01 22 24 EDA Minutes
EDA Meeting
Page 1 January 22, 2024
City of New Hope
4401 Xylon Avenue North
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
EDA Minutes January 22, 2024
Regular Meeting City Hall
CALL TO ORDER President Hemken called the meeting of the Economic Development Authority to
order at 7:26 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present:
Absent:
Kathi Hemken, President
John Elder, Commissioner
Michael Isenberg, Commissioner
Jonathan London, Commissioner
Andy Hoffe, Commissioner
Staff Present:
Recce Bertholf, City Manager
Jeff Alger, Community Development Specialist
Tim Hoyt, Director of Police
Beth Kramer, Communications Coordinator
Valerie Leone, City Clerk
Jeff Sargent, Director of Community Development
Stacy Woods, Assistant City Attorney
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Item 3
Motion was made by Commissioner Elder, seconded by Commissioner London,
to approve the minutes of January 8, 2024. All present voted in favor. Motion
carried.
5802 BOONE AVE N
(IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 1088)
Item 4
President Hemken introduced for discussion EDA Item 4, Resolution approving
extension of deadline for closing on sale of property to Great Buy Homes, Inc. at
5802 Boone Avenue North (improvement project no. 1088).
Mr. Jeff Alger, community development specialist, was recognized. He stated the
EDA approved the sale of the scattered site lot at 5802 Boone Avenue North last
August. The deadline for closing on the sale of the lot was December 26, 2023. The
builder has asked that the deadline be extended to April 1, 2024. The request was
most recently discussed at the January 16 work session, and staff was directed to
present the request at the next EDA meeting.
Mr. Alger stated Great Buy Homes currently owns three scattered site lots, two of
which are currently under construction. They have constructed and sold eight
homes in New Hope since 2017. When the lot at 5802 Boone was marketed, Great
Buy Homes was the only builder that submitted a proposal. Staff recommends
extending the deadline as requested by Great Buy Homes and to require them to
be responsible for attorney fees related to amending the development agreement.
He stated Shawn Rodgers, realtor representing Great Buy Homes, is in the
audience if the EDA has questions.
EDA Meeting
Page 2 January 22, 2024
Chair Hemken inquired of the process if the EDA extends the deadline to April 1
and the builder is unable to close on the sale of the lot.
Ms. Stacy Woods, city attorney, stated the city could add a “time is of the essence”
provision in the contract so that if a closing does not occur a cancellation would
be signed by the builder. She stated another option would be for the EDA to
approve a subsequent extension.
Mr. Rodgers was recognized. He stated Great Buy Homes remains interested in
the lot and has asked for the extension due to new lending practices for new
construction.
Chair Hemken inquired of the new address for the property. Mr. Alger stated the
new home will be configured to face the north, and the address will be 5692 Boone
Place.
RESOLUTION 2024‐02
Item 4
Commissioner Elder introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption
“RESOLUTION APPROVING EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR CLOSING
ON SALE OF PROPERTY TO GREAT BUY HOMES, INC. AT 5802 BOONE
AVENUE NORTH (IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 1088).” The motion for the
adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Commissioner Isenberg,
and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Hemken,
Elder, Isenberg; and the following voted against the same: London; Abstained:
None; Absent: Hoffe; whereupon the resolution was declared duly passed and
adopted, signed by the president which was attested to by the executive director.
CEE AGREEMENT
Item 5
President Hemken introduced for discussion EDA Item 5, Motion approving
three‐month extension of agreement with Center for Energy and Environment to
perform Home Energy Squad visits in the city of New Hope.
Mr. Jeff Alger, community development specialist, stated this item authorizes the
city to extend the city’s existing agreement with the Center for Energy and
Environmental for three months to continue the Home Energy Squad Visits
program. The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) performs visits to help
homeowners identify and implement energy savings opportunities in their
homes, and the program includes the direct install of energy saving materials. The
city buys down the cost of the visits paying half of the $100 cost. The city has been
participating in the program since 2013. The program is provided by Xcel Energy
and CenterPoint Energy and delivered by CEE. The city’s contract expired on
December 31, 2023. Due to cost increases, the two utility companies sent out a
Request for Proposal and are in the process of evaluating the program. They
recommend the city extend the existing agreement for three months until a new
contract can be reached.
MOTION
Item 5
Motion was made by Commissioner Isenberg, seconded by Commissioner
London, approving three‐month extension of agreement with Center for Energy
and Environment to perform Home Energy Squad visits in the city of New
Hope. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
EDA Meeting
Page 3 January 22, 2024
ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Commissioner Isenberg, seconded by Commissioner
London, to adjourn the meeting. All present voted in favor. Motion carried. The
New Hope EDA adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Leone, City Clerk