5.2. HRSR 03-01-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association Minutes 111 January 14, 2004 The meeting was called to order at 8AM at the Elk River Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room. Attending were Steve King, Kathy McManus,Tony Mikols, Lance Lindberg, Cliff Lundberg, Marlys Ellingson, Heidi Steinmetz, Jeff Gongoll and Wendy Simenson. Secretary's Report: The minutes from the last meeting were accepted as written. Treasurer's Report: The Balance is $2150.12 Old Business City Update: Heidi Steinmetz stated that the HRA will be scheduling one-on-one meetings with individual property owners and downtown businesses to discuss impact of revitalization and parking. Chris Leesburg, an Elk River City Planner, and Jim Prosser, a representative from Ehlers and Assoc. Project Coordinator for Revitalization, will represent the HRA. New issues with negotiations with MetroPlains. The HRA is looking at including in the development agreement financial consequences if both stages of development(Jackson Square and the Bluff Block) are not completed. Possible consequences could be that the Jackson Square Property would revert back to the city and that there would be a loss of • TIF Money. MetroPlains is looking for short term financing from the City to help them purchase the properties on the Bluff Block. The City is evaluating the financial risk of this financing. MetroPlains needs to have 60% of residential property in the new development on the Bluff Block presold. In order for the Development to be eligible for tax credits from the Housing Finance Agency, the percentage of new affordable housing available downtown has to be greater than the existing affordable housing downtown. The City has been looking at safe pedestrian crossing of Hwy 10. The City looked at the costs and feasibility of putting a pedestrian bridge over the highway for pedestrian traffic. The estimated cost would be over$700,000.00 Rivers Edge's Goals for Downtown Revitalization: Our goal remains to enhance the attractiveness and viability of downtown and to develop the area along the River to maximize its visibility and use by the Community. Fishing Pier: Tony is talking to Scott Schroeder from the DNR to discuss the reactivation of the application for a fishing pier on the river. Updating Downtown Directory: A form will be going out with the February Agenda so that we can make sure we have current information on downtown businesses. Being able to e-mail and fax information makes it much easier for us to be able to send out • information about what's happening downtown and also saves us mailing expenses. Please take a moment to fill out the form and send the information back.