the EDA to order. Stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance and 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.
>> Thank you so much. Um, roll call for what there is. and pardon my froggy voice but overcoming a cold of some type. Great great to have in the summer. President Mangi is here. >> Yep.
>> Uh Vice President Matthews is absent. Brandon is Bramshshire. >> Yes. >> Brchshire is present. Caesar Roso is absent. Member McKenzie is here.
>> Present. and member Gore Gar Peter is absent. >> All right. Thank you very much. We're trying to get a hold of Caesar. Hopefully he can show up. Making a motion to adopt the agenda. It's not going to be difficult. >> So move. >> So move. Second. Second. There we go.
Thank you very much. All right. Now we're off to There's nobody here in public. He's in Mexico. So I don't think Caesar's going to be here. So, we'll go on to our EDA discussion
and action items. Ken, off to you, sir. >> Thank you. Let me get those pages. >> We Mr. President, members of the uh EDA, we included in your packet a little bit of information on some of the ongoing
programs, excuse me, that the EDA has been undertaking. The probably the one we're most interested in is the facade improvement program. Uh as I think the EDA recalls, we as a city sent
out uh Ava sent out mailings and initially we sent it to the businesses and then later we sent second round of mailings to the property owners to their home addresses or wherever their business address was different than the business itself
and that has generated some interest in the facade improvement program. So this table that Chris put together and again full credit to Chris because he tracks this or yeah uh has all the applications we've
processed and or looked at in the last year. First one was for the VFW and if you recall the EDA denied that request because it was lighting and sign work, excuse me, which was not consistent with the goals of the EDA program.
Second one was for main drag and sweeties candles or candies, excuse me. They did a replacement of windows and door storefront. Completed that in November and uh it is a nice improvement to their
property. We uh president and I and Ava were there. We did a photo op and the uh staff there really thought the windows made a difference both for heating and cooling with the south facing facade. Since then, we've generated at
least four more applications, and those are outlined in blue. The one is for uh Joseph Matthews and Carrie Insurance. Funny enough, or coincidentally enough, he's proposing to replace bay windows and do some brick and stuckle
replacement. That will be a $9,430 to$1.50 grant. Uh it's in process. It has not I don't think he's gotten the building permit yet or if he has he hasn't finished the work. The next one on the list is for what I
call the Rosback building at 25767th. Again be pressure washing, repainting, replacing 12 windows and parapit work for a little over $14,000. Uh that one I believe has the building permit. I don't
know if they have started the work, but that will look much nicer when it's done. The next one on there is for Division Street Fuels at 2473 Division Street, which is on the corner of Division and
7th. Uh he is proposing window repair andor replacement, possibly replacing his uh entrance door and some repairs to the brick and siding. Uh Chris has been working carefully with him and trying to get initially he wanted to do parking
lot improvements and landscaping improvements and we said no those don't qualify. So they've been going back and forth and he's trying to get more estimates on work that will qualify to improve that building. One of the windows has a hole in it. Looks like it was hit by a rock or a hopefully not a
22, but so it's a good reason to do it. And and again, similar to what was done at uh Main Dragon and Swedes, I think that'll be a great improvement for that storefront with with the other work. And then the last one on there is for Katherine Harris at uh paperbacks plus a
bookstore which again is on the north side of 7th right just two three units down from Margaret. Uh she's doing a big project redoing the fascia, new windows, some steel siding and ramp and she is
maxing that out. It's over a $40,000 project. So, she'll get eligible for $20,000 uh when that's all complete. And I know the permit's been issued for that one. So, that work should be starting hopefully anytime. But, uh that'll be a
nice change there as well. So, in summary, the uh the mailing did generate some interest. We've gotten three probably at least three applications we would not have gotten without that mailing. So, that's the good news. And even with all these
applications, which seems like quite a bit, we will still, as the table shows, we still have $136,000 left of the 200,000. Now, there's a to be determined there with the gas station, but >> and there's another one, too. I think
down the buildings down the down on Seventh Street. I think D's looking into doing something, too. >> We've heard that. We haven't seen anything yet, but yeah. So, I know that there's some other things that are coming up where I think we'll just stick with what we got so far because of some of these other ones that are discussing
it, you know, how we're using the money, different things. So, I think uh it's looking good. >> Yeah. So, we wanted to give you an update on that and just tell you yes, things things are happening as hopefully in the next two three months some of these other projects will actually get completed and make the buildings look
that much better. >> Yeah. Well, the biggest thing we wanted to do is we have a lot of new new places in town, but we want to make sure that we're, you know, thanking the ones that have gone through all the renovations and held on tight and just so it's a good project for for these older buildings being able to help them out.
So, it's exciting. The biggest thing is is putting in a uh type of a window that they did over at Swedies and the main drag that they really warm up the building inside, you know, and everybody's got a larger
window in the facing the street. It's only going to benefit them in the long run. >> Yep. >> Well, both summer and winter, >> right? Exactly. >> As they said, it got hot as heck in there, but then now is much better. Today would be a good day to go see if the candy's melting.
>> Go test her. Yes, >> should be good. >> That's my update on that unless there's other questions. >> Update. >> All right. Next update is on the car show. Well, you you were previewing our discussion uh before the meeting
meeting. I guess uh I'm sure Brandon, you know, we now have two different car shows going on. had the first one with the invisible wounds on Friday. Reports are it was okay, I guess. I didn't hear of any big problems, which
is good. Uh, apparently they did not find a musical act. And these are kinks that they're working out. Same with their vendors. They had just just today Jordan was saying there's two more vendors that want to join the next time. >> Good. >> For food vendors. So,
>> hopefully that all goes well. Then the uh history cruises start this Friday. Hopefully the weather cooperates for them and that'll be every other week uh going through the summer. >> How did you see traffic being out there? >> Um I wasn't there but I did check the
team guys. Um >> uh a little bit of a slower start. Uh it picked up pretty nicely. If you remember there was some threat of rain. >> Yep. >> So that will always impact attendance as a lot of those guys do not want their cars to get wet. understandably. Um
>> well, they might they might melt. >> Yeah, they um yeah, overall it was uh it was great for us. Um no major snafoos. >> It's good to get, you know, it's it's not a it's not a non Friday night car
show night, so you got more traffic coming in. So that was good because that was the concern we had when they decided that they were going to do halftime is, you know, what were we going to do on those Fridays? So, it's going to take a little bit to build up, but it sounds like you you saw it okay so far. >> Yeah, I really think it's going to catch stride very soon.
>> Yeah, I think so, too. >> You know, once they get their feet under them after a few weeks, I'm sure they're going to they're going to rock. >> Now, this week this week will be the big test. See what uh turnout we're going to get for the existing guys that have been doing it 30 plus years.
>> Oh, good. Next, uh the community center updates update I should say. Uh we had an appraisal done as a city uh with some interesting numbers that were brought back both if it was demolished
and left for a vacant redevelopment site and if it was sold as is. Uh Brian's been in negotiations discussions with two potential buyers. We ask them if they want to submit a purchase agreement or a letter of intent
to purchase to get it into the city by the end of this week. They luck at all. We will get one or two and then those can be uh brought forward to the council next week. So, we'll see what comes in and what the dollar
amounts are. Uh the one we've talked to some they say they want to keep the building and figure out a reuse for it. >> Okay. Well, >> and and also when we went out for that we wanted the biggest part is um we
discussed was to still have the library >> and both of the willing part both the parties are willing to have the library in it. >> So that's the big that was the biggest thing. So, as far as when it comes to, you know, figuring out appraisal and assessment, you have a thing. If it's there's there's no strings attached, now
we'll have to figure out price with some strings attached. But, you know, it's it's uh one of those situations where we've been moving forward in inches. That's what I've learned in my four years of government. You got to go by inches. If you go by feet, you'll lose your mind. But, it's been uh it's been
good to be able to see how what people can do with that and see how it looks. And um so we're excited to get this and figure out a way where we can hopefully make all parties happy. >> Correct. I have a couple other updates that are
not on the agenda just for your information. If you >> please >> Yeah. >> Uh the student build house down on 7th and 3rd is just about done. Uh we I know just talking to the staff today. They've got to finish the driveway and the
sidewalk out front. uh finish the landscaping, which is mostly grading, and get some trees planted. There are some junk trees that were taken down, and so they got to replant them with some nicer ones. Hoping to get that on the market by the 1 of August to then be able to sell the
two units separately, but it's it's getting close. And so, they'll be good to get that sold. >> It's looking good. And one other thing with student built is we're looking for properties. Is that what you're going to do next?
