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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-26-96 City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 26, 1996 The meeting was called to order at 6:10 P.M. in the Administration Conference Room at City Hall. Roll call of members was taken. Present; Brantly, Detjen, Krejci, Matasosky, Pogatchnik, Vogel. Absent: Emond, Erickson, Tushie. Also present: Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Michael Sobota, Director of Community & Economic Development; Carol Hymel, Economic Development Specialist. Approval of February 27, 1996 EDC Meeting Minutes. Brantly requested that the minutes of the February 27th meeting be amended. (Refer to page two, Tax Increment Policy Discussion, paragraph two. Brantly clarified that the EDC determine the vision of what the Town Square area should be and possible unique selling propositions be discussed for the Town Square area. The EDC agreed to amend the minutes as follows: Chair Brantly initiated discussion regarding the Town Square area and determine possible unique selling propositions in order to market the area. Chair Brantly requested that staff set- up a meefingwith the EDC marketing team. 96.05 Motion was made by Vogel, seconded by Pogatchnik to approve the minutes of the February 26, 1996 EDC meeting as amended. Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous Project Activities Update. Sobota discussed a letter received from ITRON, Corporation, regarding their interest in developing a site for their new regional headquarters at the Fairfield Business Campus. Sobota discussed the meeting between staff and ITRON representatives that took place earlier in March. The project would develop a 3.5-acre site located northeast of the water tower that would take place in phases. A 31,000-square-foot regional headquarters is planned for Phase I. Phase II would provide up to 50,000-square-feet of office, warehouse and equipment set-up space. Phase III would bring the project to a final 100,000-square-foot build-out. Staff will be meeting with the developer in the near future to discuss the development agreement. New Morning Windows has moved into their new facility at the Fairfield Business Campus and plans for an open house are forthcoming. Sobota updated the Commission regarding Verified Credentials proposing a 20,000-square-foot corporate office/light manufacturing facility. Staff is waiting for a response to a City proposal . submitted to the business. f . A response to the proposal submitted to Anheuser Busch for a distribution facility is expected by the end of March. City Administrator Erickson described the team effort and level of support demonstrated by key participants in presenting the proposal to the company. Updates on the Fairfield Business Campus monument sign, the purchase of the business list for the upcoming marketing project and plans for the business survey were given. Sobota and Erickson spoke about a recent meeting with a business in Airlake Industrial Park that has an option to purchase a vacant building in the park. The business has begun to renovate the building and code issues were discussed and clarified at the meeting. City Administrator Erickson gave an update on the proposed Dakota County Library that is planned to be built adjacent to the City Hall campus. At an upcoming City Council meeting, the Council will proceed with a purchase agreement on the land on which the library will be built. Vogel updated the Commission on the Convention Visitors Bureau. The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously approved the concept at a recent meeting and felt that the Convention Visitors Bureau will be a benefit to attracting visitors to Lakeville. Strategic Plan Update. TEAM 2 -MARKETING A s part of the marketing action plans, staff gathered information on building permits issued in 1995 for single family homes in Lakeville and the values of the homes built. Sobota added that the report did not include land costs affiliated with the cost of a single- family home. City Administrator Erickson stated that the report provided valuable information to ISD 194 in helping them to determine short term and long term facility planning. Discussion regarding the proposed promotional campaign in the Minnesota Real Estate Journal took place. Brantly suggested that staff have Chris Oace, the City's cable communications manager, assist staff in developing the ads. City Administrator Erickson stated that the City Council would review the ad campaign proposal at the next City Council meeting and consider funding for the project. TEAM I & 6. RETAIL DEVELOPMENT. TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE An update to the EDC on City and County Capital Improvement Plans was presented. City Administrator Erickson stated that the City's 5-Year CIP emphasizes investments to the commercial and industrial sectors with no increase in city taxes to carry out the 5-Year Plan. He added that capital improvement plans, generated in a map format, will prove valuable to developers. TEAM 3 ,COMMUNICATIONS Hymel provided the EDC with a copy of the circular generated by the City about the upcoming C.R. 50 Historic Downtown construction project. Staffhand- delivered copies of the information to businesses downtown and in Airlake Industrial Park that could be passed on to customers and employees. EDC members stated that positive comments . from the business community had been received. . TEAM 4. COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT & TF,AM 5. BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT & RETENTION Hymel presented a draft report to the EDC that describes land development costs for available land in Lakeville. The report shows the size of an available parcel in Airlake Industrial Park and the costs incurred if developed. Staff will include commercial and industrial parcels throughout Lakeville. Hymel reported that the Dakota County Partnership Technology Committee was currently sponsoring a business retention and expansion survey. The goal of the survey is to strengthen Dakota County businesses through technology and a total of 40 businesses are being surveyed regarding their technology-oriented firms. Response has been positive and businesses surveyed have expressed appreciation for the information provided them about possible technology partners. Enterprise Facilitation Pilot Project 5obota updated the Commission on the pilot project and handed to members a letter of commitment from the McKnight Foundation. The City of Hastings is still evaluating the structure and funding of the pilot program in its community. Sobota stated that there are insufficient funds in the current budget for the City to help fund the pilot project. $27,200 is required per year for a two-year period. The budget for 1997-98 EDC Strategic Work Plan could include funding if deemed a priority by the EDC and would require approval from the City Council. EDC members support the program but sustaining funding should come either from the users who create businesses through the program or some other resource. City Administrator Erickson stated that in a recent conversation with the Enterprise Facilitation Pilot Project Committee, he suggested that the Cities of Burnsville, Apple Valley, Rosemount and Lakeville, along with the Townships of Castle Rock, Empire and Eureka form a partnership to host the pilot program. The Enterprise Facilitation Program Committee is currently evaluating the suggestion. The EDC felt that long- term financing of the project should come from anon-government source. The EDC suggested that in order to lower the costs for implementing the pilot program, no facilitator be hired but instead Mr. Sirolli, who presented the pilot program to the EDC in February, act as facilitator for the joint program and oversee the Hastings program. In the meantime, acommunity-based foundation could be formed that would eventually act as a steering committee for the program. Staff will continue discussions with the County Pilot Project Committee following the EDC direction. Marketing Video Scripts. The EDC reviewed and commented on several minor changes to the draft marketing scripts by Fred Thompson, Midwest Visuals. It was suggested that a meeting with Mr. Thompson and the Marketing Team of the EDC take place to discuss the marketing scripts. Staff will arrange a meeting. ISD 194 Update Matasosky updated the EDC regarding a recent meeting between the School District 194 administration, Chamber of Commerce and City regarding growth and future bond referendums. The consensus of the meeting was that a strategic planning task force be formed by ISD 194, made up of business, residential, city and school representatives should focus on education areas and growth in Lakeville. An aggressive weekly meeting schedule has been planned. The ISD 194 Task Force would act in similar fashion to the 1991 City Strategic Growth Management Task Force, in that they would provide suggestions to the school board. Appointments to the task force will be made at the next scheduled school board meeting. Other Business. Brandy reported to the EDC the results of a recent development feedback survey that showed that two respondents expressed some concerns regarding their development projects. Brandy requested staff provide background information on the projects. Meeting was adjourned at 8:35 P.M. Respectfully submitted: v. Carol Hymel Recording Secretary ATTEST TO: C.~. Jo "Krejci l Secretary