1990 12 06HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 6. 1990
Chairman Horn called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m..
MEMBERS PRESENT: Clark Horn, Don Chmiel, Tom Workman, Charlie Robbins and
Jim Bohn
STAFF PRESENT: Don Ashworth, Executive Dirctor and Todd Gerharc~c, Asst.
Executive Director
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chmiel moved, Robbins seconded to approve the Minutes
of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting dated October 18, 1990
as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
VISITOR PRESENTATION:
Don Chmiel: I'd like to act as a Visitor. Brad has been keeping me
comprised of different things that are happening with the store and as you
know, we've also got a letter in our packets as well covering Gateway Foods
in relationship to what's going on. I have taken off on my own to review a
couple of the stores. One being a 3ubliee and the other being a Festival.
The one in Andover and the one in Mound. I have their brochures from the
store. Knowing what it is and what it consists of and I don't, I'm not too
sure whether I would like to see a Jubilee in town. I think if we did get
one, I think we would wind up not having as much participation by our
people within the community going to this store only because to me it's
just another super value period.
Brad Johnson: Want me to answer that?
Don Chmiel: Yeah. Price wise and different things. I asked my wife to
look at these things and she knows prices better than I do.
Brad Johnson: The two Jubilee's that exist in the community today are
smaller stores and they are remodels of probably old Super Value stores is
real life so it's hard to say. Super Value has a conventional store and
has a Cub and in the middle is a New Market. Gateway has the IGA stores
and then anything that they upgrade is a Jubilee and then they have a
Festival which is much bigger than a standard New Market and then they have
the Rainbows. The local people that were out here with me and visited with
Todd the other day and the people in LaCrosse want to put a Festival in
here.
Chmiel: Good.
Brad Johnson: So that's what they really want to do and that's what they
feel that the market would really need and it would work slick.
Chmiel: Is that King's position too?
Brad Johnson: Yeah. Everybody's position except the corporate guy that
has to sign his name to the guarantee. So we took him around and showed
him, and it should be kind of strategically become obvious that it wouldn't
be a bad idea to have a Festival here. The reason the Festival was turned
down here was not because the Andover store and the Forest Lake store and
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 2
the Circle Pines store and soon to be the White Bear store, are not
successful in about the same kind of market. The reason it was turned down
is because they have 3 unsuccessful stores in Pennsylvannia which projected
out to do the first amount of business that we had here which projected out
to be a loss instead of a $600,000.00 or $700,000.00 that was projected
originally for the Festival a million two. So what they did is they put it
on hold and then wanted to have the area resurveyed. And so after Todd
and I was done, I mean basically the guys from Gateway are saying to the
guy who was here, Kent, this is what should really happen here. So we've
got the same consensus from you know everybody. If they do put a Jubilee
in, it will be a different Jubilee than the two you saw. It will look and
feel like, a little more like the Festivals. The only reason they would go
down 10,000 square feet is the numbers just don't work. That's all and it
would be expandable to a 45,000 square feet store just, and a Festival just
as soon as it was deemed possible because the local guys want to sell
groceries and the local guys want to take on I guess Super Value and
everybody else but we don't get. You know they don't get to make the
choice nor do we over at Super Value. I'm talking to Super Value tomorrow.
Gary doesn't get to make the decision. The corporate guys tell them what
kind of store they can have based upon how much money they feel they can
lose. So I think even though their letter said that they would be
considering a Jubilee for here, in real life the person who wrote the
letter is pursuing a Festival. What I did not want us to do is get to the
point again here about the middle of January and still not have the
corporate guarantee we need to get a store done of any kind. Okay? And
that's what could happen and then we would be probably stuck for another 2
years and I don't think that's what we want to try to do.
Chmiel: I still have some questions.
Brad Johnson: See what they're being told.
chmiel: Just a minute Brad. As far as I'm concerned in looking at the
Jubilee as opposed to the Festival, I see two different kinds of things.
One, I don't think they're as competitive by what the prices are.
Brad Johnson: Those stores aren't.
Chmiel: I'm not sure whether this one would be either as far as a Jubilee
and what assurances can we have if they are saying that they will be. How
can we be assured that they're going to have the better price arrangement?
Brad Johnson: I think we can meet with them.
Bohn: I don't know how you can assure it. You can't.
Horn: You can't assure it for any private business.
Brad Johnson: Their intent is to be competitive and I think we can have a
meeting when they get these numbers. I think we're one meeting away. One
week away. They're supposed to get the numbers back on Monday and the guy
nationally who was here and then they're supposed to come up with their
proposals and we decided that was the time probably to have the people from
the city sort of pitch the guy from LaCrosse who sits on the committee as
to what our feelings are. Generally speaking, you talk to the grocery
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December 6, 1990 - Page 3
people and they'll say that Chanhassen is 2 to 3 years away, which is what
they've been saying for 10 years.
Chmiel: Just like Met Council.
Brad 3ohnson: Yeah. So you have to kind of deal with that but I think the
strategy should be, I mean this is speaking from, if we run into a dead end
and nobody will finance anything over a 25,000 square foot store in
Chanhassen, we have to sooner or later accept that.
Robbins: We can wait 2 years. We don't have to accept it. We can wait 2
years.
Brad 3ohnson: See if you wait 2 years it may take a 45~000 square foot
store and it may not. See what's happening Jim is you can't really wait
because if we wait, Super Value will add capabilities all around Chanhassen
and then the next time they do a run.
Bohn: I don't buy that. I don't buy that at all for the simple reason
they don't have the population.
Brad Johnson: They're going to upgrade the two Driskill stores and see
each time they add capabilities, they take away from our market. The
biggest one that took away from our market is the Cub and the Rainbows.
Neither one of which are in Chanhassen. Now there's another Cub proposed.
Each of those takes shoppers out of Chanbassen and they go down the road
because they look at the total capacity of the area. And if the capacity
outside of Chanhassen, around the peripheral is sufficient to handle the
grocery needs of Chanhassen, they don't put one in town. And we've only
got two grocery store operators. That's all there is and there may be one.
Horn: How does the Jubilee price structure compare to the New Market?
Brad 3ohnson: That's up to the owner. Oh, to the New Market?
Hot n: New Mar ket.
Brad 3ohnson: Oh, very competitive.
Horn: In my mind that's the question to ask. The options that we had that
were real were this one and New Market. We could say we'd like their
prices to compare with a Cub but we don't control that. That's not really
the real world. We might like that but I think only in Russia can
government make that happen.
Chmiel: I would just like to see us try to still pursue that Festival
aspect more so than going to the Jubilee.
Brad Johnson: Well I think you already have the people who you'd like to
have doing that doing that. Okay? I just told them, let's be realistic.
The second thing is, the plan would be. See the two you went in and I think
they're only about 15,000 square feet and 12,000 square feet.
Chmiel: Yeah, they're not very large.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 4
Brad 3ohnson: No, they've just conversions and what they would do is set
this up so it was a Festival and all they had to do is move the wall and
the pricing would be at least, they say to equal a New Market which is
inbetween the two.
Chmiel: And I think New Markets are sort of high end too in comparison to
Super Value.
Brad 3ohnson: According to what I hear is that level, there's a 10~ spread
between one and the other. The New Market's supposed to be in the middle.
That's the concept but they don't go deep discount on a lot of the high
volume items nor does probably the Jubilee. But for that type of
discussion and to feel comfortable about that I think we should have
somebody from either Gateway or Super Value here explaining that to you.
