##VIDEO ID:WDCAvZ_N4yU## we're on the a all right good evening good evening everybody this is the um November 6 2024 regular meeting of the economic oale Economic Development commission I call this meeting to order uh let's do a roll call is first up on the agenda Max can you do the roll call please sure thing looks like commissioner Vang and and commissioner uh voer VCA were unable to make it tonight I do believe we'll be expecting commissioner orelo uh but he's not here at the moment otherwise we have commissioner Jenkins Penn Bates Severson and stiglet thank you okay next up is the Pledge of Allegiance Tony can you leave please you back I pledge allegiance to the flag the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all okay thank you all right next up on the agenda is um the approval of um approval of the agenda can I have a motion to approve this agenda I'll move approval of the agenda is presented thank you uh second second right all in favor I opposed okay uh next up is approval of the minutes for the August 7th 2024 regular meeting attached um can I have a motion to approve Els I'll second okay um all in favor I anybody opposed okay minutes of of this August 7th meeting approved all right uh next up on the agenda is our open form um I see nobody here in the public from the public to participate in the open Forum so we'll just move on to the next uh next agenda uh next up is old business um first up on the old business well the only item on Old business is with the Bria program Max can you give us the update yeah thank you Vice chair and thank you EDC so tonight I have our last uh business retention expansion and attraction update program uh for the 2023 through 2024 program cycle since the edc's last meeting in August City staff finished the final two business visits of the program cycle bringing the total number of visits during this cycle to 12 with all visits finished staff is now working with the St Paul chamber uh to prepare a report report that summarizes the key themes and takeaways that we heard through from each participating business we anticipate that this report should be finished by the end of the year and then will be presented to the city council and the economic development Commission in the early uh early part of 2025 additionally staff is working to set up the third program cycle for 2024 through 2025 so once business visits begin again we'll make sure that we share opportunities to join us on visits with EDC members uh last meeting we collected names for members who are interested in joining visits for the last visit we did since then we randomized names to offer the time to join us on a visit um if you did not receive an email asking if you can join us please stay tuned and we'll make sure that that's sent out once we start those visits up again this time around uh actually commissioner Penn was able to join us for one of the business visits so with that I'll summarize those last two visits starting with the Waters of Oakdale the Waters of Oakdale is a senior living facility that offers Independent Living units assisted living and Memory Care the building contains 91 total units 28 of which are dedicated to intensive Memory Care the staff noted that the rise of Aging in place is leading to more people staying in their single family homes or other housing types for longer however they not they noted that uh the business still remain quite successful with 88% of all units currently occupied they noted that they maintain 73 full-time employees including nurses servers maintenance housekeepers and others they expressed that like many Assisted Living uh businesses they experienced issues with Staffing turnover and with regard to Oakdale they stated that they appreciated the city's location the police response and their s's proximity to highways and walking destinations but they noted that they had some safety issues and catalytic converter thefts in recent years for a final visit uh of this program cycle we visited LA Fitness and please note that LA Fitness was planning to stay open when we conducted the visit and their leasing deal did uh fall through a few days later after the visit uh regardless we learned a lot of insights into the fitness industry from this visit and we're hopeful that more Fitness businesses will open in Oakdale as the grows and development continues generally Jim staff stated that the business struggled a bit during covid but had been approaching pre-co membership numbers recently they noted that they were planning several site improvements and maintained six full-time staff with roles in sales operations receptionists maintenance and personal trainers they stated that all roles were uh somewhat hard to fill and other gyms had issues with filling positions they also expressed excitement over theity City's development and growth uh for the opportunity to have a larger membership base generally they praise the city's operations and suggested that development should continue uh and the city should make sure to try to support businesses along the 34th Street Corridor uh Stacy was able to join us for this visit so please feel free to fill in any details I might be missing since I wasn't able to make it to that one if you feel comfortable I thought it was a really interesting business to visit um and the Dynamics of how you know they operations worked and you know they seemed really you know excited and optimistic about the growth so yeah I was a little shocked when I saw that they weren't staying so um but they do have