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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-99 1 CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES October 26, 1999 Members Present: Brantly, Detjen, Emond, Matasosky, Pogatchnik, and Ex-Officio Erickson. Members Absent: Miller, Schubert, Tushie, and Vogel Staff Present: Michael Sobota, Community and Economic Development Director; Ron Mullenbach, Associate Planner; and Rita Erpelding, Economic Development Coordinator. Guest: Joan Johnsen, Executive Director of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce 1. Call to Order. Vice-Chair Matasosky called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room at Lakeville City Hall. 2. Moment of Silence in Memory of Carol Graff Hymel. t• Mr. Sobota discussed the passing of former Economic Development Specialist Carol (Graff) Hymel. Ms. Hymel passed away on September 29~" at her home in Wake Forest, North Carolina after a bout with cancer. Ms. Hymel started in 1992 as the City's first intern and later became the first Economic Development Specialist. She left in July of 1996 to pursue a master's degree in Public Administration. Her husband, Victor, worked for CarQuest Distribution Center in Airlake Industrial Park. To memorialize her accomplishments as the City's first Economic Development Specialist, the Gity is proposing to plant a tree on the CarQuest grounds. The City will also participate by dedicating a plaque in her honor to be hung in the foyer of the CarQuest building. City Administrator Erickson stated that Ms. Graff Hymel had been the first City representative to meet personally with every business in Airlake Industrial Park. A moment of silence was observed for Carol Hymel. 3. Approval of the August 24, 1999 Meeting Minutes. 99.13 MOTION: Comms. Emond/Detjen moved to approve the August 24, 1999, meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously. • Lakeville Economic Development Commission October 26, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 2 • 4. Strategic Plan Update Process-organization of subcommittees to develop workplan. Mr. Sobota stated that City staff continues to work with Barbara Lukermann and Jennifer Clark on the development of the summary report of the Strategic Planning Session. Included with the packet were the three goals and corresponding action items identified by the EDC. In addition to the action items identified in the workshop, City staff recommends that the EDC review the remaining items from the 1996 Strategic Plan and identify those unfinished tasks that should be incorporated in the work plan. To do this, a worksheet was included in the EDC packet. Mr. Sobota requested that the EDC members provide their worksheets to Ms. Erpelding to compile for further discussion. Vice-chair Matasosky stated that the EDC will be split into three sub-committees, one for each goal (Workforce, Management, and Positioning). EDC members agreed that the subcommittee membership was acceptable as drafted by staff. Mr. Sobota stated that each subcommittee would meet to develop a workplan for their goal(s). The workplans would then be brought to the entire EDC for approval. Each of the subcommittees will meet prior to the next scheduled EDC. 5. Consideration of DARTS Request for Funding Mr. Sobota stated that transportation continues to be one of the obstacles for Lakeville employers in recruiting and retaining employees. The Dakota County Collaborative recently developed a proposal for aBurnsville-Lakeville vanpool service. The service would be utilized to transport workers between Burnsville and Airlake Industrial Park. Two fifteen-passenger vans would be leased through DARTS and operated by Vanpool Services, Inc. of West St. Paul. The drivers for the vans would come from and be chosen by participating employers. The volunteer drivers would be compensated for their time through the free use of the van for a specified number of miles outside of work hours. Mr. Sobota indicated that staff had met with a number of Airlake employers and several have expressed interest in participating in the program. Although the total cost of the project is $42,000, the City of Lakeville is only being asked to contribute $2,000. Remaining funds would be from a Federal Grant as well as funds from Dakota County and participating employers. Staff has identified money in the 1999 Economic Development Program budget for this project. Ms. Johnsen added that the program will be a collaborative effort to try to remove two of the barriers unemployed people have -affordable transportation and adequate child care coverage. The program will include two vans leased by DARTS as well as coordination with the Community Action Council's early • 9 Lakeville Economic Development Commission October 26, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 3 • childhood services. This program, and others like it, are an extremely important component of the welfare-to-work effort. Mr. Erickson stated that supporting this program will help demonstrate the City's continuing interest and support of innovative transportation solutions. In the past, the City of Lakeville has shown a commitment to alternative transportation solutions throegh providing $667,000 of Federal funding for the Cedar Avenue Improvement Project for the new Apple Valley Transit Station, donating City- owned property for park-and-ride facilities, and converting the two weigh stations on Interstate 35 into park-and-ride lots. Overall, the City is providing the foundation for transit service in advance of the demonstrated need. The latest community survey showed that only 4% of residents support entering the metro transit taxing district. Ms. Erpelding added that several business with which she has been in contact are interested in participating in the program. In addition to targeting neighborhoods in Burnsville, the van may also be able to make stops at the Burnsville Transit Station to pick up employees commuting from Minneapolis and St. Paul. In general, EDC members agreed that the City's current strategy related to transit service is the most fiscally responsible for residents. In turn, they felt the • demonstration program with DARTS is a great opportunity to assist businesses in Airlake Industrial Park in finding and retaining employees. 