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9. 2014 Annual Report Scandia Economic Development Authority 2014 Annual Report August 2013-2014 Scandia Economic Development Authority The Scandia Economic Development Authority (EDA) is comprised of two Council members and three citizen representations who typically meet on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Scandia Community Center. The City Administrator serves as the Executive Director. Scandia Economic Development Authority Mission Statement: The Scandia EDA strives to enhance Scandia’s long-term prosperity and enrich the quality of life of residents by retaining and growing existing businesses, recruiting new businesses and expanding life-cycle housing opportunities for residents. Resolution Enabling the Establishment of the Economic Development Authority of the City of Scandia: Resolution No. 05-21-13-01: Section 1. Recitals. 1.01. The City is authorized pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.090 through 469.1082, as amended (the “Act”) to establish an economic development authority for the City and the Council desires to do so in order to promote certain economic, commercial, housing and industrial development and redevelopment goals and objectives. 1.02. The Council hereby finds that the encouragement and financial support of economic development and redevelopment in the City is vital to the orderly development and is in the best interests of the health, safety, prosperity and general welfare of the residents of the City. 1.03. The City has caused notice of a public hearing on the establishment of an economic development authority to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City once each week for two consecutive weeks, and pursuant to such notice, a public hearing on the proposal has been held by the Council on the date hereof, at which hearing all persons desiring to present their oral or written comments on the proposal were given an opportunity to do so. Section 2. Establishment of Economic Development Authority. 2.01. Pursuant to the Act, the Council establishes an economic development authority for the City to be known as the Economic Development Authority of the City of Scandia, Minnesota (the “EDA”). 2.02. The EDA shall be governed by a board of commissioners consisting of five members, two of whom shall be members of the Council. The initial appointments of the non - Council commissioners shall be for the following terms: one (1) for three (3) years, one (1) for four (4) years and one (1) for five years. Thereafter, the terms of the non- Council commissioners shall be six (6) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The terms of the Council members serving as EDA commissioners shall coincide with their respective terms of office on the Council. Each commissioner of the EDA who is a member of the Council shall cease to be a commissioner effective at such time as he or she is no longer a member of the Council, and a successor commissioner shall be appointed pursuant to the Act to serve the remainder of the applicable term (if any) so vacated. Section 3. Powers. 3.01. The EDA shall have all powers given to an economic development authority pursuant to the Act, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, including the powers of a housing and redevelopment authority contained in Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.001 through 469.047, as amended, and the powers of a city under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.124 through 469.134, as amended. 3.02. The sale of all general obligation or revenue bonds of the EDA must be approved by the Council before such bonds or obligations are issued. 3.03. The EDA shall follow the budget process for City departments as provided by the City and as implemented by the Council. 3.04. All actions of the EDA must be consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan of the City and any official controls implementing the comprehensive plan. 3.05. The general budget of the EDA must be transmitted and approved by the Council at the same time as the City’s general budget. 3.06. Notwithstanding Section 469.101, Subdivision 4 of the Act, the EDA may not take or attempt to take any property within the City by eminent domain without the prior approval of the Council. 3.07 As a means of more clearly setting forth its powers and rules of procedure, at its initial organizational meeting the EDA shall adopt a set of By-Laws, which shall, among other things, establish the general policy duties and provide for the appointment of the President, Vice - President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Secretary. The initial By-Laws and subsequent amendments thereto must also be approved by a majority vote of the Council. Bylaws (adopted September 2013): ARTICLE I – THE AUTHORITY Section 1. Name of Authority. The name of the Authority shall be the “Economic Development Authority of the City of Scandia, Minnesota” (referred to herein as the “Authority”), and its governing body shall be called the Board of Commissioners (the “Board”). The Board shall be the body responsible for the general governance of the Authority and shall conduct its official business at meetings thereof. The Authority is governed by the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.090 through 469.1082, as amended (the “Act”). Section 2. Seal of Authority. As required by Section 469.096, Subdivision 1 of the Act, the Authority shall have an official seal, to be established and approved by the Board. Section 3. Office of Authority. The business office of the Authority shall be located at Scandia Community and Senior Center, 14727 209th Street North, Scandia, Minnesota. Section 4. Establishment. The Authority was established by Resolution No. 05-21- 13-01, approved by the City Council of the City of Scandia, Minnesota on May 21 , 2013 (the “Enabling Resolution”), after a duly noticed public hearing was held pursuant to the Act. The Authority has all the powers set forth in the Enabling Resolution. Section 5. Commissioners. In accordance with the Enabling Resolution, five commissioners will serve on the Board, who shall either be residents of or own real property in the area of operations of the Authority. Two City Council members will simultaneously serve as Board Commissioners. The terms of the City Council members also serving as Board Commissioners are coterminous with their respective terms on the City Council. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Authority shall be a President, Vice- President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer. The President and the Treasurer shall be members of the Board and elected annually. The Vice-President shall be a member of the Board and may hold office for any term designated by the Board. No Commissioner may be both President and Vice-President simultaneously. The Secretary need not be a member of the Board, but is elected annually by the Board. The Assistant Treasurer need not be a member of the Board and may hold office for any term designated by the Board. Section 2. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board. Except as otherwise authorized by resolution of the Board, the President and the Secretary (or the Vice-President, in case of the Secretary’s absence) shall sign all contracts, deeds and other instruments made or executed by the Authority, except that all checks of the Authority shall be signed by the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer. At each meeting of the Board the President shall submit such recommendations and information as the President may consider proper concerning the business, affairs and policies of the Authority. Section 3. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President, and in case of the resignation of the President, shall perform such duties as are imposed on the President until such time as the Board shall select a new President. Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board and shall maintain all records of the Authority. The Secretary shall also have such additional duties and responsibilities as the Board may from time to time and by resolution prescribe. Section 5. Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all funds of the Authority and shall deposit the same in the name of the Authority in such bank or banks as the Board may select. The Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer shall sign all orders and checks for the payment of money and shall pay out and disburse such money under the direction of the Board. The Treasurer shall keep regular books of accounts showing receipts and expenditures and shall render to the Board, at least annually (or more often when requested), an account of such transactions and also of the financial condition of the Authority. The Treasurer shall post a bond as required by Section 469.096, Subdivision 6 of the Act. The Assistant Treasurer shall act as the Treasurer’s agent and assistant to perform the above- described duties, subject to the Treasurer’s approval thereof. Section 6. Executive Director. The Executive Director of the Authority shall be the City Administrator of the City. The Executive Director shall have the responsibilities as enumerated in the Act and such additional responsibilities as the Board may from time to time and by resolution prescribe. Section 7. Additional Duties. The officers of the Authority shall perform such other duties and functions as may from time to time be required by the Board or these Bylaws, or the rules and regulations of the Authority. Section 8. Vacancies. Should the office of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Treasurer become vacant, the Board shall elect a successor at its next regular meeting, or at a special meeting called for such purpose, and such election shall be for the unexpired term of said officer. Section 9. Additional Personnel. The Board may from time to time employ such personnel as it deems necessary to exercise its powers, duties and functions. The selection and compensation of such personnel shall be determined by the Board. ARTICLE III – MEETINGS Section 1. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall occur according to a meeting schedule, if any, adopted or revised from time to time by resolution of the Board. Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by any two members of the Board for the purpose of transacting any business designated in the call for special meeting. The call for special meeting may be delivered at any time prior to the time of the proposed special meeting (in accordance with state law notice requirements) to each member of the Board or may be mailed to the business or home address of each member of the Board. Notice of any special meeting shall be posted a nd published as may be required by law. Section 3. Quorum. The powers of the Authority shall be vested in the Board. Three Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business and exercising the powers of the Authority and for all other purposes. When a quorum is in attendance, action may be taken by the Board upon a vote of a majority of the Commissioners present. Section 4. Rules of Procedure. The meetings of the Board shall be governed by the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. Section 5. Manner of Voting; Adoption of Resolutions. Voting on all questions coming before the Board shall be by voice vote unless any Commissioner calls for a roll call vote. The yeas and nays shall be entered upon the minutes of such meeting. Resolutions need not be read aloud prior to vote. Resolutions are deemed adopted if approved by at least a simple majority of all Commissioners present, unless State law requires otherwise. ARTICLE IV – MISCELLANEOUS Section 1. Initial Approval and Amendments to Bylaws. These Bylaws shall not become effective until approved by the City Council. These Bylaws shall be amended only by written resolution of the Board. Amendments are to be effective only upon approval of the City Council. Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Authority shall coincide with the fiscal year of the City of Scandia, Minnesota. Section 3. Commissioner Compensation. Commissioners of the Authority shall be paid for attending each regular or special meeting of the Authority in an amount to be determined by the City Council. In addition, Commissioners shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in doing official business of the Authority. All money paid for compensation or reimbursement must be paid out of the Authority’s general budget. Section 4. Removal for Cause. A Commissioner may be removed by the City Council for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office, all pursuant to the procedural requirements contained in Section 469.095, Subdivision 5 of the Act. Section 5. Conflict of Interest Policy. The Board shall adopt a Conflict of Interest Policy a copy of which shall remain on file in the Office of the Authority. Annually, each Commissioner and Employee of the Authority shall complete a Conflict of Interest Certificate and file it with the Secretary. Section 6. Depositories. In accordance with Section 469.099 of the Act, every two years the Authority shall name national or state banks within the State of Min nesota as depositories. Before acting as a depository, a named bank shall give the Authority a bond approved as to form and surety by the Authority. 2013-14 Members Committee members who served during 2013-14 included: Committee Member Appointed Term Expires Sally Swanson, President 2013 January 1, 2015 Tom Triplett, Vice President 2013 August 1, 2016 Dan Lee, Treasurer 2013 January 1, 2017 Greg Isaacson 2013 August 1, 2017 Bruce Swenson 2013 August 1, 2018 2014 Accomplishments: Organizational Tasks The EDA adopted bylaws, a mission statement and elected officers for the first time in 2013. A checking account was established to segregate EDA funds. Information Gathering from other Housing and Economic Development Organizations The EDA invited members from Center City and Forest Lake EDAs to share their EDA experiences and project ideas. The EDA also heard from Barb Dacy, Washington County HRA about trends in our area for housing and workforce development. The EDA also met with consultants working on the Washington County economic development strategic plan and provided input. The EDA received information on various programs available through the U of M Extension. Reviewed Current and Proposed Ordinances The EDA reviewed the proposed Rural Event Facility Ordinance and provided comment at the Planning Commission’s public hearing. The EDA also reviewed current zoning, permitted uses, and signage regulations. Blandin Foundation Technical Assistance Grant for Broadband Early in the year, the EDA received notice they were eligible for technical assistance through the Blandin Foundation to work on broadband issues in the community. Working with Bill Coleman, the EDA developed and administered a survey to residents and business owners. The survey results were shared with Midcontinent and Frontier to begin discussions on the need to expand services in Scandia. Frontier has updated two remote offices and Midcontinent has extended services to the Sand Lake Overlook Development. Further expansion effort s are needed in the future and this will remain a focus of the EDA. Facilitated Discussions between Residents and Xcel Energy for Natural Gas Expansion Following high propane prices and concerns from residents, Xcel Energy was invited to an EDA meeting to provide information on the process for extending natural gas service to portions of the City. The EDA helped get information out on the process and a survey of residents. Minimum service connections were not met in 2014 but further surveys may be pursued in 2015. Business Retention and Expansion Surveys/Business Listening Sessions The EDA attempted to contact 44 businesses with storefronts in Scandia to gather information about their business, their views of the local business climate and gain information on ways the EDA could help businesses. After receiving 13 responses, the EDA held two listening session with area businesses in November. 2015 Goals and Projects: Signage BRE respondents identified signage as a key issue that needs improvement. The EDA will continue to work with business entities to bring forth recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Zoning Issues The EDA has heard from businesses about the difficulty of developing and growing in Scandia. The EDA will work with businesses to identify specific issues-such as density and permitted uses, research solutions, and provide recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Broadband Services Identified as a top issue that impacts home based businesses, the EDA will continue to work with providers and pursue ways to improve services. Lifecycle Housing The EDA will examine the level of need for lifecycle housing in Scandia, review current zoning provisions and recommend changes where necessary to support lifecycle housing. Additional Business Information/Promotion on Website EDA staff will seek to work with area realtors and business property owners to provide information on website regarding spaces for lease in the City as well as land for sa le that has the potential for business development. Business Liaison In the absence of a local chamber or business association group, the EDA will work to develop a process or mechanism for business concerns to be heard. This may also lead to sharing of ideas amongst businesses and cross promotion.