another facility in Maplewood I know so I think I heard that you know their memberships could transfer there but it does leave a hole in that development so hopefully somebody will pick it up I mean they've got a pool in there nice facility what's a what's happening with LA I know they close but so they leased the land they leased the building so it was like a buildout lease when they built it and I think the renewal of their lease came up and it must have been a negotiation issue was my understanding yeah that's City staff's understanding as well is it ultimately came down to a lease renewal issue H okay big facility you ride by the place it's always full just amazing that you would have trouble yeah I don't think it had anything to do with their membership what I don't think it had anything to do with their membership numbers I think it was totally a lease situation wow I wonder if that's means there's potential for some facility to either build or take over that lease or something something the need of the community seems to be there know comments uh the online comments that my wife was looking at and and relating to me were a lot of people say I don't want to go anywhere else they want to be here in Oakdale they want to stay in Oakdale which I think just says says a lot right there any other comments and if there's any general questions about the business retention program I'd be happy to take questions on that as well right all right then uh next up on the agenda is uh new business first item there is the 12th in Geneva Redevelopment analysis um max can you fill us in on that yeah thank you Vice chair uh tonight we have an early planning session for the city's upcoming 12th in Geneva Redevelopment study currently staff is exploring exploring options on how to pursue a Redevelopment study in the area surrounding the intersection of the 12th Street North and Geneva Avenue also known as Highway 120 or Century Avenue here we can see uh the rough study area borders up on the screen which are defined by Geneva sl120 10th Street Glenbrook Avenue and 14th Street the study area is identified in the city's 2040 comprehensive plan as a priority area for Redevelopment and is characterized by some conflicting land uses and older aging commercial properties in the past there have been uh Redevelopment proposals in this area though they did th fall through we're currently uh planning to begin this study in early 2025 and as a result we're looking on for input from the EDC on what in particular we should look at what are we missing based on what we want to look at next year and generally what areas and topics should be included in the study currently staff has preliminary study goals including exploring appropriate land use alternatives for select Parcels conducting a market analysis of the area identifying which Parcels might be best suited for redevelopment analyzing Transportation options including Century Avenue and examining what infrastructure constraints exist on site whether there's sewer issues or any other utility problems that could make Redevelopment difficult so as we look to bring this proposal forward for how to conduct the study we prepared some questions uh that hopefully we're looking for some input on from the EDC including based on those uh goals I mentioned is anything missing is there anything else you want to make sure gets explored is there any background or context on the study area you want to make sure that us as staff is aware of again I've been with the city about two years so there's a lot of history I might be missing institutional knowledge um things that we might not know if we don't own a business there Etc how would you like to see the future of the study area look like how would the EDC like to be engaged Beyond at these meetings uh if we went with a more of a workshop approach rather than a traditional multi-month study uh is would anyone be interested in uh attending that and as representatives of the business Community uh what business concern should we keep in mind while conducting the study otherwise also input is welcomed on stakeholders right now we want to Target area residents business owners Property Owners developers Washington County and menot that if any of those questions are speaking to you or we can go one by one please feel free to provide some input because this is one where it'll be pretty important next year is um does the state have a plan to redevelop one Highway 120 I think there was talk of that widening it or something to that degree yeah there is a currently a pel study that's being planned I don't think the majority of it has started it's kind of been rolling down the line so when that study starts if we have a Redevelopment analysis of this area we can use it to help inform menot and help it better suit Oakdale when they do come up with the future decisions on that area that was exactly my thoughts was it would be nice to know what that is before you get too deeply into your in your study think even if you knew uh options the state was looking at if there majority of them are this shape yeah then you can plan for that true shape you know widening or it turns out to be there's a this this the area where that post office is our post office I thought I recognized that and then there's another restaurant right off of gersan and tantha fast food place um I see apartment buildings there and I'm not sure all these are looks like Office Buildings there Frank knows the area well I'm sure EXC but uh what what um what would