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. _______________
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH THE
BC BEYOND COVID COMMUNITY FOOD COLLECTIVE (GREENHOUSE) PILOT
PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
WITH AVAILABLE CASH RESERVES.
WHEREAS, In July 2020, the City initiated the development of innovative actions to work
with residents and businesses, so that they may survive, rebuild and thrive in the era of COVID-
19 Worldwide Pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Based on community research the following top needs were identified: 1)
Resources life essentials (i.e. food, rent/housing, etc.), 2) Housing Stability, 3) Emotional and
Mental Health Well-Being, 4) Financial Assistance to Business, 5) Communication on COVID-
19 and Access to Resources, 6) High Speed Internet and 7) Job Creation; and
WHEREAS, Staff identified over 70 innovative strategies to address those
needs. However, the top innovative strategies were to address all or as many of the needs as
possible. One of four top innovations identified was "BC Community Food Collective
(Greenhouse)"; and
WHEREAS, The BC Community Food Collective (Greenhouse) qualifies as an
appropriate EDA expenditure and there is sufficient cash reserve funding to cover the $115,000
total cost to implement the pilot.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Economic Development Authority of the
City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, authorize staff to proceed forward with the BC Beyond
COVID Community Food Collective (Greenhouse) pilot project, which will be funded by
Economic Development Authority with available cash reserves.
August 24, 2020
Date President
ATTEST:
City Clerk
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member
and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:
RESOLUTION NO. _______________
and the following voted against the same:
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
Member introduced the following resolution and
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. _______________
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota,
that:
1.
2.
August 24, 2020
Date Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member
and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:
and the following voted against the same:
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.