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CITY OF LAKEVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
October 27, 2020
1. Chair Scherer cal led the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Lakeville Area Arts Center
theater.
Members Present: Comms. Christiansen, Collman, Dautel, Emond, Gillen, Matasosky,
Scherer, Seiler,
Ex-officio Members Present: Mayor Anderson, City Administrator Miller, Chamber
President Jech
Members Absent: Comm. Starfield, Stone
Staff Present: Kati Bachmayer, Economic Development Coordinator
2. Approval of September 22, 2020 Meeting Minutes
Comms. Gillen / Scherer moved to approve the minutes of the September 22 meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Presentation on Open to Business Program
Ms. Bachmayer introduced the guest speaker, Natalie Mouilso, Dakota County’s new
Open to Business Advisor, to the EDC. The Open to Business program is a partnership
between the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA), cities in Dakota
County (including Lakeville), and the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers
(MCCD). Ms. Mouilso provides free confidential business counseling to current and
prospective entrepreneurs in Dakota County. MCCD also offers lending and technical
assistance. In Q3, 16 Lakeville businesses and eight Lakeville residents received OTB
services; 50% were startup businesses and 50% were existing businesses. Ms. Mouilso
recently started hosting weekly virtual office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from
1-3 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-noon. EDC members offered to be a resource to
Ms. Mouilso when she was working with clients in their industries.
4. Discussion of current Temporary Policy for Outdoor Patios and Review of Current
Outdoor Patio Ordinance
The City of Lakeville’s Temporary Patio Policy is scheduled to terminate on December
31, 2020. City staff requested comments and suggestions from the EDC regarding the
provisions of the current Temporary Patio Policy that should be changed or modified for
2021 that would assist the City Council as they consider an extension of the Temporary
Patio Policy.
EDC members were in agreement that the policy’s termination date should be tied to the
Lakeville Local Emergency Declaration passed by the City Council on March 17, 2020.
This declaration remains in place until it is no longer necessary, so the EDC
recommended that the Temporary Patio Policy expire when the emergency declaration
Economic Development Commission Minutes October 27, 2020 Page | 2
expires at a future unknown date. EDC members also recommended reviewing options
for the patio policy to allow for enclosed patio structures that meet fire safety and
building codes. Comm. Seiler referenced Section C. Part 1 of the City Code (3-1-8-
14: PATIO) that does not allow patio enclosures. It was also noted that MN Department
of Health and Fire Code rules related to indoor/outdoor food service are in conflict.
No feedback was provided on the current Outdoor Patio Ordinance.
5. Update on Round One and Round Two of the Small Business Emergency Grant
Program
Ms. Bachmayer provided updates on the Lakeville Small Business Emergency Grant
Programs (Round One and Round Two). Round One grants are complete and all 41
approved applicants have been issued grant funds. At this time, Round Two has
approved and issued payments to ten applicants. Eight preliminary business applicants
are still being processed. CARES Act grants must be paid by November 15, so the
Second Round will be completed soon.
Ms. Bachmayer informed the EDC that the City Council recommended approving an
amendment to the Second Round Program Guidelines to include a Part B for Nonprofit
Grants. Five nonprofit entities had previously requested CARES Act grant funds from
the City Council and grant amounts were approved during the October 26 City Council
Work Session and will be formally adopted during the November 2 City Council Meeting.
EDC members were supportive of providing grant funding to the nonprofits included in
the Part B amendment, including 360 Communities, Burnsville YMCA (Lakeville Early
Childhood Learning Center), Fairview Ridges Hospital, Lakeville Area Schools, Lakeville
Chamber of Commerce and Lakeville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
6. Continued Roundtable Discussion of COVID-19 Impacts on Lakeville Businesses
Mayor Anderson shared with the group a few updates from his conversations with MN
Department of Employment and Economic Development Steve Grove. Mayor Anderson
said Commissioner Grove informed the Mayors Group that the state did not anticipate
“turning the dial” any more in the near future because of increasing COVID -19 positivity
rates in Minnesota. Comm. Gillen said the hospitality advocacy group is currently
focused on UV technology and air exchange upgrades to improve air quality safety for
indoor dining as we move into colder months.
Mayor Anderson also told the group that he recorded a City of Lakeville Annual Update
video that was shared on the City’s social media channels today (October 27). This
update is in lieu of the annual State of the City address which was scheduled to take
place in April 2020. The State of the City will be back on the schedule in 2021.
7. Director’s Report
Ms. Bachmayer provided a few highlights from the October Director’s Report. Amazon
was approved to construct a 750,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Interstate South
Logistics Park. The final plat was approved during the October 19 City Council meeting.
The new facility, called and AMXL FC, will fulfill large items orders within a 45-mile
Economic Development Commission Minutes October 27, 2020 Page | 3
radius, such as mattresses, grills and exercise equipment, and is anticipated to open in
Fall 2021.
The City of Lakeville held its Manufacturers Appreciation Breakfast on October 9 at the
Holiday Inn & Suites. Three industrial park business leaders spoke to attendees about
their companies’ experiences during the pandemic and their outlook on 2021.
Lastly, EDC members were asked if the November meeting could be changed to
December 8 to avoid holding a meeting so close to the Thanksgiving holiday. Members
were in agreement to the December 8 date change and a calendar meeting update will
be sent to the group.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 5:11 p.m.
Respectively submitted by:
Kati Bachmayer, Economic Development Coordinator