This transcript follows the provided context of the Oakdale Economic Development Commission (EDC) meeting held on February 7, 2024. [00:00:00] **Bill Burns (Chair):** we are on we're live they don't say oh not okay I got the thumb um welcome to the uh February 7th 2024 Economic Development commission and um we'll do the uh well informal discussion with the city council we've already taken care of that Max correct call to order um I've got uh call to roll which we've got Tony we got Bob we got Gary we got Jeff we got Stacy we got Aaron and we got Frank good to go and speaking of Frank Frank if you could lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance please [00:00:30] **Frank (Commissioner):** I could do that I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all [00:00:45] **Bill Burns (Chair):** well done Frank is everyone had a chance to look at the agenda um like to get a motion to approve the agenda [00:00:50] **Tony (Commissioner):** Mr chair I'll move approval of the agenda [00:00:52] **Commissioner:** seconded [00:00:54] **Bill Burns (Chair):** good all in favor I opposed okay we will move on then uh approval of the minutes from our December 6th as everyone had a chance to look at that okay um and I'd like to ask Jeff is there any issues with the minutes on that one [00:01:05] **Jeff Bates (Commissioner):** I did not find any [00:01:07] **Bill Burns (Chair):** great so if I could get uh a motion to approve that [00:01:10] **Commissioner:** a motion [00:01:11] **Commissioner:** second [00:01:12] **Bill Burns (Chair):** all right passed and all in favor I opposed good deal we'll move on to the open Forum as I look out into the audience what a goodlook audience we have this evening look very content like they're full and I see no one here that wants to have any open Forum so we'll move by that Max how we doing [00:01:25] **Max (Staff Liaison):** we're moving right along yeah so next up we have the old business [00:01:28] **Bill Burns (Chair):** Okay so we've got the econom economic development commission review the old business so at this point with the business retention expansion and attraction program did you want to take it from here [00:01:35] **Max (Staff Liaison):** sure thing so I just have a few updates on the business retention expansion and attraction program for one we've officially uh as mentioned in the dinner earlier scheduled our first three business visits so far we're looking to visit home furniture on on February 9th all Family Dental on February 20th and Canvas Health on March 15th if space is available for these visits as they draw closer staff for the St Paul's uh chamber will reach out to the participant pool and see if anyone is interested in joining C the city on these visits following each visit staff and any EDC participants will summarize how the visit went and any takeaways for Oakdale as a city as well additionally uh one thing I'm excited to mention to everyone tonight is that staff recently rolled out the Oakdale business welcome folder which I have a copy here if any Commissioners would like to take a look essentially this folder is a modified version of the business retention expansion and attraction business resources folder that we hand out on our visits uh where they differ primarily is that this welcome folder is specifically designed for new businesses in Oakdale uh with special welcome materials to distribute these staff has developed a list of recently opened businesses and personally delivered folders to each one we are able to find many businesses uh through some of our data using utility data and certificates of occupancy however not all companies um apply for certificates of occupancy when opening businesses and with much of the multi-tenant commercial space in Oakdale uh think strip malls or business centers uh the utilities are usually build to the owner of the building not each individual business so we can't always tell in our data if a new store is opened so as a result if you're aware of any businesses that you are quite sure have opened in the last year in Oakdale and weren't visited through the Bria program uh please let us know and we can make sure Community Development staff run out a folder and deliver it personally and with that I'm happy to take any questions regarding the Bria programs and if anyone is aware of any new businesses we'd be excited to hear them [00:03:30] **Bill Burns (Chair):** can you repeat those dates and the businesses [00:03:32] **Max (Staff Liaison):** sure thing uh and it's listed in the packet as well we're looking at home furniture on February 9th uh all Family Dental on febru February 20th and Canvas Health can Canvas Health on March 15th [00:03:45] **Bill Burns (Chair):** would it be possible to that Dental was what date what date [00:03:47] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yes the dental is February 20th [00:03:49] **Stacy (Commissioner):** have there been times of the day or at pretty the standard times or is it kind of based off of what they recommend [00:03:52] **Max (Staff Liaison):** so it is based off of when the business is available um I would have to double check on the times typically it is within the work day uh so as the date gets closer we can always reach out with more details [00:04:05] **Bill Burns (Chair):** um would it be possible to get one or two of these for the uh our next chamber meeting because what I'd like to do is maybe show these off a little bit [00:04:12] **Max (Staff Liaison):** I believe we can definitely make that happen [00:04:15] **Bill Burns (Chair):** great any questions for Max in regards to the Bria program and that nice packet that's going around all right so let's move on to the bus tour if we haven't got any else there [00:04:22] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yes so as some Commissioners may remember in 2022 the EDC the city council and other commissions went on a development tour of Oakdale. The event began with a with a dinner and then all participants boarded a bus to have a guided tour of new residential and Commercial projects throughout the city. For this item I wanted to update the commission and let them know uh let all of you know that the city is looking to hold this event again this year uh just given how many new developments have occurred since the last tour in 2022. So far we are looking at potentially holding the tour on May 7th uh however please note that this date has not been officially finalized and is subject to change uh and with this news I am curious to hear if any Commissioners are interested in attending and if there are any specific projects maybe you've seen a crane here there among the city of Oakdale that you'd like to see highlighted and talked about in the tour [00:05:15] **Bill Burns (Chair):** come on somebody's got to have an opinion on where they want to go on a bus trip [00:05:20] **Stacy (Commissioner):** I think it would be fun if we go back into those like where they were they were developing the houses in the neighborhoods and that was all there was like one or two blacks that were finished but maybe we can just go back and look at the finished neighborhoods Willow Brook for sure [00:05:35] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah yeah we'll definitely make sure Willow Brook is included [00:05:38] **Bill Burns (Chair):** and go over the new bridge I want to go over the new bridge [00:05:41] **Max (Staff Liaison):** oh you're venturing into Woodberry now [00:05:43] **Bill Burns (Chair):** well we could just go over to woodbery and turn around and come back around come back stay too hit a bar I don't know if Insurance allows that well then we could also pull into that apartment building that's being built right there say there's a lot of development in that right right at that bridge area [00:06:02] **Commissioner:** yeah so um Gold Line that'd be interested to see how that's coming along those routes I mean just see it in person [00:06:10] **Commissioner:** you think the Fourth Street bridge will be done by then [00:06:12] **Bill Burns (Chair):** okay so if we can get a good run at it you can jump jump fast right um well it sounds like going from the the north side all the way to the south side of Oakdale are they thinking of doing a a meal up at uh up at the Discovery Center up to there again [00:06:30] **Max (Staff Liaison):** we would likely do something similar although we are early in the planning process so we'd need to iron that out and make sure that it's a possibility but we would look at that yes [00:06:40] **Bill Burns (Chair):** well if you could review the menu with Frank I think that would be of a great deal wouldn't it [00:06:44] **Frank (Commissioner):** it will yeah yeah [00:06:46] **Bill Burns (Chair):** well it sounds like a good time I know it was so will you have uh I know last time that you had the police chief there we had the fire chief was with us so ask him about the all the addition of all these people into Oakdale and what their concerns are so it' be nice to have all those guys with us too is city council coming to on that [00:07:05] **Kevin Zabel (Mayor):** I have to factor that in just kidding [00:07:07] **Commissioner:** um last last time there was um really good event I really appreciate it and I'm interested in this one [00:07:13] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah well will extend the invite to all of the city commissions as well as the city council and any staff interested um who would be able to provide some insight into each project uh would look at attending as well [00:07:25] **Bill Burns (Chair):** good it sounds like it's going to be a hit all right Max do you want to go to uh new business at this point [00:07:30] **Max (Staff Liaison):** sure thing chair so tonight um I want to engage with the economic development commission regarding a study that staff is currently working on for the Oakdale Marketplace and Oakdale station planned unit developments. I will show a map of this area on the next slide but for reference this is roughly the area along 