Good evening. It is Monday, September 8th at 7 p.m. and I welcome you to the Maple Plane EDA meeting. Um, at this time, I'm looking for a motion to adopt this evening's agenda. >> So moved. >> Moved by Francis. >> Second. >> Second by Warden. Uh, any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Oppose. same sign. First item of business um before us this evening is to approve the minutes from the July 14th uh 2025 meeting. >> I looking for a motion to approve the minutes. >> I I make a motion to approve the amendments of the meeting. >> Move by Arvisio. >> I'll second the motion. >> Second by Berak. Any further discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I opposed. Eyes have it. Next item of business is old business. We'll begin with the Baker Trail Villas update. Guess I'm giving that update. Uh not much to report on this. Uh we did send a letter of default back in July um with an August 25th date to comply with the terms of the developers agreement um and to update and pay the required escrow amounts. We have gotten that. So they are in compliance um and we are currently in the process of issuing two building permits. Um so they've started on foundation on one of them. Um, so we'll probably start seeing some more of those come in. So, we're excited about that. >> Thank you for that update. Any questions regarding the Baker Trail Villas update? >> Okay, hearing none, uh, we will move on to the next item of business, letter B, downtown development update. I'll turn that back over to Administrator Golander. >> Thank you. Um, unfortunately, Mark was not able to be here today, so I'm not going to do as well as he does. Um, I think what I'll do is say everybody had the uh opportunity to read this. Do they have any questions? Looks like uh just kind of going through it since we are recording and for the public. Um, we're looking at the uh TIFF uh projections. um uh initiating phase two of the environmental investigation and survey uh discussing public infrastructure and project feasibility. Um and then we'll be looking at developing uh or initiating the full entitlement package, civil landscaping, architectural plans, etc. And then those would go to uh planning commission once we have all of those finalized. September 26 is the end the first uh due diligence period that we had in our purchase agreement. So it's coming up soon, but everything is on track and they're excited to get to get going. >> All right. Thank you for that update. Uh, hearing no questions, then on the downtown development, uh, we will move on to the next item of business. I just want to make sure there's no questions on that. Okay. All right. We will move on to new business this evening, which is the Highway 12 um, coalition discussion, and I will turn that back over to staff. Thank you. Uh, Highway 12 coalition met uh, last week. It was my first meeting to attend with them. Um, so it was kind of nice to kind of hear what's going on in in mind world and county world on on our roads and safety. Um, but I did have the opportunity to along with um Phil Kern who is the city administrator in Delano, Mark Cultus, myself, um, Mayor Julie and Mayor Brad um, all got together and interviewed two lobbyists uh, companies. Um, we're looking at the last two years there hasn't been a bonding bill and with next year being election year, there probably will be a bonding bill. Um, and we try to do as much work as we can as as staff and as elected officials to, you know, get in front of our um, state representatives, senators. Um, but sometimes that's kind of hard. Lobbyists have so many more tools than we have um and plans and projections and you know like they talked you know we'll know when we need the mayors to testify. We'll you know meet with staff so that they know what's going on, what they need to do next. Is there letters that we got to send out? You know just very organized um in their methods. Um, so we trying to see here where did we have that? LGN was the company that we were looking at uh going with. It's I'm going to butcher this. Lwell Grenell and Smith I think is the name of the the firm that would be the lobbyists that we would like to to work with. um that cost um is $40,000 a year. It's an all-inclusive cost, so there's not, you know, a surprise mileage and things like that. This $40,000 covers 12 months, even though legislative session is only in the spring. This covers 12 months of them working on our behalf, not only just at the state level, um but they have connections at the federal level as well. The project that we're looking at uh is a roundabout at Townline Road on Highway 12, which is Independence in Delano, right when you get to that first stoplight. Yep. >> What did I say? >> It's a town line. >> County line road. Um and then we're looking at, you know, three lane or four lane options. Three lane obviously would be a passing um lane as you travel out of Maple Plane and into Delano. the cost share of that. Um, independence and Delano is willing to cover more of the cost because more of this project is in their city, but I feel that it benefits Maple Plane as well. Um, you know, maybe more people will travel through Maple Plane because there is a passing lane and it's easier to drive through instead of going around, you know, things like that. Um, so I the cost our share of the cost um would be $8,000 and we talked about doing a two-year contract. So $16,000 um for the city to add that into the general fund budget is quite an increase. I mean, it's it's makes a difference in the tax levy, whereas the EDA has uh $77,000 in that account. Um, and I I truly think it's an economic development piece, you know, with Highway 12. So, my recommendation would be to use those funds to to pay for those two years. Questions for staff regarding hiring potentially hiring a lobbyist in partnership with the city of independence in Delmo. Commissioner Warden is what specifically are. Um, that's a very good question and it's to get funding for the project. Um, is is a is a big piece. Um, thought I had it. Julie, >> it's to get funding. Um, excuse me. It's to help get the funding. It's to help um move the project up on the work study list on the mind list or priority list as I refer to it as our meetings. um as well >> and that you know it's a $40 million project you know what they're looking at and already you know there's some talks about doing some work in 2028 there's our mind's already having talks about pushing that out another year so it's like if we can get in front of our elected officials at the state and federal level uh in front of mind you know the hopes is that this will push this up on priority list like Mayor Julie said >> and I mean to be transparent for people who are not familiar with lobbyists um or people watching as well just because we hire a firm there is no guarantee that you will get funding there are many groups um lobbying in addition to a bonding bills need to be passed I mean there's lots of moving pieces so I don't want someone to think if we spend you know contribute up to $16,000 over the next two years that we're guaranteed um funding for the project. >> Commissioner Back, >> I I look at the three communities involved in this and I do believe that all three will benefit equally. Um, we need to do something to get in