happen to existing um entities there I think that's part of what we want to look at and make sure that we identify say this this use in particular may serve a really important Community role we don't want to see this entire area redevelop necessarily we want to see which sites in particular within the broader area might there might be better uses down the line there's some pretty established businesses in that area isn't there yep yeah I think there's also some um businesses right along I know this this center part there um just on the north side of a 12 Street Long Century I think just a restaurant that just opened up in that strip like within the last year or so so even businesses are just starting to get going my concern would be access if like 120 does come through um and they do something uh most likely my guess is it's going to be a limited access situation where they're not you know they're going to try to smooth traffic out um so if the only access right now is off of 120 well then an alternate access would be needed for those businesses that would help them I know those just some thoughts that's potentially a concern we could identify within the study and then use that once mot's conducting that study to try to back up our position is there actual apartment buildings back there too there's a mix of apartment buildings and town homes are those low income you know um some of them do have long-term affordability contracts because that's such a need in our community I would to see us take away more low-income housing yeah right now we're actually um so this this is an item that will be in a upcoming city council meeting but uh there's a proposal we're working on with one of the Town Homes to actually extend that affordability contract uh as a part of a bond funding uh portion to put more money into the project update the maintenance some updates that aren't up to code potentially some safety issues and that would makes sense is this the stud is more on the Aging of the commercial properties on this site versus the town homes and apartments in the back I'm guessing those are fairly newer if I recall last time I was back there um if the council wanted to identify the apartments as something we should look more into we could do that but generally the Redevelopment efforts in the past have been centered more on the strip mall uses okay so that shopping center on on 12th and Century it's being remodeled right now did you see that yes I I drive past that on my way in it's about it's only been 50 years since they've touched that thing put a coat of paint or anything on it it looks like they're going to do a pretty good job on it it's I mean they're taking it right down to the 2x4s and they're redoing it yeah so that that's going to be helpful because that's that building was just an absolute disaster that's quite the investment already going in before is that the one that's Century fan Century yes yeah right across street from the Dairy Queen yeah yeah okay and they and the the restaurant in there em andc I believe it is there's quite a few of them in this in the cities or in I think North St Paul uh muddy cow is the is the company that owns it they've got several other restaurants and the inside of this the bar now is nice it's really really nice so I I go over there for lunch quite often actually and it's I bring customers with so I'm not ashamed of it they redid it I'd say within the last year I mean new floors new ceilings new tables and chairs and it's a very nice restaurant impressive it was I think I think that's the one I'm thinking of um it was impressive I recall yeah it was very nice and the I mean just they have $10 10.95 hamburgers for lunch I mean so that's pretty they're really working on it there really are good quality and good price good quality good prices yeah and the clientele is um no construction workers that stop there for lunch and that kind of thing so it's it's a good place they're doing very well okay they're good business people so I think whatever whatever we put into this um we don't want to disrupt those businesses we w't keep those that's the typ thing we need one thing in that list that you had on the on the screen earlier it was missing uh to consider I think is the post office um even if all it is is listed to say we're not touching it then it's there to say we're not touching it if that's ends up being the case yeah I think that's an important outcome of the study would be exactly what what do we recognize as not touching going forward in the future versus what is appropriate in the say 10 20 year long-term future I was going to suggest the same thing that Southeast quadrant of this of this section um you know there are along uh 10 Street there there are I think they're business condos but they're relatively new and behind that and to the east of the post office is that senior um a senior apartment building I believe and I think that's relative well in my eyes relatively new also uh and those I would I would consider probably would not need to be redeveloped either but I think one of the other things you might want to where they might run into if it's in this would be the southwest corner right I think there's isn't there a auto repair shop and a Marathon gas station there is that right or no yeah I believe so yeah on there so from like contamination or environmental study depending on what you would do in that probably most of that southwest corner if if that's part of it there need to be some environmental study I would assume