05-14-2007 EDA MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Economic Development Authority Minutes May 14, 2007 Page 2 City Administrator Lori Johnson reviewed the lease terms between the YMCA and the EDA and the ground lease between the city and the EDA as outlined in her staff report Ms. Johnson stated that the CouncB approved the leases at a special meeting held earlier this evening. She noted that the Council approved the lease with the alternate language as proposed allocating 100% of any grant proceeds received from the Sherburne County Legacy Grant. President Gongoll stated that the YMCA will be a welcome addition to the community and thanked staff for working so diligently on the project. Commissioner Motin indicated that he believes the Council should stand by the Memorandum of Understanding and allow one-third of the grant proceeds to go to the YMCA. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KLINZING AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FARBER TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 07-02 APPROVING THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER AND THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN MINNEAPOLIS AND THE GROUND LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF ELK RIVER AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER MOTION CARRIED G-1. Commissioner Motin opposed. Harold Mezile, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Minneapolis YMCA -thanked the EDA for their part in helping to bring a YMCA to Elk River. 6. Consider Business Retentir~n and Expansion Me Ling Srh ~i I Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz explained that business retention and expansion (BRE) visits have been held with Elk River manufacturers since the formation of the EDA. She stated that in 2005, EDA Commissioners joined staff in conducting informal lunch or breakfast meetings followed by facility tours. She outlined the proposed schedule of visits for the remainder of 2007 and asked that EDA Commissioners let staff know which visits they would be interested in attending. Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich noted that staff s goal is to conduct 12 BRE visits per year. Update on Propoce~l r'RE Elk River Ren hl F 1 Fa 'I is Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich explained that at the March 12 meeting, the EDA was made aware that Great River Energy (GRE) was pursuing legislative action for an appropriation from the State of MN to support development costs For a proposed RDF-to-Methanol project. GRE questioned the EDA's willingness to serve as a fiscal agent under proposed language in a Department of Agriculture appropriations bdl. Ms. Mehelich indicated that staff was recently notified that the Governor signed the Omnibus spending bdl that contained $200,000 from the State general fund to the Elk River Economic Development Authority to be provided as apass-through grant to GRE for the evaluation of the RDF to Methanol project. She stated that GRE is currently ht the evaluation phase to determine if this project makes sense both technically and economically.