front of Highway 12 a safer corridor. And I think we do need help on getting that in front of our lawmakers to get the funding to get this project at least a shot in the public eye so we can get a chance. >> Mr. Henrik, >> as you know, my business is south of the zero traffic. So we had a lot of fatalities as you did ago. >> The fatalities have been reduced. I mean, we did that uh 12 for 12 and we were able to obtain that goal. Um main reason that we've seen the the fatalities reduced is because of the roundabout that has been added at um 90 and then the roundabout and the bypass at 92. So when we're looking at numbers at these reports at the monthly meetings, the numbers are going up in terms of crashes, but they're more fender benders. Um, and we have not seen the fatalities um as much. >> The number of crashes >> crashes are going up, but in part because of all the development to the west. And then we're also I think people are just getting less patient and less tolerant. And now once you technically get off of the interstate until you get through download, there is no place to pass. So if you get behind someone who you think is not going the speed that you think they should be going or you would like to go, people tend to lose their patience. And that answers your question. >> Okay. So we do have Can you turn your mic on >> and turn it towards you just so it's on TV? >> Yeah. So now you know we have to look at you know some other and with $77,000 that's a good amount of money and I do believe it would be well spent. Thank you for that history, Commissioner >> Commissioner Vizio. Um, I agree it's a good spend of money. Uh, I often use the business and I guess it's independent. I sometimes, you know, use the bubbles and bows and just turning on to bubbles and bows. I going, you know, west seems dangerous, if you will, no matter it seems no matter what time of day it is. and it and going home from bubbles and bows, you know, it's I'm person from personal experience, I think it's a well spent I money and also with the up and cominging apartments or what have been built off of 12 between here and Delano, I think would be necessary to be looking at this for sure. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Warden, >> I think I I agree. I think this is a a good use of the money. One thing I just want to make sure to clarify is in the packet here, it does state that this ask is currently for the $8,000 for a single year. We're we're anticipating with the timing of when the funding bill will go through or the bonding bill is going to go through. It may be a two-year ask. Just confirming what we're voting on today is one year, $8,000 if it goes into a second year. and we want to engage them again that that would be addressed again at that point. >> That is correct. >> Thank you for that clarification. Um I have two things um for staff and one because I've been asked by a resident um so I just want to make sure we're all giving the same answer is you know the resident said to me, "Well, doesn't the league do lobbying for Maple Plane?" So, I'm gonna let staff answer that um on camera and see if you gave the same answer I gave. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, yes, the league does lobbying for all 853 cities in the state of Minnesota, but not for cities specific. However, they do have policy committees. I sit on the local economies policy committee um and I'm making recommendations um in their data practices in their human resources and their public safety um you know that look like they're coming from Maple Plane. It'll say Maple Plain's name on it as a as a amendment and then the board um board of directors will the league will vote on those amendments. Um, and then that is what the league's uh legislative strategy is in in that. I mean, it's a book about an inch and a half thick. Um, so Roundabout Way, yes, but they're not going to lobby for Maple Plains specific. Their job is to represent all 853 cities in Minnesota. >> Thank you, Administrator Colander, for that um answer. Uh, one other thought I had, um, wearing, um, I have the privilege of ser serving on the Chamber of Commerce as a leazison to that group. And I know that group was instrumental, um, with the closures of Highway 12 and at in advocating and getting people to still come to Maple Plane and creative incentives to get people to come to the businesses, in particular, the restaurants, um, throughout those two construction seasons. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to ask them if they'd be willing to help fund part of this even if they were willing to split it. I don't know what people's thoughts are if it's Commissioner Warden. >> Um I think it can be a helpful ask. I think, you know, the funding or getting them to go in on the funding is good, but I think what is also even more valuable is when the lobbyist has more names attached to an ask when they're going when they're bringing that letter to the legislature. Um, and it gets more attention. And so I I think yes, having them involved uh to pitch in for the cost is great. Uh but I think them signing on to the letter that we're delivering and and using that as kind of carrying the message about more groups are interested in this and it uh it's a hotter topic. I think that also helps get more attention. >> Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. Which is great that it's coming from the Highway 12 Safety Coalition because it covers cities through that 36 miles. Um, so we want to include businesses and other organizations as well. Any other discussion or thoughts? Anyone wanting to make a motion for approval? Um, for an >> I'll make that motion for approval for 8,000 for one year for lobbyists. Motion by Commissioner Berak for one year. >> Second by Commissioner Henrik. All in favor. Any further discussion? >> All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Same sign. The eyes have it. Um, any other business to come before us this evening? >> Mr. Bolander. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. um just kind of give you guys an update. I'm hoping that we will be having an EDA meeting um well no we won't because I'll be getting married so probably November um there is a property over by Rainbow Park that I'm kind of doing some due diligent work on um and want to discuss with the EDA and then the city council of selling it the lot. The city owns the lot. Um, so just kind of putting that on your radar to think about. Um, ask any questions, you know, that you might have. I'm working right now on um, the deed for the property. The city is the taxpayer. We don't pay taxes on it. Um, and the county is the land owner. Um, so we're working through that right now. It should be the city's property. So, um, the attorney is working on getting all that paperwork done for us so we actually have the paper for it. But uh just something to put on your radar for future EDA meeting. >> Thank you, Administrator Coander. Any other business this evening? >> Hearing none. Looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. >> Moved by Commissioner Francis. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Warden. All in favor of adjourning, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. Same sign. The eyes have it. The meeting's adjourned at 7:20.