34th street/County Highway 14 from LA Fitness about where 694 is to Target. Additionally uh for reference a planned unit development is a type of zoning District that gives cities a bit more flexibility in design and land uses and general regulations uh so with this study we're looking to evaluate recent development interest in the area current and future land uses market conditions and any amendments that we might make to the original agreement governing the area. Right now we're focusing on engagement and research and we're hoping to ask for input regarding uh this area from the EDC tonight given the business expertise of so many of our Commissioners. I'm going to give a brief presentation that goes over some of the specifics of the project but feel free to ask questions as they arise. So here on the screen we can see the general study area uh Oakdale station is the area to the West that borders 694 and contains LA Fitness as well as one large undeveloped parcel. Oakdale Marketplace is to the East and spans from about where Pens is to Target. And here we have a more detailed map uh where the business or development status is highlighted for each parcel in the area uh this is a very detailed map and it's also available in the packet if you want to look in at the individual parcel level. As seen in the map there's currently two undeveloped areas the Southwest parcel abutting I-694 in Oakdale station and the general area near McDonald's, True Stone, and Target. So on the next few slides I want to go over some market and demographics information that WSB, which is the consulting firm we've hired for this project, has put together. Here we have demographics for the general area surrounding the study Zone. As you can see the population has remained stable and is uh considered somewhat diverse. It's worth noting that this is detailed 2020 census data so the quality of the data is better than say the estimates that occur every couple years uh but at this point the Willowbrook area did not exist so it's not showing the larger population density and general population numbers that we'll see in the next few years uh and this is also these specific stats are showing within a five minute drive of the study area and so lots of growth given how close it is to the Willowbrook area will occur near this study area. Here we have some more stats expanded to a 10-minute driving radius so that expands the population available to drive to the study area from 14,000 to over a 100,000. Additionally uh this population is somewhat a bit more diverse uh with similar household size and densities as well and this general area spans into parts of Woodberry, Lake Elmo, North St Paul, Maplewood, and a couple other of the Northeast suburbs so quite a a bit of range that's available within 10 minutes of the study area. And here's a more detailed map uh showing those drive radiuses as well as a 15-minute radius uh if you look at the 15-minute radius uh it extends into parts of East St Paul as well as most of the suburbs along the in the eastern part of the Metro along 494 and 694 so there is some good accessibility uh with this study area and this information will also help with restaurant information that I have on the next slide as restaurants have been a popular topic uh when we look at this study area. So as staff uh We've frequently heard as I've stated uh that the community really wants to see a restaurant or some sort of food services in this area. To examine the restaurant market in this area WSB analyzed the number of available restaurants and Quick Serve establishments nearby. The left picture uh on on the screen is the number of restaurants within a 5-minute Drive uh the middle covering 10 minutes and the right covering 15 uh for more detail the number of restaurants is quite low within 5 minutes with just 13 available in total uh this number expands quite a bit more to 400 within 10 minutes uh part of that is because within 10 minutes you can access some of the commercial areas within Woodberry and other suburbs that surround Oakdale. Moving on, as a part of this project we've been interviewing stakeholders and business owners and land owners in the study area. While each stakeholder is different in their needs and desires and are all very diverse uh we have heard a few key trends that I want to share with the commission. For one many felt that signage and placemaking was lacking uh with a desire for more signage better way to be aware of this general study study area and the PUDs within it. Most were satisfied with the general infrastructure of the area and felt generally that uh commercial space and Retail were considered the most appropriate uses for the area. Several stakeholders however did Express support for multifamily in the just in the southwest portion of the study area near LA Fitness in part due to expectations that uh retail may not develop there due to visibility issues and not being directly located off of 34th. Additionally most felt that no more office space was needed except