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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-24-97 • CITY OF LAI{EVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINU'PES Juue 24, 1997 Members Present: Brantly, Detjen, Emond, Erickson, Krejci, Pogatchnik, Tushie and Vogel Members Absent: Matasosky and Miller Staff Present: Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Michael Sobota, Director of Community & Economic Development; Nicole Bennett, Economic Development Specialist. 1. Call to Order. Chair Vogel called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room at City Hall. 2. Approval of the May 1, 1997 Meeting Minutes. • 97.10 MOTION: Comms. Tushie/Brantly moved to approve the May 1, 1997 meeting minutes as written. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Approval of the May 6, 1997 Meeting Minutes. 97.11 MOTION: Comms. Detjen/Emond moved to approve the May 6, 1997 meeting minutes as written. Motion carried unanimously. Update on Presentations to the Cable Board by Marcus Cable and Frontier Communications Regarding the Deployment of Fiber-Optics in Lakeville. Mr. Sobota stated that staff, Comm. Detjen and Comm. Brantly were in attendance at two regular meetings of the Cable Board to hear presentations by Marcus Cable and Frontier Communications regarding the deployment of fiber-optics in Lakeville. He noted that the city is currently working on renewal of its franchise agreement with Marcus Cable, and Marcus is planning to upgrade its system in Lakeville. Mr. Sobota stated that Marcus Cable is planning a hybrid co-axial/fiber-optic cable upgrade for Lakeville, Rosemount and Apple Valley. Frontier Communications was asked to attend the subsequent June Cable Board meeting to provide information on its system in Lakeville and their plans for upgrading to fiber. He noted that staff was unable to obtain copies of the map showing existing • and planned Frontier fiber-optic lines in Lakeville because the company considers that information proprietary. Economic Development Commission dune 24, 1997 Meeting Minutes Page 2 • Comm. Detjen noted that utility companies keep that information confidential due to new competition that has been introduced through the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. He stated that often it is an issue of "dazk" versus "lit" lines. This distinction is in reference to utility companies that own the lines but lease the space to other companies doing the actual switching and connecting ("dark" lines), versus utility companies that provide the lines as well as the switching equipment at each end to control the connections ("lit" lines). Comm. Brantly stated that he believes the city needs to have one shared fiber-optic system rather than multiple providers each putting infrastructure into easements and rights-of--way. 4. Strategic Workplan -Discussion of project detail and target dates of completion. Chair Vogel stated that Ms. Bennett had developed specific projects and tazgeted dates of completion based upon the issues and goals identified by the EDC and staff at the May 1st meeting. Ms. Bennett noted that staff is looking for input from the EDC regarding the proposed detailed Workplan activities, and the targeted dates of completion. Mr. Sobota suggested that the EDC review each Strategic Action one-at- a-time and provide comments or feedback to staff. The EDC and staff reviewed Strategic Workplan Items 1-1 through 3-2, and agreed to • update the Workplan items as recommended. It was recommended that Item 1-1 (Alternatives to TIF) be modified to include researching the impacts of recent tax class rate changes and how existing and new TIF districts would be affected. The timeline for Item 1-1 will be extended to provide time for this additional research. It was recommended that Item 1-2 (Storm Sewer Area Charge Issues) be placed on hold until trout stream data is available at the end of 1497. Comm. Tushie inquired as to the benefits of storm water management on a city-wide level, and how to provide this positive information to the business community. Mr. Erickson suggested that a presentation of the city's Storm Water Management Plan at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon would provide an opportunity to present the information to businesses. Comm. Tushie noted that there are real advantages to businesses based on the Lakeville process versus the way other communities address storm water management. Comm. Vogel suggested that Item 2-2 (Continue to improve customer service delivery) be modified regarding the creation of a customer service work-group. He suggested that the customer service work-group tasks should include a documented schedule of issues to be discussed on a regular basis, and the issues should dictate how often the group meets. The EDC and staff recommended that Item 3-1 (Establish an early warning • communications process between city departments and developers) be revised such Economic Development Commission June 24, 1997 Meeting Minutes Page 3 • that the last bullet under task 3-1B read as follows, "Address unresolved customer issues by advancing them to the City Administrator for timely resolution." Changes were recommended to Item 3-2 (Present process issues to the Planning Commission, Environmental Affairs Committee, and Parks & Recreation Committee) based on factors such as the revised agreement with the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the potential future creation of a Natural Resources Committee comprised of other committees including the EAC, Parks & Recreation Committee, and the Planning Commission. 