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Commuinity Development Authority - MINUTES - 11/17/2009 CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CDA) MINUTES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009 Chairman Frank Waltz called the meeting of the Community Development Authority to order at 6:00 p.m. Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE The meeting was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. PRESENT: Commissioners Kathy Chiaverotti, Rob Glazier, Gail Konkel, Larry Lefebvre, Frank Waltz Ald. Harenda, Ald. Werner and Executive Director Muenkel GUESTS: Chad Engstrom, (Michael’s Signs), Mayor Johnson APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 20 , 2009 Ald. Harenda moved to approve the minutes of the October 20, 2009 meeting. Commissioner Glazier seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion to approve the minutes carried with Commissioner Waltz abstaining. PUBLIC INPUT None OLD BUSINESS RD#3 Implementation Efforts Review Approved Entryway Signage Design Executive Director Muenkel explained that Ald. Harenda had requested to review the design of the sign that was approved at the last meeting. Also, several aldermen want the sign to look more like the gateway sign on Moorland Road. Chad Engstrom of Michael’s Signs presented a rendering of the sign material showing cattails added to it. Though there were two conceptual designs with cattails, Mr. Engstrom recommended they go with the design with lesser amount of cattails. Commissioners expressed their thoughts on the new sign design with the addition of the cattails. Commissioner Lefebvre moved to accept the modification of the sign that was accepted at the last meeting with the only change being the addition of the cattails to the sign design. Ald. Harenda seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Street Identification Signage Michael Sign’s also provided several concepts of street signage for the industrial park. This signage closely matched the entryway sign. Executive Director Muenkel stated that they had quoted 22 signs that were needed at a total cost of $4354. He said that the money was available in the industrial park fund. By a show of hands, Design A was one selected by five of the commissioners as it more closely resembled the entrance sign. Ald. Werner mentioned that he would like to see the lettering on the signs larger for visibility. Commissioner Glazier moved to accept the general concept of Design A. Commissioner Lefebvre seconded. It was discussed to go to a larger sign, approximately increasing by an inch, to accommodate larger lettering. Ald. Werner would like to see Muskego Business Park more prominent on the signs. Further, Ald. Werner inquired about the colors used on the signs. Mr. Engstrom stated the colors would be in keeping with the color scheme for the entryway sign. Ald. Werner amended the motion to increase the height of the sign approximately an inch to accommodate larger lettering so it is closer to Design C and E. Ald. Harenda seconded. Commissioner Konkel noted that the placement of DR was different on the designs and asked that the layout be CDA Minutes Page 2 November 17, 2009 clarified for Michael Signs what changes the Commissioners desired. Commissioners finally decided to let the lettering and the layout up to the graphic design artist. Upon a voice vote, the amendment carried and the main motion carried unanimously. Clean-up Efforts: One-time Grant Executive Director Muenkel advised that staff would be following up with letters to property owners who have not responded to the earlier requests on their property maintenance. The letter will have a deadline of next spring to comply with the request. As an incentive to get the property owners to clean up their property, Executive Director Muenkel proposed a grant reimbursement program for enclosures. His initial proposal was to allow them to apply for a grant up to $500 to reimburse them for costs incurred in enclosing dumpsters or outdoor storage areas. He estimated about 30 properties may come forward requesting this one-time grant and this would bring the program cost to about $15,000 from the industrial park fund. CDA members were in receipt of the document drafted for this grant program. Concerns expressed by the CDA members included:  Paying people for something they should be doing anyway by ordinance;  Another option, one-year free interest loan; then charge interest if still outstanding was proposed.  What other zoning codes will money be given to get people to comply?  The new logo for the business park on the document would show change that the city is updating signage, etc.  Showing renovation of the signage as well as the business park itself;  Are they rewarding bad behavior as the property owners should be doing it anyway and at some point, collateralizing all zoning ordinances?  Selected the former industrial park to become a business park because the CDA wanted to rejuvenate it and make it appealing to those in the park and appealing to other business to bring them to the park. This is a redevelopment district specifically identified by the CDA and approved by the Common Council. Funds are available to make this happen. Did not disagree setting a citywide precedence for somebody not following municipal code but on the other hand, the CDA is in the process of rewriting some of the rules and regulations for the business park as they are grossly outdated. This is a little different situation as the CDA has chosen this business park as a place to be revitalized.  CDA talked about Janesville Road and having grants for facades and the same should be for the park. Want to rejuvenate and have it looked better with the entrance signs and the street signs. Granted it has been 30-40 years and the city hasn’t enforced the rules that are there; rather than take that approach, to keep people and to get them excited about rejuvenating the park, there should be the grant reimbursement program. It doesn’t mean it’s setting a precedence as it would be very specific for that park for the redevelopment program.  Having dumpsters enclosed not that big of an issue; does the CDA need to pay people to do something they need to take care of themselves. Not in favor of granting money for this; and then, will they have to be given money for painting them or replaced if they fall in disrepair. It’s the responsibility of the business owner to keep up the property. In favor of using money to spur economic development in the park.  If this was going to change things for the entire city and set policy for the future, not in favor of the grant program. It has been identified as an area that needs to be redeveloped and one thing, it needs to be made nicer. Promote it, to bring people in to the city. Look at utilizing the $500 as a grant to any business in the industrial park, looking toward improving itself, based on what the city identifies such as painting a building, cleaning up the dumpster area, landscaping and do it between a set time frame. The CDA to establish a set amount for the program. Set it up as a competitive program that will encourage the property owners to do their improvements within the set time frame. CDA Minutes Page 3 November 17, 2009 CDA members will be reviewing and will be establishing guidelines at the next meeting. It was suggested an earmarked amount of $20,000 with the improvements done between January 1 to September 30. The communication to the property owners should include mention of the commitment the city is making towards the signage in the business park, the grant money that is available between certain dates, and if they are not in compliance by a certain date, they will be fined. Rules and Regulations Executive Director Muenkel will be providing for the next meeting the old rules and regulations adopted for the industrial park in the late 1970s. It is his opinion that the city’s general design guide covers each issue in relation to architecture and site planning. Chairman Waltz shared that the original document was approved by Common Council resolution and any change would have to be also done by resolution. The CDA would have to recommend the change in the rules and regulations to the Common Council. Other Updates Traffic impacts and storm water grants will be brought forward in future meetings. NEW BUSINESS Grant/Loan Program Advertising Signage CDA members had requested that projects aided by the CDA should be acknowledged. This would be in the form of a small sign erected on the site or posted on site. To that end, Executive Director Muenkel had prepared for their review a sign design. The sign size of 2’ x 3’ was being recommended. Ald. Werner offered to use an Internet site whereby signs can be designed and bring back to the CDA. He would be incorporating “Go Muskego” and the logo on the sign. Commissioner Konkel suggested that part of their grant programs would be the posting of the sign on the project site as a requirement. CDA Fund-raising Commissioner Chiaverotti informed the CDA members that other CDAs do not get involved in fund raising. Commissioner Konkel clarified what she had intended earlier was some community groups that are involved in fund-raising may raise funds for the CDA; not the CDA itself. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW Executive Director Muenkel reported that the RAS Appliance in the business park had received Planning Commission approval to add more asphalt parking, touch-up facades that were deteriorating and to enclose refuse containers. They went before the Planning Commission as they were putting fencing around the compactor that would match their building exterior. The next meeting date was set for Tuesday, December 15, at 6:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Commissioner Konkel moved for adjournment, Commissioner Lefebvre seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m. Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary