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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-21-2013 Community Development Minutes MINUTES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE November 21, 2013 6:00 PM County Board Room - Government Center 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Susan Gausman St. Croix County FSA Representative Excused Travis Schachtner St. Croix County Secretary Present Agnes Ring St. Croix County Chair Present Richard Ottino St. Croix County Supervisor Present Andy Brinkman St. Croix County Vice Chair Excused Duane Russett St. Croix County Supervisor Present OTHERS PRESENT: County Administrator Pat Thompson, Community Development Director Ellen Denzer, Land Information Administrator Brett Budrow, Senior Planner Amanda Engesether and Recording Secretary Monica Lucht. GUESTS PRESENT: Trail Coalition members, Susan Heuiser, Mark Vanasse and Mark Gherty. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. October 17, 2013 6:00 PM The minutes of October 17, 2013 were accepted as distributed. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT* None BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Financial Reports Thompson summarized that the expenses and revenues all looked in line with the exception of Land and Water Conservation, and asked if the grant revenues have not been received yet. Denzer confirmed that it's a matter of timing when grants are received; they typically arrive late in the year. The expected amount will be approximately $137,000. 2. LiDAR Project Denzer explained the implementation form to move forward with the LiDAR project. This is being brought to the committee for any recommendations or decisions, before it moves on to the Growth Management Advisory Team (GMAT), and then to the WI DNR. The intent is for the GMAT team to give feedback, and then back to the committee for action, before moving forward to County Board. With the committee's approval, staff applied for a Lakes Protection Grant through the WI DNR. That grant was approved for $50,000. The 2014 budget includes $65,000 in the Land Records account, the St. Croix Basin Team is contributing $30,000 and final piece is $30,000 from the St. Croix River Growth Management Mitigation funds. The next GMAT meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2013. This will come back to the committee in January 2014 for action. The LiDAR flight is being done in spring and staff has not heard if other counties are interested at the same time, but St. Croix County is getting the State contract rate for this flight. The committee authorized moving forward to GMAT with the funding request. 3. Economic Impact Analysis Denzer explained that Greg Wise, UW-Extension Professor, Center Director and Community Development Specialist, has prepared a proposal, including extension staff and a graduate student who have worked on similar studies before. It will also include community population projections which are a valuable tool needed for several additional projects being considered by the County and local communities. The County staff recommends moving forward with this project. It will provide valuable baseline population and economic data that will be consistent through-out the county. Utilizing the Center for Community and Economic Development has the advantage of being neutral in its analysis and bringing a wide variety of resources to play. It is also an opportunity to partner with the UW-River Falls. The project will be paid for by a combination of $20,000 in St. Croix River Growth Management Mitigation funds from UW-RF and $20,000 in St. Croix River Growth Management Mitigation funds from St. Croix County and $50,000 in in-kind contributions from UW-Extension staff. Denzer reported that staff has researched the questions the committee asked at the last meeting. A revised proposal addressing the questions was provided to committee members in the meeting materials. The Town of St. Joseph is looking at specific information regarding commercial uses and related infrastructure needs in their Town being addressed in this analysis. St. Joseph will contribute funding if needed. Committee members recommended including county organizations and businesses such as hospitals and WITC in the input and review process. The committee asked if it's also possible to look at the impact of an interstate bike trail. Denzer replied that she would ask Wise if the project scope included the tourism impacts of the loop trail and possible expansion. Denzer asked the committee for approval to move this forward to GMAT. The committee agreed. 4. Discuss Wisconsin Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Denzer explained there is significant interest from communities on the western side of the county in planning for bicycle routes that will connect to the future St. Croix River Loop Trail. There is also significant interest from communities throughout the county in providing safe bicycle and pedestrian routes to schools. A new organization has formed called the St. Croix Bike and Pedestrian Coalition. Its purpose is to promote bicycle and pedestrian trails, routes and connections throughout the county, to the future St. Croix River Loop Trail and to connect and promote various bicycle organizations around the county. The Community Development Department included $10,000 in the approved 2014 budget towards bicycle and pedestrian plan updates. The department has also been made aware of a new competitive grant program through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation called the Transportation Alternatives Program, (TAP), which funds bicycle and pedestrian plans. The program is 80% grant 20% local match. Funds are available every four years. A letter of application is due December 13, 2013. Staff would like the Committee to authorize pursuit of a TAP grant and begin writing a scope of work for a bicycle and pedestrian plan. Engesether summarized if a TAP plan is approved, it opens up the opportunity for additional implementation funds. Most programs in the State are 50/50, but the TAP is 80% grant, and 20% match. Engesether explained this is a four year award, but a one year application. Even if the approval isn't received until 2016, the project can still get started because it's a reimbursement award. Mark Vanasse, member of the Trail Coalition, introduced himself and spoke highly of the TAP funding. He asked if the first thing that could be addressed is connecting the Loop Trail to I94. A second suggestion would be to also connect the Willow River State Park to the Loop Trail. Susan Heuiser, member of the Trail Coalition, is looking into grants for communities and applying for TAP funds. She advises the committee to implement a good plan for St. Croix County that can be relied on for the next 10-20 years. Mark Gherty, member of the Trail Coalition, spoke and handed out different studies done on bicycling and its economic impact on Wisconsin and tourism. He was shocked to find out that there is no other plan, other than the loop trail, branching to communities. He used the Sparta bike trail as an example of what type of path needs to be available in St. Croix County. The Loop Trail is a great opportunity to put the County on the State map. Denzer asked the committee for their approval to proceed with the TAP grant. The committee approved. 5. Review Shoreland Ordinance Denzer summarized that at the previous month’s committee meeting, staff encouraged the committee to review the document and provide feedback. The informational meeting held in November, did not have good attendance, but the Lake Association meetings were very well attended. There is good support for the changes to the ordinance, and there will be additional opportunity at the public hearing for comments. The public hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m., with the intent to move the Shoreland Ordinance forward to County Board in January. The State is working on additional amendments to the administrative code and an extension of the adoption deadline but staff would prefer to move forward at this time. At most staff would recommend delaying adoption until March 2014, but no later. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Denzer announced that the Town of Forest has submitted a Town Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. Staff and Legal Counsel have reviewed and provided feedback. Corporation Counsel has advised that a public hearing is not required, but is advisable. Staff would advise holding the public hearing at the December 19, 2013 committee meeting. The committee agreed to hold the hearing. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Monica Lucht DATE OF NEXT MEETING - DECEMBER 19, 2013 AT 6:00 P.M. IN HUDSON