99.14 MOTION: Comms. Emond/Brantly moved to recommend to the City Council approval of contributing $2,000.00 from the 1999 Economic Development Program budget for the Dakota County Collaborative Bumsville-Airlake Industrial Park pilot vanpool project. Motion carried unanimously. 6. Update on Strategic Work Plan Activities. Minnesota Manufacturers Week Mr. Sobota stated that the City will be hosting a neighborhood meeting for businesses in Airlake Industrial Park to discuss fiber-optics and the labor force. EDC members discussed with staff how soon the technology will be available to businesses in Airlake Industrial Park. On October 18th, Comm. Brantly accepted a City Council proclamation for Minnesota Manufacturers Week, which was printed on the Messages page in the October 23rd ThisWeekNews-Life & Times edition and in the Airlake Park News. Staff also circulated atwo-page promotional piece which was part of the October 23`d ThisWeekNews-Life & Times edition. EDC members suggested that extra copies of the promotional page be sent to businesses in Aidake Industrial Park. • Lakeville Economic Development Commission October 26, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 4 • South Creek Trout Stream Comms. Matasosky and Pogatchnik stated that they had recently toured the trout stream with Tim Brown, Environmental Resources Coordinator. The tour will assist subcommittee members in drafting best management practices for the trout stream. Corridor and Gateway Design Study Mr. Sobota indicated that the Design Guidelines have been finalized and distributed. In response, County Engineer Don Theisen has indicated that Dakota County will be incorporating the design guidelines into all of their road projects. Downtown Lakeville Parking Study Mr. Sobota stated that the City Council approved a contract with Barton- Aschman Associates for a Downtown Lakeville Parking Study on October 18~'. Mr. Erickson also added that the Downtown Lakeville Business Association is using funds from their Special Service District levy to complete a design guidelines study for the historic downtown. The Zoning Ordinance Update will include a reference to the design guidelines for future building projects in the Downtown. 7. Staff Activities Report . Mr. Erickson stated that construction continues on the first phase of Heritage Commons. In addition to the two 15,000 square foot retail facilities, construction of the bridge over the creek on Heritage Drive is nearing completion. The cast stone of the bridge is being made to look like boulders. Potential tenants for the two buildings include a fitness center, sporting goods, hair salon, dry cleaner, sub shop, and municipal liquor store #1. Mr. Erickson also stated that the City Council has invited Mary Bujold of Maxfield Research to present the Commercial/Industrial Assessment Report at their December 2, 1999 meeting. The City Council became interested in hearing the presentation after reading the August 24, 1999 EDC meeting minutes. 8. Schedule Next EDC Meeting. Mr. Sobota stated that due to the upcoming holiday season, City staff is recommending that the November and December EDC meetings be combined into one meeting on December 14th. This date will not conflict with the upcoming Advisory Board Appreciation Dinner on December 8th and will also facilitate scheduling of subcommittee meetings. EDC members agreed that the next EDC meeting would be held on December 14, 1999. Subcommittee members will work with Ms. Erpelding to schedule subcommittee meetings. Lakeville Ewnomic Development Commission October 26, 1999 Meeting Minutes Page 5 • 9. Other Business. Ms. Erpelding handed out copies showing the final tallies from the worksheets completed by EDC members. Based on the voting, individual items from the 1996 Strategic Plan were assigned to the three subcommittees as follows: • Should these items be included in the 2000 Sbate is Plan? Identify alternatives to TIF, create a task force with business, legal and X executive expertise, and possibly create a community development cor oration. X Identify groups and organizations that can be a source of promoting Lakeville realtors, builders, executives, the rofessional services, etc. . X Perform annual review of communit marketin Ian. DELETED Establish a recognition process for existing businesses, including an annual a reciation breakfast for Lakeville businesses INTEGRATE Continue ongoing monitoring of rail service and its impacts WITH MKTG. X Maximize amenities (landscaping, parks, Town Square, downtown business district, etc. X Undertake concentrated effort to promote retention and expansion of existin businesses includin makin ersonal contacts X Continue customer service orientation trainin for ci staff X Coordinate communications for implementing the Town Square marketing plan (between developers, land owners, downtown businesses, the EDC, etc. X Create/maintain lar a tracts of land for future industrial develo ment X Explore the expansion of Fairfield and new locations with high amenity industrial lots X Produce an annual re ort for citizens X Establish an early warning communication process between city de artments and develo ers X Present process issues to the Planning Commission, Environmental Affairs Committee, and the Parks & Recreation Department in a one-on- one environment 10. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Respectively s fitted by: ATTESTED TO• on Mullenbach, Recording Secretary R.T. Brantly, Secretary •