be done in the underground if it's drinking water or whatever it would be yep and sometimes there's special grants for whether that's from the Minnesota Pollution Control agency or the Department of Employment and economic development specifically for sites that might have environmental remediation issues I think engaging the existing businesses in that area into the discussion as you guys move forward as or the chamber or Representatives um would be important all right any further discussion Max I'm assuming that um if we do have any more comments uh one of the one of the bullet points there is how do we communicate with you I think we could just send you send you a note yeah you're always free to email me if there's something you wish you had said during the meeting or even if you want to talk set up some time to just come in and talk uh we're always looking for more input this is very early in the stages so this input's really important as we shape up into what the study is going to look like all right do you think it'll go to a workshop type of model to look at it um that's one of the two ways we're exploring it and something like that say uh can take significantly less time we need less money for that um and can get very comparable results depending on who we work with um we haven't done that before though so it's just something we're exploring at this moment but if you think that sounds like a good option um I know we're definitely open to it as staff are you are you kind of thinking of putting money into giving loans or grants to remodel some of the properties in there some of the buildings that are probably less than standard um the city did Ed to maintain some loan programs like that uh my understanding is um there isn't um support for doing programs like that right now due to some issu isues with those programs where there were difficulties collecting loans and uh I think maybe there's an opportunity to partner with other agencies but it's something we could explore in that study if if that's something we hear from business owners that they need would you just let EDC know if you want Representatives as they move forward with us I I would definitely bring that back to EDC as an opportunity at minimum as a staff update but okay any other comments questions for Max okay then let's move on to item number two the 2025 draft Economic Development commission work plan Max can you take it yeah thank you Vice chair uh next up we have the 2025 Ed DC draft work plan as a reminder to those of you who are here last year um or may not have been the EDC and other City commissions are required to prepare an annual work plan that outlines priorities goals and activities that the commission wishes to focus on for the year generally staff prepare a draft plan based on upcoming City projects and what we've been hearing from the commission and then the commission provides additional input and adjusts those goals and priorities as necessary the 2025 draft plan is located in your packet uh towards the end and will be shown on the screen in a few moments for reference as well uh generally the goals we drafted are somewhat similar to last year's with priorities including implementing findings from the 2023 and 2024 Brio reports continuing the development of educational materials for current and prospective business owners in Oakdale uh participating and providing input in New City studies and providing guidance on how to better Market the city of Oakdale as a destination for new residents and businesses uh we did in the budget for next year um get a bit of money to explore marketing Oakdale as a destination for residents and businesses and I know that's something that EDC Commissioners have shown a lot of interest in in the past so I'm hoping that's something we can do next year here we have the first few goals of the draft plan and again it might be easier to follow on the physical paper copy highlights include continuing the Bria program participating more in businesses business visits and Business Development events advising staff on how best to market the city for economic development assist and assisting with Redevelopment efforts and area plans here we have a few more goals which include collaborating with other Local Economic Development groups on projects and programs promoting resources and tools related to Economic Development participating in studies including that 12th in Geneva study that we just talked about uh participating in trainings and integrating educational topics from the guest agencies and organizations that are similar in Economic Development goals so the approved 2024 work plan is also on file within your meeting packet in addition to the economic development chapter of the 20 240 plan and the economic development chapter of the city code uh with that I'd like to open the room to any questions comments and suggestions uh please note that we do have to have a finalized draft uh for city council approval at that Council appreciation dinner in February that we attached a flyer for in the email for this meeting there is no meeting in January so we can either hold a December meeting to revisit the document if the commission desires or if you think of feedback later uh you can email me and I'll incorporate those changes directly so with that any input that you might have on these goals things you think we aren't focusing enough on things that you think would be uh beneficial to look at next year happy to hear it and make sure that it gets included anything