perhaps medical office space and many felt that the area would grow in the future as a result of the new residential and Commercial developments that are uh surrounding the area. So with that uh I hope that clears up some of the background for the study and I'll be available for questions regarding if you have just general questions about things in the area elements of the Pud different facts of the zoning and with that as well we prepared several questions uh that we're hoping to collect your input from uh regarding the study. These questions are: what has your experience been in this area? What do you like about the area? What neighborhood amenities are missing? What uses do you think are missing or would do well in the area? So think retail, restaurants, entertainment, perhaps residential. What uses do you want to see in the area and why? And how can the city assist businesses, developers, and tenants who are located in the area? And feel free to respond if you'd like to all of those or specific Parts where you feel strongly. Any feedback is appreciated and will help us in presenting our findings [00:14:05] **Bill Burns (Chair):** can we also fill this out and send it to you [00:14:08] **Max (Staff Liaison):** of course perfect thank you [00:14:10] **Bill Burns (Chair):** ask can you leave those questions up please are we going to field some of these questions right now or do you want us to just send them to you [00:14:16] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah so I was hoping to hear some thoughts that the EDC might have regarding those questions as well as if you just have General feelings about the future of the area and these questions are available as well in the memo um towards the back of the memo regarding this item uh so anything that you have to think about the study and this area is appreciated okay go ahead [00:14:35] **Bill Burns (Chair):** I mean it's very accessible and I mean we've got you know the target there and LA Fitness I'm a member there and got a McDonald's I mean it's it's a nice area especially with Ken developing the Larson across the street you said a what's going in in there the big Aldi right um and personally I think you know a restaurant would be nice I'm sure you've heard that Max over and over and over again uh because it there really isn't any you know obviously other than McDonald's but something that's nice Pinz has a a restaurant in there too [00:15:10] **Commissioner:** yeah but you know it's funny I don't view it like that I mean it's more bowling alley you know and it's not someplace I'd go unless I was bowling and have food in originally opened it was more of a destination to go there because correct it was different to get in there but and I've been there a couple times we had a a company uh party there and it's a nice place but I I just don't view that as a restaurant unless we're going bowling and ordering food kind of maybe that's just me [00:15:35] **Bill Burns (Chair):** yeah but um and in terms of uh what do we not want to see in this area I you know yeah I think more multi you said the parcel in the southwest corner is the thinking maybe multi multifam housing [00:15:50] **Max (Staff Liaison):** correct yeah staff hasn't taken an official position yet uh that's what we heard from several of the stakeholders that we interviewed as a part of this project [00:15:58] **Bill Burns (Chair):** okay um I guess I'm just concerned you know with the with Willowbrook what is the traffic going to look like three years from now and it's completely built and everybody's moved in I'd just be a little I guess one thing I wouldn't want to see is maybe more multi because we're already building one in that one spot so that's the only thing I would differ with maybe that Southwest quadrant maybe not being multifam but more retail or something that'd be just my two cents [00:16:25] **Commissioner:** I I would agree with that I'm surprised to see the multifam going in there now and there's nothing nothing wrong with that but um I see it more as a as a retail destination with multiple retail shops and it's I'm sort of surprised that multifam goes in there when you had touched on the um signage is it I was just curious because I guess I haven't been there for a little bit is are those two Parcels currently advertised for sale like whether it's on online or signs out there is that what you were referring to the lack of signage for developers to identify the properties [00:17:05] **Max (Staff Liaison):** uh specifically we had heard that um they wanted General signage for the entire area so that cuz some of the retailers there right now are a bit tucked in uh and it can be hard to know if they're there especially if you're not using a web map service and you're just driving on 694 down 34th MH um regarding the advertisement of the parcels I do believe there are signs up and they're listed on Menard and other resources [00:17:32] **Bill Burns (Chair):** so I don't remember coming off 694 going you're going north and you're going by