I am meeting with Super Value tomorrow because we've got to kind of keep
our ways open of what to do. We've told everybody and I think the paper
probably said that today, that the Festival is kind of what we'd like to
see and it appears to make the most sense as far as the developers are
concerned. It makes the most sense for everybody but I don't know what's
involved in the next step. I've talked to, I know I've talked to you about
it, is that we probably should plan on having a little meeting with the
Gateway folks once the numbers are there and see if there is any other
additional input that we can give to them. I'm going to meet with the
Super Value guys in the morning and Just see where they're at. They've
called me and said they understand that the first deal didn't come through
and they're wondering. From the developers point of view, we want to get
something built over there. I mean we've got a big investment. See I
don't think if we wait 2 years, we probably would have it but we might not.
I mean because of this other, people keep building things. They may put a
Rainbow finally over on TH 101 and TH 7 because it's on hold for 2 years.
They may expand something. You don't know what's going to happen. We're
being told now by people that we're trying to bring in town to do other
things you know that have nothing to do even with this center. They'll
wait until there's a grocery store.
Chmiel: I don't expect to see a Rainbow on TH 101 and TH 7.
Brad 3ohnson: No, I don't either. I just said they've put it on hold
financially at Gateway. I mean it's not going to happen.
Chmiel: Right. They can't expand to the size they want with the problems
that are existing with that property.
Brad 3ohnson: Right. What I'm being told for example on the restaurant
for the hotel is that they'll think about it when there's a grocery store
in town. I mean those are the kinds of things that you start to hear so
we've got to figure out how to get that one. See the town kind of goes
dead if you've noticed. Retail wise on the weekends. On Saturdays and
after 6:00 at night which the grocery store itself would generate the
traffic to. We need to get that kind of done so to make you feel
comfortable is the Gateway guys are the ones that are really promoting it.
The two fellows that we had. I don't know if they mentioned it. They
didn't talk a lot about it when we were going over it with them but they
were really hammering away that they think strategically that's what this
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December 6, 1990 - Page 5
town needs. As I said, the operator does too. I see Bernie's here. I
think he's got something to say. Okay?
Horn: Let's finish this subject first though. Is there anybody else have
any other comments? I'm not sure what we heard here. Obviously we'd all
prefer to have the Festival. I don't know if anybody up here is saying
that if it's a 3ubilee we don't want it are we?
Robbins: I am.
Horn: You'd rather not have the project?
Robbins: I'll wait.
Bohn: As far as I'm concerned, we were willing to have a New Market come
in and let's assume that it's New Market or Country Club or whatever, I'm
not sure really as a Board, we're really in a position to dictate to a
retailer what they should charge for their products.
Chmiel: We can't, no. That's right.
Bohn: It'd be like telling the hardware store what to charge for them.
We're telling Amoco what to charge for gas. In terms of we'd like to see
low prices, yeah we all want to see low prices. We're willing to put a New
Market in and if we're willing to put in a New Market, we should be willing
to put in a store of comparable value, comparable, for lack of words,
attractability, etc.. Whether it be Festival or whether it be Jubilee, to
me it's just a name. If they're willing to fit the bill and it goes in
accordingly and everything words out right, I guess I'm open to either one
because they're doing what they're supposed to do and we're doing what
we're supposed to do.
Robbins: But is it going to survive?
Bohn: ! can't speak for that.
chmiel: Yeah, we don't know.
Robbins: That's not really our consideration whether it will survive or
not.
Chmiel: Well we want it to survive Charlie. I think we should take a
sound position on that to get it to survive.
Robbins: Oh, we want it to survive but I guess the point is that we've had
other stores come in town that have not survived and they've left. Whether
this survives is going to be up to the people that are shopping.
Chmiel: Yeah, the point being what I had seen here. There's a vast
comparison per item and that's my major concern. I think if we get
something in here that's going to be priced competitive with all the
adjacent stores that are close to us, I think we can have it survive.
Robbins: Okay, what if Lund's came in or Byerly's came in and said we'd
like to build a store here? The point is that if a store's coming in. If
Housing and Redevelopment authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 6
they're willing to do the deal, I guess it's up to us as clients. If we
expect the value out of that business, I'm going to shop in town versus
leaving to go out of town for groceries.
Horn: Tom, do you have any comments?
Workman: Nell only that we should talk about the mechanics of grocery
stores. Only, that if the store isn't competitive, I'm going to shop
there. If it's probably going to be a 3ubitee, I'm going to shop there on
the way home from work and get my eggs and milk and my 30 bucks worth but
I'm going to still go and drop the big bomb at Cub.
Horn: Or Wholesale Club.
Workman: Or something. Or Rainbow or whatever and they probably are
taking that into account. People aren't going to take two cartloads and
their kids and go in there on Saturday morning and pay 20~ to 30~ more for
their groceries when 9 miles away there's.
Brad 3ohnson: It's not quite that difference but.
Workman: Whatever. I mean it can be enormous.
Brad 3ohnson: On certain items.
Workman: and I know which items they are so I'd rather see the Festival.
I don't know, I'd like to see the entire project go through because I think
we've got other things to worry about besides the grocery store.
Brad Johnson: Well may I suggest, because I think it just would help the
Festival people if somebody here would authorize Todd to write a letter
expressing your feelings and just get it on record with their, you know
thank you very much for consideration of this. We've looked at this and
get it on file. Not that you're going to turn one down but from a point of
view of the authorizing agency for the assist in this project, you would
greatly feel, both from the community's point of view and marketability.
You know whatever you want to say. They'd like a letter like that.
Horn: I think it'd be appropriate for us to do that.
Robbins: I'll motion that we draft or have the staff draft a letter
indicating that the Board's are strongly encouraging Festival stores, is
that what it's called? Festival Foods store would be the choice.
Horn: Is there a second?
Chmiel: Second.
Robbins moved, Chmiel seconded to direct staff to draft a letter to Gateway
Foods indicating that the Housing and Redevelopment Authority is strongly
encouraging a Festival Foods store be located in Chanhassen. All voted in
favor and the motion carried.
Horn: I think that's a more positive approach than going out and telling
them that we would certainly deny.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, ~990 - Page 7
Chmiel: Maybe a good ldea too would be maybe the HRA should take a look at
that one in Andover.
Horn: Well let's hope we don't have to cross that bridge.
Chmiel: Yet.
HoT n: Ever.
Brad 3ohnson: There is a big difference I think between the 3ubilee you've
looked at. The one they're planning here is basically the plan for the
Festival and they're trying to sneak it by the corporate guys up there.
Bohn: Is Gateway 3ubilee?
Brad Johnson: Gateway is 3ubilee, Festival and Rainbow. All they're using
is the Subilee name to sneak a store in here that will look like a Festival
but from a corporate point of view the difference is 10,000 square feet and
as I said, the stores you've looked at, the two you've looked are standard,
conventional stores. Probably 10-12,000 square feet smaller even than the
Jubilee.
Horn: Dick, I think you had a comment earlier didn't you?
Dick Wing: I don't. I guess I just wanted to get up to speed on, was HRA
trying to fill x square feet in each store or a specific store? ...there's
a real need to have a competitive store that can compete with the other
lowered priced stores.
Horn: We're not really dictating what kind of store goes in there. At
least that's been our position in the past. We might give them some strong
encouragement of what our personal preference would be but as a Board
that's not really our position. Our position is to develop the area. Any
other comments or questions?
Workman: With quality, viable businesses.
Horn: Yeah, right.
Chmiel: That will be there for years to come.
Horn: Any other visitor presentations?
Workman: Would this be an appropriate time to maybe have Bernie?
Horn: Well that's what I was asking. Did you bare a Visitor Presentation
Bernie?
Bernie: Yes I do.
