HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-01-01 Economic Development Commission
Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2001
• City of Lakeville
Economic Development Commission
Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2001
Lake Marion Conference Room, City Hall
Members Present: Vogel, Miller, Brantly, Emond, Schubert, Matasosky, Tushie,
Jerry Erickson, Ex-Officio members Robert Erickson, and Todd Bornhauser.
Members Absent: None.
Others Present: Staff present: Dennis Feller, Finance Director; David Olson,
Community & Economic Development Director; Ann Flad, Economic Development
Coordinator.
1. Call Meeting to Order. Chair Vogel called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. in
the Lake Marion Conference Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville,
Minnesota.
. 2. Approve October 23, 2001 Meeting Minutes.
Motion 01.26 Comms. Emond/Pogatchnik moved to approve the minutes of
the October 23, 2001 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Introduction of David Olson as Community & Economic Development
Director. City Administrator Robert Erickson introduced David Olson as the new
Community & Economic Development Director. Mr. Olson most recently served
as the Community Development Director in Farmington for 4 1/2 years. Prior to
that, Mr. Olson spent ten years as the Administrative Assistant to the City
Administrator in Rochester. In addition to his experience, Mr. Olson's
qualifications include a Master's Degree in Urban Studies from Mankato State
University. Mr. Erickson referred Commissioners to the Press Release contained
in their packets for additional information on the responsibilities of Mr. Olson as
Community & Economic Development Director and the role of the newly created
position of Planning Director.
4. 2000-2001 Strategic Plan Update-Labor Force Subcommittee. Todd
Bornhauser, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, gave an update
on the Labor Force Committee. He indicated that the HR Committee has
concluded that the closing of Merillat's plant in Lakeville has provided a ready
source of labor for local companies. He indicated with the downturn in the
• economy and the after-effects of September 11th, the HR Committee has
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• concluded that the launching of a JobslnLakeville.com web site will be postponed
until a later date.
Mr. Bornhauser indicated that Gary Tholkes of Menasha Corporation and Ryt
Way Foods resigned from the Chamber Board of Directors and as Chair of the
Human Resource Committee due to the responsibilities with his new position.
5. Manufacturing & Technology Month 2001 Review. At the October 15, 2001
City Council meeting, the Council proclaimed October 22-November 23 as
Manufacturing & Technology Month in Lakeville. This was the eighth annual
recognition of the contributions manufacturers bring to the Lakeville community.
Ms. Flad stated that a copy of the Proclamation was printed on the Messages
page of the Lakeville This Week Life and Times Newspaper and that each week
during manufacturing month a fact or figure about Lakeville's manufacturers was
also included on the Messages page. Ms. Flad indicated that a letter was sent to
each manufacturer containing information on local press contacts and an article
from Tim Bartlett, reporter for the Sun-Current, regarding the type of business
information that may be newsworthy. Ms. Flad also stated that the Recognition
Luncheon held on November 8, 2001 was the highlight of the month's activities
and was very successful. Nearly 40 representatives from 17 manufacturing
companies attended the event.
• Bob Erickson also recognized the success and benefits of the joint mailing of the
fall issue of Airlake News and the Chamber's newsletter Business Transaction.
6. 2002-2004 Strategic Plan. Chair Vogel indicated we were successful in getting
the plan adopted by the City Council.
A.) Work Plan Goal #1: Educate residents on benefits of C/I
Mr. Olson stated that we needed to start by educating EDC as to what drives
the city and economic development. We will also share this with the School
Districts.
Dennis Feller, Finance Director, was in attendance to answer any questions
that the EDC may have regarding the Economic Development Indicators
Report he prepared and provided to the EDC. Contained in Mr. Pellet's report
is the breakdown of the City's tax capacity by class of property as well as by
school district since there are portions of three school districts in the City of
Lakeville. Mr. Feller also reviewed the significant changes to the property tax
system as a result of the 2001 Omnibus Tax Law.
EDC members requested the Finance Director to provide information relative
to the ratio comparing the value of commercial/industrial property to the total
• tax base of at least seven other metropolitan growth cities. The EDC also
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• requested the Finance Director to provide information relative to the
percentage of land area in Lakeville zoning for commercial/industrial and the
average value of a single family residential home in each of the three school
districts in Lakeville.
Mr. Erickson recommended that a fiscal note be provided on each planning
report for commercial/industrial projects. The fiscal note would provide
information regarding the employment, estimated taxes and tax impact that will
result from the proposed C/l development.