changed or what's changed I should say what has changed between 20 24 and 25 yeah so it's a similar document um I've updated the exact studies that will um provide input on and added that marketing piece more language on that here um as that's something we're really excited for as staff for next year um otherwise it is uh similar in nature to the work plan from last year but any changes we can change whatever the commission feels should be changed or added you think the plan is to hold probably 12 visits again for the v& visit similar to this year that worked a little bit better I think that worked well for us on the staff end um in that it was easier to schedule uh we had a lot of trouble that first year with 18 visits trying to get those all scheduled it took us longer than we thought whereas we were able to do a solid one to two a month this year which helped move things along quite a bit all right any any comments on the proposed plan right Max you want um you're you're asking if we wanted to um approve this in February or December meeting um so if if this is something where you're not sure and we should take a second look at it we could hold a second December meeting I have some items we could bring or a second meeting that would be in December I should say uh but in the past we've historically canell December meetings so that people can focus on the holidays and be with their family so la I bring that up because last year uh we weren't super sure what to do with the plan and so it was requested by the commission that we bring it back a second time and that's part of why we held a December meeting last year um we do not have to do that this year so if you just want to email me any additional thoughts um we can avoid that December meeting or we can hold that December meeting and there's some other stuff as well that uh staff have just just because that was the preference last year we don't have to do that I think it' be good have some time to contemplate what we presented with here so everybody okay with emailing Max with updates yeah okay so that's what we'll plan to do then okay we'll send you emails um with anything to update anything else on the 2025 draft economic plan well I think that that marketing piece is probably the biggest change as well as the updated studies um and with the Lake Project moving quite a bit along now um I removed that just in that to focus on General Redevelopment rather than that Redevelopment in specific okay all right all right nothing else we can move on to the next agenda item uh this is the number eight other uh items uh we have any staff leers on updates for Max I have a couple staff leers on updates um for one a couple Commissioners reached out to me a few weeks ago with questions about the sales tax extension we're kind of limited in what we can say to that prior to um the election but I do want to note that that did pass um last night um so that helps close part of the funding Gap that resulted from uh inflation and the increased cost of construction labor and materials for the police Department Remodel and then the Public Works facility otherwise um last month we did have the uh Willowbrook Commons park openup in the Willowbrook neighborhood it was a really good turnout for the opening um lots of children and it's been very busy since for anyone who hasn't been able to see it it's a really nice park and I'd highly recommend taking a drive or if you have children or grandchildren it's been pretty popular with that population so I'd recommend take Tak a look at it um one additional update uh the Tanner Lake Project received formal approval by the city council last month um there's some work yet especially with the access that needs to be worked out um but that is moving along what is going what is going on in there I guess I'm behind on that what what's going on yeah ultimately it is a a apartment building as well as a amenity Lakeside building where that can be rented out and used for meetings that's directly over a boardwalk that looks at the lake um as well as 12 Town Home units will that building be um owned by people who own the apartments and town homes or the building would be owned um however the boardwalk and all of the wall walking amenities the city would have a easement over so it would be publicly accessible to everybody and anyone would be able to walk in or park and use it how many units in the apartment um I believe a little over 110 but I'm speaking off memory uh if you want to take a look at the development map that we maintain that has an exact number that part of the previous discussion I remember looking at a bunch of different layouts for Park like parks and stuff like that I don't recall like the apartments being part of the plan ever was that recent or did I miss that yeah so that's on the other side of the lake um so this is a portion of land the city's owned since 2008 uh that's on the west side of the lake more by Century uh the Tanner Lake Park um that was brought up at that Parks discussion that's on the east side thank you so this apartment building and all that is going down on the corner there by the restaurant by the um what's the written name is Denny's no it's Denny Yeah by Denny's is that correct it's going on Century facing Century I think where the Harmon Glass used to be used to be a Harmon glass shop the high area higher area yeah yeah that's correct um the apartment building would be closer to the existing condominium building um closer to Century Avenue whereas the to homes and all of