HomeMy WebLinkAbout2. EDC minutes 6.22.21 DRAFT
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
June 22, 2021
1. Acting Chair Collman called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Marion Conference
Room.
Members Present: Comms. Christiansen, Collman, Emond, Gillen, Matasosky, Starfield
Ex-officio Members Present: Chamber President Jech
Members Absent: Comm. Bjorklund, Phillips, Seiler, Stone
Staff Present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Kati
Bachmayer, Economic Development Coordinator
2. Approval of May 25, 2021 Meeting Minutes
Comms. Starfield / Gillen moved to approve the minutes of the May 25 meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Review of 2020-2023 Strategic Plan for Economic Development
Mr. Olson started the discussion by reminding the EDC that the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan
for Economic Development (Strategic Plan) was adopted by the City Council in March
2020 - the same month a global pandemic shut many businesses down and significantly
altered City operations. In the following 15 months, Community & Economic Development
staff pivoted to focus their energy on assisting Lakeville’s local business in a variety of
ways, including distributing timely COVID-19 related information and business grants. As
pandemic restrictions are now being loosened or eliminated, city staff is seeking feedback
from EDC members about the current Strategic Plan and its relevance post-pandemic.
Lengthy discussion was held regarding the “Housing to Support Economic Goals”
strategic priority and commissioners expressed support for additional workforce housing
in Lakeville, but strongly encouraged the continued adherence to the current scattered
site approach to avoid high-density concentration in any one location. The “Workforce
Availability and Utilization” strategic priority was also briefly discussed. EDC members
were interested in obtaining market data to help advise the City Council on Lakeville’s
existing and forecasted residential and commercial development ratios, as well as
available and developable land for such uses, in comparison to similar sized metro cities.
Members also encouraged dialogue between the EDC, City Council, Planning
Commission and school district representatives to align goals and priorities.
Comms. Matasosky / Emond moved to recommend hiring a facilitator to revisit the
Strategic Plan for Economic Development in response to market changes brought on by
the COVID-19 pandemic. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Roundtable Discussion of COVID-19 Impacts on Lakeville Businesses
Economic Development Commission Minutes June 22, 2021 Page | 2
Comm. Gillen informed the group that local restaurants are very busy now that all
pandemic restrictions have been lifted; however, the hospitality industry is experiencing
worker shortages, as well as challenges with supply chains (that are also experiencing
worker or product shortages). The current constraints on supply lines mean that
businesses may receive partial orders or not be able to obtain ordered items at all.
5. Director’s Report
Mr. Olson highlighted several items from the Director’s Report, including the South Ryan
Property application for a new proposed 40,000-square-foot LTL warehouse and recently
approved applications for Old Dominion Freight Line and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
It was noted that Mainstreet Coffee & Wine Bar will change ownership at the end of June
2021 and EDC members expressed well wishes and gratitude to Tracy Hummelgard
(current business owner) for her hard work and dedication to downtown Lakeville over the
last 19 years.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
Respectively submitted by:
Kati Bachmayer, Economic Development Coordinator