[Music] all right we are right at 5:30 so I'll call tonight's Eda meeting to order and Julene can you note roll for the record please I will thank you perfect um and I would invite everyone to rise and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance Al to flag States of America the stands indivisible okay members of the Eda we um you have an agenda before you I will entertain a motion to approve or any changes motion to approve there's a motion is there a second Al motion and a second all those in favor signal by saying I I oppose and motion carries our next item is open Forum open forum is any interested parties opportunity to address the Eda on any topic of your choosing is there anybody that would like to speak in open Forum this evening let the record not it she has declined is there anybody online no mayor okay we will move on to our our consent agenda um members of the Eda we do have um a change to make to the minutes of the regular meeting November 8th um November 18th 2024 so I would move that we um approve consent agenda items 6B and 6 C moving 6A to the regular agenda is there a second Motion in a second all of those in favor signal by saying I I oppose and our consent agenda is approved our next item is item 6A kudos to member LGE for recognizing the recognizing the needed change um in the minutes in that are in our packet um it is noted that member grindall was absent however later in the discussion within the agenda comments that were made by member LGE were um attributed to member grindall and so that needs to be updated um I would move that we approve those amend amended minutes it is an option we could table this item if um the um Eda wished us to bring back those official items at a future meeting um if you're comfortable with making the um the change here on the Fly we can also do that as well so I would move unless there is some objection move to approve to be clear motion and a second any discussion hearing none all those in favor signal by saying I I oppose and motion carries all right that brings us to our next agenda item um which is regular agenda item 7A um and one of the primary reasons that we're here tonight you will note um Abby was not able to be here this evening she um woke up sick this woke up sick this morning and so was not able to be here we considered cancelling um this meeting however this next item is quite important in because of the timing of um my position and council member husniks position is tied to our city council seats which expire here in just about an hour and a half not that anyone's counting um and so we need to appoint an interim president and a vice president for a couple of things primary purpose is really just to open this next meeting um next time the body meets um I have had a couple of conversations with um mayor elect um Roberts and he is working on who the next Eda members will be and so that he has assured me that that this will indeed just be a very interim time um but we do need somebody who can open that meeting the next agenda item on that future meeting is to elect a Full Slate of um officers with the newly appointed Eda members um but we need somebody to serve in that meantime should anything critical happen during that middle time um the interim would also take care of that but again it is expected the ne the only official action that will be needed would be to just gavel us into our next meeting so that an election can take place any questions on that I am open to nominations uh should we start with the interim president role I nominate Eric lingas there's a motion I would second that motion in a second member lus do you accept as long as there's no one else that wants it I'm happy to serve not seeing anybody come forward we have a motion and a second any discussion hearing none all those in favor signal by saying I I oppose congratulations interim president langus and vice president is the next position we need is there a motion I'll make a motion for Jenny LGE motion for Jenny LGE is there a second a second motion and a second member Lords do you accept yes very good we have a motion and a second any any discussion hearing none all those in favor signal by saying I I oppose and motion carries all right that ends um our official actions this evening however we do have a discussion topic that um I had a somewhat lengthy conversation with Abby this morning um or I'm sorry this afternoon on this topic and got some clarity around kind of the timing and the need to have some conversation this evening for the Eda um are we able to pull up the packet in the meeting and if we can't that's okay yes um we also have of course I don't have my bookmark set if everyone um on your computer in front we might be done with this by the time we get it up on screen you want the the map up well more of the staff the map would be helpful for the discussion but then also the staff memo just in case anyone had any questions you know I'm just gonna go to the podium and there okay thank you cords aren't quite long enough well jene's getting set um so in our packet and it's on page starts on page 38 of our packet the discussion portion on the airport Business Park Parcels um so Abby and her staff update kind of provide some background um on recent Eda activity and recent Eda discussions related to these parcels and um there are two Parcels that are still um open and kind of in active conversation um but she wanted the Eda to be aware of um kind of a size update in that the ownership of the adjacent properties of the Southern portion of that parcel has changed um and through donation the school district has acquired that parcel um to be clear we've had some Communications with the property owner that was part of that donation we have not had extensive or hardly any conversations to date yet with the school district on their plans for that parcel um but it's a potential change in planned long-term use um the previous owner of that parcel was industrial and kind of fit that very industrial vision for that Industrial Park um conceivably if the school district and I don't want to speculate too much on future use but you could imagine school district is not likely to use that parcel for industrial purposes and so for that reason Abby just wanted to get some feedback from the Eda on our um and kind of looking for consensus and guidance of her recommendation which is that we would pause conversation on that southern parcel just until we can have some additional conversation with the school district on what their plans are and just make sure that we are um being planful in that Southern Southern parcel um she was very open to us continuing conversations on the Northern parcel but just wanted to break that into two separate approaches given the change in ownership structure on the southern parel I don't have a lot of detail beyond that um recognizing we don't need to take any action tonight but wanted to provide an opportunity for some feedback comments questions Abby can certainly um respond to questions um at a future time um but also she just didn't want to delay us having that information and again giving her opportunity or giving us