June 5, 2013 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes
June 5, 2013
ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY
MINUTES
June 5, 2013
Albert Lea Business Development Center
1. CALL TO ORDER & NOTATION OF ROLL
The Regular Meeting of the Albert Lea Port Authority was called to order on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 2013 at 7:30 a.m. by President Nancy Skophammer. Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Mike Moore, Jerry Ehn, Nancy Skophammer, Ellen Kehr, Keith Fligge and Al Brooks
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea representative; Randy Kehr, business community representative; Mike Lee, Freeborn County representative
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dorman, Executive Director; Ryan Nolander, Assistant Director; and Julie Dandrea, Board Secretary
STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT: None
GUESTS: Representative Shannon Savick; Mike Murtaugh-Freeborn Mower Cooperative; Rebecca Gisel,-Alliant Energy; and Kimberley Hillberg-CliftonLarsonAllen
(The minutes are in sequential order of the meeting, not as listed on the agenda.)
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY 1, 2013 MEETING
The minutes from the May 1, 2013 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Fligge said the tour of Larson Contracting planned for today, as referred to in the minutes, was postponed until August. Commissioner Ehn made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Rasmussen. President Skophammer asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 7 in favor; 0 opposed.
3. RESOLUTION PA-13-13 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
The claims were presented for review. Noted was the final retainage paid to Johnson Heating for the Ventura refrigeration upgrade last year. Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $23,486.35, seconded by Commissioner Kehr. President Skophammer asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 7 in favor; 0 opposed.
4. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – Representative Shannon Savick
Introductions were made and Representative Savick gave a recap of current legislative issues. She is on the Jobs & Economic Development Committee which carries the MIF funds. Fifty percent of these dollars will go to Greater MN. She touched on the new MN Job Creation Fund, which is the replacement for JOBZ, and the Greater MN Internship Program. She stressed the need for an educated workforce. Most unfulfilled jobs in MN are technical jobs. She sees the long-term goal as matching future employees’ skills to those needed by manufacturing companies to attract workers to our area. Short-term goals are programs such as the Job Creation Fund. Executive Director Dorman provided information from the Greater MN Economic Development Partnership outlining these programs and funds. Much discussion followed. Randy Kehr added that Representative Savick stays up-to-date as a regular caller to the ALFC Chamber.
5. AUDIT RESULTS – Clifton Allen Larson
Kimberley Hillberg arrived at 8:30 a.m. and gave a brief review of the financial statements and the accompanying background letters. She noted the language changes throughout the audit. She suggested at a future point a change might be required in the fund; either setting a levy or continuing to transfer more money from the real estate fund to the general fund to cover operating expenses. She invited the board to contact their organization if they have any questions on the audit. Commissioner Fligge made a motion to approve the audit results as presented and Commissioner Moore seconded it. The motion passed 7 in favor; 0 opposed. (Ms. Hillberg left at this point.)
6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Murphy Warehouse –We sent information on other locations originally, but the Blazing Star property might also work for them. They have concern about tax decisions made by the House and Senate this session. Warehouse services will be taxed if not fixed before implementation in 2014. They probably won’t want to build here unless this issue is changed. A recent Star Tribune article included in the board packets referenced this new tax. Commissioner Moore spoke about the effect the warehouse tax would have on MCB and would most likely eliminate jobs for them.
Rezoning Update-Plaza Street parcels – Executive Director Dorman reviewed the history from the last board meeting and subsequent request to the city to rezone the Port-owned parcels on Plaza Street from IDD to I1. With the current process, the buyer submits his site plan to the IDD committee for approval. If approved, it doesn’t go to the Planning Commission or the City Council. Currently, 60% of businesses in the IDD’s are not in compliance, most often due to outside storage violations. Staff wants to move forward with the sale to Jensen Excavating, however, cannot think of a solution other than rezoning. Staff believes the parcels could be rezoned either B2 or I1. The difference is allowable outside storage, mini storage and billboards. A covenant could be inserted which won’t allow billboards or mini storage.
