All [Music] right, we're at 5:30, so why don't we get the meeting started? >> Abby, you want to take a roll call? >> Sure. Uh, Commissioner Ho >> here. >> Commissioner Lorge >> here. >> Commissioner Langnes, >> present. >> Um, Commissioner Roberts >> here. President Ericson >> here. >> If you would please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. We have an agenda before us. to entertain a motion to approve it or make an amendment. >> I move we approve the agenda. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. We have an agenda. Open forum is next on the agenda. I don't see anybody here to speak to that. So, we'll move right past that to the consent agenda, which was the minutes from our regular meeting on August 4th. Anybody want to make a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion in a second. All those in favor sign I >> I opposed. >> All right, sir. >> I abstain. I wasn't here. >> Oh, very good. One ab one abstination. All right. Regular agenda items. So, we got the work plan update. Abby, >> thank you, President Ericson. Uh, forgive me folks. I with this council members that are on the body. I kind of for forget your names a little bit. So, at the EDA's August meeting, the EDA reviewed the uh EDA's current work plan in preparation of a work plan update. During the meeting and afterwards, before and afterwards, EDA members provided staff with numerous items um as potential work plan update items, and I'll include that on the board for reference on your podium uh up on the screens for reference. I tried to lump items uh into categories to try to kind of help keep our items kind of condensed into what we're working on or what we'd like to work on. B the categories kind of falling into policy, business assistance, beautifification, area planning, housing, land sales and development, community marketing, and advocacy. And each in those categories, you can see there's numerous potential projects in each of those categories. Um, all of them very uh worthy projects for the city, the EDA to be working on in the coming future. It's just a lot. Um, and I think one of the things that has kind of come up for staff in helping guide the work plan conversations, the EDA may not be aware. Um, as of your last meeting, it hadn't been set, but the council has set a strategic planning session for later this month, October 25th, the council will be meeting with city staff, department heads to start the process of developing a city council strategic plan. This be the first. Um, Mayor Roberts might be able to tell me. I think it's the first since maybe 2019. >> Probably. I don't recall any. >> Yeah, I think that the existing strategic plan is well past due. Um, and so one of the things that staff wanted to at least talk with the EDA about is kind of holding off on maybe creating too much of a work plan for the EDA until the council has had that strategic planning session to see if the council's strategic plan um can feed into kind of direct the EDA's work plan some ideally the EDA working on those things that the council has kind of identified as strategic priorities. I did note in here there is a number of items of our existing work plan that we still have to work on. Um business subsidy EDA policy review. We had started that some time ago. It's been paused and it just needs to come back before you. Um we have worked through the forgivable loan program that's going just a quick update tonight that's going to go to the council next week. uh or excuse me, your for forgivable loan program has actually been approved and implemented. The housing uh la funds that's going to be going to the council next week. Uh the southwest area study um we do have the grant application out that study development is underway. I do believe we should have something for you for your consideration at the next meeting. We did look at the downtown shoreline study, the some options with the downtown boat launch and discussions with advancing your boat club's um existing agreement with the city. No expansion options right now. Two areas where we uh the areas where I'd say we still have some work in our existing work plan is that policy review which we definitely need to be focusing on in the next few months. um headarters 123 and then that downtown priorities which is a really big bucket of what do we want to do in that downtown plan. So what staff's recommendation is is that the EDA hold on our current work plan extending it into 2026 but do not do any updates until we have that kind of strategic direction from the council strategic planning session. Um now that being said the ED doesn't have to take any action tonight. This is still our work plan and it would just kind of my work would continue to kind of help guide you guys on those things that we still haven't accomplished. But certainly bringing back before you exactly what we said we were going to talk about is all the things the EDA does want to work on and how that works into an EDA updated work plan. >> All right. Thank you, Abby. Questions from the commission? I know I had a chance to review this and had a conversation with Abby earlier today. My inclination, while I can appreciate this long list of worthy projects, some of which, you know, are represented in our current work plan, some of which, you know, have been talked about for a while. Um, I hesitate to just cart blanch push forward our current work plan and rubber stamp it for the next year. in part because some of it's accomplished number one number two some of it's not even gerine like the idea of supporting the 123 as a Minnesota technology corridor right so I mean there's just some things in the current work plan that are no longer relevant um as I understand it so my preference would be to not take you know any significant action tonight on this um wait for the council um event later this month see what comes out of that you know maybe it, you know, the end of the day, i.e. the end of the year, we end up just making minor modifications to this work plan for another 12 months knowing that, you know, there is a certain level of, you know, capacity issues as well from a staff standpoint, you know, but I guess that's, you know, as I kind of looked at this and had a chance to have a conversation with Abby where I'm leaning. >> I agree. >> Yeah. I guess my thought is I don't know if um I think well with two council members being on the EDA I think that um this board I would hope has a pretty good idea that we're you know prodevelopment or whatever. So, if it is downtown stuff, it is I hate the word business subsidy, but if it is TIFF, um 123, I I think the council's desire is that the EDA is is, you know, willing to do whatever there to kind of spur some of this development on. And and so uh that and with knowing that potentially here before the end of the year there will be a project that will come forward uh likely for the EDA to just get an update and look at and give some direction to the council. Um I think um you know not still focusing on that without pausing too much um because that will be something that I think the council is going to want some direction before the end of the year. I do want to know I mean there there are ongoing you know development efforts throughout the community that staff is continuing to work on right that isn't necessarily come needs to come back to the EDA um I was when I was talking with Leif earlier I said it feels somewhat like an oxymoron to talk about EDA efforts when we have 16 entitlement applications right now and I would say several of them are for commercial development new commercial development in our community. Um, really exciting stuff, but stuff that, you know, your your efforts, our rah rah rah, forest likes a great