01-05-2004 HR MIN WORKSESSION - Laserfiche WebLink

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HRA Work Session Notes January 5,2004 Page 2 Keith Holme, (co-owner of Kemper Drug) —Mr.Holme asked if the redesigned parking lot would have downtown employee designated parking. Mr.Holme also mentioned the issue that commuters currently use valuable parking spaces in the lot behind Kemper. City Administrator Pat Klaers stated that a more suitable place for commuters to park is in the lot along the railroad tracks on north side of Hwy 10. Keith Holme, (co-owner of Kemper Drug) —Mr.Holme stated that closing King Ave. would help solve the problem of commuters parking in the lot behind Kemper Drug and that it is a good idea to force commuters to utilize the parking on the north side of Hwy 10. Catherine Mehelich asked the HRA to consider if additional downtown parking will be provided by the City regardless of a downtown revitalization project. Discussion took place between the audience,city staff,and the HRA regarding the parking options presented by Mr.Maurer. Several audience members concurred that the pedestrian bridge option would be ineffective. The HRA discussed whether or not it would be possible to add a parking ramp above the redesigned lot option. Terry Maurer stated that it would be possible;however there would be additional costs to prepare the lot to withstand a future ramp addition. Chair Wilson asked Mr.Maurer to adjust the numbers to reflect the eventual addition of a parking ramp. Commissioner Motin stated that he agreed with comments from the audience that a pedestrian bridge would be ineffective. He stated that the demolition of the Municipal Utilities building should take place regardless of the Downtown Revitalization Project. Mr. Motin added that the pedestrian crosswalk countdown timers are a good idea. 3. Development Agreement Issues Jim Prosser of Ehlers and Associates provided the HRA with an overview of the Downtown Revitalization Project since the developer,MetroPlains,was chosen in August 2002 by the HRA. Sid Inman of Ehlers and Associates stated that there are two issues in which city staff requests direction from the HRA: 1)The HRA's standards on the redevelopment of the Bluff Block in conjunction with the Jackson Block and 2)The HRA's willingness to provide MetroPlains with financing in the form of a loan for the construction of the Bluff Block. Marcy VanValkenburg Baxter,MN(Elk River Travel) —Ms.Vanvalkenburg stated that at a past City Council meeting,Mayor Klinzing stated that the Jackson Block development would not occur without the Bluff Block development. Chair Wilson concurred with Ms.VanValkenburg. The HRA discussed the issue in length and concurred that the redevelopment project should include both the Jackson and Bluff Block developments and that provisions must be made in the development agreement to ensure both developments occur. HRA members asked Mr.Inman and Mr.Prosser several questions regarding the second 410 issue of providing a loan to MetroPlains for the construction of the Bluff Block. The HRA