>> Yeah. You might got a vacant or almost vacant residential lot that could support a house or if you have a large property, you might want to split it. >> Contact the city. We're happy to investigate. >> We can try to make
>> 5 10 years ago was pretty easy to find properties. The nice thing is these student build homes have taken some blighted properties and fixed them. And also people that own their homes have been fixing them. So, I mean, it's quite a I moved here in '96, so 30 years ago, and uh the housing is improved
overwhelmingly compared to, you know, it comes to these older houses. So, everybody's taking care of their properties, and so it'll be good to Right now, the last two properties we used, we already owned. So, when we did the one over by Webster School off of
six over there in 7th Avenue, that was a piece that was left over from the remodel project for the house next door. So, we were able to use that property, which was good, be able to put it back into the into use. And of course, the spot we have now where we have the twin
homes was one we already had. So, we haven't had to buy properties the last few times, which is good. We're able to get that off and get it back out there, but we ran out of them now. So, and we're, you know, school starts in, you know, school starts in September,
October. So, we're kind of under a crunch. and we've had a couple ideas on some and couple spots just a two of spots that we're trying to see if we can work out but um we're still open and so please if you can think of something we
love to hear it next update is I I'm going to put a map up on the screen for this one. I didn't think of it till now but bear with me for a minute. It's a property down on South which I still call County Road B. That's excuse me. >> Oh, that's a maplewood thing calling it
maple. I can see what you're up to. >> I know. Old habits die hard. >> Use the king's English. >> It's It's a It's a funky shaped lot down west of Mcnite.
>> That's where that guy was going to put those >> the town houses. >> Townous. >> Oh, right off the trail. >> Right off the trail. Yes. >> Okay. >> Where the heck? >> Right at the grade crossing of the old railroad. >> Almost there. Here we go.
This lot right here. This is the trail, the old rail line. And it's it's Oh, let me go to the aerial >> cross street there. I can't see. >> Jennifer Court on the north side. >> Jennifer.
>> And then this is seventh here. >> So, which is the one? one is a zero >> there. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> So, for the last year or so, I've been working with the owner developer on plans for that property. He initially
started out with a plan and showed eight townhouse units connected in two fourunit buildings. >> But he's found out working with his civil engineer, the wershed district, he has to include storm water ponding on site, which is primarily going to be in
this east end. Mhm. >> So now he's on to six units, two three unit buildings kind of parallel here and he is I haven't spoke to him in about two weeks. He's been very good to work with in that he looks for input and
suggestions and you know you got to check on setbacks. You got to do this and do this and he's he's been very responsive to me for those. long way to say he's made all the changes I think he needs to make to make us a middle.
I'm expecting because he's so close that he will make us a middle to get development site plan approval for that. Haven't seen it yet, but uh it'd be six units with one shared driveway or entrance on south and then a
kind of a T situation and the units backing up close to the south property line here. So that would be nice to see that get filled in. >> Yeah.
So again, the border is right down here. Then Mcnite is well, there's the urban ecology center and then here's Holiday. >> Mhm. >> Just orienting you. There's Mcnite right there. So it's >> okay. >> Down a little ways on the way to
Maplewood. >> If something doesn't go through, is there any way you could put a house in there >> or two houses? Squeeze them in there? >> Yeah, if he can get six town houses in there. Yes, if he'd be willing. to sell it to us. But yeah,
>> I think right around the end of that other building, that commercial where the window cleaning plays, I think that's right where North St. Paul ends. Right about there, it >> Yeah, right here. >> Right there. Yep. >> Okay. So, that's update on that one. And then the last one, I think I know
the mayor knows and for anybody watching or the other members of the EDA, the state legislature did approve the reallocation of the $4.5 million for the community center to go to the new water tower at uh Tower Park. And if all comes
together and the planning and design that will go up, be constructed in 2028 and hopefully be online by the end of 2028. And then the playground that's there will have to get redone after that because as I understand it, the new water tower will go right next to the
existing water tower where the playground is. So you still have water tower in service, >> get that all built, get it online, >> tear down the old water tower and then redevelop the base of the old water tower for the park, >> which works out well because sometimes
if you know they got to use the same spot, you got to go to just one well. So at least we can keep them running at the same time. So it's really makes a big difference. So yeah, that was a a blessing for our city. I mean, that's $4.5 million that uh yeah, we can go to something that's going to last for
generations. The other water tower is almost 80 years old right now. So we've had it. Think of when that water tower was built, how much was north of it? Not a lot. So it's it's it's done its work, that's for sure. >> Well, the one house at 2423, that house
was built in 1887. >> Yep. >> Yeah. The only downside is they can't implode it because of the new water tower. They'll have to take it down piece by piece. The old >> Sometimes those are fun. We >> just drop it. >> That would be fun to watch.
