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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-00-00 CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES February 22, 2000 Members Present: Brantly, Emond, Erickson, Matasosky, Miller, Pogatchnik, Schubert, Tushie, Vogel, and ex-officio Erickson. Members Absent: Detjen. Staff Present: Rita Erpelding, Economic Development Coordinator. The EDC commenced its meeting with a reception for Michael Sobota. The EDG then attended and presented the 2000-2001 Strategic Plan for Economic Development at the City Council Meeting. 1. Call to Order. Chair Vogel reconvened the meeting at 8:27 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room at Lakeville City Hall. 2. Approval of the January 25, 2000 Meeting Minutes. • 00.07 MOTION Comms. Emond/Brantly moved to approve the January 25, 2000 Business Subsidy Criteria Public Hearing meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously. 00.08 MOTION Comms. Emond/Miller moved to approve the January 25, 2000 meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Update of Strategic Work Plan Activities. South Creek Trout Stream Comm. Pogatchnik stated that the South Creek Subcommittee will be hosting an update meeting on the South Creek Management Plan for Airlake Industrial Park land and business owners. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 7~h from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Ryt-Way. Since the subcommittee has not met with Airlake landowners since last April, this meeting will provide an update as to the status of the management plan. The subcommittee anticipates the meeting will go smoothly, especially since there have not been any final recommendations made yet. Comm. Pogatchnik noted that Barr Engineering presented the preliminary results of the study at the subcommittee meeting this afternoon. Since the study has not been completed, there are no conclusive findings at this time. The subcommittee will be sharing preliminary results with agency representatives in March. Labor Force Lakeville Economic Development Commission February 22, 2000 Meeting Minutes Page 2 Ms. Erpelding referenced the memorandum included with the packet and stated that staff has been working on a number of activities related to the labor force issue. Ms. Erpelding stated that the meeting on child care issues held on January 27th was successful with representatives from seven companies attending. Staff is now working with the Community Action Council on the development of an employee survey that would be utilized by local manufacturers. Since the meeting, four companies have expressed interest in reviewing the survey for possible implementation. Representatives who attended the meeting stated that the information presented was very beneficial and that even if they did not participate in the employee survey, they were able to utilize the discussion from the meeting to speak informally with their employees. Ms. Erpelding noted that staff will be utilizing the information presented at the child care meeting for the next Airlake Park News issue. The next issue, which is planned for distribution in April, will focus on labor force issues. In addition to the child care information, suggestions from the Airlake Park News Editorial Board meeting on February 3rd are being researched. Ms. Erpelding stated that City staff has almost completed the workforce telephone survey. At this time, over 85 percent of the survey has been completed. Since the EDC packet was distributed, staff has received five additional surveys. As can be seen by the results included in the packet, the majority of employees live in the . communities surrounding Lakeville. Ms. Erpelding stated that the results will be included in the next issue of Airlake Park News. Comm. Tushie indicated that it would be beneficial to determine how many employees live within a five and ten mile radius of Lakeville. Ms. Erpelding indicated that it may be possible based on a similar map developed by Mr. Sobota. Ms. Erpelding stated that staff would work on that for the subcommittee and the next EDC meeting. Comm. Brantly asked whether there was any breakdown based on office versus production workers. Ms. Erpelding stated that it would be beneficial to have that information, but staff decided it would be too difficult to obtain. Ms. Erpelding added that staff did ask how many openings the companies currently had and for what type of positions. Although Ms. Erpelding did not have the information at the meeting, she indicated that she would have it for the next EDC meeting. Ms. Erpelding stated that she met with a representative of Just in Case Staffing regarding the services that they provide to Airlake companies. Ms. Erpelding indicated that the company provides temporary workers for over ten Airlake employers. One primary advantage of the service is that Just in Case provides transportation for the workers. Staff is considering including information about the agency in the next issue of Airlake Park News. • Lakeville Economic Development Commission February 22, 2DOD Meeting Minutes Page 3 4. Staff Activities Ms. Erpelding stated that the Parking Study continues to progress with Barton- Aschman in the midst of completing a layout of parking on Holyoke Avenue that follows a parallel parking dual stall design. Comm. Tushie expressed concern regarding the number of staging areas, stating that one staging area every fourth car or only having the staging areas be four feet wide would be sufficient. Comm. Pogatchnik agreed stating that there may not be the room for staging areas that large, Ms. Erpelding stated that the City Council will be establishing the Arts Center Advisory Board at their meeting this evening. Staff has completed the position description and will be in the process of hiring an Arts Center Coordinator over the next few months. Ms. Erpelding noted that a tentative agreement has been reached with New Morning Windows regarding the repayment of $16,406.25 to the State of Minnesota. Comm. Pogatchnik asked whether it was difficult to reach an agreement. Ms. Erpelding stated that once the Richmans understood that they did not have to pay more than $125,000, but rather a portion of the$125,000 loan early, they were willing to enter into an agreement. Comm. Tushie expressed concern that future agreements be structured so that there is minimal impact on the City should the company be unable to fulfill their obligations. • 5. Corridor and Gateway Design Study-Phase II. Mr. Erickson stated that staff continues to promote the design guidelines that were developed during phase I of the study. Some City Council members have indicated an interest in seeing design features in