Horn: I kind of figured you would.
Bernie Hanson: I guess what I'll be addressing which I'm sure all of you
are aware. Have gotten letters. I'm referring to the letter I received
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, lggO - Page 8
from Roger Knutson from the City stating that we would be evicted as of
December 31st if the Market Square continue so I guess what my questions
are, where do we stand? Is the HRA going to assist me to survive until
something takes place because I just listened to the grocery store
discussion here like everything's still alive but I guess nobody knows
exactly when. I guess I sort of turn that back to you to buy time to make
this all happen because I've been sitting waiting, I forgot how long
already. I wouldn't even try to figure that out. We're ready to go plan
specs, financing, everything and we run into these delays with the center
so I turn it back to you. What can we do to make this happen?
Horn: I guess I'd like to get a staff update on the source of this letter.
Gerhardt: Based on the HRA agreement that was formulated this last August
when Bernie and Bob Copeland, owner and partner in the Medical Arts
Building had discussed through an agreement that the HRA had entered into
with the Market Square people, that the Chanhassen Lawn and Sports facility
would be gone from that premise by August 1, 1990. Obviously that building
has not moved from that date and agreement was made at that meeting to
extend for that building to remain on that site until November 1 based on
the viability of Market Square going ahead and getting footings into the
ground by that time. Footings were not, a building permit was not taken
out by the Market Square people so staff followed through with the words
that agreement was made into at that meeting and asked Roger Knutson to
draft a letter asking Bernie to vacate his premise. From that Bernie had
called me and I asked and he said, you know what are the options I have
available to remain here until we find out if Market Square is going to go
ahead or not? I said that he could come to the next HRA meeting and
request of the HRA for another extension and I told Bernie also that I
would be inviting Bob Copeland to this meeting because it does impact him.
The options available to the HRA at this point would be one to extend to
Bernie again a 2 month extension to the end of February and that if a
building permit is not taken out by March 1 of 1990, that again a letter be
sent to Bernie that he must vacate the premise. Based on the agreement,
the default that the HRA is in in that agreement, must have deadlines for
Bernie to move out because Bob does have an agreement with the HRA to build
the second phase of the Medical Arts facility and once he comes in and
wants to execute that part of the agreement, we will be in default again
and if Bob feels and has justification for damages, he could come in and
sue the HRA for such damages. I don't want to get into that now or even
think about that stuff at this point. Basically those are your options and
an update on that issue. I stand to answer any questions you may have.
Horn: Did we get any response from Copeland?
Gerhardt: Mr. Copeland is here this evening. I guess I'd rather have Bob
update you as to the HRA's options on that and his feelings. I think Bob
is in the frustration that we all are is Market Square going to be a
reality or not and that's almost an unknown and lays in the hands of
Scribner and their decision of either a Festival, Jubilee or whatever. If
that decision was made, Brad has made the case that he would rather see
either or a Jubilee or a Festival come in Just to get the project going and
that would alleviate and put out there a date that we know that the project
is going to go ahead. That footings can be put in the ground and you can
estimate construction time. And then that gives Bob a realistic date to
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1<)90 - Page 9
work with. But Bob has been very fair in granting these extensions, not in
writing because he doesn't want to give up his options and he has not taken
action against the HRA either. I think everybody's been fair and equitable
in this deal so far and has been willing to work togethe~ and until
Scribner makes a decision on what the future lies for a grocery store in
this community, I think we're at their beckoning call on this.
Horn: Did you want to comment? We don't want to force you or put you on
the spot.
Bob Copeland: I guess we just want to be sure that you folks understand
our position. We have nothing against Bernie and nothing against the
Chanhassen Lawn and Sports. It's just that we have a deal with you folks
and he's supposed to be gone on August l, 1990 and he's still there and
we're being hurt by that. We're being hurt in several ways. We're
supposed to have access to the parking lot right to the west of our
building right over his property, or where he is right now. We don't have
that access. Further, we have development rights for Phase 2 but we can't
really do anything seriously on the Phase 2 because when we talk to anybody
about it, we can't talk timing. We have no idea when it's going to be
available to proceed so that's hurting us. The other thing is that we're
getting continuous complaints from our tenants about smoke from Mr.
Hanson's smokestack being drawn into our intakes and our heating
ventilating and air conditioning system and some of the people have
complained to the point where they've been nauseated and headaches and had
to go home. Couldn't complete the day working in that building. Well, I
won't get into what it looks like. That's another issue but we are being
hurt by this. We understand you have a problem and I don't know how to
solve it but we want to make sure that you understand our position on it
and that we're not just sitting back and everything's dandy with us.
Whatever you do. In other words, we have a stake in the thing and we're
not writing nasty letters and we're not threatening lawsuits or anything
else because we know you have a problem but we still have a real interest
in getting it solved fast.
(There was a tape change at this point.)
Robbins: ...how it could be the same conversation.
Bob Copeland: Well that's right but you see I don't believe it. If there
was an agreement or something today that he'd be gone on July 1st, I mean
I don't have any reason to believe that. Until he's gone I won't believe
it. Do you think ~ should?
Chmiel: It's kind of a loaded shotgun, yeah.
Workman: Maybe what we need to do, and it's not Brad's fault and not
related to your... We're driven by Chis grocery store in Market Square and
we've been squirming because we've got all the eggs in the basket and
they're sitting rotting. I don't believe you have any reason to believe
that Bernie will ever be gone. I think we're all growing old. We have two
large tenants who need to go someplace. Potentially large tenants. Bernie
and Merlyn's. We need to look at other options for those guys
potentially? The Crossroad Bank's site? In relationship to something else
to do that? Does that give us better options? Does that drive the market
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 10
from our viewpoint a little bit better so that we can get the thing to move
on? I know Mr. Copeland doesn't care where they go. I'd like to see a
grocery store. I'd like to see Bernie with the grocery store and I'd like
to see Merlyn's in there too.
Robbins: Well Merlyn's lease at least doesn't go up for another 2 years.
Workman: He's not going to .go into that thing for 2 years?
Chmiel: He doesn't have to leave is what you're saying.
Brad 3ohnson: He isn't required to move for another 2 years. The other
problem is we have considered trying to build this center without a grocery
store in it and the financing guys say no.
Horn: And as far as other options, you know we looked at one other option
in Bernie's case before this.
Workman: Bernie on his own but Bernie with other options? I don't know.
Horn: We don't make those options. We listen to options that are
presented to us.
Workman: But we have some direction. I mean we don't have our fingers
completely out of the...here I don't think.
· Horn: Do you know something I don't?
Workman: Well yeah. We're talking about the size a grocery store that you
want and what they can do and I mean we have gentle persuasion but if we're
only, if we only have one option and that is Bernie either goes into that
grocery store and then somebody in Oklahoma's tying that up. If that
person says no, the grocery store isn't going up, Bernie is surely going to
have to be somewhere else and yet we've gotten into this discussion before
that well then we don't have to worry because they've got an agreement and
all the agreements are signed and everything else and Bernie's out and we
can all sleep at night you know. But that's not the way we'd like to have
it happen but that's why I've tried to look for some more options.
Robbins: Well Tom I think the option is, and when we've had this
discussion before, is that we've got actually two issues here. We've got
the issue with Bob Copeland and we've got the issue with Bernie. I think
Bernie's indifferent to where he moves to at this point. If in fact there
was another site available, he could move there regardless of what Market
Square does. That would solve the problem for Bernie and that would solve
the problem for the HRA and that would solve the problem of Bob Copeland if
in fact there was another site to be available to Bernie to move. So it's
not that Market Square drives it. It obviously enhances it but if there
was another site that was equal for Bernie, that would solve the problem
all the way around.