>> And just to get an idea, it's uh 300,000 gallons right now. Our new one's 750,000 gallons. >> So yeah, that's better for better for fire protection. >> Yeah, fire protection. and we were just on that borderline of, you know, having enough pressure for anything up north
makes a big difference. >> Or they drain the tank, the tower on a major fire on the north side somewhere. >> So, yeah, that was a that's a blessing for the city. That's for sure. >> Those are all the updates I have.
>> Okay. The other one is I'm sure you've driven by because it's on the main drag, but how the nice the parking lot looks now between Sidewinders and the tattoo place. So, I mean, compared to where it was before where it was just, you know, bunch of old gravel pushed in and
everything else and lines and it looks great. You know, that was really an eyes sore in the middle of the in the middle of the town there. So, I mean, that was money well spent by the EDA and appreciate everybody's support on getting that through. So, it makes a big difference. I know, if I remember right,
I heard 38 39 parking spots, real parking spots. Plus, we can put snow there during the winter when we're trying to, you know, clean out the downtown and be able to store it in the back until we're they do it in two steps. Otherwise, you have to have overtime and rent trucks. You'd have to
move it all the way to Mcnite Field. This way, they can dump it in the back of that and then during the daytime shift, they can start moving it. So, it's a win-win for everything when it comes to that part of it. And it looks much better. Anything
else we want to add? >> I don't have any unless the members do. Well, >> do we have uh any update on the old Pine Tree Center? >> Oh, that's a good question. >> We know it was sold probably three, four months ago.
>> We had heard that they were trying to entertain a fuel station to go in there. We haven't seen or heard Boo about it. Uh we're hoping the owner will take better care of it than the previous owner. Looks like the lights have been replaced. >> Mhm. >> They look nicer, but other than that,
there's really no change. No report. Maybe we can reach out to him, maybe invite him to one of our next EDA meeting. >> I'm ready. >> Have him give Yeah, thank you. have him give an update on what he wants to do
and how if there's any assistance that you know as far as uh ideas or anything else he'd like to go over that'd be great. >> Would any of that grant uh facade program be part of that? Could he do any of that? No, because it's not separate. >> Yeah, it's off of the the area.
>> Of the area off the record, I was hoping Quick Trip would buy it. >> Yeah. Well, they'd have it up in 110 days. Guaranteed. Quick Trip. Mhm. >> So, Oh, yeah. So, that's that's a great question. Thank you for bringing that up. It'd be nice to see if we can get an
update on that business-wise. I'm trying to think if there's anything else. Um, I haven't heard Loves, you know, what's new with them. So, you know, I still see I got a little coffee trailer behind it that I see there now on that. That's something a little bit newer. So, I don't know what's happening there.
>> He's been busy, though. He's get people in there all the time drinking coffee, >> does he? He opens up like 6:00 a.m. all winter long and everything. >> Okay. I just noticed that. >> Huh? >> Yeah, that's true.
Well, good. If there's nothing else business-wise, good for you. Everything going great? >> Good. >> Awesome. That's good to hear. >> As long as the computer >> Yeah, that's always a concerned. >> I hope you keep that jalapeno burger.
>> I will uh I will pass that along. >> Thank you. Yes, >> it's my favorite. I enjoy that one a lot. >> Any new business from you, young man? >> No. Well, what did we do this last week >> as a council?
>> I don't even know. I >> All right. >> One day goes by. >> It does. It goes by quick. And it's the summer's already We're already halfway done with the year. So, it's crazy to think about it. >> Two weeks and we start shortening up our days. >> Yeah. Oh, here we go. You got to end on
a sour note. All right. Well, if there's nothing else, um we'll be three months whenever that will be what September >> September 8th. >> September 8th is the next time. And um I appreciate everybody on the EDA. We still do have one open spot. So, if
anybody else out there is interested, we've been looking for we have a planning commission spot. I think I think we interviewed for it, but here and there we do have a couple openings on our committees. So we love to have uh more people if they're able to join up. That'd be great. If nothing else, I'll
call for adjournment. >> So moved. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. All those in favor say I. I. Thank you all very much.