law Fitness is there signage for every one of the businesses there or is it just LA Fitness right there and if not that would be the place to put it obviously as people are coming off the interstate you want to be able to promote everybody who's right there in that that Hub and as you come off your first main intersection is going to be where the gas station is and you got the Forefront and to blow it up big right there would make sense um the undeveloped one kind of kitty well closer to Target that's where your restaurant's got to go right there it would make sense um and so there's no one who's called the city and said hey I'm Red Robin and I want to put a place in there or anything like that we we haven't heard anything like that have we [00:18:25] **Andrew Gitzlaff (Community Development Director):** Andy is now taking the podium Andrew Gitzlaff community development director yeah hello everyone it's a long walk off to say no not really I mean most of them aren't going to call the city and tell their farther around along and or closer to it deal um I think the things to be really optimistic about are this area has been marketed and been out there for a long time on the commercial real estate but with the Forefront and the Aldi coming in and the Starbucks it's got the other retailers kind of interested and going oh what's that they ran the numbers something might be working here so we think that will start to to generate more energy um two things that could limit restaurants um there are development covenants that the mayor referenced earlier um that would limit any more fast food type restaurants and um which is not necessarily what we're looking for here I think more of fast casual that might be the market that um has the greatest potential something that has you order at the counter has a smaller dining room space doesn't need a ton of ton of employ [00:19:35] **Bill Burns (Chair):** what's a fast casual [00:19:37] **Andrew Gitzlaff (Community Development Director):** Panera just want to hear him say it so so I think that there is some interest um the problem is like right now the market at least regionally what we're seeing for restaurants and it's just um not able to make them work as far as the rents that would be charged so it's just not although there's positive factors that's not that's not one of them nationally though there are a lot of growth in those types of those types of chains and we could see that coming here um we also think that with the residential component the project coming in this is a model that I say at least a half a dozen other cities now around the Metro have had these shopping centers that haven't developed out and adding in that um mixed use component more rooftops more people more traffic in the area um to help to Spur other development has started to to bear fruit bowl that's one of the things we I mean we're still we're optimistic about that that when that project opens up I mean it's got Market Drive you've got a a nice new apartment building and those units the council was very uh for um thinking ahead that those are walkout units out to Market drive to make it feel more neighborhood oriented so there's a lot of there's a lot of positives out here but there's also a lot of headwinds with you know just market trends and those covenants and things that need to work through and and obviously at the city we can't guarantee any type of use we only can be kind of reactive to what proposals really come forward from the from the private Market market and as much as we can steer it [00:21:20] **Commissioner:** is Target's remodel like is that expansion [00:21:23] **Max (Staff Liaison):** uh it's it's not an expansion of footprint the target remodel it's uh I think some interior upgrades um they are going to do all the stores are doing you know those the the drive up they're upgrading that and locating that more off to the side uh but it is a good sign that they're investing um in that Target and as far as performance wise what we've heard is it's kind of right there where where it needs to be so you know they are really good um anchor tenant uh to have as as part of a development here [00:21:58] **Bill Burns (Chair):** I see the this this parcel here what I hate to see it become would be like a a Hudson Wisconsin where they want to generate Revenue just from the interstate so they want to pull people off the interstate and go to their fast food places and and that's what they're trying to do well yeah we've got an interstate kind of sitting right there but yet we've got stores and retail stores that I think hopefully will benefit the Willowbrook and everybody else who lives around there and that's what we want to try and so if you get a good decent restaurant that's not another drive-thru you know McDonald's it it's where it should be right there you you got one okay good but let's put something else in there that's going to actually help the quality of life with Willowbrook with people off 78th Street in Oakdale which might be me and uh so