Next step on Action #1: Chair Vogel appointed Emond, Brantley, Matasosky,
and Pogatchnik to serve on a subcommittee that will work on putting together
information to be used to inform residents on the benefits of C/I. This will
include identifying targeted ratios and providing comparative information from
other cities as well as different C/I areas within Lakeville. This information will
be utilized for identifying the necessary "business infrastructure" upgrades
addressed in Action # 3 of the 2002-2003 Workplan.
B.) Work Plan Goal #2: Financial planning with school, county, state, etc.
Chair Vogel indicated that himself, Vice-Chair Matososky, Community &
Economic Development Director David Olson and Economic Development
• Coordinator Ann Flad met with Superintendent Amoroso on November 28,
2001 at the request of the EDC.
At this meeting Chair Vogel introduced the EDC's 2002-2004 Strategic Plan
for Economic Development, in particular Work Plan Goal #2, to Mr. Amoroso.
He indicated that the EDC recognizes the tremendous impact Lakeville's
growth has on ISD 194. He then talked about the factors that influence city
and school budgetary processes and the goals and objectives that impact
those processes.
Superintendent Amoroso concurred with Chair Vogel that the efforts of the City
and ISD 194 impact each other tremendously, and that increased dialog
between the two entities would be beneficial. Also Mr. Amoroso is very
supportive of determining common goals and strategic planning. It was
suggested that additional dialog be held on the process an factors that
influence each entity's budget. Mr. Amoroso requested an additional meeting
be held with key staff from the City and ISD 194 staff in order to explain the
EDC's efforts and to secure support for ongoing dialog. The City will
coordinate a meeting with the requested people for January, 2002.
Comm. Matasosky indicated being encouraged by the ISD's five year financial
plan.
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• Mr. Erickson stated that ISD 194 financial forecasting models are based on
tradition, looking primarily at residential development. Mr. Erickson suggested
we could tell them that we
project "$30 million" commercial/industrial development each year for the next
15 years to pay for schools, thus decreasing residential burden and indicate
what that would generate in property taxes.
Motion 01.27 Comms. Tushie/Brantly moved to have the EDC forward
Mr. Feller's financial information to Mr. Amoroso and
encourage him to forward it to the school board. Motion
carried unanimously.
Chair Vogel indicated the EDC should keep efforts moving but it may be six
months before the joint meeting.
C.) Work Plan Goal #3: Encourage investigation of critical business
infrastructure.
Mr. Olson stated that on December 3, 2001 the City Council approved the
retention of Springsted Inc. to complete a study of the various financing
sources available to improve the three interchanges along I-35 in the City of
• Lakeville. Mr. Olson indicated that Staff will begin working with Springsted on
this project soon and will provide periodic updates to the EDC. A copy of the
engagement letter from Springsted that outlines the approach to the study was
included in the EDC packet.
7. Consideration of application for 2002 CDBG funds for Downtown
Improvement Program. Mr. Olson presented the staff report which
recommends continued funding of the Downtown Code Improvement Program
with 2002 CDBG funds. It is estimated that the City will have $103,691 in
CDBG funds in 2002. Mr. Olson indicated that the owners of the Ben Franklin
building have expressed an interest in the program and preliminary indications
are that removal of the existing facade that has support posts in the right-of-
way would qualify as a code improvement to the building. It was indicated that
based on the estimated level of funding for 2002, that two buildings could be
upgraded. The City will invite downtown building owners to apply and would
fund the projects based on the criteria contained in the Program Guidelines.
Comm. Tushie indicated a need to abstain from voting.
Motion 01.28 Comms. Matasosky/Miller moved to recommend to the
City Council approval of the 2002 CDBG application to
continue to fund the Downtown Code Improvement
• Program. Motion carried unanimously.
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• 8. MPLS.ST. PAUL Magazine. Mr. Erickson introduced a proposed Publishing
Agreement for a special section in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine. The
special section would be a 16-page, four color special that would feature
Lakeville in this Twin Cities lifestyle magazine with 85,000 subscribers. The
Avalon Group has agreed to pay $10,000 of the cost, with the City paying the
remaining $5,000. Funding is available in the City's Economic Development
Department budget. As proposed, this opportunity to feature Lakeville's
"community personality" in the most widely read Twin Cities life style magazine
will enable us to showcase the community and TimberCrest.
Motion 01.29 Comms. Emond/Schubert and Pogatchnik moved to
recommend approval of the expenditure of $5,000 for a
City of Lakeville section in the MPLS. ST. PAUL
Magazine, August, 2002 edition. Motion carried
unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by: Attested to:
• i -
nn Flad, Recording Secretary R. T. Brantly, Secretary
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