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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-25-01-01 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001 City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001; 6:00 p.m. Lake Marion Conference Room, City Hall Members Present: Vogel, Matasosky, Pogatchnik, Tushie, Erickson, Miller, Bornhauser, Schubert, Brantly. Members Absent: Emond. Others Present: City Staff: Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Ann Flad, Economic Development Coordinator; Jeff Leuders, Cable Coordinator. 1. Call Meeting to Order. Chair Vogel called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Lake Marion Conference Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville. 4.A.) High Tech Subcommittee Chair Vogel indicated that item 4.A. would be moved to the beginning of the agenda. . Ms. Flad indicated that the High Tech subcommittee is preparing to meet with telecommunications service providers to determine their interest in enhancing a presence in Lakeville. The presentation included the following information: In Pursuit of a High-Tech Future The City of Lakeville Why High Tech in Lakeville? • Lakeville residents are computer literate - 64% reported having access to a computer • 13% of all residents operate a home based business and 2/3 of those telecommute • More professional job opportunities are needed in Lakeville: 90% of residents commute to other cities for work • Businesses in Lakeville desire more technology options The High Tech Subcommittee • Authorized by the City Council, this subcommittee is comprised of Economic Development and Telecommunications Commissioners • The purpose of the subcommittee is to identify and implement strategies that strengthen businesses ability to use technology in Lakeville, thereby providing additional opportunities for residents. G:WFIad\Econdev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc 1 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001 Goals of High Tech Project • • Develop a High Tech Business Park • Encourage additional service to Lakeville's existing businesses • Educate the community on telecommunications options Lakeville Is The Place To Be' • Quality public neighborhood schools and private schools • Three Technical Colleges, the University of MN and eight private universities within 45 minutes • Highest perception of neighborhood safety in Metro Area • Within a thirty-minute drive of 25 major Minnesota attractions, including 10 minutes m the Minnesota Zoo, 1 S minutes to the Mall of America and Camp Snoopy, I S minutes to Valley Fair, and 25 minutes to Cabela's. • 1,100 acres of recreational land in 53 parks • 60+ miles of pedestrian bike Grails • Public boat launches, swimming beaches and fishing piers • Dakota County Heritage Library, Ames Ice Arena, Lakeville Area Arts Center • Two golf courses within Lakeville and ten additional courses within twenty minutes • Wide range of life cycle housing options with purchase prices from approximately $130,000 to over $1,000,000 Lakeville Is The Natural Place For Telecommunications Growth • Southern Gateway to the Metro (convenient access for to customers and workforce an both southern MN and the Metro area) . I-35 runs through Lakeville and Cedar Avenue provides an alternate north-south route. County roads 46, 23, 50,60, 70 provide additional access • Strong and growing business environment with over 800 businesses • Airlake Park is home to over 90 businesses, including international businesses and company headquarters • Land available for additional development • Second lowest tax-capacity rate in Dakota County • Population growth provides more opportunities: 43,128 residents in 2000, 59,000 residents by 2010 74,000 by 2020 (surpassing Eagan, Burnsville & Apple Valley) • 20 minutes to International Airport via two routes ' • Home of Airlake (MAC) Reliever Airport • Fairfield Business Campus is home to sophisticated regional and corporate headquarters Existing Telecommunications Use By Lakeville Businesses • Mail and phone surveys were conducted with businesses, with 52 respondents • Over two-thirds of the respondents (69%) are interested in telecommunications in Lakeville • 42% of businesses have other locations to communicate with • 69% of responses indicated company headquarters in Lakeville; 26% indicated headquarters in other locations Page 2 of 8 G:\gFlad\Econdev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001 Voice Technologies Being Used • • 44% use a PBX or Centrex system • 426 POTS lines are operated by the respondents (not including the school district's lines} • 21 companies use T-I's or Fractionalized T-1 's • Respondents indicated it takes an average of 9 days to get new service installed • Businesses indicate they would like to have a choice in services and providers • 3747 LAN work stations reported from 33 businesses • 12 businesses currently use a WAN • Mosr frequent WAN connections: 1. T-1 2. Frame-relay 3. 