022024 EDA PacketE C O N O MIC D E V E L O P ME N T AU T H O R IT Y ME E T IN G
R IC H F IE L D MU N IC IPAL C E N TE R, C O U N C IL C H AMB E R S
F E B R U ARY 20, 2024
7:15 PM (I MME D I AT ELY FO L L OWI NG THE HRA ME ETI NG)
C all to Order
Open F orum
E ach speaker is to keep their comment period to three minutes to allow sufficient time for others. C omments
are to be an opportunity to address the E D A . P lease refer to the E D A agenda and minutes web page for
additional ways to submit comments. You may also call 612-861-9764 or email ldubois@richfieldmn.gov with
questions. C all into the open forum by dialing 1-415-655-0001 U se webinar access code: 2633 377 8053 and
password: 1234.
Approval of the Minutes
A pproval of the minutes of the Regular E conomic D evelopment A uthority meeting of October 16, 2023.
AG E N D A APPR O VAL
1.A pproval of the A genda
O T H E R B U S IN E S S
2.C onsideration of a Memorandum of Understanding for the continued partnership with the C enter for E nergy and
the E nvironment in administering the Richfield E nergy E fficient B usiness Rebate P rogram.
S taff Report No. 1
E D A D ISC U SSIO N IT E MS
3.E D A D iscussion Items
E X E C U T IV E D IR E C TO R R E P O R T
4.E xecutive D irector's Report
C LAIMS
5.C laims
6.A djournment
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. Requests must be made at least 96
hours in advance to the City Clerk at 612-861-9739.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
October 16, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President Vrieze Daniels at p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
EDA Members
Present:
Erin Vrieze Daniels, President; Sean Hayford Oleary; Mary Supple; John
Young; and Gordon Hanson
EDA Members
Absent:
None.
Staff Present: Melissa Poehlman, Executive Director; Julie Urban, Assistant Community
Development Director; Jan Youngquist, Economic Development Manager;
Dustin Leslie, City Clerk
OATH OF OFFICE: COMMISSIONER YOUNG
City Clerk Leslie administered the oath of office to Commissioner Young.
OPEN FORUM
President Vrieze Daniels gave instructions on how to participate in the open forum. No one
spoke.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
M/Hanson, S/Young to approve the regular Economic Development Authority meeting
minutes of August 21, 2023.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #1
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Supple, S/Young to approve the agenda.
Motion carried: 5-0
EDA Meeting Minutes -2- October 16, 2023
ITEM #2
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
BUSINESS SUBSIDY POLICY.
Economic Development Manager Youngquist gave the report.
M/Young, S/Hanson to Adopt a resolution approving the Amended and Restated Business
Subsidy Policy.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #3
CONSIDER THE CREATION OF A SMALL BUSINESS SEWER AVAILABILITY
CHARGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR RICHFIELD
BUSINESSES.
Economic Development Manager Youngquist gave the report.
President Vrieze Daniels asked about there being no guidelines to assess if barriers are
being removed with the program. She asked how the City would ensure the assistance would be
going to businesses in need. Economic Development Manager Youngquist stated certain
businesses would have bigger needs than others, such as restaurants, and that they looked at
adding eligibility criteria to target appropriate types of businesses.
President Vrieze Daniels spoke about businesses that were listed as ineligible for the
assistance and asked why there were not allowed to apply. Economic Development Manager
Youngquist stated it was common for business subsidy programs to nut fund certain businesses.
Commissioner Young asked if it would be possible to review financial statements before
approving assistance. Economic Development Manager Youngquist stated that the city wanted to
administer the program as simply as possible.
Commissioner Hanson spoke about the difficulties business owners face with high SAC
fees.
Commissioner Hayford Oleary asked how some businesses would get denied for
assistance. Economic Development Manager Youngquist stated if a business were denied by staff
that it could be brought to the EDA to be reexamined.
M/Hanson, S/Hayford Oleary to Approve the Small Business Sewer Availability Charge
Assistance Program and the use of $20,000 of Economic Development Authority funds for its
implementation.
