Minutes: Evansville Economic Development: October 2006

City of Evansville
Economic Development Committee
Tuesday, October 17th, 2006, 5:30 PM
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St. Evansville, WI

MINUTES


1. Roll call. Chair Wyse called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Present: Berg, Decker, Dickert, Juergens, Olsen, Otterstein, Wyse. Absent: Bass. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker.

2. Approval of agenda. The revised agenda, as distributed, was approved without objection.

3. Motion to waive reading of the minutes of September 19, 2006 regular meeting and approve them as printed. Moved by Juergens, seconded by Decker. Approved by voice vote.

4. Motion to waive reading of the minutes of September 27, 2006 special meeting and approve them as printed. Moved by Juergens, seconded by Decker. Approved by voice vote.

5. Citizens appearances, other than on items listed below. None.

6. Discussion on Evansville FFA planting and weeding of the three “Entrance to Evansville” signs and donation of $250.00 for the past two years' work. Juergens moved to authorize payment of $200, to cover planting and weeding expenses for 2005 and 2006, seconded by Dickert. Juergens noted that in previous years the annual committee donation has been $100 for this purpose. Motion approved by voice vote.

7. Discussion of possible “Brownfield Grants” and how they may benefit economic development. Chair Wyse reported on receipt of an e-mail from Scott Wilson of Ayers & Associates, asking to make a presentation to the committee on his firm's consulting services for "Brownfield" sites. Following discussion in which it was observed that there are currently no "Brownfield" sites known to be under consideration for development in the City, the chair placed the communication on file.

8. Discussion on inquiry from citizen re: East Main restaurant and follow-up. Chair Wyse stated that he had been made generally aware of an inquiry about a potential new business opportunity in the City, and asked what follow-up occurred. Mayor Decker said she responded to a telephone inquiry from Richard Woulfe on behalf of an aquaintance who was interested in lease or purchase of a restaurant property on East Main Street. Mayor Decker said she responded with the requested information on the same day it was asked for. Dickert also furnished the committee with information on previous transactions regarding the property.

9. Discussion of committee goals, objectives, and projects. Chair Wyse noted that the Finance & Labor Relations Committee has recommended that the Economic Development Committee's budget be set at $5,150 for 2007. The desire of the Common Council is to adopt a City budget for 2007 which will reduce the levy, as compared with the 2006 budget. He has advised the Chamber of Commerce it will not be possible for the committee to fund the Chamber's Promtions Director position in the manner requested last month, and has invited the Chamber to submit alternative ideas. Otterstein said that the City's Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan's Chapter 8 is devoted entirely to the topic of economic development, and that many of the Plan's Implementation recommendations concern economic development. The economic development portions of the Smart Growth Plan were produced with much thought and should be carefully considered by the committee. The Trade Market Analysis currently under development by the committee is specifically recommended in the Smart Growth Plan, as are the kinds of downtown streetscape enhancements which will be incorporated in the 2007 reconstruction of Main Street. The Transportation Enhancement grant will make the streetscape better than could have been afforded by local expenditures, and meets the additional economic development goal of retaining or recapturing public moneys for the local economy. Mayor Decker also noted that the Smart Growth Plan recommends the establishment, by this committee, of a city economic development strategy, to be accomplished in 2007. Juergens noted that a City web site is a recognized tool for economic development. The chair advised that the City Clerk will distribute copies of all pertinent portions of the Smart Growth Plan to committee members in advance of next month's meeting, in anticipation of further discussion of the topic.

10. Welcome Evansville 4th Grade WEBELOS Cub Scouts. Q & A. The committee welcomed members of WEBELOS Cub Scout Pack #514, and discussed with the Scouts the purpose and workings of this committee, and its relationship with the Redevelopment Authority, which the Scouts also would be visiting the same evening. There was much interest in the ways in which public infrastructure items are planned, built and paid for.

11. Motion to approve expenditures from 2006 budget for Downtown promotional activity for Main Street Reconstruction. Decker moved, seconded by Juergens, to authorize payment from the committee's 2006 budget of $1950 to Lamar Advertising for rental of billboards on Hwy. 14 north of the City, and on Hwy. 213 south of the City during the period April - September 2007. Total rent will be $3900, per the contract previously executed. Local businesses have to date contributed $1100 toward the rent, and an additional $450 is expected to be received during the week of October 23. With follow-up calls, the private-sector contributions should easily exceed $1950. Further promotional activities for 2007 are under development by the Downtown Reconstruction Task Force. Motion approved by voice vote.