place, come do business is paying off. So, it's not that staff isn't necessarily doing proactive economic development. It's just some of this project specific stuff has to get back burning just slightly. I do agree with you, uh, Blake. It's easier just to call you Blake than to remember what your first Are you a mayor here? Are you counselor? I don't know. Um that that yes, there's stuff that's happening throughout that may come back to you and it's not like staff's not picking up the phone, sitting down a meeting with people. Um those sort sorts of things are happening. It's just new initiatives, things, entryway monuments and things like that. use of fund balance like maybe not move forward quite yet with these things because we do have quite a bit of development actually happening which is really exciting. >> But can I ask a question regarding that? Is it just >> um any updates that we should be aware of in regards to that or just when they come to this committee at at one of our meetings to >> No, it's always been my goal to have um to you quarterly development updates. Um, so for members that don't know, we've been down a planner, our only other staff position. >> Um, down a building official and down what would be our planning manager. We've filled that position within the planning manager within the last um, three weeks. Um, we've been hiring for a planner and um, we have made an offer on a building official. And so part of a lot of this is just kind of keeping up on that reporting has frankly it's not excusable. Um, but I don't have the time. I don't I physically can't get those reports to you. Um, but those are things that I think we can if you've been following the council's uh the I think everybody in the city that has a city email the Friday updates really trying to hard to push out there some of that stuff that's coming through planning commission, park commission, council to see some of those activities happening. And then Leaf, you mentioned something about the the one the 123 project. Was there something that developed about that? >> Something that's >> the next agenda item is do we want to put out an RFP for that? So which would fall fall under goal 3B, right? Okay. So >> I mean, so great conversation. Other thoughts or questions? >> So I don't necessarily need a motion. I think we can unless this you would like to. >> No, I don't need to make motion. I guess my my only ask might be is coming out of the council retreat. Could we refine these three goals? Not making wholesale changes, but I mean, as you and I discussed, there's some things that have been done. There's some things that are no longer gerine. There's things we're taking action on tonight potentially. So, you know, without doing a wholesale change of direction, could we refine these three goals to be more relevant? >> Yeah, I definitely think so. And um I think part of this I I do intend to bring um this larger abbreviated version uh to the council to kind of just show all of the things that this EDA is interested in working on. I think one of the things that I definitely want to have a conversation with the council on is what what does the council see as the best role for the EDA? The EDA's mission has really been to spur business and support business, right? And we're doing that, but in a lot of different ways. Some things really well aligned, some things don't. And I think um getting the council's take on where should we focus our efforts can really help us then in kind of fine-tuning an updated work plan. If I could just add any, you know, as far as my time, I was 15 years on the EDA and uh it was a little bit frustrating where people in the community would come to me and say, "Hey, what's going on here? I heard this." And I hadn't heard anything about it. And so, as much as we can give it, you know, updates that are that you can, you know, that's not you know, compromise a deal or something like that, the better because it just puts everyone here in a better position. >> Yeah. One of my goals, um, and I think administrator stat's goal is just to increase communication with the community, right, with our with our appointed elected officials, but within the community. Um, one of the goals that I have for my department in 26 is to get our development applications on our website, right? So just even just what is ongoing development happening? Where are we at in the processes and procedures unless you get a notification in the mail? There's no one centralized place. And we're going to continue to develop I think fairly rapidly, fairly consistently um now until we're developed out. And so I think having those on our website as just one more way to help point people to a single spot is really going to be helpful. So that is a goal of mine to work with my team to get that done this year. So >> all right if you don't need anything else from us then let's >> I don't n >> go to headquarters 123. >> All right just a second to get where I need to go here. So, in April this year, the EDA and the council held a joint meeting regarding Headwaters 123. And um at the time, you were advised we were in negotiations with the sale for potential purchaser who would have used it for a data center. Um at the time, the EDA and the council held a cold session. We talked about negotiation strategies for the sale of Headwaters 123. and the council did direct staff that if that potential purchaser went away, we needed to probably do something different to really start spurring some development. That potential purchaser has um chosen not to move forward with uh entering into agreement with the city. So, um that's our time to re-evaluate what we want to do with Headarters 123. staff um is bringing forward uh this for your direction as to whether or not we want to move forward with a development of a request for proposals, a timeline of that nature to kind of see if we can see if there's partners out there in the development community that want to partner on the development of headwaters 123. As a reminder, the city has had this held with a broker for quite a number of years. I've been here three and a half. we had it with listed with CBNRE. Um, in conversations with other people in the economic development field, we feel like finding another broker might just garner the same results. Kind of they'll wait for somebody to come to us. Whereas an RFP gives the opportunity for us to go to the development committee and say, "Hey, is anyone interested at this time in this uh property?" So the process generally follows that we would draft an RFP, publicly release it. During a submission period, there's opportunities for questions and answers, site visits. Um we receive proposals, we review proposals, we interview potential uh developers. Um and then we can make a selection and um that selection then it goes into negotiations. Um sometimes what some people will do in an RFP process is they will actually have a sample um purchase agreement right built right into theirs so developers are aware um some of the stipulations that we might have such as us um having what are called clawback you know provisions if they don't develop it in the way we want or don't develop in a certain time frame. Um, so that process is likely to take six months or more. Um, just depending on the timing of developing an RFP and getting that released and giving enough time to the development community to give responses. Um, but staff is bringing this up for a few things. If um, one, are we ready? Do we want to do this take this next step? Um, and if so, do we want to hire a third party to help us draft an RFP, manage that hiring process? That does free up some of staff's time to be able to work on some of the other community priorities or EDA priorities. um