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #4
EDA DISCUSSION ITEMS
President Vrieze Daniels spoke about the success of the Renovation Tour and asked staff
to consider if a similar tour of businesses would work.
ITEM #5
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Poehlman spoke about Small Business Saturday coming up and that
staff was thinking about ideas of how to celebrate it.
EDA Meeting Minutes -3- October 16, 2023
ITEM #6
CLAIMS
M/Supple, S/Young that the following claims be approved:
U.S. BANK 9/14/2023
EDA Checks # 23341-23358 40,189.51
TOTAL $40,189.51
U.S. BANK 10/16/2023
EDA Checks # 23359-23376 36,064.20
TOTAL $36,064.20
Motion carried: 5-0
ITEM #7
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:09 p.m.
Date Approved: February 20, 2024
Erin Vrieze Daniels
President
Dustin Leslie Melissa Poehlman
Secretary Executive Director
AGENDA SECTION: OTHER BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM # 2.
STAFF REPORT NO. 1
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
MEETING
2/20/2024
Jan Youngquist, Economic Development ManagerREPORT PREPARE D BY:
EXECUTIV E DIRE CTOR RE VIEW:
ITEM FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding for the continued partnership with the Center for
Energy and the Environment in administering the Richfield Energy Efficient Business Rebate Program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Since 2020, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) has partnered with the Center for Energy and the
Environment (CEE) to administer the Richfield Energy Efficient Business Rebate Program (Program).
The Program provides a rebate for Richfield businesses that complete upgrades through the One-Stop
Efficiency Shop's lighting, HVAC, or refrigeration programs offered by CEE. The Program provides a rebate
of 20% of the cost of qualified upgrades, up to $2,500.
Businesses making these improvements are also eligible for additional rebates from Minnesota utility
companies. CEE receives funding from the utility companies to assist businesses as part of their
incentive program, so CEE does not charge the EDA for this service.
CEE works directly with participants, provides an energy assessment report, and completes all
rebate paperwork. The EDA issues a rebate directly to the participant after the eligible work has
been completed.
In 2023, the Program provided over $15,000 in rebates to nine recipients for energy efficiency
improvements (see attached list of recipients). Since its inception, the Program has funded nearly
$70,000 in energy efficiency rebates.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
By motion: Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Center for Energy and the
Environment to provide professional services related to the administration of the Richfield Energy
Efficient Business Rebate Program.
BASIS OF RECOMMENDATION:
A.HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The EDA has identified provision of business assistance activities and funding as a priority since 2018.
Melissa Poehlman, Executive Director
The EDA created the Program in January 2020 and has annually contracted with CEE to provide
administrative support for the Program.
B.EQUITABLE OR STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS OR IMPACTS
The Program does not have a direct correlation to equity or the Strategic Plan.
C.POLICIES (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, exc):
Business assistance through the Energy Efficient Business Rebate Program is an appropriate activity
for an EDA as defined in Minnesota State Statutes.
D.CRITICAL TIMING ISSUES:
The current MOU with CEE expired on December 31, 2023.
E.FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The EDA budget includes $20,000 in business assistance funds for the Energy Efficient Business
Rebate Program.
The Program is funded through the tax levy. A modification was made to the MOU indicating that eligible
participants are businesses or commercial property owners operating on property tax paying parcels.
F.LEGAL CONSIDERATION:
Legal counsel from Kennedy and Graven reviewed the MOU.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION(S):
Chose to deny approval of the MOU and not offer the Program.
PRINCIPAL PARTIES EXPECTED AT MEETING:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
2024 Memorandum of Understanding Contract/Agreement
2023 Energy Efficiency Rebate Program Summary Backup Material
CEE- Richfield MOU #4391
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between: Center for Energy and Environment and the Richfield Economic Development Authority
Re: Energy Efficient Business Rebate Program
Date: January 1, 2024
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stipulates the intentions of Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) and
the Richfield Economic Development Authority (EDA), collectively the Parties, to collaborate on the Richfield Energy
Efficient Business Rebate Program (Program). This MOU is effective as of January 1, 2024, and ends on December 31,
2024. The MOU can be canceled by either party with 30 days written notice to the Parties’ representatives.
Services
The EDA has earmarked funds for businesses located in the City of Richfield that complete upgrades
through the One-Stop Efficiency Shop® lighting, HVAC, or refrigeration programs. Eligible participants
include businesses or commercial property owners operating on property tax-paying parcels. If an eligible
business or commercial property owner completes rebate-qualifying upgrades, CEE will prepare a rebate
form and obtain signatures from the business or property owner via DocuSign. Upon receipt of the
executed rebate form, the EDA has agreed to offer additional rebates of 20% of the cost of rebated
measures up to $2,500 to be paid upon completion of the upgrade. The EDA will send a check to the
business or property owner.
CEE Obligations
•CEE will work with the EDA to market the Program offerings to local businesses within the City of
Richfield.
•CEE will carry out assessments to eligible businesses within the City of Richfield as a part of the
One-Stop Efficiency Shop.
•Assessments will include information about the EDA’s additional rebate offering.
•CEE will obtain a signed pre-approval form from participating businesses before projects start.
•CEE will complete all paperwork for participating businesses as is already standard through
Program practice.
•Once the business completes the qualifying upgrade, CEE will complete and send the rebate form
to the EDA.
EDA Obligations
•The EDA shall assist in marketing the Program offering to local businesses within the City of
Richfield.
CEE- Richfield MOU #4391
•The EDA will provide an additional rebate to businesses of 20% of the cost of program-eligible
energy efficiency measures in an amount up to $2,500.
•The EDA will cut checks to qualifying businesses once the rebate form has been received.
Budget
A total of $20,000 is available from the EDA for rebates through December 31, 2024, under this MOU.
Release/Waiver/Indemnification
The parties agree that each shall be responsible for its own acts, errors and omissions and those of its officers,
directors, employees and agents, as well as any representations, warranties and agreements, made in the
performance of this MOU, and neither CEE nor the EDA will be liable in any way for the activities of the other party or
the other party’s officers, directors, employees and agents arising out of or in connection with: (a) any failure to
perform any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement; (b) any act, error, omission, misrepresentation
or misconduct; (c) the failure to comply with any applicable laws, rules or regulations; or (d) any accidents, claims,
damages, losses, injuries or expenses.
Representatives of the Parties
CEE:
Laura Bebo-Ekanayake
612.335.5858
lbeboekanayake@mncee.org
212 3rd Avenue N, Suite 560
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Richfield Economic Development Authority:
Jan Youngquist
612.861.9771
jyoungquist@richfieldmn.org
6700 Portland Avenue South
Richfield, MN 55423
CEE- Richfield MOU #4391
Center for Energy and Environment
By: __________________________________ Title: _______________________________
Date: _________________________________
Richfield Economic Development Authority
By: __________________________________ Title: _____President__________________
Date: _________________________________
By: ___________________________________ Title: Executive Director
Date: _________________________________
Richfield EDA Energy Efficient Business Program
2023 Recipient Summary
Date Recipient Address Amount
3/13/2023 Michoacana Tasty Ice Cream and Burgers Inc 4 - 66th Street E 940.00$
5/11/2023 Mt. Calvary 6541 16th Avenue 1,027.55$
8/9/2023 Lyndale Station LLC 6525 Lyndale Avenue 2,500.00$
8/25/2023 Consignment Ventures 2918 66th Street W 2,500.00$
9/18/2023 Richfield Transmission 7444 Lyndale Avenue 1,151.83$
9/26/2023 Woodlake Lutheran Phase 7 7525 Oliver Avenue 471.15$
9/26/2023 Woodlake Lutheran Phase 8 7525 Oliver Avenue 651.57$
10/9/2023 JJL Properties 6607 18th Avenue 1,891.76$
10/9/2023 JJL Properties 1300 - 66th Street E 867.23$
11/20/2023 District 287 7450 Penn Avenue 2,500.00$
12/13/2023 SciTech Academy 100 - 66th Street W 1,008.60$
15,509.69$