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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMinutes_2004_08_03 2 � 6 Brookings City Council Tuesday, August 3, 2004 The Brookings City Council held a planning meeting on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall with the following members present: Mayor Scott Munsterman, Council Members Tom Bezdichek, Tom Bozied, Tim Reed, Julie Whaley, Doris Roden, and Mike McClemans. City Manager Alan Lanning, City Attorney Steve Britzman, and City Clerk Shari Thornes were also present. Temporarv LiQuor Operating Agreements. The City Council discussed the merits of issuing a liquor operating agreement on a temporary basis. There is currently one agreement available. Historically,this has happened once when the City Council issued Skinner's Pub an agreement on a temporary basis on May 13, 2002 effective until2 weeks prior to Applebee's opening. That agreement was extended on October 21, 2003 and permanently issued on June 1, 2004. CM McClemans said his primary reason to issue a temporary license in 2002 was related to his concern that Applebee's would not open and he didn't want the license to go unused for 2 years. Skinner's has proven itself successful and was subsequently awarded a license. He noted that Brookings worked hard to acquire two additional licenses through changes in state law. Before giving up the last agreement on a permanent basis, it must be the best application. It could be 6 years before Brookings has another license to issue. CM Reed said the Council could consider this license temporary and renewable annually with a full application process allowing everyone to apply. The Mayor was concerned that a business with a temporary operating agreement builds its business and clientele around that license and it would be very difficult to take it away and give it to another business. CM Bezdichek agreed it would be difficult to remove a license. He pointed ou�that licenses could become available due to other reasons. He recommended temporary issuance on an annual basis. CM Roden cited loss of value to the city if a license is not in use. She didn't feel the "lasY' license should be treated any differently than all the rest. CM Whaley asked that guidelines be developed that specified the reasons a temporary license could be removed and allocated to another applicant. CM Bezdichek said issuance should not be shorter than 12 months due to the investment needed. CM Roden asked about operating agreements that aren't lucrative. If revenue generation were to be considered,there was concern that performance based issuance of operating agreements would have to be done for a11 agreement holders. ACTION: The Council will take action on issuance of temporary licenses and the Dakota.Pub license specifically in the next 1 to 2 weeks. Draft Economic Develonment& Promotional Model. Alan Lanning, City Manager, highlighted a"centralized"management structure, with direct reporting authority to the Brookings City Manager and ultimate policy and directional authority reserved to the Brookings City Council. The entire model operates and acts through the Executive Director's position, which is responsible to the City Manager. Key positions and groups in this model include the directors, the Visioning Committee, support staff, events coordinator, sub-committees, and Swiftel Center. Each staff person in the new model will be available to assist in any axea detailed above and be available to all members of the region for activities and assignments as approved by the Executive Director. Assignments can be accepted for any of the areas of responsibility outlined above. The intent is to be able to make available the combined resources of the group to address any shortcoming faced by the region. This group will provide adaptability, flexibility, support, 257 new ideas, resources, and the power of a region-wide vision far the bettertnent of all members included. While each staff inember will have a specific area of assignment and responsibility, they may be required to support other areas. Each governmental entity within Brookings County may pay a fee based upon the included formula. For that fee, each member will receive a one-time technical assistance payment from the new organization, with the amount to be determined, after fees are calculated. If the project requires work, above and beyond,the technical assistance grant provided in the member ship fee, additional charges would be incurred and based upon a rate schedule to be determined. The rate schedule will specifically describe the services offered and the associated fees for the services. In addition to the resources of the Model, City resources would also be available. As an example, if a locating/relocating business required a"security assessment", the City would provide that service through the Police Department. If that business were located in one of the Regional Partner locations, the assessment would be charged against the technical assistance amount included in that jurisdictions membership. Any governmental or quasi-governmental entity may join the group, or other entity as approved by the Executive Director. Services will not be denied to any group within the region,requesting those services, provided they meet established