A lengthy planning commission meeting took place last night. Staff hoped to have received resolution for this issue, but no results were finalized. Jensen Excavating has other options and they hoped that after two months this issue would have been resolved. Chad said his staff has discussed making language changes in the zoning districts to address these differences; however, it can’t be done in a couple days as it’s very complicated and a lot of land is involved. The City Council will take this under consideration at their June 24 council meeting. The city acknowledges inconsistencies in the zoning ordinances, but doesn’t want to discourage having the ordinances. Executive Director Dorman said a conditional use permit could be a possibility and believes the distance from an interstate is a good point for rezoning. There are two issues at hand: Jensen Excavating is a short-term issue and zoning issues are long-term and will take time.
Legislative Update – This topic was covered earlier with Representative Savick. In addition, a solar mandate was passed requiring investor-owned utility companies to have 1.5% solar power by 2020. Cooperatives and municipals lobbied to get out of it. Energy costs are going up for companies. Freeborn Mower Cooperative Services are meeting next week with state representatives on this subject.
VA Clinic Update – Executive Director Dorman urged the City Council and the County Commissioners to create an incentive now if they plan to because this project will happen rapidly. State MIF dollars could be made a refundable loan to create an incentive. The RFP cost-per-space is the least important item on the bid priority list. One vendor said they didn’t see anything they liked for existing space in Albert Lea. We are checking to see if there is time to build a new building. Greater Jobs needs an investment so a possibility could be to buy and remodel a building or build one and lease it to them. Room is also needed for possible expansion. There are several locations we could put a new building. Commissioner Rasmussen strongly recommends working with the city, county and the vendor to get this clinic here, not only for a financial benefit standpoint, but other benefits to our area as well. The old Wal-Mart owners want to sell a package of 14 buildings and not carve out just the piece from the local building needed so this property doesn’t fit.
Convenience Store site selector – (Commissioner Kehr left at 9:30.) Last month a site selector was here from Des Moines. Executive Director Dorman spent time touring him around the community. He preferred the Wal-Mart/Home Depot area and also liked the A.L. Seed House area. He was given the contact information for both locations.
Website Discussion – Julie and Dan went to a presentation hosted by the county with a website developer the county is considering hiring. This firm only does government websites. The County invited the City, CVB and ALEDA to join with them on a shared website. There are some nice features and modern updates. It would be a good time to partner with either the city and/or county. We’ll revisit this subject again.
Reminder: The next meeting/retreat will be July 10th at Wedgewood Cove beginning at 7:30 a.m. The retreat will start around 9:30 a.m. Terry Whipple will be the guest speaker.
7. EX-OFFICIO UPDATE
Freeborn County – Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative
· The county has requested another extension for the rail/trail project.
· State aid will be increased to counties. On June 25, there will be a presentation about tax abatements.
· The County approved a new recycling contact to begin this fall. Recyclables will no longer have to be separated. Recycling fees will be waived for churches and small businesses.
· Mike plans to contact John Kluever after the meeting regarding the above discussion about providing an incentive for the VA Clinic.
City of Albert Lea – Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea Representative
· The City is holding focus groups to get the public’s ideas for the bank building. Another RFQ will go out this fall to find another developer. There has been interest on the building.
· There are tax forfeited parcels on South Broadway the Port or HRA might want to consider obtaining.
· The Broadway Streetscape project is a little behind schedule because of weather.
· $4.35K of LGA will be returning and the City will now be exempt from sale taxes.
· Randy voiced concern with traffic flow downtown on Clark Street. People are not following the detour and taking Clark Street instead, causing backup. Chad said the city staff is aware of this and he will pass it along.
Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative
· The fireworks fundraiser goal was met. A big thanks to MCB and other local businesses.
· The Worksite Wellness Committee participated in the Open Streets event. It was very successful.
· The Leadership program is taking applications and sign-up can be done online. The program is nine months long beginning in September.
· The Chamber is running short on staff a while longer.
· The coupon booklet they sponsored for the downtown businesses has been well received.
8. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
· Commissioner Rasmussen said there are openings for the free week-long leadership class through the Blandin Foundation. If anyone has someone they’d like to suggest, please contact him.
· Commissioner Brooks asked if it would be helpful to send testimonials from local veterans along with the RFP that will be sent to the CBOC on the VA Clinic.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Brooks. The motion carried 6 in favor, 0 opposed. The meeting adjourned at 9:45a.m.
Filed and attested June 5, 2013.