the public amenities and walking trails would be more on the southern end because that touches the lake directly so you're having trouble with the entrance and exits of that property there right because I mean that is kind of a stinker right now just even say you're going to Denny's you know there's got that fronted Road and go back it's kind of dead ends and I mean that's a mess back there so what is that what the problem is uh in in part um this is probably the most complex site in Oakdale um as it's off of very close to a County Road it's very close to an interstate highway and a state highway so there's special permissions needed to put in any new accesses it's very very narrow and kind of hard to get to and it fronts the lake shore so with that there's DNR flood plane regulations oh my goodness so whoa It's Coming Back to Me Now tough spot it's a tough spot to redevelop it is so who's heading this the putting this together who's in the city who's heading that within City staff or um so largely that's been handled by our department director Andrew Goff okay and then the the developer um is a mix of a couple developers who decided to do it as a joint project boy that's a tough one it's exciting that they're actually moving forward with it good shot I remember that ever since I've joined the commission it's been talking about you've been talking about for a long time quite a while well this is very good all right all right um yeah and with that if you have any other development questions I can answer those as well okay all right anything else Max uh that that concludes the updates I had for tonight okay next up is the commissioner updates I don't have anything I do as uh as you may know I was elected to the city council congratulations so my thank you my time on the EDC will be coming to an end um doesn't mean I'm going away just changing hats a little bit so um I appreciate your support it's been a pleasure to serve with you on this uh on this commission and we'll be talking again Sweet all right um I don't have so much of an update as a question for Max I thought this was the best place to put it we had the park survey uh that we went through um a few months ago and then there was later on there's two surveys for Tanners the Tanner side e side the park over there two different development Concepts any word on how all that's played out where that's going yeah I believe that will be um there was some discussion at the last city council Workshop if you want to take a look at the meeting packet online um this is this is a project that um I if Planning and Zoning questions come up all said but this isn't one where I'm a very active member so I'm not sure on some of the updates in particular the survey results um I know that there will be a report on the survey results and what we heard and how those um Concepts have changed as a result um some of the some of those details are in the most recent Council Workshop packet uh though I'm not sure off the top of my head so I would recommend looking at that to start and then I'd be happy to give you the contact information for my co-worker Hannah Dunn who's the project lead on that if you have additional questions okay thanks that's all I have um I just have um tomorrow is oakal chamber meeting and it is at the H and sweets yeah by umid Machine Shed Machine Shed yep and our guest speaker is John Gracie and it is on leadership to improve work environments so um it should be a really good meeting I guess he's a great speaker so everybody's welcome for me it's John Grace he has this is his job he's a he's a speaker you know and motivational speaker and um he's written five books I think and he he goes around I mean I got him for nothing he's a good friend and customer of mine he's a client of mine and I got him for free but I think he charges thousands for his to get togethers yeah but this is what he does for a living travels the world uh travels the country and so he's should be very good anyway that's tomorrow at the Oakdale chamber meeting at the M uh machine shed yep Machine Shed yep what time is the meeting it's at 11:15 11:15 yep to 1: okay all right anything else um no I think I'm good all right y all right um max have we covered everything yep um our Council aison wasn't able to make it so I do believe that covers any covers everything great C A is an update all right okay then um the only last thing is the German can I have a oh mat Frank one other thing on the 11th is Veterans Day there's a breakfast um at the prom Center former Prom Center yeah and that's free to all veterans so any of you anybody here veterans Bob and I are Bob and I will be at the breakfast anyway it's a free free breakfast for all veterans and there's also a free breakfast on the 7th of November Veterans Day that's at the American Legion it's a lunch I should say and it's SOS what day is it the 7th no tomorrow's the 7th tomorrow 7th Veterans Day is the 11th 11 the 11th is Veterans Day y tomorrow is the breakfast for breakfast what 11 no 7th is tomorrow and that's the breakfast at the prom Center and the 11th is the Veterans Day and that's when you get all the free stuff I mean they have God okay um Everybody gives free breakfast and Ivy is very good about that I guess Bob you've been to that haven't you yes yeah that's a that's a big one that's a good one too excellent all right that's it that's all I have to report okay all right with that um I need a motion to adjourn so moved second all second all right all in favor oppos okay then we are Jed