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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-98 CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 18,1998 Members Present: Brantly, Detjen, Emond, Krejci, Matasosky, Miller, Pogatchnik, and Vogel Members Absent: Tushie Staff Present: Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Michael Sobota, Community and Economic Development Director; Nicole Bennett, Economic Development Coordinator; and Ron Mullenbach, Planning Assistant i. Cali to Order. Chair Vogel called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room at Lakeville City Hall. 2. Approval of the June 23, 1998 Meeting Minutes 98.22 MOTION: Comms. Pogatchnik/Detjen moved to approve the June 23, 1998 meeting minutes as written. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Recommend Consultant for Community Corridor and Gateway Design/Landscape • Study. Mr. Sobota explained that the City received proposals from three qualified firms to undertake a Community Corridor and Gateway Design/Landscape Study. The three proposals were reviewed by members of the Landscape Corridor Study Subcommittee. At this time, one proposal was removed from consideration. The subcommittee recommended that staff meet with representatives of the two remaining firms and return to the full Economic Development Commission with a recommendation. Staff met with representatives of Barton-Aschman Associates, Ina (Barton-Aschman) and Dahlgren, Shardlow, & Uban, Ina (DSU) the week of August 10th. Mr. Sobota indicated that while DSU's chief project manager for their proposal could not attend the interview, it was evident from the meeting that DSU proposes a process and was unable to identify specific interim and final work products that would result from the study. Meanwhile, representatives of Barton-Aschman listed several interim and final work products that the City would receive during the study process, including: • An inventory of all gateway corridors included in the study displayed with video and 35 mm photographs; • General design guidelines that can be incorporated into current and future developments; and, • Specific recommendations for corridor and gateway improvements. • Lakeville Economic Development Commission August 18, 1998 Meeting Minutes Page 2 Ms. Bennett cited Barton-Aschman for its experience working with various units and levels • of government (i.e. MnDOT, Dakota County), an extensive visioning process that would include various interest groups early in the process, and its history of completing, from start to finish, projects of similar nature. Staff therefore recommended that the EDC recommend to the City Council that Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. be awarded the contract for the Community Corridor and Gateway Design/Landscape Plan. Comm. Emond asked whether the consultant's work would include detailed project designs for specific locations. Mr. Sobota indicated that tasks performed by the consultant would not include specific project design for specific corridors, but would include the prepazation of design guidelines that would be used in specific development projects. Comm. Matasosky questioned whether amendments to the City's development regulations (i.e. zoning and subdivision ordinance) would be necessary following completion of the study. Mr. Sobota stated that there is the possibility that the consultant would recommend changes to development regulations, such as an overlay district or something of similaz nature to incorporate study recommendations into current city zoning ordinance landscape requirements. Comm. Brantly asked whether Dakota County has been informed of the pending study. Ms. Bennett stated that she met with Dave Zech, Administrative Design Engineer for Dakota County prior to drafting the request for proposal. While Dakota County has no written policies which prohibit such landscaping standards, Mr. Zech was initially hesitant to voice • support for the project. Mr. Zech did indicate that any improvements should not compromise safety (i.e. glare, high maintenance demands, distraction). Comm. Brantly stated that community support for the improvements would be important for implementation of the landscape study recommendations. Mr. Sobota indicated that Barton- Aschman had recognized that need during its interview with staff and suggested including Dakota County and other interested groups in the visioning process to establish cooperation and support from affected agencies and entities early in the project. Comm. Krejci asked why Dakota County would not have a written policy regarding such improvements. Mr. Sobota indicated that engineers often do not deal with landscaping corridor studies and would therefore not formulate a policy for such projects. Mr. Erickson added that the lack of a written policy may be an indication that the county commissioners have not come to an agreement on what policies are appropriate regazding such matters. Mr. Sobota then discussed phasing the landscape corridor study. The work plan could be split into two phases. The consultant could complete the inventory this fall before existing landscape materials lose their vegetative cover. The project would then be put on hold until a new Economic Development Coordinator is hired. The second phase would begin approximately at the stazt of 1999 consistent with staff capabilities. Mr. Erickson added that acclimation to the position and certain economic development projects like Manufacturers' • Lakeville Economic Development Commission August 18, 1998 Meeting Minutes Page 3 Week would be high priorities when the new staff person starts. Funding for the project • could be shifted from the 1998 to the 1999 budget to accommodate the phasing as described. Comm. Vogel indicated that there should be a meeting initially to get input from the business community. Mr. Erickson recommended that the initial community forum could include a Chamber of Commerce/City "business after hours" open house in the City Council Chambers at which the consultant could display the video and photograph presentation of the community corridors and gateways to get feedback. Also, residents, business owners, and advisory committee members could be invited to participate in the visioning session through an invitation in the Lakeville Messages page. Comm. Vogel added that the consultant should prioritize maintenance cost as a consideration in their final recommendations and design guidelines. It was agreed that the proposal should be revised to include the considerations stated above. 