Horn: I think Bernie would have probably been at another site by now if he
found something.
Workman: I don't think somebody's creatively looking for another site.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 11
Robbins: We've done it for the last three years. We've been looking for
sites for Bernie for the last 3 years.
Bernie Hanson: I just want to address that on the Kent with the Hardware
store. He approached me and said that, I called him this evening before I
came here. That's why I was late. I was talking to him for a couple
minutes so I said do you mind me expressing what you said to me before and
he said fine. He said if that's all falling apart, what he said was if the
HRA would support us in like manner of what they were going to support us
in Market Square to move to another site to build, he was interested in
joining forces with me and we build our own because I'm locked in a corner.
That's the only reason I'm talking about it. My preference is Market
Square. I don't want to battle with anybody. I want to be out of that
building as everybody knows. I've expressed it many, many, many times
so I'm just looking for some other place that has options. And as I said,
he expressed an interest if the HRA would support us in the same manner to
look at another site because I understand the bank is either in or out. I
don't know. You people know that. I don't. So that's our conversation the
last time but there's two people, I don't know how many square feet he's
talking in Market Square. I never paid that close attention. Is it 10,000
feet?
Brad Johnson: The problem simply is we can't define, not you personally
but right now unless you've got...the guarantees the bank are requiring on
a single purpose building or developers are required for a single purpose
building today, I'm looking for a mortgage down there for a building at
12 and I can't get a mortgage on it because it's too small and doesn't
have...and it's tough. Like we said, we had a meeting the other day. If
we can just build one long arm of the thing over here, let's just do it and
nobody was interested.
Horn: Well I think it's pretty obvious with what's going on here with the
economic situation.
Brad Johnson: It's just we're kind of caught in a problem and I think we
could work that problem. I told the guys, I said well the solution for
Bernie and anybody else, if we just take and move it over to where you
suggested okay. And those guys didn't think, given the rents that they're
paying, that we could finance it. And with the lack of one good credit
tenant. Basically that center has, as tenants, people with good credit but
no corporate statement. Therefore you can't get the mortgage today. We
couldn't build town square today for example. Today.
Chmiel: Right. The ballgame has changed.
Brad 3ohnson: It blows your mind. We could build that with 40~ occupancy
the first time around. Today we couldn't do it.
Horn: And I think the situation today is much different than it was even 6
months ago.
Brad Johnson: If we wait until about, at this point a month from now
between Gateway and Super Value they will have come up with something or
they will not have to come up with something. We're in the process again.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 12
Horn: The question is what do we do in the meantime.
Brad 3ohnson: Yeah.
Horn: I guess my feeling is I agree with you Brad that Bernie would have a
tough time with a stand alone option anywhere else at this point or even in
conjunction with the Hardware. We've seen it in our business. We've seen
it in well the bank is in a similar situation and I think that's the
reality of our development today. We ran into this what, 5 years ago? And
we're seeing it again. Things stop. But we've got a difficult situation
to deal with here in the interim and that is, I know that Mr. Copeland's
tenants are having problems being they can't stay at work because they have
to go home sick. We have to deal with that issue somehow. He can't
continue in business that way. I don't have a ready solution at hand but I
certainly understand the problem and appreciate it.
Chmiel: Bob, are you at full occupancy in your existing?
Bob Copeland: We're at 92~.
Horn: As I see it, we have two issues tonight that we have to deal with
and we have to decide are we going to try to wait out the recession with
them or pull the cord at this time and I think that's what we're going to
have to decide.
Workman: Ride it out. It's just a mini-recession.
Chmiel: Yeah, from all the indicators, I think from some of the people
I've talked with at the Rotary and other people that I've talked to that
they expect to see this come back in the spring again. I think as I see
our growth as we've got it here, we're going to still keep growing even
though we have a recession. Same thing happened in Eden Prairie in the
past recession we had at that particular time. Everybody thought
Eden Prairie was going to slow down and it didn't and I've made this
comment probably before but being in the electric utility business, our
complete company was at about a 2~ electrical load growth. During
recession, Eden Prairie was at 21~ and that never was lower than
electrical load growth. We still maintain a 2~ load growth so that meant
that Eden Prairie was still growing because they were in the next suburb
just as we are now to Eden Prairie and that growth is going to be here.
It's not going to stop.
Horn: Well we have an option. We can let the letter go as it stands or we
can move for an extension.
Workman: I would move for the extension.
Horn: To what date?
Chmiel: As Todd indicated, February of 1991 with a potential at that time
too.
Gerhardt: 28th.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 13
Workman: I guess I'd rather, just because that's the mid-winter and I
don't know if anything's going to happen or not there anyway, I guess I
would prefer March 31st.
Horn: Is there a second to the motion?
Chmiel: ! guess I'd like to just have a little discussion with Bob as well
yet.
Horn: We should second the motion before discussion.
Chmiel: Okay, let me second that motion. Bob, what do you, I know your
position is to what you just said but as you said, you don't have anything
to really pull together and by March I t'hink the reason Tom made that
particular motion was knowing one way or the other whether we're going to
have a grocery store here. I think by that particular time we should know
one way or the other it being either a Jubilee, Festival or whatever. I
think that's really the whole hinging point on this whole thing as you well
know. I guess I'm just asking your opinion.
Bob Copeland: Can you focus the question a little more specifically?
Chmiel: Okay. I guess I'm looking at your concerns. You're still
thinking about developing your property and you'd like to have Bernie out
of there. Does March 31st still, would that fit in with your potential
plans for your expansion or whatever you're contemplating?
Bob Copeland: Well it doesn't give us our access. It doesn't answer the
...question. You know it doesn't do anything. We'll just be continuing
along the way we are now.
Bernie Hanson: I want to address something. I talked with Todd the other
day and he said he hasn't been hearing complaints on the smoke situation
since a month or 6 weeks ago so I don't know if that should dwell as one Of
the big things that's going to turn something here.
Chmiel: Are you still burning wood?
Bernie Hanson: It's a different wood.
Bob Copeland: What's different?
Bernie Hanson: Different wood is what the Fire Marshall asked me to do.
Bob Copeland: But what was it before and what is it now?
Bernie Hanson: It was crating wood and now it's some crating wood mixed
with split wood all dry. First quality wood that you could ever use. And
we've also been trying to make sure that we don't over load the stove so
you don't get that factor. The secret is you keep the temperature up in
the stove.
Horn: Have the complaints decreased Todd?
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, lggO - Page i4
Gerhardt: I haven't received one in the last month but not to say that Bob
didn't get any. I mean I usually get them through Bob and Bob usually
filters them, if there's serious ones down to me and ask for action so I
can't answer if Bob's taken any in the last month.
Workman: People are keeping their windows closed now probably.
Horn: Well this came through the ventilation system.
Bob Copeland: It's strange. I don't fully understand it because there are
some tenants that have noticed a thing. They say, smoke? What are you
talking about? What smoke? And then there are the folks primarily in the
clinic who just can't, haven't been able to even work in the environment so
I don't understand it. Maybe it's just the sensitivity of different people
or something.
Gerhardt: I think it deals a lot with the temperatures and the direction
of the wind and that area back there is very difficult. It's very
difficult to maintain that parking lot back there. Snow dumps back there
like you wouldn't believe. Comes right over the top of the apartment
building and it's just like a little valley back there. Everything just
dumps. We're going to have to go in there 2 to 3 times a year to pull snow
out of there where we'll take trucks and clean it out so it's the wind
direction and everything in that area has changed completely. And adding
the fence back there and you know the new construction of all the buildings
in there has done something. Bernie's building is very close to the
Medical Arts and when he does burn, there are going to be days when that
smoke is going to get into the building. I ddn't know. I've talked to an
environmentalist that we all know and he had recommended that maybe a 5
foot extension to the smoke stack could potentially solve some of that in
getting it up higher into the air.