5. Update on °~Town Square". Mr. Sobota provided a brief update on "Town Square" noting that Herb Wensmann has submitted final plans fora 96-unit townhouse development to be located north of City Hall. Mr. Sobota noted that the city is working with the Wensmann project engineer to incorporate ponding areas and construction of a portion of the new east-west road. He stated that staff met with the city's consultants regarding design work for the bridge and water feature. He noted that the consultant is working on renderings that will illustrate the view of the water feature from both pedestrian and auto perspectives crossing the hridge. He added that the County is committed to the library, with construction to commence in 1998 and the library opening in 1999. Mr. Erickson stated that a meeting was held Tuesday morning with Barry Warner and • Bob Roscoe from SRF Consulting, Nels Nelson from Barr Engineering, Dave Felton with Landscape Junction, and city staff regarding the water feature and bridge. He noted that the plan is to complete grading and sheet piling this year, and complete the boulderscaping and water feature in the spring. The limestone will be used for the rock-scaping and landscaping to complement the facades of existing municipal campus buildings and the new townhouse exteriors. He noted that large flat-topped stones are proposed to be incorporated along the waters edge. 6. Project Activities Update. Ms. Bennett provided a brief project activities update, noting that multiple quality business prospects have been considering Lakeville for new facilities. She noted that two companies have come to the city for site tours of Airlake Industrial Park and Fairfield Business Campus within the past week. She stated that DHY, Inc., plans to submit an application to DTED for funding assistance to purchase equipment through the Minnesota Investment Fund, and the application request will be coming to the EDC for review within the next few months. She noted that Strout Plastics has submitted plans to rebuild its Lakeville facility, Applied Power Products has submitted plans fora 15,000-square-foot expansion to its Airlake facility, and Arden International Kitchens is working on a 28,000-square-foot addition in Airlake. Ms. Bennett stated that staff is working on postal service issues in response to a • request from Fairfield Business Campus tenants. EDC Members indicated that the rural designation of Lakeville's post office creates difficulty for businesses in Airlake, Economic Development Commission June 24,1997 Meeting Minutes Page 4 • Fairfield and the rest of the city in sending mail at the end of the business-day. After some discussion, EDC Members noted that staff should look into this issue in greater detail and a survey of the business community was suggested as a starting point. 97.12 MOTION: Comms. Brantly/Detjen moved that staff should conduct a survey of Airlake businesses as part of the next issue of Airlake Park News to solicit business input regarding postal service in Lakeville. Motion carried unanimously. 7. Other Business. Staff indicated that two quality business prospects are interested in Fairfield Business Campus, and the remaining lots may soon be filled. The EDC suggested that an item be placed on the August agenda to examine recent changes to tax increment financing (TIF), the impacts of those changes on the city, and the potential expansion of Fairfield Business Campus once it is filled. EDC Members and staff suggested that City Finance Director Dennis Feller would be a good presenter for this discussion. Staff agreed to survey other cities regarding incentive programs as part of the Strategic Workplan prior to the August discussion. Mr. Erickson noted that the new corporate office facilities at Grist Mill are complete, and the CEO offered the facilities for a future EDC meeting. The EDC recommended that staff try to set up the next regular meeting at Grist Mill. EDC Members noted . various time conflicts with July 15th and July 22nd for the next meeting, and it was recommended that the next regular meeting be held in August. 97.13 MOTION: Comms. Emond/Tushie moved to cancel the July EDC Meeting and schedule the next regular meeting for August 26, 1997. Motion carried unanimously. Comm. Tushie stated that the list of metro area property tax rates was recently published in the newspaper, and he was pleased to note that the City of Lakeville was ranked 95th out of 105 cities listed from highest tax rates to lowest. S. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectful y submitted: ATTEST TO: . tc E. Bennett, R ording Secretary an Krejci, Seciet c: \winword\edc11997mtgs10624 mtg\mn062497. doc