2020.08.18 EDA Meeting PacketAGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF CRYSTAL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020
6:30 P.M.
CRYSTAL CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. Call to order *
2. Roll call *
3. Consider approval of minutes from the July 21, 2020 meeting
4. Public Hearing regarding the sale of 4741 Welcome Avenue North
5. Other business *
6. Adjournment *
*Items for which no materials are included in the packet
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Minutes of the
Economic Development Authority of the City of Crystal
Council Chambers
July 21, 2020
1. Call to Order
President LaRoche called the meeting of the Economic Development Authority of the
City of Crystal (EDA) to order at 8:01 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Upon call of the roll, the following members were present: Jim Adams, Brendan Banks,
John Budziszewski, Julie Deshler, Therese Kiser, Nancy LaRoche and Olga Parsons.
The following staff were present: Executive Director Anne Norris, Deputy Executive
Director John Sutter and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist.
3. Approval of Minutes
Moved by Commissioner Adams (Banks) to approve the minutes of the February 18,
2020 regular meeting and June 16, 2020 work session. Motion carried.
4. Update regarding 3240 Hampshire Ave. N.
Mr. Sutter updated the board on recent findings related to the feasibility of selling this lot
for development. Due to extraordinary costs to extend a driveway, water service and
sanitary sewer service from the Georgia Avenue cul-de-sac to the building site, staff has
determined that construction of a new house on this lot is not feasible at this time.
Development of this lot should wait until adjacent owners desire to develop their lots, at
which time Georgia Avenue can be extended and the extraordinary costs spread out over
more lots. Staff will inform the adjacent property owners of this determination.
No EDA action was necessary or taken.
5. Consider authorizing the issuance of a Request for Proposals for the sale of 4741
Welcome Ave. N. for construction of a new residential building.
Mr. Sutter presented a summary of the Request for Proposals packet. The minimum price
for the lot is $100,000 and it could have 2-6 dwelling units. Builders would determine the
specific size and type of residential building to propose. The proposal deadline would be
August 12 and the EDA public hearing would be August 18.
Moved by Commissioner Deshler (Budziszewski) to authorize the issuance of a Request
for Proposals for the sale of 4741 Welcome Ave. N. for construction of a new residential
building. Motion carried.
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6. Presentation on COVID-19 business assistance programs.
Mr. Sutter presented information on assistance programs for businesses impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic and potential use of CARES Act funding for Crystal businesses.
The EDA discussed various approaches that could be used if the EDA decides to use part
of its CARES allocation for this purpose in the future. Staff will continue to do
intentional outreach to local businesses regarding available assistance programs.
Mr. Sutter presented information about a new county-sponsored technical assistance
program for 11 business districts around the county. Staff submitted proposals for three
districts in Crystal and one was selected: The north side of Bass Lake Road from the
BNSF corridor to Hampshire Avenue. The program will provide focused marketing and
related support to help local businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff will have
more detailed information for the EDA in September.
No EDA action was necessary or taken.
7. Other Business
Mr. Sutter gave a reminder of an informal open house to be held at the Crystal
Community Center on Thursday, July 23 from 5-7 p.m. regarding a 53-unit, 4-story
apartment building proposed for a vacant site at 5240 West Broadway. Notice of the open
house and information about the project has been mailed to property owners within 1,000
feet of the site, posted on the site and posted on Nextdoor.
8. Adjournment
Moved by Commissioner Banks (Deshler) to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Page 3 of 3
These minutes of the July 21, 2020 meeting of the Crystal Economic Development Authority
were approved by the Authority on ________________ ____, 20___.
______________________________
Nancy LaRoche, President
ATTEST:
______________________________
Julie Deshler, Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
FROM: John Sutter, Community Development Director
TO: Anne Norris, City Manager (for August 18 EDA Meeting)
DATE: August 13, 2020
RE: PUBLIC HEARING: Sale of 4741 Welcome Avenue North for
construction of a new residential building
On July 22 staff issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the lot at 4741 Welcome Ave.
N. The minimum lot price was set at $100,000 and the lot could accommodate 2-6
dwelling units. Builders would determine the specific size and type of residential building
to propose.
The deadline for proposals was August 12 but we did not receive any proposals. Staff
did talk to several builders who expressed interest, but it appears that they may have
been too busy to prepare a proposal by August 12. There is no indication that the lot
price is too high or that market demand has declined.
Staff would like to reissue the RFP with a new deadline of September 30. To that end,
staff recommends that the EDA open the hearing, take any comment, and continue the
hearing to October 6. This would give builders additional time to submit proposals. If no
proposals are received, staff would discuss options with the EDA on October 6.
REQUESTED EDA ACTION:
Presiding officer to open the public hearing and take any comment
Motion to continue the public hearing to October 6, 2020 and direct staff to reissue
the RFP with a new deadline of September 30, 2020
If the EDA authorizes this approach, staff would send a letter to all property owners on
the block and post an update to all Crystal neighborhoods on Nextdoor.
EDA STAFF REPORT
Lot Sale Public Hearing
4741 Welcome Avenue North
2018 Aerial Photo ▲
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