opportunity to give her feedback you think about that anything come to mind any concerns on putting a pause on any any um clarify real quick so on the map it's the aqua outlined one is the one that the now has been gifted to the school district so is that correct a my understanding is somebody correct me if I'm wrong both of these par these are the two Parcels that are still um city-owned um and it would be the southern parcel that we would pause um development conversations on just until we can again um get clarification district is doing okay do we do we have active convers ation going on with a potential developer yes there has beyond the well there has been an ongoing there has been an ongoing conversation um with a potential buyer um that was previous to um the most recent one if you're remembering I'm I'm yes um and that so there was some potential conversation I don't we hadn't entered into anything official there was some interest um we had another owner um or another interested party come forward that was further along in their plans and so you know we had that conversation I think there was a potentially I think a closed session um with this body in the city council to talk about that um that was that owner has more recently had to withdraw their plans which kind of has L reopened up the market um and or reopened up the opportunities I guess and so that's where um Abby had you know wanted to kind of take this kind of blue space or empty space and make sure that we were um um before having further conversations on future projects just knowing what the adjacent property owners were were interested in you know this um body had had some conversations around um maybe maybe some potential rezoning of those Parcels um for you had conversations about restaurants and all sorts of other kind of related uses that were more Recreation based than Industrial um and certainly if that footprint out there is changing to be more recreational that might be another reason for us to do that she wasn't expecting a long time difference but she just hadn't had those conversations yet and just wanted us to a to be aware that that had occurred um and provide some opportunity for feedback if we had any do we have any indication as to why um the donation was made if there was like an intended purpose or I don't think we I don't know that I'm not sure if Abby knows that either um but she had had a conversation with the the donor um just to indicate that that was what they were doing with the parcel they had you know previously had intended to do a project of their own yeah I guess I would I would vote to pause a little bit until we have a little bit more information gathered on what the school district is intending now to do with the gifted if it's indeed been gifted to them um and even on this Northern if we're talking the yellow then the northern parcel I mean it makes sense to have one cohesive strategic plan in in my opinion it is a close area correct I think those conversations will kind of provide more detail of what that looks like um and I I know Abby will come back with some recommendations so she wasn't again she wasn't expecting a long pause but also didn't want um us to not have this information so and I don't recall what gan's intended purpose was for if he was interested in the yellow parcel what it was going to be used for utilized for I don't remember um it was a service center site for their own purpose so it was it was their business purpose yeah I believe because it's going to give be more of a I should there has been there have been a number of conversations with them on what they might do actually so um there has there has been um other conversations with them on potentially um develop for future use um kind more of a more of a speculative plan and so um that's also part of why we just need to re-engage because I don't know if that's been there's been a number of different business plans have been talked about both of those Parcels have been donated no the parcel the parcel that was o owned by team Vantage um is what's been Don so team Vantage I don't know if anybody has this date um The Last Five Years had purchased some additional Parcels for some expected expansion and it is that newly P purchased parcel that they um have donated where is that in relation to I believe it's this can you are you able to see my mouse yes yeah I believe it's this parcel right here adjacent to the ice arena yes yeah do you mind do you mind coming to the podium so just so can I I had a conversation with Abby about this as well and I think the idea idea would be a potential of doing a land swap with the school district so that on this this greenish or bluish area uh the school district would take that we would take one of the sites that are you know closer to to the what would that be the north north east and do some industrial and then allow for parking on this because we do have a parking issue out there so those were the the thoughts that Abby had around that and I think that is a good idea to at least pause to have those conversations and see if the school district would be interested um I think this also points out a reason why when we sell land like this maybe some kind of a clawback where first right to have it you know to refusal to buy it back um because now these two sites although a very generous donation by team Vantage are be off the tax roles so any questions at all so that just a little bit more insight there because uh I I I was a little bit well I don't know if we need to do that but when you talk about the parking if you've been out there uh it is a challenge when there's a lot of events going on so any other points of feedback for Abby otherwise I would expect this to be on another agenda again no action expected to evening this evening it was just an update the only other point I would have um I I don't think it's a bad idea to do a swap or or anything that's been suggested but if there's potential to change land uses here and that's going to conflict with the existing zoning I would urge that staff um involved the Planning Commission early on in that process so that this doesn't come as a surprise to them because I think the land use piece is really their decision um and well I think we can have some influence um I'd rather they be on board absolutely good point I think commissioner langus Abby did discuss that so I'm glad that you brought that up as as a really important point that was something that was on her mind as well yeah all right let's move into updates um Julian anything else to add from a city perspective or Ryan any other City updates to add just a quick update um for the commission just so you know um we are officially bringing Mark um stats on board on February 18th that's a Tuesday that'll be his first day with us um so we're excited waited for him to come on board here and kind of get into all the things that have been waiting while we've been in this transition period so February 18th just a little over a month from now Chris any updates from Washington County thank you and good evening president Bayon members um just a couple quick updates for you just want to let you know that the CDA board in December did meet and re renew the contract with the open a business program and that's the program for small businesses throughout the county that provides free technical assistance and GAP financing so they have a subordinated loan program and so if you remember Tyler HCA and I think Tyler is going to come in and give a presentation at some point in time in 2025 to the Ed so it'll be more detailed but um just wanted to make you aware that that program is another it's a really good resource that that businesses don't have to go it along there's help available and there's no additional cost so we'll come in and um give an update on that um sometime in 202 and then the CDA board also did um renew a contract with the what's next CEO program and that's one that we've worked with the chambers on before that helps existing businesses that are growing that might need some assistance in helping them get to that next level and so growth is a good thing but sometimes it causes a whole new set of challenges and the intent of this program is to get through to navigate and figure out how you buy more inventory and add more people and to get to that next level so that's called the what's next CEO program we're excited about about renewing that one as well and then one minor thing uh that I just want to remind you we do have an EPA Grant the CDA has a $600,000 EPA grant that can pay for phase one phase two investig environmental reviews um site investigations soil testing um if it's a building that's coming down we can do ladness tce testing in that building and that's a grant 100% federally covered no match required so there's a good resource available for you as well and that's all I have I'd be happy to stand for any questions thank you very good thank you just wondering what kind of participation do you have in the What's Next program in the opening Business program no the what's next what's next so we we took a little pause um last year we didn't um they they funded I think about 29 businesses throughout the the county and provided assistance as well the year before that we actually had a CEO Roundtable group it was a peer-to-peer networking group and I think there were 12 people in that networking group that met every month and just shared ideas on how how to navigate that that growth and the challenges that they experienced that was across the whole County there were I think four businesses from Forest Lake in that um and then they hope to redo that that same peer-to-peer networking again the round table discussions again this year so hopefully another 12 this year and maybe another I'm going to guess 30 businesses that could be assisted in that program as well great it's amazing program thank you thank you thank you uh as far as what's going on at the chamber we have been uh digging deep into our 200 uh 2025 planning and doing our finalization uh one of the pieces that um that the Eda probably is aware of is a community guide and that is something that we utilize uh tremendously during arts in the park and our involvement in arts in the park and so that's just really um a huge piece that uh that the Forest Lake times provides for us and then we're able to promote in the foresake area all throughout the um the year with that so uh just getting in all those final submissions and that goes to print here later in the month um we've also been working with um I've been working with Chris here uh we're working on our first Career Connections which will be the opportunity really for uh the Forest Lake Area uh schools career launch program to shine and we're bringing uh uh folks from schools throughout the county together uh when using utilizing Forest Lake as an example as far as the career program that they have and so that will be on January 30th uh where we'll be meeting for the first time and Gathering Chamber Executives and school leaders uh across the county so we're pretty pretty excited about that and then just some of the uh we've done been doing our de we did our debrief on Hometown holiday we felt that um between uh City staff and myself we were very pleased and so I know many of you were there and so it was a great evening and so I looked at what worked well and what maybe where we would um where we would step it up a notch next year and then we're right into things like the Lakes area Expo which is our uh large showcase it is located at marinoa church so just outside of the confines of Forest Lake but it does involve about 70 70 or more businesses local businesses and organizations and so uh one of the larger exhibitor shows uh in the area and so that that will be on March 29th so that's uh where what we've been doing and if you have any questions I'll gladly answer any questions you might have any questions for nette the comments I I'm just so excited every time the chamber gives a report and looking back at what you've done the past year in the in working with Chris um County white stuff and working with the other Chambers thank you you're doing a really great job for our city thank you J very good any other updates to come before us this evening Ryan uh president Bane uh members just since it's been a while since we met I'll give you a couple development updates uh that are related to our housing in town so um a couple projects were're able to finish and then start pulling pulling pulling building permits uh so just down good View Avenue you get to County Road 50 where we have that Shadow Creek Estates project so right now there's 46 town homes that will be permitted between now and probably through the summer there they've pulled uh permits for one of the large buildings already and it'll be already building through that stuff so that there'll be some different type of home uh availability here in the next year and then hid Creek finished Street utility work in their phase two so that's 37 more single family homes and then phase three three has actually been submitted and is going through the review right now so uh that'll be coming forward to Planning Commission and city council here maybe already went to Planning Commission uh maybe I'm off date there but that's 45 more potential homes so good inventory that's just around the corner and um with more a lot of more conversations going on that side so I think it'll be busy are the town homes rentals or home well I don't think they're rentals lenar is building them if somebody buys one and Rents It I that stuff I would never know but private ownership individual ownership good thank you Ryan any other questions for Ryan or any any other updates come before us all right well this is my last meeting at this body and um I get to sign off here and turn officially over to mayor-elect Roberts here in just a little bit so thank you all um for the opportunity to serve and it's been great working with all of you much appreciated and um I know you've got great things on the horizon next year so wish you all the best so thank you thank you thank you and with that I will look for an a motion to adjourn I wej second Motion in a second all those in favor signal by saying I I oppose and we are adjourned thank you all [Music]