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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Agency - Minutes - 04/16/2024MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY Government Services Center, County Board Room 515 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 April 16, 2024 Call to Order The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency convened at 1:00pm, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Note: Board Member, Dave Schornack is not a voting member today as he is present via technology. Attendance was as follows: Present in person Present via Technology Absent Board Members: Jeff Ackerson x Dena Johnson x Val Martin x Kurt Mortenson x Dave Ripley x Betsy Roder x Lee Rogness x Heidi Samuelson x Dave Schornack x Staff: Amy Baldwin, CDA Director x Tanya Westra, Housing Program Supervisor x Sarah Schake, Project Manager x Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator x Paula Grunewald, HRA Administrative Assistant x 2. Approval of Agenda Approval of Agenda motion was made by Lee Rogness, second by Dena Johnson, and unanimously carried to approve with corrections: change the Agenda to read March 13 instead of March 16 under Approval of Consent Agenda and remove 5D Community Growth Partnership Grant: Dalton Public Infrastructure as we have not received all required information for the application. 3. Approval of Consent Agenda Motion by Dena Johnson, second by Dave Ripley to approve the Consent Agenda with a change to Val Martin’s attendance as she was not present at the March 13th Board Meeting. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Reports and Presentations A. Director’s Report: Amy Baldwin, CDA Director reported: Housing Growth Initiative / The Big Build • There have been 29 applications to date with 9 in Fergus Falls (applications for previously applied for homes that didn’t start construction). • Discussion about the future form of the tax rebate program happening at the committee level. • City of Rothsay has approved a 3 year Tax Abatement Program. There will be a meeting with City and Wilkin County representatives on April 17th that Amy will be attending. There are 10 vacant residential lots on the Otter Tail County side. Workforce Support Strategy – OTC Works: • Approximately 100 people are registered for the Workforce Summit held on April 24th. • A Drive for 5 Grant press release was distributed and a Workforce Navigator position has been interviewed for to support the Empowered Worker Program with Drive for 5 funding and County match. • The Youth Workforce Navigation Career Pathway fields trips wrapped up with a general business and nonprofit focus. • Three local schools - Perham, Fergus Falls and Parkers Prairie - have been awarded Youth Skills Training Grants in the most recent funding awards. Childcare: • Otter Tail County received an additional $20,000 in funding from West Central Initiative to support the childcare project managers - no local match is needed. • A job posting for an Otter Tail County childcare substitute for childcare providers is available from Lakes & Prairies CAP. C. On the Map Report Erik Osberg, Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator, stated that the first quarter social media numbers are in with 4.7 million impressions, a significant growth over the same period in 2023. Also noted was that that OTLCA has renewed its partnership with MN Gopher Athletics. 5. Regular Business A. 2023 Community Development Agency Audit Engagement Letter. Amy Baldwin received a letter from the Office of the State Auditor to confirm services for the year ending December 31, 2023. Signature is needed from the Board Chairman and CDA Director to confirm. Motion by Lee Rogness, second by Val Martin to approve. Motion passed unanimously. B. Battle Lake Youth Center: Letter of Intent Amy Baldwin stated that she has been working with Jay Paulson, Highpoint Homes, on the site plan for 10 unit apartment building on the CDA owned lot in Battle Lake. Battle Lake City Council will be meeting next Tuesday, April 23 to consider a Conditional Use Permit for the project. There is coordination with the developer and City on an application to the Workforce Housing Development Program administered by Minnesota Housing. The funding is a forgivable loan that would help keep rents in line with the what the local workforce can reasonably afford. Items to consider for the Letter of intent: o Developer will pay the 2024 assessed value of $18,600. o Purchase Agreement to be developed with a closing by Oct. 15, 2024 o Allow staff to adjust terms if needed to better align with MN Housing application o Contingent on being awarded funding o Developer is creating a new LLC for the project so that will likely update prior to execution of the LOI Motion by Betsy Roder, second by Lee Rogness to approve proceeding with the Letter of Intent. Motion passed unanimously with Val Martin abstaining. C. Community Growth Partnership Grant Program Guidelines Amy Baldwin presented a refreshed version of the Community Growth Partnership Grant Program Guidelines. It has been almost 5 years since it’s undergone a full review. The new version works to address where there have been questions or a lack of clarity for applicants and will generally make the guidelines have an improved flow in the order of information. The guidelines also highlight “Applications must be submitted prior to commencement of eligible activities”. An updated application form now includes a single cover sheet with separated sections depending which type of activity is being applied for. Motion by Dena Johnson, second by Val Martin to approve. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion on the required local match for the Public Infrastructure grant activity. Presently, a local cash match is required for this application, with the CDA portion capped at $100,000 or 50% of the project costs. The CDA grant funds are not disbursed until the infrastructure is installed and new housing is under construction. It was noted that there is variability of how Cities manage infrastructure expenses and assessments. Per the discussion, staff will remove the reference to the required local match for public infrastructure applications and allow each city to leverage the funding to reduce the cost of public infrastructure for housing projects. This change would become effective immediately. 6. Discussion and Communications A. Pinewood Estates: Review of TIF District Schedule/Minnesota Impact Fund Contract Update Staff has not received a contract from the Minnesota Housing for Impact Fund award yet. The contract is anticipated to be received from MN Housing for consideration by the CDA Board at its May meeting. Additional details on next steps and timeline will be reviewed at the May CDA meeting. The specific actions related to establishing the redevelopment TIF district are underway. On May 8, staff will present to the Planning Commission requesting consideration if the development plan is consistent with the long range comprehensive plans of the County. At the May CDA meeting, the Board will be asked to consider a resolution approving the TIF plans. A Public Hearing regarding the establishment of the TIF district will be held at the County Board meeting on May 21, 2024. Additionally, the bid opening for the infrastructure development will be on April 18 and will be awarded at the April 30 Pelican Rapids Council Meeting. If bids come in outside of the anticipated range, we will need to reassess; as a developer, we may choose not to proceed. Demolition is anticipated within the next month. Staff is continuing to coordinate with clean up of title matters, specifically old Otter Tail Power and Lake Region Electric easements, on the property. B. Board Member Updates • Dena Johnson stated that when driving in Pelican Rapids use caution. 2 sections of roads are now one ways and some are gravel. • Val Martin – Hatchery Row ribbon cutting will be Friday, July 26. • Betsy Roder – Thanked the CDA for the kind words and flowers in regard to her mom. The apartment building in New York Mills looks big and very nice. Work is going well and should be open this summer instead of fall. C. Upcoming meeting: Monday, May 20, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m., Commissioner’s Room, Government Services Center with HRA Board meeting at 11:45 a.m. 7. Adjourned 2:15 p.m.