you know knowing that this should be a cooperative effort between the city council, the EDA, other appointed bodies who might want to serve on an RFP committee. Um I wouldn't imagine you know the full RFP would come back to the EDA for your release but then once we start getting in um proposals who would want to sit on an interview panel help review those processes and then um you know in the April workshop you identified certain priorities for the headarters 123 um listed in order was to increase the tax base create opportunities for business development preserve neighborhood character, create jobs, and provide a cash injection. And so, you know, aside from those things, are there any specific things you, the EDA, would want that RFP to focus on? Um, we did talk about multiuse development uh being kind of that business park, a small amount of retail, maybe some opportunity for residential in one area. Um so tonight for your discussion and this one I am hoping that um the EDA if you're ready to make a motion to direct staff to do something here that might be we're not ready right now and that's fine but just bringing this back as you and the council had asked. >> Thank you Abby. All right wants to start. >> I got a question. >> Yeah. >> So um if we hired person to help handle this. Would the wages come out of the EDA fund set? >> It would. Um, depending on the structure, it could potentially be that they um Yes, it would end up probably being it probably would be at EDA. We could talk with the council about whether or not that's a shasher. The property is owned by the city. The EDA has been kind of the marketing and negotiation arm. And usually the council will transfer the land to the EDA up before the sale. So it could be that the council would be willing to consider um utilizing some general fund levy dollars. I'll be honest, I haven't gone out to the um you know, usually a broker would still help with that RFP process. I haven't asked anybody what that would cost. I can try to figure that out before your next meeting and we could see what those costs could be. But yes, I think those would be EDA. >> And is the contract up with CB right now? >> Yep. >> They do have um CBRE does have an education institutional wing that does do just exactly this. Not only will they help you draft the RFP, but they put it out in the development community. That would be probably one firm I would look to is just ask them of their how how they could help us with this process if we wanted to have a this managed by a third party. Obviously staff is helping manage it, but a lot of the leg work um that consultant could help with. Uh Chris, is this something the county could help with this? And would you are are other cities, I know they are doing something like this? Um myself and President Ericson met with the mayor and administrator of Cottage Grove. They did something similar on a piece of property that was combination. They had part of it and then there was a developer that owned it and did this. But is this what is your recommendation or thoughts on on going this route and what could the county do to help us? >> Um, President Ericson, members, good afternoon. Um, yeah, absolutely the CDA would be willing to help you partner um to put together the RFP and there are you mentioned Cottage Grove. There are other examples out there. Um, Lake Elmo is just going through a very similar process right now where 3M had donated, I think, 180 acres to the city and the city is looking at making that an industrial park. So, they've just recently gone through this RFP process and we certainly get you a copy of that RFP and work with you to refine it and make sure it makes sense for you. Uh, Abby mentioned CBRE, but um, Ellers and Associates, your municipal advisor also does that type of work and has connections with developers the within the development of community as well. So maybe we can make a a call to Rebecca and see if they can help maybe point us in the right direction, but we can get started. I think honestly at the end of the day, what you might be looking for is a development builder partnership instead of somebody just to list the land and hopefully put it out there on the MLS, but have somebody that's getting those inquiries, the builders that are getting those inquiries to to direct them to this site and then work with them locally once we have them here. Uh and that's that's the ideally uh the that you'd like to to connect with and it, you know, it's the United Properties, it's the Ryan Companies, it's the big big builders, Gong Companies, I'm sure, would be interested in exploring that possibility as well, uh, that not only um would would sell it or market the land, but also look for companies that are looking to build a building and and direct them to to our location here. So, but short uh answer is yes, we can absolutely help with that process. And I will say since the time of developing the staff report and sending the packet out, I do have Lake Elmo's RFP on their 180 acre 1880 acres, >> their former 3M site. So, we do have a good model that's been used in Washington County. Um, I would say this is this isn't uncommon for staff to do. It's just whether or not you wanted to have a third party involved at all to help manage it. Do you think Abby, you know, as we continue to ramp up on staffing that that's something that staff would be able to handle say at first, you know, Jan one or something? >> I do. I mean, I think that we would spend the next couple months trying to hammer down that RFP. And I think by Jan 1, at the latest, we could probably get that issued. And I think our staffing capacity will be significantly improved in the next probably 60 to 90 days just in trying to fill some of those holes in the like frontline development that is kind of pulling me into that world right now. And then typically on these I I see where there's letter intent. I mean, are we doing an RFP or we're tied to one developer? Then if someone else comes in, >> we really have to go through the process before someone approaches out of the blue >> or we connect them with that whoever received the R, you know, the >> Yeah. As long as the RFP is out, anybody can submit a proposal on it and it's the parameters of what we're asking for in the RFP. you know what how what can you offer to make this the best partnership for you and us, right? That's ultimately how can what are the roles of the developer and the roles of the city? What's going to be the costs or the revenue share um out of land sales? Those sorts of things are all outlined in their proposal. As long as that proposal window is open, anybody can submit on it. But after the proposal window closes, we really shouldn't be entertaining any offers or anything until we've gone through an entire RFP process. It could be through the RFP process we find nobody wants to develop it right now. We could just be too far out still. I don't think that's the case. I really don't. Um, but we won't know until we kind of go out, I think, proactively to the development community. If it comes down to we select somebody and we enter into legal agreements, then no, we would have to direct future businesses, other developers, builders to that party, >> whoever we accept, whoever. >> Yeah. >> Two comments. One on when you said we may be too far out. Brainard EDA, >> I know, >> has radio ads that are quite effective. When I first heard it, I thought, man, if I had a business, I'd entertain going to Brainard and get out of town here. >> Yeah. >> And uh they have shovel ready sites and it's all right there in like a 15-second ad on the radio. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't think >> I don't think that we are that far out. I don't I mean I I think um I don't I think that there's a difference between us and Brainer. Brainer, it is out. That's a whole different like quality of life, a different lifestyle, right? Um I think that we are we are going to what did I say earlier? We're going to grow gang busters pretty consistently from now until us being developed out. I don't think that we're too far out. Then one other comment. Um I assume you're going to look at the costs of between hiring a staff to do this or going with an experienced um one of that Chris mentioned that does that for a living and doesn't need any training >> wasting time trying to figure things out. They've got it down pack. That's what they do. >> Yeah. I think um you know before our next meeting we could probably give a couple very experienced um people a call and say what would you charge this for? come back to you and say, "Do we want to hire a third party?" or I I'm very confident that staff uh with, you know, Chris's support, I I can do this. We can do this without someone. It just we do need to recognize that that will take my time. And so that does put some limitations on, I don't know, entryway monuments or whatever other other thing we might want to work on, right? Um, but that's just part of managing, you know, the workload of staff right now. So, >> so from a timeline standpoint, I the RFP process would take six months roughly, you said. So, we're sitting in April. If best case scenario, >> there's an RFP we're just all in love with, >> we could potentially have shovels digging next year or are you thinking the following year after it goes through all the other processes? Um, so if you had if let's just say best case scenario we found an RFP we were in love with in April by maybe June we could enter into legal agreements our entitlement process because they still would probably have to go through some planning and land subdivision processes um that can take six months to a year. So, it could be spring of 27 that dirt dirt could be moved. I would love to be wildly optimistic and say fall of 26, but that's really optimistic. >> That's kind of what I was suspecting was the case. Um, the other piece that I'm curious on, so I noticed on number two, it talks about zoning, land use, and and those aspects. Um, I believe that that property is zon is it business district? >> Business park. >> Business park. >> Yep. >> Is there thought in the RFP to provide potential accommodations to changing portions of that? I think we'd have to be honest in the RFP that we may be favorable um for complimentary uses, especially uses complimentary to the adjacent land because I have heard from um the city council and even the planning commission about that kind of southwest corner where we've got borders right up against residential and whether or not we need to change that kind of land use to feather the land uses in a little bit better. Um, this RFP process can't change the zone, but definitely can allude to whether or not the city is willing to change it through a zoning amendment process. >> Yeah, I was going to I was going to suggest maybe having a conversation with the the planning commission and the council as to what is your appetite for how far to go with that. um what are you willing to put up next to the residential housing we know is almost certainly not going to change near the golf course portion as an example on the south side >> and along Fenway even though Fenway will be a major collector road it will be residential directly across the street and so yep >> and so understanding their appetite so that that could be at least included in the RFP or somehow presented in their um >> so that we don't have some huge huge awesome looking project that when you look at the neighboring properties, it's awful. >> Yeah. >> And it just chews up a lot of developers time and ours. >> Yeah. >> Yep. That's a great point. Thank you. >> I had a question. I mean, in the past, we've kind of talked about what is the latest in terms of research or trends going on. I was glancing at some headlines last weekend. can't remember if it was in business insider or Forbes, but it they were talking about kind of a a growth with data centers need the need for data centers because of AI and a lot of that growth. And so I thought, oh, you know, it kind of like piqued my interest. Um, but it was a subscription type article and I couldn't get to the whole thing. So, um, anyway, I just thought, is that still something? Is that something that you're hearing? Um are there because I'm hearing you know which would be better for us going to selling this to a developer like Agon or Orion companies and the like right is it better easier for us better for us to sell it to I'm just making sure I'm understanding this correctly an organization like that or to go direct to an an organization that's wanting to build there and work with their developer or a developer like digital health company or some of this very AI driven a lot of digital health is in that realm right now um very hot so is that sort of the two lanes we're considering or go ahead >> so it's kind of a loaded question but um and and truthfully it's a little frustrating right now because we're hearing from our partners that provide electricity that they can't get us what we need uh to do in the data center for example. Uh originally when we first started talking about the technology corridor which was about seven years ago, no problem. We get you 200 um megawws easily. >> That's right. >> And um just recently we found out that that turned into 2.5 megawatts and then even more recently at 1.5 megawatts which is about the size of a Costco and a half not only on the Edwire site but in this corridor. So we're kind of bumping up against some capacity issues um in terms of how much power is available. And I don't mean to say that to development community uh too hard um because I think there's some flexibility. I think the goal posts are moving a little bit. Uh and we just found out recently that they're working on some studies to get additional substations and additional transmission mains into this area and then they can distribute it to the individual sites. So, but but that's kind of a it's a moving moving target right now. Is there a need for data centers? Absolutely. Uh AI isn't going to go away. Um and we think that this is a great site for a data center. uh it's a perfect use of those locations, but we've got to have the partnerships in place with the power company to make sure that they can provide electricity. So, that's what we're hitting in terms of a little bit of a speed bump right now. >> I think we can get we get there, but it's going to take some time and a little bit of work. >> Sorry, I forgot about that. >> Good question. >> Major, >> it is a good question. And just to continue on what Chris has said is that um I I don't think you know between now and the end of our RFP process any party could probably come forward and we could entertain offers. There are some development limitations now. Um, and those are the things that I think that in finding a development partner that is aware of them, but can also help plan out the development of the site so that the site can develop as the infrastructure is built is going to maybe be more beneficial and maybe get us something there sooner, >> right? >> And then build it um as it as we get that infrastructure there. So, >> so one of the big questions I think you're asking is should we have staff do this or should we hire a third party here? I'm kind of indifferent on this. I'm not really set in stone on it, where I think is the best path here. But what I think might be really good information to have to make that decision is understanding what's going to come back from