yeah so city council you know here we go yeah thank you Andy [00:22:50] **Bill Burns (Chair):** any other questions for Andy while he's here I don't want to have to go all the way back there and all the way back front there [00:22:55] **Commissioner:** issues with groundwater on that Southwest portion of that or polluted [00:22:59] **Andrew Gitzlaff (Community Development Director):** um yes so there the Raleigh Creek goes through that area and um there is some PFAS in that area uh we've asked the well instructed the the land owner that any development proposal we'd want to see the results of a phase one phase two environmental site assessment um especially with residential it's a you know it's a higher bar as far as as far as cleanup but there's also some Downstream problems part of the 3M settlement to actually divert some of that water that's picking up pollutions from going through that Creek that could help with it so it it definitely is something that as a city uh want to take a closer we'll take a closer look at whatever development proposal I mean if it's commercial that comes forward through there as I recall there was a issue with potential issue with residential in that spot because of that but I might be making that out [00:23:55] **Bill Burns (Chair):** any other questions for Andy thank you sir anyone else got any questions or comments about this parcel for Max or Andy I think you might get some people sending them to you also so it's not the end of the story [00:24:10] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah we're happy to collect anything you've got [00:24:12] **Bill Burns (Chair):** okay um well Max do we want to move on to the election of the chair and vice chair or did I miss something we good [00:24:18] **Max (Staff Liaison):** um I think yeah so at the last few pages of your uh packet um is the actual form itself yes so the final two pages the second to last one contains the procedures for the election uh so we'll want to take a look at that uh the first step is typically to nominate candidates for the chairperson and vice chairperson uh in example motion would be motion to nominate uh name for the position of chairperson um as well as one once we have those nominations determined uh I would ask that you detach the ballot which is the last page um and write in your vote for the chairperson or vice chairperson what happens then is I tally it up on the spot and I can announce the results immediately [00:25:05] **Bill Burns (Chair):** am I allowed to nominate anyone or have I got to be hush right now I want to nominate Bill Burns to continue as illustrious chairperson I love you but not going to do it but thanks um moving on I'd like to uh nominate Aaron Voka as the chairperson I would like to nominate Jeff Bates as the vice chair [00:25:25] **Tony (Commissioner):** I'd second that Tony it's second meeting [00:25:28] **Bill Burns (Chair):** did you want to go for chair [00:25:30] **Aaron Voka (Commissioner):** I'm good for now thank you [00:25:32] **Bill Burns (Chair):** okay thanks I'll second myself how's that yeah I can't nominate second I don't think I seconded it Frank I'm endorsing it okay okay okay shall we write names in and then pass them down to you then [00:25:50] **Bill Burns (Chair):** then uh can you just there's no second then yeah I'll move we close nominations correct [00:25:55] **Commissioner:** I second that to call for any add is there any additional nominations Bill Burns none heard try that yeah that's off the ballot none heard I will second or I will move that we call nominations second that [00:26:15] **Max (Staff Liaison):** so now that we've closed nominations I would ask that everyone uh follow the election using the ballot provided there should be a pen by your seat and if you want to write your choice in and either fold it and pass or drop it off at my desk I will count on the spot and then we can announce elections or election results following that uh we would require a official motion to elect the name of the person for position of chairman and then another motion to elect the name of the person for Vice chairperson [00:26:45] **Bill Burns (Chair):** for chairwoman we's got be somebody at the end two more down there I'm a slow rider I had to see Aaron's last name well now you just told us you how do we pronounce that V big mystery it's just from like Christmas you just have a sense of relief now the beer Stew's open right I think that's it all right if you'll give me one moment to tally [00:27:15] **Bill Burns (Chair):** well he's doing that well i' I'd like to thank everybody for uh spending 14 years with me the TV members although it wasn't on TV for 14 14 years your loss um it's been a pleasure to act as chairman and be on this board so and it sounds like a lot of great things going on for the next 14 years of which I will be watching yeah and partaking so [00:27:40] **Jeff Bates (Commissioner):** well thank you for uh leading us yeah good luck going forward [00:27:45] **Tony (Commissioner):** good luck