EDA-EDAAC Meeting Minutes 1998.09.21CITY OF OTSEGO
EDA MEETING - JOINT MEETING WITH EDAAC
7:00 PM
OTSEGO CITY HALL
SEPTEMBER 21, 1998
1. CALL TO ORDER.
President Larry Fournier
called
ROLL CALL: EDA; Larry Fournier, Suzanne Ackerman, Mark
Berning, Vern Heidner, and Virginia Wendel.
EDAAC, Wally Odell, Liz Wilder, LeRoy Lindenfelser,
Steve Ackerman, Gabe Davis, Rudy Thibodeau, and Vince
Peterson,
Staff: City Administrator Mike Robertson,
2. DISCIISSION OF EDAAC MISSION.
President Fournier said the purpose of the meeting was
to discuss the EDAAC mission and to hear from both the
EDA (Economic Development Authority) and EDAAC
(Economic Development Authority Advisory Commission).
President Fournier asked to hear EDA comments first.
EDA Comments
Larry Fournier - He thought the EDAAC's mission was to
advise the EDA, promote development, and encourage
businesses to locate in Otsego. He favored keeping the
EDAAC, stating that when sewer and water is installed
development will start occurring and the EDA will need
the EDAAC's assistance.
Vern Heidner - He used to think the EDAAC could keep up
with financing tools, but doesn't now. EDAAC members
change and financing laws are complicated. He sees the
EDAAC advising the EDA, and operating in a manner
similar to the Planning Commission,
Virginia Wendel - She thinks the EDAAC needs a project.
They could help with promoting commercial/industrial
development in the City.
Susan Ackerman - She sees the EDAAC as advisory to the
EDA and its main mission as promoting business
development.
Mark Bernina - Feels the EDAAC needs a specific mission
and that they haven't had one for a while. He doesn't
know how the EDAAC could promote business because it
doesn't have all the necessary information.
EDAAc comments
Rudy Thibodeau - Noted he is one of the longest serving
members and that the original EDAAC's mission was to
actively draw commercial/industrial development to the
community. They started the process for establishing a
third industrial park by looking at alternatives and
making recommendations to the EDA. When the EDAAC
worked on the Home Business ordinance it upset staff
and the EDA and problems developed. Since then the
EDAAC has done only minor projects. Feels that the
EDAAC should be given a mission or disbanded. He noted
the Council is very busy and could delegate some of its
work to the EDAAC.
r.aRnX Lindenfelser - Feels EDAAC has been stagnating
the last few years. They don't have the expertise to'
pursue development since they are not here on a daily
basis. They don't have the financing expertise to
learn and apply financing programs. They can act as a
Chamber of Commerce in terms of marketing. He doesn't
know if the EDAAC has any more usefulness.
r,;� Wil�P_r - She noted she is also an original member.
She stated there has been increased conflict with staff
and consultants over the last few years and that she
doesn't know if the EDAAC has any usefulness anymore.
Gabe Davis - In his two years on the EDAAC the only
thing they've done is the City map. He would like to
Jo marketing and promote business development.
Vince Peterson - He agrees that a mission should be
defined or the EDAAC should be disbanded. He thought
that new development proposals should go to the EDAAC
for advice. He thought that they would be involved in
development related planning issues.
Steve Ackerman - He said he had the same thoughts as
other members. He joined to be of assistance to the
City and to help shape the City's direction. He would
like to promote Otsego as a place to do business.
Wally Odell - He noted that the EDAAC is supposed to be
an advisory body and that none of the members have the
time or expertise to deal with financing issues. He
has been frustrated because there has not been much
economic activity lately. He noted that the EDAAC
could give the EDA an additional perspective but
questioned whether time constraints on development
decisions would prevent the EDAAC from being useful.
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Additional Discussion
Larry Fournier noted that the City found out that an
EDA could be useful during the building of City Hall
because it was able to get lower rates on loans and
save the taxpayers money. He noted that the EDA has
not had a lot of development projects due to lack of
sewer and water. He feels that will change in the
future and that in the meantime the EDA and EDAAC
should improve their communication with one another.
He suggested that some members of the EDAAC could be
appointed to the EDA.
Vern Heidner indicated that the State has rules
governing the length of terms of non -elected citizens
who are appointed to an EDA. Once appointed it not
easy to remove anyone until their term is up. He also
said that an EDA has taxing authority and that he
objected to anyone having taxing authority who was not
an elected official.
Liz Wilder thought that the City should spend money on
promotion. Steve Ackerman and Rudy Thibodeau agreed,
saying the City needed to decide whether it would just
react to development proposals or try to be proactive
and promote commercial/industrial growth. If the
decision was pro -active, the EDAAC could help.
Rudy suggested press releases on the sewer project,
allowing more signage along Highway 101, and providing
a list of landowners willing to sell to potential
developers. Steve suggested the City work with a
developer to establish an incubator building for small
industrial companies. Rudy and Virginia Wendel
suggested that the City could be more flexible on
development standards for industrial companies. Wally
suggested that the City should allow metal buildings
for industrial uses.
Administrator Robertson noted that the City did allow
metal buildings in the third industrial park, located
in the former Frankfort township area.
Councilmember Ackerman left the meeting.
President Fournier asked for specific comments on
whether to abolish the EDAAC, maintain it, or combine
it in some way with the EDA.
Wally Odell - Abolish the EDAAC. Appoint some of its
members to the EDA.
LarrX Fournier - Keep the EDAAC. Appoint some of its
members to the EDA to facilitate communication between
the two bodies. Revise the EDAAC mission statement to
make it more relevant.
Mark Bernina - Would be willing to combine the two
groups, Otherwise, specify mission for EDAAC.
LeRoy Lindenfelser - Supports either (1) Phase out the
EDAAC and add some of its members to the EDA, or (2)
Take time off and do not meet unless they have a
proposal to evaluate or a specific mission to
accomplish.
Liz wilder - Eliminate the EDAAC. Have EDA develop a
specific plan for promoting development before
determining whether additional members are needed on
the EDA.
Steve Ackerman - Combine the EDA and EDAAC. He would
like to work on a promotional package for the City.
Ru y Thibodeau - Combine
City has a Chamber, those
EDAAC. Determine whether
Let's get that tax base!
iesUntil
the two bod. the
functions would remain in the
ti
o be reactive or pro -act ve.
Virginia Wendel - Keep the EDAAC and give them time off
until they are needed for a project or to evaluate a
financing proposal.
Vince Peterson - Combine the two bodies.
Gabe Davis - Combine ,the two bodies and give us a
project to do.
Vern Heidner - Is not in
elected officials to the
if it will be pro -active
decision about the EDAAC.
favor of appointing non -
EDA. Thinks EDA should decide
or reactive before it makes a
Larry Fournier noted
that EDAAC could not
change was needed,
that the majority consensus was
continue as it had been, that
After further discussion the Ewa%. agreed to meet at
its regular time in October and to come up with a list
of suggested strategies for the City to do to be
proactive. Administrator Robertson was directed to
prepare a memo for the EDAAC meeting which would list
the State rules governing EDA membership. The EDA will
meet with the EDAAC in November to discuss the
suggestions and to make a decision regarding the status
of the EDAAC.
3. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Larry Fournier, President
son, City Administrator
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