Robbing: Bernie, is the stove you're using when you're burning totally for
heating or is it decorative or is it both?
Bernie Hanson: It's heating.
Robbing: Totally, 100~ heating then? $o if you don't a stove then you're
basically not heating the building?
Bernie Hanson: I have a furnances in the back of the building but up in
the front there isn't and we never insulated that more because it's always
been we're going to get out of that place. It's like heating a... You
know that's the problem that you've got. The heating bills will drive you
right out of there if you try to run the ~urnances.
Horn: There are a couple of factors. Bernie's right. If you burn it
hotter, you don't have all the smoke. The ot~er issue is that we're coming
into a season where the wind, prevailing winds are changing to the north
and the northwest which will change it considerably so you might be seeing
a result of that even more so than the change...
Bernie Hanson: I will address myself personally that we have to watch it
closely and don't overload the stove and you can build a hot fire.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 15
Horn: Right. And I think too, I don't know if you can sort your water or
not but on days that you have high humidity and whatever, you can choose to
burn the better stuff.
Bernie Hanson: And I can assure you that. we're striving to do that
because you know, if I can just stay there and keep this thing under
control and not somebody complaining at me you know like tbs day the Fire
Marshall came in there. It took me 4 hours of wasted time. Well I can't
afford that either so I'm trying to see that it works right is what I'm
trying to address.
Horn: Okay, we have a motion on the floor and a second. Is there any
further discussion on the motion?
Robbins: That's March 31st for what now exactly? The extension?
Horn: The extension. Instead of midnight December 31st, it will be
midnight March 31st, 1991.
Robbins: What will take place then?
Horn: That he will have to vacate the premises.
Robbins: March 31, 1991 which is only what? 4 months away?
Horn: Right. Unless we have another extension. Other discussion?
Bernie Hanson: Isn't that based on the fact that Market Square is underway
and we all know what direction was happening?
Horn: Right.
Robbins: And that's what I was going to get at. Otherwise it means
nothing.
Chmiel: That's right. That's what it was.
Bernie Hanson: Brad, is that enough time you know that we can?
Brad 3ohnson: Our current position dates around February 1st.
Horn: Other questions?
Workman moved, Chmiel seconded to grant an extension to Bernie Hanson,
Chanhassen Lawn and Sports until midnight, March 31, 1991 tn which to
vacate his premises. Rll voted in favor and the motion carried
unanimously.
Horn: And you heard Bernie. He'll do whatever he can to alleviate your
smoke problem.
Bob Copeland: Oh, it is better.
Horn: I think the City should do everything they can in terms of
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 16
assistance to Bernie and methods of allieving it.
Bernie Hanson: One thing ! would address, excuse me, address. Maybe Bob
as long as you're standing here. [ had the idea the other day, if you gave
me permission...this might sound crazy...west side of your wall that would
allow me to look at the stack, I know damn well we can control the...
because I can look out there and look at the stack and if anything's going
amuck, I can change it instantly. I mean it might be God send to keep
everybody of~ my butt and I know...
Horn: [ don't know what that would do to the eastbound traffic when the
sun is setting.
Bernie Hanson: Well I don't think, I mean if you look through our office
window, it'd be straight up. I just happened to look at that the other day
and think, I just had that brainstorm and I didn't know how I could mount
anything... I'd have to have a periscope or something in order to do
something on our building. Something to think about.
Gerhardt: Clark? Put an extension on it tomorrow? Look at the option of
adding an extension to it tomorrow.
Horn: To the stack? Okay. I think we have another item of a similar vein
that we got a letter on today that we should address during the Visitor
Presentation and that is the request by Woodbridge Corporation to extend
their agreement date and also to amend the requirements. I had a meeting
with Mr. Weir today and he explained the situation to me. The things that
he explained seemed to make sense in terms of the current business climate.
I guess has everyone had a chance to read that letter at this point? Both
he and Mr. Mork could not make the meeting tonight and they asked that we
would address this issue.
Chmiel: Neither nor.
Horn: Right.
Chmiel: In lieu of what's here.
Gerhardt: If the HRA would want me to just briefly go through what the
letter is as outlined as you're going through it. Basically the letter is
requesting the HRA to extend the Crossroads National Bank purchase
agreement to August 1, or to August some date of 1991. 5 month extension.
In lieu of that time Crossroads National Bank would be looking to either
going ahead with their present facility or giving them additional time to
work with other banking agencies to develop on that site. The second area
that he is requesting that his purchase agreement be modified to extend the
2 year period which is lapsing to develop a facility and to extend that out
to a 5 year period. Basically that is the agreement as it stands. He's
not asking, or go ahead Clark.
Horn: The rules of, in terms of any other part of the contract stay the
same and the reason behind the first request is obvious. That they're
still trying to get things in place. The reason for the second question as
I understand it is that they feel that due to the changing climate of the
regulatory agencies, that they're getting so much more skeptical now that
they would not look with favor on putting an obligation to expand which may
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
December 6, 1990 - Page 17
put the institution beyond a good financial condition in 2 years. I guess
from our perspective, we're kind of looking at a situation Iike we were
here tonight. If we ieft it at 2 years, at the end of 2 years when we
force them into doing something, what do we gain by forcing them out of
business which wouId realIy be our option? Which is still the option we
have after 5 years of Ieaving it the way it is so from that perspective I'm
not sure what puts us in any worst condition. The only thing that I can
see that would be better than the agreement we have here £s if we could, if
we had another person who couId come in and somehow give us guarantees that
they could beat these dates or have a higher vaIued building.
Robbins: I guess Clark, with regards to that and again I'll'just draw up
on my banking background as such. Assuming that that Woodbridge was to
cash out now, I mean literally today or tomorrow. If in fact you're
looking at another banking organization, they would be confined with the
same reguiations anyway. It doesn't matter who's coming in. It would be,
you're still looking at the same situation. The same regulations. Things
are pretty much comparable.
Bohn: Wasn't Norwest supposed to expand out here?
Horn: That would have to go through the same charter.
Robbins: It would have to go through the same process. Whether it be
First, whether it be Norwest, whether it be out state, whether it be in
state, the process remains the same. You're still looking at a similar
structure here in terms of you've got to go through the charter process.
You've got to spend some money and then secondly, you have to look at
putting up a buiIding. I mean that's just about the bottom line. And aiso
what's not mentioned in this letter, and this is effective now in 1990, the
FDIC has come in now and the FDIC is saying that in case of, if you wiII, a
failed bank or one that's in Jeopardy, the FDIC has the right to come in
and cancel all leases. So whether it be 5 years or 2 years or l0 years or
whatever, the FDIC can take that over at any time anyway.
Bohn: If Norwest came in, they wouldn't have...I presume?
Robbins: We don't know that. We have no idea of knowing that.
Bohn: I still hate to see this land tied up for 5 years.
Robbins: Well we've been giving options to Market Square for several
years. I really don't see this to be anything different. We'd all like
to see the deal work.
Bohn: It's a prime piece of property.
Robbins: Oh, so is Market Square. We've been granting options to Market
Square to a delay and delay and delay.
Bohn: We don't own Market Square.
Robbins: All they're asking is to do a delay here for another 6 months.
We'll be in the same situation that we are in 6 months.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 18
Ashworth: Mr. Chairman? If I may.