dealing with Andy and Max oh my go no just kidding [00:27:50] **Max (Staff Liaison):** have you got a tally Max I do suspense is killing me yep so I'm happy to announce that Aaron Voka has been elected as the chair of the economic development Commission of Oakdale and Jeff Bates has been elected as the vice chair of the economic development Commission of Oakdale so now uh if you want to look one more time at the election uh procedures we'll need two uh motions both seconded to elect uh the victors in this case and we will collect eyes and nays for that and then the results are final [00:28:25] **Commissioner:** so we say that the paragraph there motion to elect board member Aaron Voka for the position of chairperson of the EDC for a period of one year One calendar year commencing with the current date uh with today's meeting of February 7th [00:28:40] **Commissioner:** I second [00:28:42] **Bill Burns (Chair):** so all in favor I I opposed I'll motion to elect commissioner Jeff Bates for the position of Vice chairperson of the EDC for a period of one calendar year commencing with the February 7th 2024 meeting [00:28:55] **Commissioner:** I'll second that [00:28:57] **Bill Burns (Chair):** okay all in favor I I opposed congratulations you'll see the spike in Pay amazing Andy nothing you weren't listening that's see okay Max we've completed that end of our meeting now we go into are we into other yet [00:29:15] **Max (Staff Liaison):** I believe that would be the next item on the agenda [00:29:18] **Bill Burns (Chair):** okay um and again we've already gone through the commissioner update true right so we can go with um well the commissioner update we we'll go with that it's my last one Max I'm gonna flip it all around on you fire me um so we'll go with the commissioner's update anybody we go around on the table say if there any questions comments uh concerns you'd like to hear from the city uh about anything in Oakdale open book [00:29:45] **Tony (Commissioner):** no not really at this point I think we covered everything kind of in the meeting beforehand that were anything that kind of had questions or concerns about so um yeah no okay I'm good other than to thank you for your long service and Leadership the last two years [00:30:00] **Jeff Bates (Commissioner):** well thanks for being there you know same for me I had nothing new to update but thanks Bill for your for your service to the committee [00:30:10] **Commissioner:** same here I have nothing okay and congratulations [00:30:15] **Stacy (Commissioner):** yeah I'll go by me we'll go to Stacy um no nothing's really crazy going on so um and thank you Bill for your leadership been a pleasure [00:30:25] **Frank (Commissioner):** no updates for me don't have anything but I do have to thank you Bill Can I get a hug later it breaks my heart but I would I do have to thank you for you did a good job okay you did well see there we go you did well Bill you did well did well yes [00:30:45] **Kevin Zabel (Mayor):** oh I would like to give a brief council update come on up um good evening everyone and um chairperson former chairperson chair Bill thank you so much for thank you for your year of service uh on this commission and um hopefully uh although you are not the chair hopefully you'll continue to help serve and and do the good work on behalf of the citizens of Oakdale um and Aaron I look forward to working with you uh being the new chairwoman uh in this post um as far as the council updates I do want to let everyone know that uh in December we did approve our budget um some of the budget highlights um from that budget improvement was uh just the investment that we made into City operation policies we're funding three new licensed police officers bought two new squads um and uh let's see we uh transition and and uh is committing more to the uh full-time um fire department uh model um and then also made investments in uh our um city Administration by uh opening up a um assistant City administrator position um so just a couple of highlights there as far as the budget goes um we are also in our last meeting um at the council we also approve our uh city council liaison and we're keeping the current um uh commitments that we've had in the previous year so I will continue to be your liaison for this commission here um we also approved our legislative priorities for uh the year 2024 uh some of the highlights for the city of Oakdale is we're focusing on that noise wall on 694 uh and we'll be advocating our state legislators to uh help uh get some funding for that as well as 40th Street pedestrian bridge um on the greater east side we're also advocating for some work around the 36 and 120 uh Highway interchange and um bringing improvements about in that um in that intersection there um and then finally uh you know we're looking to looking forward to approving the work plan for this commission and look forward to the work that you guys are going to uh work on behalf of the citizens here in 2024 so that is it that is all I have for a um an