56kbps 4. ISDN • 91% of respondents have Internet access • Most frequentinternetconnections: 1. Dial-up Modem 2. xDSL 3. T-1 4. ISDN Future External Data Needs • Sharing data (9 companies) • Accessing other corporate locations (6) • Accessing information managed by an ASP (7) • Creation of Virtual Private Networks (7) • IP Telephony (I ) • E-Commerce (9) • EDI (7} • Desktop video confereneing (7) • Research via Internet (8) • Other (I) • 8 companies report their needs are net being met at this time Questions for Service Providers • Do you provide service in Lakeville? What service? Where? • Do you have plans to increase service and/or infrastructure in Lakeville? • How would you suggest Lakeville pursue getting your company involved in the development of a High Tech Business Park? • How would you suggest Lakeville assist in encouraging and/or introducing additional telecommunications services to businesses? Discussion erisued about the nature of the meetings that will be held with the telecommunications service providers. Mr. Lueders indicated that the subcommittee will use the knowledge gained by the companies that do not have a presence in Lakeville to encourage those with an existing presence to increase their service and/or • infrastructure. Ms. Fled indicated that the High Tech Subcommittee is reviewing the draft of the presentation and their comments will be incorporated into the final Page 3 of 8 G:WFIad\ECOndev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc Economic Development Commission Meeting Minuses September 25, 2001 presentation format. City Administrator Erickson suggested that the presentation be • made available to executives of local companies in order to share with them the efforts the City is undertaking to enhance the business environment in the community. 2. Approve August 28, 2001 meeting minutes. Motion 01.22 Comms. Pogatchnik/Matasosky moved to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2001 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. 3. 2002-2004 Strategic Planning Each Commissioner ranked the Critical Issues of the Strategic Work Plan via fax. Ms. Flad compiled the responses and provided Commissioners with each issues' composite ranking as listed below: 1. Inform and educate residents on benefits of C/I base to gain community support and appreciation for business growth. 2. Financial planning for community -encourage community partners -schools, city, county, state, etc. to provide input to create basic financial models that can be used to visualize and measure potential threats, outcomes, and overall impacts of our efforts to improve financial position of city in future. 3. Encourage investigation of all potential upgrade opportunities in critical "business infrastructure" elements -phone, data, and other infrastructure, to promote positive outcomes for long term. 3. Identify solutions for affordable and lifecycle housing. 4. Assess impact of interchange priorities for 60-70-50. 5. Need for major transportation arteries in the city including the need to provide adequate access to commercial/retail/industrial areas. 6. Encourage the use of development tools, e.g.: PUD's to integrate city design standards with new developments to achieve overall consistencies. 7. Develop specific marketing for commercial growth. 8. Anticipate emerginy/future city economic development issues and develop a proactive solution. 9. Need to have a proactive budgeting process for EDC. 9. Current lack of retail. 10. Work to retain the historical flavor of downtown area, developing it into a vibrant business community & ensuring its long-term viability. 11. Affordability of land 12. Investigate/encourage expansion of airport and rail opportunities and their impact on the C/l community. • 12. Make use of Southern Gateway opportunities and proximity to both metro areas. Page 4 of 8 G:\AFlad\ECOndev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 200t 13. Continue to partner with Lakeville Chamber and DLBA for promoting Lakeville's identification - • "Where we are located." 14. Implementation of Gateway and Corridor Plan -need defined plan for implementation 15. I-35 Corridor enhancements 16. Explore issues related to East-West Corridor Chair Vogel suggested that the EDC develop Work Plans for the top three issues. Work Plans for subcommittees may complete additional issues in the future. The highest ranking critical Issues are listed below, along with Commissioners' suggestions each respective Work Plan. Chair and staff will present draft work plans to the Commissioners at the next EDC meeting. 1. Inform and educate residents on benefits of C/I base to gain community support and appreciation for business growth. Whv educate and inform? • So residents can learn to accept some things they don't want for the good of the 'Sruhole:' • Show residents the benefits )(fiscal) that business provides to them. • Building "partnership" mentality between residents & businesses. • Show residents why business growth is good for them. • As residents see tax impact between business & resident levels, have them continue • to appreciate the benefits of business base. • Show wide range of benefits (beyond fiscal) that businesses provide a community. • Have residents that are informed about how the City Budget is provided for -use tangible examples (income flows.) 2. Financial planning for community -encourage community partners -schools, city, county, state, etc. to provide input to create basic financial models that can be used to visualize and measure potential threats, outcomes, and overall impacts of our efforts to improve financial position of city in future. Financial Partnering • Communication system (method) to have all related entities working toward common goals. • Define common goals. • Build understanding between business & education system on each other's needs and goals. • Share information so all entities understand each other's fiscal needs. • Bridge culture differences between business-city-school-county. • Build understanding on how tax incentives can benefit everyone -even those who think they "loose." • Find ways to involve public (residents, businesses) in providing community (education, etc) needs. • Define Common benefits of school, city business, county (synergy & what they provide each other). . Find ways to have all entities utilize common benefits to help enhance each other. • Clearly communicate tax impact of business. Page 5 of 8 G:\AFlad\Econdev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001 • 3. Encourage investigation of all potential upgrade opportunities in critical "business infrastructure" elements -phone, data, and other infrastructure, to promote positive outcomes for long term. Potential Infrastructure Upgrades • Anticipate future needs so when business needs them they are ready. • Be proactive on technology rather than reactive. • Capture the wealth of existing resources (fiber, etc.) as quickly as possible. • Properly market our needs to encourage providers to make their investments here. • Method to anticipate any infrastructure that does not yet exist but will be part of our community. • Airlake Airport used fo community's advantage. 