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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-17 CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES October 24, 2017 1. Chair Scherer called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room at City Hall. Members Present: Comms. Emond, Matasosky, Scherer, Seiler, Starfield, Vlasak Ex-officio members: Mayor Anderson, Tim Roche Members Absent: Comms. Collman, Gillen, Rajavuori, Longie, Smith Others Present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director and Kati Bachmayer, Economic Development Specialist 2. Approval of August 22, 2017 meeting minutes Comms. Seiler/Matasosky moved to approve the minutes of the August 22, 2017 meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Continued Discussion of the City’s Business Subsidy Policy Mr. Olson reviewed the discussion from the August 22 meeting (which took place with less than a quorum) about the City’s Business Subsidy and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy. Mr. Olson highlighted the changes to the Policy that have been recommended by EDC members during the June, July and August meetings which are:  Removing item 2.c.v “Projects that result in the development of affordable senior or workforce housing.”  Revising the language in item 2.c.i to reflect an emphasis on higher paying jobs. The amended item reads: “The creation of new jobs/increase in total payroll. In the case of new job creation, new jobs must pay a minimum wage equal to the minimum wage level for business assistance programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for cities located in the seven county metropolitan area in place at the time of an application by any business seeking a subsidy. Preference and potentially higher levels of assistance will be considered to higher paying jobs that also provide benefits such as health care coverage. EDC members approved of the revisions, with a request to change “pay a minimum wage equal to the minimum wage level” to “pay a wage at least equal to the minimum wage level.” Economic Development Commission Minutes October 24, 2017 Page | 2 Comms. Seiler/Emond moved to approve the amended (with October 24 revisions) Business Subsidy and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy language. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Update on Recent Economic Development Events and Projects Mr. Olson provided an update to EDC members about the numerous events and activities city staff have participated in during September and October. Events included the Minnesota Real Estate Journal’s South Suburban Development Summit (September 14), Keller Williams’ South of the River Real Estate Summit (September 28), Lakeville Manufacturers Week activities (October 5), data center site certification meetings (October 6), and the MNCAR Expo (October 11). Activities included distributing a Request for Proposal for the Downtown Development Guide update, serving on the advisory committee for the Lakeville LOOP senior circulator bus (beginning November 9), and a workforce development awareness campaign (with Communications staff). It was noted by Mr. Olson that a new event, a Workforce Development Panel Discussion, was added to the 2017 Manufacturers Week activities. The panel discussion was held one hour before the Appreciation Reception and featured speakers from Wyoming Machine Inc., the City of Hutchinson, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Approximately 60 people attended the panel discussion and 100 people (up from last year) attended the reception. EDC members expressed appreciation for the added value this new event brought to Lakeville’s Manufacturers Week. A suggestion was made to include the Lakeville high schools next year. In response to the positive feedback received from event attendees and EDC members, a panel discussion will be included in the 2018 Manufacturers Week activities. Comm. Gillen joined the meeting at 5:00 p.m. Ms. Bachmayer shared information about the City’s workforce development awareness campaign. Several workforce articles have been included in the Focus on Lakeville newsletters during the month of October to highlight programs in the community that are connecting citizens to information, skills and careers. CED staff has also worked with the Communications team to interview representatives at the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lakeville North High School and Lakeville South High School. A short video of that footage was shown to EDC members, and a snap shot video will be posted to the City’s social media channels upon completion. 5. Possible Special Joint Work Session on Comprehensive Plan Update Mr. Olson informed EDC members that a special City Council-EDC joint work session is planned on December 11 at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will provide EDC members an opportunity to receive an update on the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan and provide feedback to city staff. This special joint work session will take the Economic Development Commission Minutes October 24, 2017 Page | 3 place of the December EDC meeting, which would otherwise take place on December 26. 6. Director’s Report / Development Update Mr. Olson reviewed the Director’s Report and highlighted two projects that were recently approved by the City Council – a 70-unit senior independent apartment building to be developed near Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and a four-story Hampton Inn hotel to be developed on Keokuk Avenue. Current commercial projects were also discussed, including Globus Transport and Caribou/Einstein Bros Bagels. The next EDC meeting is scheduled for November 28, 2017. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 5:31 p.m. Respectively submitted by: Kati Bachmayer, Economic Development Specialist