update for the commission thank you thank you guys [00:33:05] **Bill Burns (Chair):** thank you um I've just had a well um some things that ha are happening in in Oakdale so for me I'm not just stepping away I'm still going to be on the board for Carol Matthews Day Care Center still going to be on the board for the Open Cupboard Food Shelf um and still on the board for the Oakdale chamber so I'm not going away um so but one of the things that uh are happening here in Oakdale in February is there's a salute dinner on February 20th over in Oak Marsh and we hope to have the Oakdale Police and Fire there also but it's it's something that uh Steve the manager of Oak Marsh started and it's where he wants to have police fire um your army your Navy your your military your veterans all there just to thank him for all the work that they've done and it's a great cause he's done it for are we up to eight years now at least I think so it's a great event and it's a really great event most of the business owners sponsor uh the Vets who are coming in I know I've got uh some people from um Correctional Facility down in Stillwater coming and I've actually got the some Coast Guard coming this year so if it's not this year maybe next year look at possibly uh sponsoring some people it's just it's Unique to Oakdale one of the more unique things for Oakdale to be able to do that and uh it's just a great cause so I had the floor to talk about it and I wanted to do it um other than that look forward to what you guys are going to do there's a lot going on for you it's going to keep you busy good for you you're in good hands all right uh do you have anything to add Max [00:34:45] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah for staff liaison updates I just have a few items um just one note for any that were unable to attend the last EDC meeting I recommend watching the recording uh as we go through a very in-depth review of all current developments in Oakdale so for anyone in the commission who's interested in keeping up with new developments or is wondering what that crane is over in that part of the city uh it's a very comprehensive look at at uh some of the developments and is at this point a month old so still pretty uh relevant and contemporary information. Additionally I do want to make the commission aware that the city recently received an application for Willowbrook 10th edition uh which is by Lennar and proposes an additional 85 single family homes in the northern part of the Willowbrook neighborhood so with that if you have any questions regarding developments General Community Development Department or anything else I'm happy to take those as well [00:35:45] **Bill Burns (Chair):** when does that 10th division uh start what's the anticipated is it going to break ground this spring are they going to start building there or [00:35:52] **Max (Staff Liaison):** so we just got the application so we're in the midst of reviewing it making sure it meets the city code looking at it from an engineering and planning perspective uh and then we'll take it through the proper channels of the city council [00:36:05] **Bill Burns (Chair):** is that the last phase [00:36:07] **Max (Staff Liaison):** I believe there should still be space for it depends on the size of the addition this is a relatively large one uh the last one Willowbrook 9th was a good bit smaller I want to say it was about 50 homes I could be wrong though um so it depends on how many homes they want to put in that addition at the time I would say we have probably two three additions left uh we're getting towards there and there's lots of actual Construction left as well we're still getting in building permits for the actual houses that were approved a year or two ago [00:36:40] **Stacy (Commissioner):** I maybe do have one other thing that might be kind of just off top because it's not technically in Oakdale but did I read that right where there's I mean it butts up to Oakdale right on that that bridge there right by the hardford that there's a Top Golf that got approved to actually go in and be built in by 2025 is that did I read that right [00:37:05] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah we recently uh got some information that there was a development proposed there uh I'd have to look into more details and get back to you on that [00:37:15] **Stacy (Commissioner):** that Gold Line that would be like right right where it crosses that bridge is my understanding of where that that's bit that's a it's like 14 or 15 Acres I think of a development that'd be pretty big [00:37:25] **Max (Staff Liaison):** yeah it would be very close to the Helmo station uh which is in Oakdale and it would be a short walk over the bridge over the bridge good location I think I could still hit 94 from there [00:37:40] **Bill Burns (Chair):** anything else for Max [00:37:42] **Commissioner:** motion to adjourn [00:37:43] **Commissioner:** second [00:37:44] **Bill Burns (Chair):** second all in favor I opposed let's make it happen God bless