Horn: Go ahead.
Ashworth: This letter was faxed last night and Dave brought it over. Hand
carried it over this morning. We have no staff report along with this
item. My recollection is that the lease or they are to meet their
obligations, I think it was February 14th so you're going to have another
meeting in January.
Horn: February 8th.
Ashworth: But you will have another meeting in January. I would hope that
I would suggest that you table it. Allow staff to prepare a recommendation.
In addition I would like to take and get an opinion from the original
author of the agreement which was John Dean. As well, if you recall, we
did get a second opinion regarding that agreement from Roger Knutson and at
least my recollection of his analysis was that if he had his druthers. If
he had a way to redo it, there was various sections of that that he would
recommend be drafted in another way. I don't think that we should just
quickly move ahead with an extension without potentially correcting some of
the problems that exist. And I'm not sure that that's a true but I think
that we should hear what each of those two have to say.
Horn: It doesn't appear that anything is going to change between now and
January.
Ashworth: I can't see where it would.
Horn: Anybody have any other comments?
Workman: I think that's a step in the right direction. I think this is
somewhat different from Market Square. 5 months temporary building
doesn't, I've received more input on this little unknown parcel down here
from people about more than Market Square. Where is it? Why isn't it
up? What's going on? The ownership. I mean it's our parcel right? The
ownership of the parcel gives us more control I think. I wish it could
have worked out for Mr. Mork and I think he was a good pitchman for that.
Maybe they need a new pitchman but I think we should take advantage of the
lull and shore up our position.
Horn: We can consider our options at the next meeting.
Chmiel: Yeah.
Horn: We don't need a motion on that then right? Okay. Any other Visitor
Presentations? Must be a new record for us and that will be on the agenda
in February.
Ashwor th: Yes.
Workman: Can we make commissioner presentations At the end?
Horn: You might as well make them now.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 19
Robbins: Clark, back to the letter though. It does say to request the
following. Was he looking for a response from us immediately or I guess
what is the, just in terms of exactly what the letter says?
Horn: What section?
Robbins: Second page, last paragraph. It says, to summarize we respect
the following. Extension and then number 2 and so forth. Was he asking
for us to act on that at tonight's meeting or were you going to get back to
him and say we'll act on it in the meeting in January?
Horn: I think that staff should respond to him that they will be on the
agenda in Sanuary.
Robbins: Okay, fine.
Chmiel: In fact I think they should really be here in the event that
there's any questions as well.
Workman: The only thing I had quickly was, I talked to Todd about it
earlier was I think the Christmas light decorations in the median in
downtown look absolutely atrocious hanging like strings on I don't know
what. Blowing in the wind and haven't been giving the trees any known
distinction.
Chmiel: I think when we were gone we had some strong winds.
Workman: If you go by the hotel, the hotel has some of the same white
lights and they are neatly draped around the tree. The ones in City Hall
go and they're all over and some are just hanging and I think we need to do
something to shore that up. I don't know that that's the HRA's business or
the City Council's.
Gerhardt: It's a staff thing where we will direct the public works to go
out and to try and make more of a circular pattern around those and break
up some of the lines on them. Some of them have fallen off.
Workman: Have you seen them at night?
Gerhardt: Yeah. They drape down like, you know we can correct it. We'll
have them go out and hook them back up. I mean I don't know what it is in
this area but we go through flags here at City Hall. I mean we put a flag
out, we've got to change it almost bi-monthly because they get tattered so
by the winds so I'm not blaming the winds completely on it but a lot of
them have blown around. We'll go back out there.
Workman: One distinct pattern on each tree somehow to maintain some
symmetry.
Horn: Well I didn't lik eit but I just attributed it to my poor taste in
artistic.
Workman: It's bad. I think the HRA should care more about how that
downtown looks than anybody.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 20
Gerhardt: I don't know about this group and their artisttcal tastes. I
mean I'm never going to bring another artistical thing to this group. No
more sculptures. No more anything.
Horn: I just assumed if I like it, it must be bad. Any other Visitors
Presentation issues?
JOINT HR~ AND CITY COUNCIL REVIEN OF THE HIGHN~Y S STREETSCP~E DESIGN,
BARTON-~SCHH~N.
Gerhardt: I asked Barton-~schman not to be here tonight. I included in
here some of their costs associating with coming out to these meetings
and I felt that I could give a similar presentation. Charlie was here at
the last HR~ meeting. Don Chmiel also was there where they presented their
new concepts for the walls and vertical elements for both the Market and
TH 5 entry monuments. I guess I'd like to present those to Jim and Tom.
Some of you had the opportunity to look at the.
Chmiel: Todd, there was one thing that was never really asked at the
Council meeting and I was afraid to really ask it. What's the cost of all
of this?
Gerhardt: I've also included in that handout with...letter, the next page
after...outline of the costs for the walls. It does not include the
flowers. It does not include the vertical elements. It does not include
the deciduous trees and coniferous trees and irrigation, fences,
streetscape lighting .... This is similar to our meeting back in September
where the group at that time requested that another look at the wall
breakdown for that area. Again they have come in with the path scenario as
it comes around. There will be a bike path that will run along TH 5.
Chanhassen will be lit with lights approximately 5 of them in front of the
wall highlighting the name of Chanhassen to come in with the green spruce
and a few other deciduous trees. Maples. They also included there will be
a signal light in that area so it's not just going to be a beautiful park
but it will be construction of public roadways. What was brought out at
our last Joint meeting with the Council and the HRA, they expressed that an
interest in the wall. Felt good with the wall. They felt that they wanted
to come in with more of a prairie type atmosphere that Chanhassen really
represented. ~nd to get that they felt that by adding a few more sugar
maples in this area and creating more of a little mini-forest type thing,
that that could be accomplished so I'm just adding those tree...
Robbins: The letters for Chanhassen, how high are the letters?
Gerhardt: I think those are 3 feet.
Horn: They're going to get my green metal in here yet aren't they?
Gerhardt: The wall is 6 foot
Horn: Yeah, they're at least 3 feet then.
Chmiel: 2 feet.
Gerhardt: 2 feet 6 inches from the top to the bottom.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, i990 - Page 21
Robbins: And you're supposed to see that from what distance away?
Horn: Are they going to be backlit or anything?
Gerhardt: No. On that drawing it shows 5, the spotlight design in the
front that will shine on it. It's better than the backlit. The backlit ,
lights like we have over across Great Plains in. front of the Klingelhutz
building there, that sign. That has the backlit lights and that's run more
through a transformer type thing and that transformer burns out almost
annually. These spotlights could be run off a timer which are more
efficient. You get better lighting and you get direct lighting than that
backlit light.
Horn: You can run a transformer off a timer.
Gerhardt: The timer would have a small transformer thing on it. We've got
one here at City Hall and that thing is always...
Horn: I mean the other lights you can turn that off and on with a timer.
Bohn: 2 feet 6 inches.
Gerhardt: ...burns out annually and it costs the City around $400.00 to
$500.00 to replace it.
Horn: It sounds like a design flaw from who we get it from.
Gerhardt: I think we may have solved that problem now. We'll have to look
into that. This shows a better scheme. At the first meeting I showed the
trees and the plantings behind the wall. At the last joint meeting that is
what the Council and HRA felt that they wanted to see again is more of a
woods, tree look behind the wall instead of...
Bohn: The total wall is 6 foot tall?
Gerhardt: 6'6".
Bohn: 6;6"? The letters are at 2 feet 6.
Chmiel: Todd, what was the discussion that we had of those trees behind
the wall in conjunction with Prairie House as well as the Holiday. Would
that obstruct the view of people coming through and looking as they're
driving along for a restaurant or a gas station or whatever?