4. 2000-2001 Strategic Plan Items: A.) Incentives Subcommittee The Incentives Subcommittee met on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 to review the final draft of Springsted's Incentive Tools document. The subcommittee discussed exploring the following incentives in more detail: • Tax Abatement • Industrial Development Revenue Bonds • DTED's MN Investment Fund and Redevelopment Fund • Additionally, Springsted indicated that an HRA Special Levy and an EDA Special Levy could potentially be used to generate funds to address economic development activities in the City. Burnsville is currently considering an EDA levy that would generate a maximum of $568,000 for 2002. Implementation of all or a portion of this levy will be considered by Burnsville when the final budget decisions are made. Springsted will be presenting additional information on tax abatement, IDRB's DTED's MIF, MN Redevelopment Funds, and Special Levies at the October 23, 2001 EDC meeting. Ms. Flad indicated that the EDC may also wish to review the document annually after legislative changes, and may also wish to encourage incorporation of the Incentive Tools Document into each Strategic Work Plan that is under development. B.) Labor Force Committee Staff met with Todd Bornhauser of the Chamber and Gary Tholkes, Chair of the HR Committee, to provide Airlake businesses greater involvement in the implementation of the JobslnLakeville project. Staff provided the Chamber with a template for the subscription brochure and has processed a $1,000 grant from UtiliCorp United that will • be used for implementation of this project. The EDC and staff will continue to support the effort but will take a less active role in the project implementation. Page 6 of 8 G:\P.Flad\Econdev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001 • Mr. Bornhauser of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce indicated that He and Mr. Tholkes will be sending out letters to approximately 20 businesses to determine the level of interest in using the JobslnLakeville product at this time. After businesses respond, the HR Committee will determine when to launch the project to maximize success. 5. Manufacturer's Month 2001 -update Staff, along with Todd Bornhauser of the Chamber, have been exploring potential speakers for a manufacturer's luncheon to be held during Manufacturing & Technology Month October 22-November 23, 2001. Suggestions for speakers are being solicited from the following organizations: Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Minnesota Waste Wise Dakota Electric UtiliCorp United American Society for Quality - MN Minnesota Council for Quality Minnesota High Tech Association Minnesota Technology Make It In Manufacturing Technology DHY U.S. Small Business Administration • University of Minnesota -Carlson School of Management Discussion ensued about the type of presentation that would be of interest to manufacturers. It was suggested that a topic with universal applicability to businesses would be of more interest to manufacturers and others who would be invited to a luncheon. City Administrator Erickson suggested that businesses would be interested in the High Tech Subcommittee's efforts and the presentation that has been prepared for telecommunications service providers. Ms. Flad and Mr. Bornhauser will explore more universal topics. Staff also met with John Sucansky of Lakeville This Week Life & Times newspaper and Todd Bornhauser of the Chamber to encourage the newspaper's participation in promoting manufacturing businesses. A copy of the Mayor's Proclamation will be included on the Messages page of Lakeville This Week Life & Times as it has been in previous years. Mr. Sucansky indicated he would explore doing a special assignment on manufacturing, along with several other options. Staff will be meeting with Mr. Sucansky during the week of September 24-28 to further discuss options. Staff has also been researching statistics and other information which can be incorporated into articles for Airlake News, Lakeville This Week Life & Times, and the Sun Current, Page 7 of 8 G:\AFlad\Econdev projects\EDC12D01 mtgs\90September`092501 minutes.doc Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes September 25, 2001 6. MN 6`" Annual Development Conference, October 25-26, 2001 City Administrator Erickson indicated that the City Council continues to be interested in educating Commissioners on relevant Economic Development topics, and therefore is providing an opportunity for Commissioners to attend the 6`" Annual Development Conference to be held October 25-26, 2001. Concurrent sessions on Workforce Development, Technology, Housing and Finance will be held which attendees can choose to participate in. These topics are particularly relevant to the recent efforts of the Lakeville EDC. Comm. Matatsosky and Comm. Brantly indicated they would attend one day. Ms. Fled will arrange for registration and payment. 7. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Attested to: P~,-~ e!~ Ann Flad, Recording Secreta`ry~ R.T. Brantly, Secretary • Page 8 of 8 G:WFIad~Econdev projects\EDC\2001 mtgs\90September\092501 minutes.doc