98.23 MOTION: Comms. Emond/Miller moved to recommend to the City Council that Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. be awarded the contract for the Community Corridor and Gateway Design/Landscape Plan with a project budget of $20,000 plus expenses estimated at $1,600. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Update regarding business representatives willing to serve on the Financial Incentives Committee. Ms. Bennett indicated that several individuals have been contacted by staff regarding their interest in serving on the Financial Incentives Subcommittee of the EDC. • john Gambell, former owner of Imperial Plastics; Tom Smith, Lakeville Chamber of Commerce; Lloyd Mollenkopf, Rosemount Office Systems; and Becky Amondson, Heat-N- Glo, have all indicated their willingness to participate. Comm. Emond questioned whether additional members would be needed to serve on the subcommittee. Comm. Matasosky suggested that the subcommittee would benefit from additional members if those new members had experience working with financial incentives or similar issues. It was the consensus of the group that the subcommittee should begin its work after January 1, 1999 when staff is on-board. 5. Strategic Plan and Project Activities Update. Ms. Bennett indicated that all of the marketing videos have been sent out and follow-up calls made. Ms. Bennett also indicated that the Trout Stream Subcommittee had met on August 18, 1998 prior to the EDC meeting. Comm. Matasosky, member of the Trout Stream Subcommittee, indicated that he was pleased with the outcome of the process so far. Comm. Matasosky stated that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has no firm data on trout streams related to water temperature and food content. He indicated that participants to-date have been cooperative. A representative of Trout Unlimited was present and related his group's willingness to work toward a solution acceptable to all parties involved. Ms. Bennett stated that the EDC strategic planning session planned for October could serve • to wrap-up old projects, as well as to facilitate a fact finding meeting with representatives of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Augus[ 18, 1998 Meeting Minutes Page 4 various economic development groups (i.e. DTED, workforce center, labor groups). The • planning session would also serve as an excellent initiation for the new staff person. Comm. Voge] indicated that the strategic planning session may need to be pushed back to March or April of 1999 to facilitate the addition of the new staff person and coordinate with current projects. Mr. Erickson stated that the EDC would also benefit from the 1998 Strategic Growth Management Task Force recommendations which would be available in 1999. It was agreed that the strategic planning session be scheduled for the Spring of 1999. 6. Other Business. Mr. Sobota indicated that Mr. Gene Abbott was recently hired as the new Chief Building Inspector. Mr. Abbott has been the Assistant Building Official for the City of Eden Prairie for the past 13 years, and is a licensed structural engineer. His emphasis on customer service and experience with commercial/industrial projects makes him an excellent fit with the goals of the EDC and the City of Lakeville. While Mr. Abbott was with the City of Eden Prairie, the community grew from 21,000 to 55,000 in population. He will begin his duties with the City of Lakeville on August 26, 1998. Ms. Bennett stated the Dakota County Highway Department recently held an open house for the Cedar Avenue expansion project. The project is scheduled for the 1999 construction season. Mr. Sobota indicated that Cooperative Power (CPA) and Northern States Power (NSP) are proposing to relocate the power transmission line in Airlake Industrial Park along the Hamburg Avenue right-of--way. The project will involve burying the existing distribution • lines and re-landscaping the west side of Hamburg Avenue. Mr. Erickson distributed a copy of a letter from Glenn Hasse Jr., Ryt-Way Industries (attached) which states the company's intention to move their corporate headquarters from Northfield to Lakeville. Mr. Erickson also stated that Mayor Zaun passed on a congratulations and his appreciation to the EDC and staff for their effort in attracting quality companies like Ryt-Way to the community. Mr. Sobota announced that Economic Development Coordinator Nicole Bennett has tendered her resignation after 2+ years with the City and has accepted a position with the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. He noted Ms. Bennett's exceptional professionalism and her commitment to economic development in the community will be greatly missed. 98.24 MOTION: Comms. Pogatchnik/Vogel moved to approve a resolution thanking Ms. Bennett for her dedication to economic development activities in the community and service to the business community in a professional manner. Motion carried unanimously. 7. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m. • ' Lakeville Economic Development Commission August 18,1998 Meeting Minutes Page 5 Respectfully submitted: ATTEST TO: • Iron Mullenbach, Recording Secretary an Krejci, Secret • •