future projects, such as the renovation of the Performing Arts Center. Staff has been distributing the design guidelines to developers as they begin planning for new projects. The design guidelines have already proven to be beneficial. Staff was able to utilize the guidelines in discussions with Walgreens on their proposed development on Cedar Avenue and County Road 46. Walgreens has agreed to set back their building, utilize features of the architecture of the liquor store, and incorporate a gateway monument. The design guidelines have also been utilized by TKDA in the planning for the Ipava Avenue parkway extension. Design features that are going to be incorporated include pavers in the median, as well as prairie grass, summit ash, and thunderchild crab for the landscaping. Mr. Erickson stated that staff reviewed the proposal for phase II and determined that the funds available may be better spent on other activities. As was noted in the memorandum included in the packet, developing cost estimates for each design feature proposed for phase II would be difficult because of the uniqueness of every . project. In addition, Ms. Erpelding handed out a map of the gateways and corridors Lakeville Economic Development Commission February 22, 2000 Meeting Minutes Page 4 on which staff identified corridors and gateways that will be completed over the next five years through public improvement projects, as well as anticipated private development. The map represents the first two tasks of phase II. Mr. Erickson indicated that staff believes it would be better to complete some developments in order that the community can see direct results of the design guidelines. Comm. Tushie agreed that implementation is important and that the cost estimations would be difficult because of the number of unknowns. Comm. Emond added that the estimates would be outdated before they were completed. Comm. Tushie expressed concern that prioritization of corridors and gateways had not been completed. It is important to take a look at the entire City and identify which areas are the most important to complete. In addition, responsibility for long-term maintenance of features needs to be identified. Comm. Brantly also stressed that along-term plan for implementation needs to be developed. There needs to be unity and continuity throughout the community. One possible priority would be Highway 50, especially to highlight the features of Heritage Commons and the historic downtown. Comm. Tushie agreed stating that many of the areas in the City where implementation is the most important, such as Cedar Avenue from County Road 46 to Dodd Boulevard, will not be privately redeveloped for over 20 years. In addition, it is difficult to know precisely when and where private development will occur. Therefore it is important to have along-term plan to tie the community together. • Comm. Tushie suggested that one possible financing option would be a bond referendum that would be utilized to set up an endowment fund. The endowment could invest the funds and then use the interest for implementation on an annual basis. Comm. Tushie suggested that businesses and developers may also be more likely to incorporate features of the design guidelines if they see examples and the City itself funding specific features throughout the community. Mr. Erickson suggested that this issue could be an item of discussion at a meeting between Chair Vogel and the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. They are getting together to discuss park dedication fees and could also discuss how the two committees could work together on this issue. Mr. Erickson stated that the City Council will be reviewing the Capital Improvement Program at their March 18w City Council retreat. Staff will ask the City Council to consider ways to fund the implementation of the Corridor and Gateway Design Study over the next five years. Since the City Council is already considering implementation of features in the City, it would be helpful if the EDC were to suggest priorities. Comms. Tushie and Brantly indicated that two top priorities would be Cedar Avenue between County Road 46 and Dodd Boulevard and County Road 50 between 185' Street and Ipava Avenue. • Lakeville Economic Devebpment Commission February 22, 20D0 Meeting Minutes Page 5 Comm. Tushie reiterated how important along-term implementation plan would be because of the number of areas in the City that will not be redeveloped for over 20 years. In addition to prioritization, the plan should also identify maintenance responsibilities. MOTION 00.09 Comms. Tushie/Pogatchnik moved that the City Council redirect $30,000 in the economic development program towards assisting in the implementation of Corridor and Gateway Design Study features in projects developed in 2000. In addition, the EDC recommends that the City Council direct staff to develop an implementation and capitalization plan which would identify and prioritize locations for corridor and gateway features, identify and obtain funding sources for long- term implementation, and develop a maintenance strategy. Motion carried unanimously Comm. Brantly stated that in addition to implementation of the Corridor Study, he would like to see an area of the City where there are no chain retail stores. Comm. Brantly suggested that Lakeville may lose its uniqueness if most of the retail stores are chains like every other city. It would be beneficial to the community identity to identify independent specialty retailers and concentrate them in the central area and downtown. That type of development would be a regional draw like what occurs in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, as well as Stillwater and Red Wing. Comm. Erickson noted that those types of concentrations • usually occur on the edge of the old downtown area, primarily because of the lower rent structures in comparison to suburban shopping areas. Comm. Brantly added that it might be beneficial to research the feasibility of amulti-tenant facility similar to the Mercado which was developed on Lake Street. Comm. Tushie agreed with the vision but stated that it may be premature still for many independent retailers to locate in Lakeville. In addition, it is difficult to hold aside land because you would not want to limit the rights of private landowners. The only feasible method would be if the City purchased land and held it for specific uses. Comm. Tushie added that in many cities that type of development starts with one specialty business. 6. Other Business. No other business was identified. 7. Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m. Respectively submitted by: Attested to: Rita Erpeldi g, Reco ing Secretary ~.T. Brantly, Secretary