that council meeting that's going to happen where we know what their priorities are and we can really see what your timeline is for the next year. And so what I might suggest is that whatever staff is able to do or really has to be done early on in the process maybe is started now. And once that work plan comes back. If we know that we're going to have some very strong priorities for you and your team that we then hire that third party at that point. I think that's a a great at least discussion topic. This, you know, two two months ago when we met last, the council hadn't set the strategic planning session and this is going to help inform a lot of my department's work, our work. Um I think before that meeting um later this month and before your next meeting we certainly can also talk with you know Ellers CBNRE the firms out there that can help manage a city through an RFP process and see what those costs are. um we can work together on a little bit of a timeline and some parameters for what this RFP would be so that then at least at the next meeting in November we can at least have the conversation of what we've been hearing from the council that strategic plan won't be set yet but what we're kind of hearing from the council is strategic direction and whether or not um my capacity my team's capacity um will be there I do think that strategic plans are you know shorter term than long range plans. Um, so nothing maybe that is going to be so pressing in like the first three to six months. So I think that this is almost like that quick little window while they are working through their strategic planning that we can get something moving on 123. So I'm hearing you say is maybe do a little bit of leg work before the next meeting. have that meeting strategic planning session with the council come back and we can kind of help provide that you can help provide the direction of should we hire somebody or should we just move forward on our own. >> So I don't know if I guess I don't really recall exactly but when we did have that close session we talked about okay we had this offer from this data center that went away did we talk about maybe what that different look would be to You know, we do have some planning out there where we're calling for like three to five to seven foot smaller pieces to get a number of different businesses in there. I don't know if the EDA has been presented that or if you guys recall that or not, but as someone on the council going into that strategic plan, it' be nice really do you, this is the, you know, advisory board like it'd be nice to almost not to throw it back at EDA, but to as a council with everything else that we're trying to decide on a strategic planning to what is the desire of the EDA? Do you do we want to continue to have that in the back potential data center or are we open to separate you breaking this parcel up and having smaller industrial sites and if it is industri I mean is it even industrial we I don't know if we've explored that since we >> right >> you know back and forth we gave them >> it's really been really defined >> and maybe it has I don't recall it have but maybe we have kind of after that circled back and said they're gone what do you guys want to do >> I thought we did before we went into the close session I thought we kind of did talk about the potential tax revenue knew of parceling this up in a smaller fashion. I thought there was direction. Um you saw some development plans similar. I think one was out of Woodbury that showed some medical, some retail, some supporting uses. >> That's how it comes to me. So if that's still >> it would have been my intent with an RFP to say we're looking for a multi-use some light retail that is along the parkway to support the neighborhood but generally business park lots on the interior for job creation. Maybe that residential along the side. I would use our existing site plans that were developed, those concept plans, not only the one that was developed by the EDA few just a few years ago, um but one that was developed I want to say in maybe like 2015 16 a small area plan say here's some concept plans but generally with the RFP proposal we would probably be looking from them for a highle concept plan as part of their application submission. Is that still the desire of of this board, do you think, is to go that direction? >> Yeah, I think part two here is to, you know, do we want to do a a collaborative effort with other members from other commissions and to really guide that RFP creation? And so, I guess I'm curious, is there anybody, you know, that wants to definitely potentially be considered for that? >> Don't all jump at once. I I think would be good to have non-consel members on there just to get more perspective on it if that's what the >> I feel like it's good to have that vision and then also because it's kind of in the same area. I don't know where the um the school district potential collaboration I know that's a separate plot of land. I don't know what happened to that. I don't know that there's been on uh in the most recent past, we have not heard from the school district that they would want to continue to partner to find land. I think of like an overall vision and that was something that we talked about at the at that close session or our discussion during that that evening was just was part of the reason to say no to that whoever it was that had a an offer on the table was that we want to have a vision with the look and feel and that it makes sense and we have a cohesive look and feel throughout our community. Um, I mean, I would just like to have, you know, like sort of like Blake was saying, u, Mayor Roberts, sorry. Um, you know, having a vision or a layout, even if it's that Woodberry example. So, if people came and asked, "What are we doing over there?" or just having some of those things that we can refer to and say, "This is sort of the game plan now and what we're thinking." And maybe it's just having those documents available. Um, referring back to them if they were in our packet from that week. I don't know if they were um >> well I just you know basically wanted to make sure that everyone thinks those small area like three to five or seven and cut it up in well whatever the desire is or whatever this RFP comes back as but we we've kind of gone a little bit here now talk still a little day out of center we're talking some residential so just maybe you know, like a clear idea of what maybe we want or clear as possible so that when we go into this strategic plan on the 25th, the council hears from the EDA what where their where their vision is, where they think it should go. Maybe I'm putting that on a bad, you know, coming up pretty quick, but um it'd be nice to hear that, you know, strong strongly or not or >> Sure. And I forgive me. I thought during our work session we did and I know that that was kind of tricky because we talked about the goal for headarters 123 we talked about do we want to see this do we want to see that and then we went into a close session right and I had really thought that the direction was if the data center goes away that we would be looking at some sort of multi-use. We'd be taking those old concept plans, taking the Headwaters Village neighborhood across the street, kind of throwing those together and kind of saying, "Development community, show us what you can give us to finish off this parkway." Um, if we want to be doing some roundt, some design stuff beforehand, I certainly we certainly can. >> You're right. That probably it's a lot of meetings, Abby. So, >> it's a lot of meetings. I don't know how I remember and sometimes I second guess myself if I actually am remembering it correctly. >> Yeah, I think >> I remember that