criteria(economic/promotional). However, the fee schedule would apply to all such requests, when the requesting entity is not a member. As an example, the Chamber, if not a member, could request any of the services offered and pay the appropriate fee. The city of Brookings will support the "start-up" with $300,000 in 2005. Additional fees from members and technical assistance fees should bring the budget to a$400,000 level. The eventual goal of the group is to be self-supporting and self-sustaining, with the City of Brookings leading the financial commitment on a yearly basis and at a level to be determined. This amount sha11 not exceed $300,000 on an annual basis. Funding would no longer be offered to the CVB, Chamber, BEDC, or DBI, in its current form. The BEDC and CVB functions would be absorbed as part of the new model and other functions would be accepted and absorbed upon request. The BEDC could be absorbed as the lead agency and form the basis of the Executive Director's position. The BEDC would be renamed to reflect the regional nature of the new organization. The by-laws of the BEDC would be amended to reflect these changes and the Visioning Group could supplant the current BEDC board. At least one Brookings City Council member should serve as an ex-officio on the new board. The City Manager should serve on the new board,but should not serve as Chairperson. The BEDC may be required to remain as the entity able to transfer title of land as required by State law. Should this be the case,the BEDC might remain in place to serve that specific function. A new Visioning Group would be formed to serve as the"Think Tank" advisory group as described above. There exists both a legal requirement and a model requirement, with the intent to fulfill both, still working within the model. Mayor Munsterman said he is working on a regional economic development plan. An ad hoc committee is also currently working on a unified promotional plan. He asked the City Manager to develop a more efficient model, looking at sales tax revenue, for increased coordination between economic development and promotion entities. The Mayor said he envisions three different volunteer groups in tlus model: 1) Economic Development - The functions of BEDC would expand to include affordable home ownership, low unemployment rates; and 2) Promotional—one group who is concerned with a unified promotional plan; and 3) Visioning/Think Tank—to be accessed by any other groups/individuals about ideas or thoughts or problems. The following concerns and questions were raised by Council members and visitors. • Will the executive director be a city employee? • Should the City Council provide the direction for all promotional activities in the city? • How can this plan be implemented by January 2005 so that everyone has an understanding of the plan and the programs aren't endangered? • The Swiftel Center Board is for a specialized venue. Can it really be done away with? 258 • There was opposition to a plan that adds any government employees, bureaucracy, or departments. • There was concern that the plan could destroy public/private partnerships. • The BEDC handles confidential issues. How can a city based organization provide the same confidentiality? • What expertise does the City Manager have in economic development and promotions? • Is there a way for the city to set policy and expectations for investments without having to take complete control? • What other towns or cities use this model? What successes have they liad and can they be attributed to the promotional model? • Loss of volunteers and the decreased input from community were concerns. • Review of the City's "teamwork"policy is needed. • Devoting time to determine the outcomes and objectives for the future was recommended. Once identified,the leadership of these affected groups should meet to discuss the desired outcomes. • How much control comes back to the City Council? • Activism and volunteerism gives vitality and a sense of ownership. • The Council was encouraged to think about their objectives and develop a stronger sense of alliance with those groups. • Instill incentives or targets for those groups to get the desired outcomes. Give the groups a full understanding of the desired outcomes. CM Bozied noted that the Council asked the City Manager to develop an efficient model. The Council has been talking for three yeaxs about centralization making all economic development and promotional entities under one umbrella. Action: The City Council will continue to explore the proposed model. Ron Reed Economic Develoament Center Loan. The Ron Reed$oard is requesting the City Council accept final payment and convey the building. Dick Smith,BEDC Director,provided a history of the loan and its terms. Additional review by the City Attorney is needed. 2005 Bud�et Prouosal. The City Council reviewed the proposed 2005 budget.An additional budget work session is scheduled for August 10�'. An examination of the Governance and Ends Policies will occur later in the budget cycle. Revised narratives will be provided to the Council. Adiourn. A motion was made by Bozied, seconded by Whaley,to adjourn. All present voted yes; motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. CITY OF BROOKINGS . � c . unsterman, Mayor as �a � a 6• t & ���� m �V� ornes, Brookings City Clerk