Gerhardt: The Prairie House has expressed a concern with monuments, trees
in blocking their signage and Barton-Rschman was convinced that they could
put plantings in there that would not block the view of that sign so that
consideration would be taken under advisement when plantings occurred.
Bohn: 6'6" lettering isn't very high. The sign. What says Chanhassen.
Horn: Yeah, the sign wouldn't block anything.
Chmiel: No, the trees.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 22
Gerhardt: The sign sits over here and you've got your wall.
Chmiel: What you're saying is the setback would be far enough back where
it wouldn't obstruct his sign.
Horn: You know what we really need on this is some type of a rendering or
a shot of what the sign would look like from the highway. Because this
obviously isn't a perspective of what that would be.
Gerhardt: Well that's what this one is to represent.
Horn: That's the way it would look to us from TH 5?
Gerhardt: Yeah. This is from..
Workman: Is that at Narket?
Chmiel: No, that's Great Plains.
Horn: Going east.
Gerhardt: Right at the middle of the TH $ intersection.
Bohn: TH 5 and what? Great Plains?
Gerhardt: Yep. You can see the Holiday gas station. He took a photo of
it and this is an overlay then.
Horn: Oh yeah, that's alright. You don't even block the Prairie House.
Bohn: No. The lettering in that Chanhassen is really small though.
Workman: We own that now right?
Gerhardt: We own that.
Bohn: I like it but I wish the lettering was bigger.
Gerhardt: We could make the wall bigger.
Bohn: I think the lettering should be like 3 feet.
Gerhardt: Another 6 inches in the lettering?
Bohn: Yes.
Gerhardt: Raise the wall 6 inches?
Workman: What's the total cost of the project?
Chmiel: $41,000.00.
Workman: Just for this corner?
Chmiel: One corner.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 23
Workman: And the other corner is more?
Gerhardt: $41,000.00 plus benches, trees and whatever the vertical
monument.
Workman: So you're talking about a $120,000.00 project entirely here?
Gerhardt: $120,000.00 to $150,000.00.
Wot kman: Depending on whether...
Gerhardt: I mean there's a lot of hungry people out there right now.
Horn: That wall seems high.
Gerhardt: 6 foot?
Horn: No, I mean priced. $30,000.00.
Gerhardt: I think they want to come in high. They've viewed this. You
know they're seen what BRW's gone through in the downtown and they've
walked on pins and needles when they talk to us about this stuff and they
want to make sure that they're not misleading the HRA in any way. They're
going to come in high on everything and they're going to make sure that
everybody's aware of everything that's going on.
Horn: I don't know that we're upset with BRW because of their price
estimates. We're just upset with their design.
Chmiel: The final project.
Gerhardt: Well, that's right. They want to make sure that they have clear
direction from you on what you want to see there. I mean if you want a
wall that's bigger, now is the time to talk about it.
Chmiel: I'd say we're talking $60,000.00 for the both of those elements.
To me that'd be a ballpark figure right there.
Horn: 60 for the whole thing?
Chmiel: For the whole thing, yeah. I'm thinking they're high probably by
about $10,000.00 just alone on that wall. .
Robbins: But I think the lettering is too small.
Horn: Well, think of the campaign signs that are always out on that corner
and they have. a lot smaller lettering.
Chmiel: Well let's see. Mine were about.
Horn: Yeah, but look at your lettering. You could read those.
Chmiel: We're talking that lettering.
Horn: Yeah. That's less than a foot. This is 2 1/2.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, i990 - Page 24
Chmiel: That was still visible.
Workman: Maybe the letters need to be separated a little.
Chmiel: I look at that and this Just came to mind Just the other day
when I was coming in on Great Plains. The one that had the white one for
the Dinner Theatre or whatever. We have one already with a given style and
I thought we looked at that when we didn't like what was existing but yet
we're going to introduce another one in another location for two others.
Two other locations.
Horn: What didn't we like?
Chmiel: That's what I was wondering. What was it that they didn't like
about that particular one?
Horn: Which one are you referring to Don?
Chmiel: That one on the, right by Klingelhutz'.
Gerhardt: ! don't know that they ever said that they didn't like this one.
I think what they didn't like was the concept of coming in with the tower.
The vertical.
Bohn: How tall are the letters on that one?
Gerhardt: The letters on this I would say are between 8 and 12 inches.
Bohn: I think closer to
Chmiel: And those are going to be another foot closer.
Horn: Yeah, I think those would be big enough.
Chmiel: I think that 2 1/2 feet Sim, just might not be too bad.
Horn: I could read Chmiel plain as day and I've got bad eyes.
Chmiel: Thank you.
Horn: I guess my only concern about the whole concept is the cost of that
concrete wall. How much of that is labor and how much of that is material
or is this all material?
Gerhardt: No. They've got labor in there. I mean grading site
modifications of $1,800.00 and that's all labor. These are their estimates
of what they feel it would cost to construct a concrete block radius wall.
Horn: I think we'd like, speaking for myself I like the concept but I
think the estimates are too high. I'd like to see a bigger breakdown
between labor and material on it.
Gerhardt: Well we could go ahead and go out and solicit some quotes and
that's usually what the architects do when you get these quotes. They
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 25
usually go to somebody that they work with but we can go ahead and do that.
Horn: Maybe what we should do is approve it pending bids of a certain
price? Would that sound reasonable?
Chmiel: Yeah, I would.
Robbins: The thing is, do we know what a certain price is? Zn other
words, you know the dollars appear to be high to me too. I guess I knew
what you were saying about getting bids. I guess if a street person was to
call any concrete or construction place and say I want a wall 60 feet by 6,
what would you charge me, I guess that's what it would approach this
$30,000.00 business. Assuming that the site was prepared because the
$1,800.00, I think that's within reason. I don't have a problem with that
and I think the rest of the numbers look alright.
Chmiel: The rest of the numbers fall in line.
Robbins: But the 30 grand for some concrete and some rock, that's probably
3 or 4 person job for about 1 day.
Chmiel: Yeah, Clark and I were having discussions here and I came up with
the same cost in putting in a basement, a block basement for a house.
About $10,000.00. Add another $10,000.00 to it and that's a lot of pluses
and that's where I'm coming up with the $20,000.00.
Horn: So we'd be looking at a total of $30,000.00 project cost we think
would be reasonable?
Chmiel: Yeah, as opposed to $41,000.00.
Gerhardt: For just the wall?
Horn= No, the whole thing.
Gerhardt: $30,000.007
Hot n: Yeah.
Chmiel: Per each element.
Gerhardt: For each element?
Chmiel= It's $41,000.00 now.
Gerhardt: Including the grading and?
Horn: Yes. We're taking 10 off the wall.
Robbins: However though, I think in fairness to Barton-Aschman, you know
it's not that we're questioning what they're doing. ! think it's
questioning this 30 but I think what we should also be cognizant that if in
~act we shop around and we get some other bids and it turns out to be a
similar dollar. In other words, if the 30's in line.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 26
Gerhardt: We would go out to a competitive bid process with this. The
next section or the second letter from them talking about TH 5 urban design
intersects monuments, they have listed 5 architects that would come in and
physically design these things to specifications and then from that we
would go out to a formal bid process.
RobbinG: So these are basically estimates then?
Gerhardt: These are just rough estimates. These are not actual bids.
Workman: And we have the right to reject.
Gerhardt: You have the right to reject bids.
RobbinG: So we don't have to worry about dollars right now then as long as
it's open?