we did look at proposed lots breaking it up and keeping in mind that there was a major sewer line or whatever going through and so it was divided up after that. We talked about not having trucks coming by headarters. >> Yep. >> So I thought we >> okay >> kind of refined what we were looking for. I thought so as well. >> I didn't we probably didn't document it. >> That's okay. Um, so Abby, >> yeah, >> I do remember I was not at that session, but when we did the SWAT analysis with Chris, that's when the because in my time here it was always the big lots, right? And so then I when we did the SWAT analysis, then we did see the images. That was when I first saw the smaller parcels and that's when the conversation began uh in my mind anyway. Um, I I'm okay with smaller lots and and changes in zoning and even some residential use perhaps on the property. What I will say is I would give great preference on any RFP that comes back that has strong business use and strong tax value coming out of that. And the I I think some of us can go really far back to when like this this land effectively originated from what was forest like township land um that they had bought from the airport property and that shifted through a lot of pieces. And so the long-term plan even the vision I mean this goes back like more than 20 years ago was that this would be property that could support the community both via jobs as well as a tax base. And as soon as and I I I know the public always gets excited when residential comes in because they think that's going to bring tax base and it's completely opposite and untrue. residential pulls in we'll say it's a one to I think 125 ratio um whereas a business is about 25 to1 so or 0.25 25 to1. So the the dollar and and there are certainly some exceptions, you know, your bars and stuff like that that use our police services, but we should really give great preference to any sort of type of business. And I'm not saying put a heavy industrial, you know, asphalt plant down there next to residential, but any sort of business use that we can get in here >> would be greatly ideal. And I would even say I'm willing to wait a few more years. I've been sitting around these meetings for a couple decades. I can wait a little bit longer until that right time comes for the right project. >> Yeah. >> Um there's not a whole lot of 100 plus acre properties in Forest Lake that could theoretically be developed. Um >> no, I will say um if we wanted to sell it for residential, I could have sold it yesterday, >> hands down. And I think now the question that I'm just bringing to you is now the time to go ask the development community if anybody wants to give us a proposal. Just because we go through that process doesn't mean we'd have to select any of them. And certainly the RFP would emphasize our priorities and we don't have to select something that doesn't meet our goals. I think we learned that going through this last negotiation process too is if we're going to sell to one user and it's going to be one big box, we want a big bag of money, >> right? >> Um >> because it's one big risk. because it's one big risk, >> but this is, you know, a lot this when we start to really think in economic development terms of the long-term impacts, those future jobs, those future tax base, and it takes some planning and it'll take some time developing it out. Um, so overall, I'm hearing a few things that generally speaking, you might be ready to move forward with an RFP. Generally speaking, you might want to see a little bit more detail of what would be in that RFP and what the cost would be if somebody assisted us with it before I think you guys are ready to say, "Yeah, go ahead and really put a lot of time and effort." So, I think between now and your November meeting, I can one chat with the council. This is a blip in the strategic plan, right? This is a overarching we're going to look at land development and land sales, right? because that's a big priority I think type of thing and then what are the little things that we do underneath it. I know how to water 23. It's not a little thing, but um have that brief conversation with the council, see if this is still a strategic, you know, they want us to keep moving on this. And then at our next meeting, I'll kind of give you some visuals that we'd include some cost estimates if we were going to hire somebody else and really see if you guys are wanting to us to start moving forward with something. Does that seem like I see a lot of heads nodding? >> I think so. >> Okay. Did we build in the budget to hire the consultant for this project? >> Um, we have it built into the 26 budget to do a project >> without necessarily having decided what that project is. We have the Southwest area study that some of the funds might creep into 26, but I'd imagine it would be done in my vision is we'll be done with that project in 25 and just be using $25. Um, but we did not necessarily dedicate like a project to use our kind of consulting dollars for. So, there could be some funding available. I don't know if this is one of the things that pre-development finance fund would help cover, but predevelopment finance fund uh with the county could also help us cover some of those consulting fees for um for the RFP process. >> Sounds good. Well, great discussion. Do you need anything more from us in terms of a specific motion or anything? I don't in fact I put both of these on regular agenda for action but really they were kind of discussion direction more than anything. So >> your item on here um regarding a committee formation >> we don't need one right yet. >> We can that's that was my question. We can wait until >> I think we can wait because I think the idea of the committee really would be once the RFP goes out and if we're going to do interviews and selection of of things, that's when we would really want some bodies from council EDA planning commission to be involved. So >> would you would you want bodies involved in the front end to just to get people's >> I think I'm just going to bring it back to this body as a whole. >> Okay. Um because this would be your RFP process whether or not you're going to fund it or not. I think this would end up being managed by the EDA. This is really an EDA function. We're going out. We're finding development partners to develop and potentially sell city land. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next item is discussion. I know you just did that. So we'll go to updates. Um Abby, >> um I wanted to provide you all with an update. The um earlier this year, a few years ago, the city um elected to help support Midco in their bordertoboard grant application. The borderto-border grant application was intended to help provide a large portion of Forest Lake with mid coast broadband services that were either underserviced or had no service um in the community for broadband services. So something we learned during the pandemic that there was a large portion of the community that was just underserved in internet capacity. Their project has been completed. the council has um given them the commitment of the $50,000, but I wanted to at least just make the EDA aware that um the project was completed and there's now a significant portion of the city that is serviced by Broad Mid Coast Broadband Service. Um, if I remember right, and I'd have to just go back through my notes, um, it was something like 250 uh, properties that became eligible, and I think there's maybe about 10 or 12 of them that were businesses as well. And so, um, not necessarily advocating for any specific business, but showing that MidCo's been, um, making investments in the community to help improve quality of life um, throughout throughout the areas that were underserved. This isn't just a brief update. Do you have any questions? >> No. >> Thank you. >> Uh moving right along if you don't mind, chair. >> No. >> Uh the last week or last meeting we talked about commissioner expirations. I did double check. We had talked about the concern that we have um four of the seven members terms would be up at the end of this year. One of them is president Ericson who is an annual appointment because our body is made up of five at large members the mayor and one counselor. So though the mayor and will stay through his term but the one counselor is up for reappoint each year. So that's then leads us just to three people turning over. Now I think there was concern that that is that's a almost a quorum turning over. Um we can't change that but we do have to look at our bylaws and our governing documents in the next um probably first quarter of between now and the first quarter of 2026. And so I think we can reestablish a process to get those staggered out a little bit better. But I did confirm commissioners Lorge Grindle and Wright's terms will be up this year. And so just having that conversation again of willingness to continue to serve. Um if there's not, you don't have to say anything right now. What I would ask you to do is to reach out to Leif um or Mayor Roberts and have those conversations so that way if we know that there's going to be a vacancy that we can try to solicit for those in advance. our hope that we don't sit with large gaps of vacant positions uh for too long. Um so not necessarily need discussion. Just reach out to Leaf for Blake if you have want to chat about that. >> Thank you. Um, local affordable housing aid update provided you guys with uh I I think last fall we talked about we have new sales tax revenue dollars to go for local affordable housing initiatives. the EDA planning commission and all council all agreed we wanted to um focus using our dollars on helping our homeowners rehabilitate their homes if they are making between 80 and 100 10% AMI. That would be our first priority. Second priority is to rehab rental properties in that same income threshold. Um, so we have found a partner. Washington County CDA has existing programs and has created a new program to help homeowners, renters, um, with exactly what we're looking for. And they are willing to administer our LAA dollars at no cost to the city. And so, uh, for council's consideration next week is entering into an agreement with the CDA for the use of those dollars, which means that we'll start marketing out the use of those, uh, low interest loans. I think when I say low interest, I want to say they might be even no interest loans. Chris, may you know, may not. >> That's okay. I'll bring it back. Um, just trying to put the word out there as much as possible. uh because we do have a uh we've got a a healthy la reserve um of I think over $200,000 to start distributing within the community. So that's a pretty good amount when you think of um helping hit homeowner I don't want to say hit homeowners support homeowners in their rehabilitation and upgrade efforts. >> Awesome. Thank you. not on the agenda was supposed to be boards and commissioners picnic is this Thursday. I don't know what we call it but um if just by a show of hands who might be there so we might get a headcount. Great. It's at 4 o'lock at Lakeside Memorial Park. >> 4 to 7 I think it is. Four to six. >> Four to six. I think >> four to six. >> It's dark by seven. >> It is dark by seven. Look at that. Uh, so I see the two counselors. You gonna show up, Chris? >> Maybe. >> I'm I'm not available. >> Okay. >> Sorry. What time did you say it, sir? >> Four o'clock ends at 6 this Thursday >> at Lakeside. 4 to 6. So, I see three and a half maybe. >> Okay. >> All right. Thanks, Abby. Anything else? >> No, I don't. Thank you. >> All right. Wonderful. Chris, anything happened to Washington County? >> Thank you, President Ericson and members. I don't have any formal updates for you. I would be happy to stand for any questions from anyone. >> I have wine. Um Abby had mentioned uh the local affordable housing aid would be 80 to 100% AMI. Do you know what that number is? And then the the second question I have with that and and if you don't run this, just please tell me. Um, but do you know how that program will be run through the county? Like is the county doing the approvals or are they sending them back to council here who has to ultimately approve it? >> President Ericson. Um, member Langness, I I don't work directly with the program and I will get you back I will get you the income limits, uh, specific numbers. I don't have those. Um, but the CDA does have staff that will work um with you to to kind of set up the policies and how you want to implement it and then we'll just do that work on your behalf and report back to you on the administration of it. But uh you so you'll you won't have a direct role in it. Um just tell us how you want it run and I'm sure Melissa and her team but the CDA who um I I focus more on the economic development side of it. they have a a team that specializes in housing and that will um roll up their sleeves and do this on your behalf. So, hope hopefully that answers your question. >> It does. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I can at least comment um the the county CDA's um staff will uh answer questions about the program. They will administer the application process, the loan approval process. They will not approve any loans without staff admin uh saying okay the we've written out the agreement that our priority level is to try to inject as much as we can to a wide variety as possible in that home ownership category. Um rental rehabilitation has some unique strings through the state that I could see it maybe not being as desirable for rental property owners. Um, and then we did also put a clause in there that we can use this, they can use this in partnership with their other programs. So, it could potentially help support um like a Habitat for Humanity, those sorts of things. Our number one priority though is let's try to get it into our homeowners hands. And with that, we have three years. So, if it seems by the two and a half year mark um that we first receive funds that we're not getting it out into our homeowners, that gave us those other avenues to try to help disperse it before the state might end up taking it back or whatever. We can get you those AMI limits. I was looking online right now and I don't have that quick at hand, but we can provide that at your next meeting >> or via email >> or or once it's set up um along with the a link so we can share it to to folks in the community and help promote that. >> We may as well. I mean, >> yeah, >> I think it's really dumb the state did it, but >> we may as well use it since they're giving it to every community in the state. >> It's not every community >> or many. It is many and it is just a metro area tax I think. Um but yes it is many communities but it is um quite a bit of money per year. Uh so all right thank you Chrisette. Anything from the chamber? >> Well good evening. I have just a few things. I know you're all ready to move on right. Uh just kind of a comment back to what Abby was talking about about all the entitlements and uh from our standpoint at the chamber, we've seen over the summer just a nice increase in membership which I think reflects uh well upon what's happening in our community as well as the need for visits or the request for visits. We've been doing more visits than normal uh which is a great thing and some of those are have been very celebratory from the groundbreaking of the vet memorial and u opening a belts park. So again u just seen a lot of movement within the business community uh some quite a few brand new businesses. So uh that's feeling really really good and uh just says to me that we have good we have good things happening here in Forest Lake. So happy to report that. Um then also in partnership with Chris Ang and Washington County and our colleagues across uh all of Washington County, uh we've mentioned to you before that we have been uh instrumental in helping our colleagues in the southern part of the county because they do not have a Mike and Molly. And by a mic and Molly, I mean our career launch program at the Forest Lake area schools. And if you didn't know, that program is a model program across Washington County. And so between the chambers and the education world, uh we're working to create and to help foster um some of those kinds that kind of programming across the county would say that. Um so we're very excited about that. And and in fact, all of us were brought together just last month in Forest Lake. And so again, we were able to tour and really get a hands-on um experience with Career Launch. And I was amazed. Uh I haven't been into some of those classrooms since the renovations and all that. And so just really some wonderful things going on in our area school. Uh next I thought I'd report that we are hiring and so I'm in the hiring process and right now that is a replacement with an with a boost and so uh replacing our executive assistant with uh more hours and then we're moving right on into our annual gala which it gives us the opportunity to celebrate with our community our member in our community and so uh in case you're wondering it's November 6th and so working diligently on that and all at the same time working with staff staff here at the city to get ready for hometown holiday which will be here in no time. Christmas is celebrating December 6th. So, uh any questions? >> Yes. >> What are the reasons the new businesses are giving for moving to Forest Lake? >> Uh interest, you know, there the ones that Well, I can think of one, right? Um one one is somebody that's related and so was brought here by her family and relocated here. That's the the one that's strong in my mind. Uh some of the others, uh we just did the grand opening for KL Engineering and they have five firms in five locations in uh Wisconsin and they chose Forest Lake. Just they just chose us. They did their research. They thought um they like the area. Uh they liked what really it was just really about the community and some of the projects that we have going on. And um I had to say too, I was very impressed. They we we visited them right before the Belts Park uh grand opening and they came down and were able to meet um our administrator and Abby. And so uh really really engaged and and uh excited to be here and to work within the community. >> And what uh did Aztec give a reason why they built or they why they put up a new building here in Forest Lake? >> Sure they did. Um they were they had been located in the Edina area and this is a family business. Everybody in the business is family members and they wanted more space and so they they moved their family their homes are up in the AC area and they wanted to be they wanted they just wanted more space. So to your point right they uh so they have their showroom and then they have their uh manufacturing uh building is right next to interstate companies and so brand new building. Can we use any of these positive things as testimonies to um adver for our advertising? >> We certainly can. We can reach out to some um I'm happy to do that. I will say just piggybacking on what Nette had said that I'm hearing from members of the business community, they're moving because they have workforce here >> or they want to attract the workforce here and for the quality of life. I think that is hands down what we're hearing is that people want to be in Forest Lake because of its unique standalone nature and how it has everything you need right here and how we've done a good job at trying to preserve our environment and grow responsibly. And so that's what I'm hearing is that it's it's really we've done well and continue to do well in attracting folks. >> It be nice when you send out these um proposal request to have little testimonies, you know, just >> That's a really great >> That's great on Forest Lake. >> Yep. >> And and K I I believe it was Kale. I I'll circle back with them, but the other thing too that they said, and I hear this repeatedly since I've been in Forest Lake, which is a long time now, but that we're still, even though we're a larger city, we still have the care and the feel of a small small town, a smaller community. And that was one of the the driving factors for um it was actually uh the g gentleman Mike that um he was the one that chose the location and he he just really liked that community feel that we've sustained here. So >> good to hear. >> Can I just add one thing to that whole that whole subject that uh when Chase did their grand opening Chase Bank >> I think they have 40 locations throughout the Twin Cities now. How many? 48 across the country >> and and that general manager or the regional manager just said that they'd never seen s such a turnout for a grand opening of community members and business owners. And so that says a lot when you have someone who's been in 48 communities. Uh so that was a proud real proud moment and a testament to the the chamber members. >> Hearing more and more, you know, statements like that. So it's >> it's being noticed, you know, so it's it's a good motivation to just keep up. And this was a gentleman that actually goes around. We were the 48th location and he's the one that goes and opens all the the all the the locations and he was quite impressed. >> I was even thinking for Arts in the Park this year, the one >> who had never been to Minnesota before and he was like, "This is so incredible. Look at the light. Look at this. Is so great." You know, just right in the middle of town there. Like it's it is kind of, you know, I always think like it's a little Mayberry Lane sometimes, you know. I just look around and I go, "This is kind of cool." You know, to have someone else come in from out of town sometimes and they go, they don't see some of the things that those of us that have been here for a long time is, "Oh, my eyesore. Oh my gosh." You know, but they see the, you know, the things that do make it, you know, you can walk over here or to here and get, you know, >> whatever. And and we do have pretty much everything >> that you would need close and we're also close to the cities, but we're But we're far enough removed. >> Well, and you >> you brought up Arts in the Park that this year more than ever as well, we met people there that were brand new to the area. That's another met a new member, new newly moved here um met her at Arts in the Park. And so we had all throughout the summer just folks that stopped by the booth and engaged with with us and they were new to the area. either they had just moved here or they moved their business here much more so than in the past. >> One last thing, just a thank you to the chamber and kudos to you for your ambassadors because those are the ones turning out for the ribbon cutting and it it seems to be growing in the photos and more and more ambassadors. It's great to see. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh Leif, can I just state I did find the low end the 80% area medium income in Washington County. So that would be serving households of a family of four making 104,200. That's the low end um of for a family of four. >> So >> thank you. >> Excellent. Any other updates from the body? All right. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor sign by saying I. >> I. Post returned. [Music]