12. Motion to approve resolution for Preserve America designation. Juergens moved, seconded by Olsen, to recommend to the Common Council the adoption of a resolution to accompany an application for Preserve America community designation. Decker advised that the application is recommended by the Wisconsin Historical Society, and that staff of the society will prepare the appplication on the City's behalf. There is no cost to the City in connection with the application or participation in the program. Preserve America is a federal initiative sponsored by the Department of the Interior, Commerce Department, Department of Transportation, Agriculture Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other agencies. It is intended to encourage programs of local history appreciation, historic preservation and heritage tourism development. Significant grant funding for local program development is available, but only to communities which have applied for and received the designation. Municipaities must have conducted a joint public-private project within the focus of the Preserve America program in order to qualify. The state Historical Society believes Evansville qualifies on the basis of the Transportation Enhancement grant award and Main Street project design, which were pursued jointly by the City and Evansville Community Partnership, Inc. Otterstein observed that heritage tourism development is specifically recommended by the Smart Growth Plan. Motion approved by voice vote.

13. Update on web site changes and maintenance. Decker moved, seconded by Dickert, to authorize the web site subcommittee to implement revisions and improvements to the City's web site, using EMGraphics as vendor, on a not-to-exceed cost basis of $1500 during 2006. Juergens explained that EMGraphics was the unanimous recommendation of the subcommittee to serve as supplier, and that the program it will utilize will readily permit updating by City staff, with minimal training. Changes will improve internal navigation and appearance, as well as convenience of use. A 3-page memorandum detailed numerous improvements. Wyse noted that the City's 2006 budget includes a $1500 line item for the City's web site, and that this item is in addition to the general committee budget. Motion approved by voice vote.

14. Update on Trade Market Analysis. Otterstein reported that he had consulted with staff of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce concerning availability of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the proposed Trade Market Analysis, as well as CDBG funding for other proposed projects in Evansville. Department staff reported favorably on the Trade Market Analysis, and Otterstein will now proceed this week to complete the formal grant application, per previous authorization of the committee. Final approval by the Department of Commerce is expected within 30 - 45 days after submission. The budget for the project remains at $19,000, of which 75% would be underwritten by the CDBG grant, and 25% would be paid by the City. Local funding for the Trade Market Analysis is included in the recently-approved project plan for Tax Increment District #6. Berg inquired whether the Trade Market Analysis grant would negatively affect the CDBG-Public Facilities funding recently awarded in connection with restoration of the Eager Building (old Ace Hardware). Mayor Decker also noted that the City is cooperating with North Prairie Productions and Landmark Services Cooperative in seeking a Department of Transportation Economic Assistance grant and a CDBG-Public Facilities grant from the Commerce Department in connection with the proposed extension of municipal services to, and other construction pertaining to, the proposed biodiesel plant site. Otterstein responded that he had specifically asked the Department of Commerce about these other grant proposals, and was advised that adequate funding was available for all three projects and that there was no perceived conflict among the applications. Following further discussion, the committee reached consensus that the already-approved grant application for the Eager Building, and the application for the biodiesel plant, should be given priority over the Trade Market Analysis grant, in the event of an unanticipated shortfall or conflict. Otterstein said he would advise the Department of Commerce accordingly.

15. Status of ECP, C of C and EDC coordination efforts. Decker reported that he, on behalf of this committee, Christia Hunt, on behalf of Evansville Community Partnership, and Becky Heimerl, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, had agreed that each individual entity should conduct its own internal review and planning activity as a first step in the coordination process. ECP has completed its annual long range planning exercise. Once this committee completes its review of goals, objectives and projects (an activity which can be completed next month) and the Chamber advises that it has completed its counterpart activity, the representatives will meet again to plan appropriate sessions for coordination. In the meantime, all three are cooperating in the ongoing Downtown Reconstruction Task Force.

16. Adjournment. Berg moved, seconded by Juergens, to adjourn to the next regular meeting of the committee on November 21, 2006, commencing at 5:30 p.m. Approved by voice vote at 7:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

John Decker, Secretary.

Note: minutes of the committee are not official until approved at a subsequen