Chmiel: Yeah. One thing I might add that's not considered in here are the
additional trees that were proposed for that. Those costs are not incurred
with that wall.
Gerhardt: Right. None of the trees. None of the trees are included in
this.
Chmiel: That would be in addition to.
Gerhardt: And the vertical element is also not included in this.
Horn: Can't the City put the maples in? We've got maples don't we?
Gerhardt: You mean in our garden?
HOTn: Yes.
Gerhardt: Not of any size that would be comparable to the ash that you've
planted along the boulevards and of the plantings that would go in that are
proposed right now. I mean ours are more or less seedling types or 5 to $
year olds.
Workman: Get the Arboretum involved to avoid.
Chmiel: Yeah, that was one of the suggestions that were made.
Horn: Don't we have, we've got a forester don't we? We used to.
Gerhardt: We work closely with the DNR forester when coming in and
reviewing our existing forests when developers come in and develop. They
come in and say yeah, this tree can be removed. This one can't. They talk
about the thinning of trees.
Horn: Who's that forester we used to deal with several years back?
Gerhardt: Is it STag. I can't think of his last name. I can only think
of his first name. Greg something.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 27
Horn: I think from my perspective I like the concept. What do we need to
do tonight?
Gerhardt: Tonight, the next step is to solicit to have plans and
specifications drawn so that we can go out to the bid process.
Horn: What's that cost?
Gerhardt: I would say somewhere between $3,000.00 to $5,000.00.
Horn: Can we know that for sure?
Gerhardt: I can get you that information. It's a matter of taking these
concepts and taking them to an architect and them getting the detailed
drawings of those out. Material lists. You know putting a whole
specification package together.
Horn: Do you get bids on that too?
Gerhardt: It's going to be comparable to. I mean it's going to take so
many hours to do it. It's just like engineering surfaces.
Horn: Right. We bid on those.
Robbins: But isn't the bid process, isn't the cost of doing business
picked up by the bidder rather than by us? You're talking about that
$3,000.00 to $5,000.00. In other words, if they come in to make a bid,
that's a cost of doing business.
Workman: We've got to give them the plan sheets though.
Gerhardt: You've got to give them plans.
Chmiel: Something to go by, yeah.
Gerhardt: For us to get, I mean you can't just give them a drawing and say
build this and then, you've got to give them specifications to work off of.
We want a 6 foot 6 high wall. We have to give them plans and
specifications that show a wall that are 6 foot 6 and letters that are 2
feet 6 inches and you've got to put specifications. You've got to put the
limestone. You've got the plantings. The type of plantings you want.
Irrigation in that area. Beds and how far down you go with the mulch. How
to plant the trees. The size of the block. Foundation. Footings.
Horn: It looks like we have several options. We can go for a different
plan. We can accept this plan. We can go out for bids on what it would
cost to generate these specs or we could approve the specs, or approve
going out for. What's your pleasure? Are you willing to commit $3,000.00
to $5,000.00 or do you want to make a motion putting a cap on what it is
and we'll reconsider it if the plans and specs come in higher than that?
Chmiel: I think we should put a cap on it.
Workman: $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 so a $5,000.00 cap? The excess to come
from Todd's.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 28
Chmiel: Monthly bonus.
Gerhardt: I'm sure that they could do the plans and specifications with
the $5,000.00 cap.
Workman: I think we have to go for bids.
Chmiel: I think $5,000.00 would be a little higher but I'd suggest, as Tom
said, get some bids on it.
Horn: On doing the plans and specs?
Chmiel: Yeah.
Horn: Is that a motion?
Workman: I'd move it.
Chmiel: Second it.
Horn: And then the best one has to fall under $5,000.007 Is that part of
the motion?
Chmiel: Yes.
Workman: Are we talking about the actual design?
Horn: Drawing the plans and specs. This is not ~ bid on what it costs to
build the project. This is just a bid on getting the plans together to go
out and bid on the project. Is there a cap of 5 on that then?
Wot kmart: Yes.
Horn: Okay, then a cap and a second.
Nor kmart moved, Chmiel seconded to authorize the preparation of plans and
specifications for the streetscape design with a cap of $5,000.00. All
voted in favor and the motion carrted unanimously.
Horn: As soon as we have that then we can get bids on the whole project.
Workman: And we're going with that farmhouse design kind of? Is that
where we are or have we still not?
Gerhardt: Farmhouse design?
Chmiel: For the elements behind it.
Workman: The tower.
Gerhardt: Yeah, it's this design here.
Bernie Hanson: Can I go on record regarding that bell?
Chmiel: I think we should become ding-a-lings.
Housing and RedeveIopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 29
Horn: Yeah, just what we need is another artificial.
Chmiel: No, we can get that wired. Have sounds during different times of
the season. The year. July 4th.
Gerhardt:
of that.
We may have to come back for more money for the specifications
Horn: Push the button and it does Dixie huh?
Chmiel: If you like Dixie. No, I'm thinking Christmas, New Year's, July
4th. Times when there are certain songs that are.
Workman: Don't forget about the Jewish community.
Chmiel: Come on Dick.
Dick Wing: I'm going to urge the, at some point, urge the HRA with a
public statement that with the development plans and with traveling to
Germany as much as I have the last few years, the thing that really sticks
in my mind is church bells at 6:00 or at 7:30 in the morning. If we're
going to spend this amount of money on that tower for a corner, to me a
bell is irrelevent but an extremely, I forget the word I wanted. It left
me for old age, but the aesthetics. The history. Whatever. To have a
tower of that size and that expense. I'd like to see a bell in there
that's timed to ring at specific times and it becomes a focal point of the
city.
Workman: When kids should be off the street maybe. 10:00 maybe? 9:30?
Horn: I agree it should be something real. I don't think we want to have
a PA system that plays chimes and carols and stuff.
Gerhardt: We'll bring that product back and have a demonstration here.
Horn: We don't want it to compete with St. Hubert's.
APPROVAL OF TH~ PRYZ~JS PI~%S~i ~T.
Workman: I'd move approval.
Robbins: Second.
Workman moved, Robbins seconded that the HR~ approve the Purchaae Agreement
between the HR~ and John and Sharon Pryzmue. Al! voted in favor and the
motion carried unanimously.
(The tape ran out at this point in the meeting.)
CONSIDER Ie~PPRO¥/~L OF THE 1991 BUDGET.
Workman moved, Chmiel seconded to approve the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority Budget for 1991 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion
carried unanimously.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting
December 6, 1990 - Page 30
~PPROV~L OF ~ ~SSIGNM~_NT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT FOR THE EMPAK
DEVELOPMENT.
chmiel moved, Robbins seconded to approve the Assignment and
Security Agreement between the HRA, County 17 Partnership and Bank
One, Milwaukee, NA. All voted in favor and the motion carried
unanimously.
The audio tape was not functioning at this point.
~EVIEW THE CURB ISlaND IN _._E~g~Y~S PARKING' 'LOT.
Motion by Bohn, seconded by Horn to direct staff to install traffic
control signs exiting and entering Kenny ls parking lot. All voted
in favor and the motion-carried.
ST~FF UPDATE ON T~__~ DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC UPDATE.
This item was tabled until the January, 1991 meeting.
APPROV~_L OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, 1990 BILLS.
Robbins moved, Workman seconded to approve the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority October and November, '1990 bills except for
Check #41862 in the ~mount of $465.60 to BRW, Inc. and Check #41999
in the amount of $3,517.98 to BRW, Inc. Ail voted in favor and the
motion carried unanimously.
Robbins moved, Workman seconded to adjourn the meeting. &11 voted
in favor and the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30
Submitted by Don Ashworth
Executive Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim