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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-14CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES July 15, 2014 Chair Starfield called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room at City Hall. Members Present: Comms. Starfield, Matasosky, Smith, Longie, Emond, Tushie, Julius, Collman, Ex -officio member Interim City Administrator Allyn Kuennen, Ex -officio member Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Todd Bornhauser. Members Absent: Mayor Matt Little, Comm. Vlasak Others Present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Zach Johnson, City Engineer; Penny Brevig, Recording Secretary. 2. Approval of May 27, 2014 meeting minutes Motion Comms. Smith/Julius moved to approve the minutes of the May 27, 2014 meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Review Proposal for the Kenwood Trail/County Road 50 Economic Development and Engineering Study Mr. Olson reviewed the proposal for the Kenwood Trail/County Road 50 Study. He stated that the expansion will include Kenwood Trail between 185th Street and Dodd Boulevard. The upgrade will include a four lane divided roadway, improved intersection operations and improved safety. Mr. Olson indicated that additional right-of-way will need to be acquired to construct these improvements. He noted that the segment of Kenwood Trail between Ipava Avenue and Dodd Boulevard, which includes existing businesses to the northeast and railroad tracks to the southwest will be the area that the County and City are proposing to conduct a study and evaluate the potential impacts to businesses, driveway access, and issues and needs of the businesses. City Engineer Zach Johnson was in attendance to discuss the process and answer any questions that the EDC members may have. Mr. Johnson presented a Power Point presentation which included the goals of the study, the specific study area, what discussions/meetings will take place with the commercial property owners in the area, and the project teams, including Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc., SRF Consulting and Springsted. Mr. Olson commented that the City of Lakeville has worked with these consultants previously on various projects. Springsted has been the City's fiscal advisors for many years. A gentleman in the audience asked Mr. Johnson if the City/County has considered using concrete rather than asphalt for the new road. Mr. Johnson commented that they haven't gotten to that level yet. The County is aware of this option and it will be considered. Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes, May 28, 2014 Page 2 A discussion amongst the EDC members included time line, relocating businesses, what level of communication with the businesses had occurred already, and how this will be paid for. Mr. Olson stated that this will go to the City Council on August 4th for authorization for the project and then it will take a couple months from there to get feedback from the property owners. Hoisington Koegler Group will look at the possibilities of whether any of the businesses will want to be relocated. Mr. Johnson indicated that during the summer of 2013, as part of the corridor study, the City/County met with the businesses to discuss the long term version and answer questions about the roundabout at 185th/County Road 50. The feedback from those discussions was that the businesses wanted to stay in touch and continue communication. Mr. Olson commented that for road projects the cost share has always been 55% paid by the County and 45% paid by the City. Mr. Olson informed the EDC that the City has already purchased a couple of the residential homes along County Road 50 and others have contacted the City about purchasing their homes. Mr. Olson commented that there will be periodic updates as this project progresses. Mr. Johnson stated that the businesses are excited about the project and look forward to working with the City and County to make this work. 4. Menasha Packaging Project Update Mr. Olson stated that Menasha Packaging had received their notice of approval letter in the amount of $422,520 for the Job Creation Fund Program (JCF). He indicated that the grant award consisted of a $75,000 job creation award and $347,520 in a capital investment award. Mr. Olson commented that a project ground breaking is being planned for August. Mr. Bornhauser asked if this program is for existing businesses or new businesses. Mr. Olson stated that this program provides financial incentives to new and expanding businesses that meet certain job creation and capital investment targets. 5. Update on 2014-16 Strategic Plan for Economic Development Work Program Mr. Olson provided an update on the Strategic Plan and noted that several items were currently in process. Maxfield Research and Dakota County CDA staff presented the recent housing study findings to the City Council at their June 23rd Work Session. Mr. Olson indicated that EDC Member Gary Tushie attended that meeting and asked him for his thoughts. Comm. Tushie stated that he thought the Council had asked some good questions, but he felt they were not in total support of the work force housing. Mr. Olson stated that at the City Council meeting Mark Ulfers from Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes, May 28, 2014 Page 3 the Dakota County CDA tried to make a clarification of affordable housing and that it is not all Section 8 housing. The EDC continued a discussion of what type of housing Lakeville needs and that it's all demographic and a life style choice today and that it is an economic development issue not just a housing issue. They discussed where the best location would be for this affordable housing (most likely along the corridors where there is public transportation). They felt that people like to live in close proximity to where they work and if people cannot find housing in Lakeville that they can afford, they may not choose to work here. Mr. Olson commented that there will be further discussions regarding senior, affordable, and multi -generational housing in Lakeville. There tends to be a misconception of the types of buildings that the CDA build and this should be clarified. Mr. Olson commented that it is anticipated that progress on these goals will increase considerably when the City's new Economic Development Specialist starts. 6. Director's Report Mr. Olson reviewed the Director's Report. He explained how he comes up with his numbers for his building permit report summary. Mr. Olson indicated that the City received an application and plans for a new FedEx Freight building in the First Park Lakeville, located by the Uponor building. It will create approximately 200 jobs. FedEx Freight will have to preliminary and final plat the property. Mr. Olson stated that the City has hired a new Economic Development Specialist and he will start on July 28tH Mr. Olson thanked Todd Bornhauser for his involvement over the past 12 years. Mr. Bornhauser thanked Mr. Olson and indicated that it's been a real honor to be a member of the EDC. 7. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: �J r Penny B vig, Recording Sec tary