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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-95 e CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 The meeting was called to order at 6:08 P.M. in the Parks & Recreation Conference Room at City Hall. Roll call of members was taken. Present: Brantly, Detjen, Emond, Pogatchnik, Tushie, Vogel. Absent: Erickson, Krejci, Matasosky. Also present: Pat Carlberg, President of Lakeville Chamber of Commerce; Michael Sobota, Director of Community & Economic Development; Carol Hymel, Economic Development Specialist. 95.10 Motion was made by Emond, seconded by Pogatchnik to approve the minutes of the April 25, 1995 meeting, Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous. Project Activities Update Sobota reviewed the project activities update report. Discussion regarding the reduction in the Community Development Program grant/loan to New Morning Windows took place. Emond asked how the reduction would effect the project. Sobota stated that the funds ($200,000 reduced to $125,000) were allocated by the company for new equipment and that the reduction would not effect the development project. He added that the state program was cut across the board and that the New Morning Windows project was just one of many that received reduced funds from the grant/loan program. Hymel told the commission about Airlake Development, Inc. plans to have a guided tour of Airlake Industrial Park in July. The tour would focus on industrial developers, realtors, financial institutions, etc. to introduce the availability of land for development. The commission felt that having the tour was a positive step but should be scheduled for September in order to have a better response. It was also suggested that the proposed tour include a recreational activity as a draw. Staff will contact Airlake Development, Inc. with the commission's suggestions_ Sobota brought the commission up to date regarding the LeJeune Bolt Company's proposal to lease or purchase additional land next to their present facility in Airlake. The adjacent land is owned by MAC who is working with their legal counsel to bring the proposal to a positive conclusion. Sobota added that several land purchases have taken place recently in Airlake Industrial Park. Brantly suggested that staff notify the community with an update in the Messages page. Staff will pass on the suggestion to the City Administrator. Strate8ic Plan Update Hymel explained the summary of findings regarding the number of executives who work in Lakeville and where their place of residence is located. Commission members suggested that staff contact businesses located in Burnsville and Bloomington to ascertain where executives reside. Pat Carlberg added that he could provide staff with a resource who could help with the survey. Staff will provide a report of findings to the commission at the next scheduled meeting. The comrission reviewed the findings regazding the location of high-end value housing in Lakeville and surrounding communities. It was agreed that Lakeville provides a wide variety of housing for all incomes. Brantly suggested that staff include the information when sending out information to businesses interested in relocating to Lakeville. It was also suggested that color photos of housing in Lakeville would be advantageous in marketing the community to potential new businesses. Sobota brought the commission up to date regarding the marketing program. Ken Wilson, Wilson Marketing Group, Inc. has been retained as a marketing consultant to assist the City in conducting a business attraction survey for compazable cities and a survey of businesses who have relocated to those communities. Staff will begin the survey June 29 and expects to complete the survey by July 12. The commission discussed who should attend the F.A.B. exercise scheduled for mid-August. Brantly suggested that participants should include a good cross section of commercial and industrial-based business, real estate, and residential. Staff was directed to work with Ken Wilson to develop the profile based upon the suggestions by the commission. Sobota suggested that discussion of the business community survey program be tabled since members of the team (Erickson, Krejci) were not in attendance. The commission agreed and tabled discussion regarding the business survey until the next scheduled meeting. Sobota reviewed the GIS projects underway. Pioneer Engineering has been retained to collect data on Airlake Industrial Park and provide the city with an electronic data base of information. Insight Mappings, Inc. has been retained by the Dakota County Economic Development Partnership with work with member cities to create an electronic data base of information to be used in marketing efforts for each community. It is expected that by September, the Airlake Industrial Project will be completed. Hymel reviewed the gateway areas as proposed by city staff. Tushie stated that the gateway areas include major avenue corridors as part of the project. He added that commonality of theme be incorporated in the landscaping design of the corridors and gateway areas. Sobota stated that staff will include the commissions suggestions when development of the gateway plan gets underway in early 1996. Hymel described the various customer service programs that were currently being researched by the City Administrator. Sobota asked the commission if they had participated in customer service programs that they thought were effective. Several of the members stated that their place of business had used programs to enhance in-house customer service. Old Business Discussion by the commission regarding the recent Community Survey took place. Members commented that the survey demonstrated that residents were not shopping in the historic downtown business district. Of specific interest were the questions regarding shopping habits of residents that showed that 60% of residents shop more often in Apple Valley than in Lakeville. The survey also demonstrated that though residents might come to see what was available if a town square was developed, it was not clear if residents would change their shopping patterns. Brantly stated that development of residential areas in the southern half of Lakeville would increase the chances of viable commercial development in the proposed town square area. Detjen a~ added that "roof tops" (residential development) dictated location of commercial development • • and that residential development along Ipava Avenue, north and south, would enhance the development of a town square. Pogatchnik remarked that the survey demonstrated that residents liked living in Lakeville and thought that city staff were doing a very good job of delivering services to the community. He added that a copy of the survey should be sent to businesses who inquire about Lakeville. Sobota stated that staff has sent out copies ofthe survey results to retaiUcommercial businesses in the past and will continue doing so. Discussion regarding telecommunication service availability by Frontier Communications took place. Brantly and Vogel felt that the information provided by the company to staffwas a sales pitch. Detjen added that Frontier has gone through two changes of ownership in a short period of time which has caused disjointed service. Sobota suggested that a consultant learned in the telecommunications field be retained to evaluate Frontiers capabilities and service. The commission agreed that a consultant knowledgeable in the field would provide a valuable critique of Frontier. Staff will contact a consultant to evaluate Frontier's capabilities. Pat Carlberg presented the commission with an overview of the meeting held with staff and business representatives, and planning commission members to discuss the proposed ordinance regarding land/sea and semi-tractor trailer storage containers. He stated that a healthy discussion took place and that more research on the issue will be done. A meeting is scheduled for August 9 between staff and business to discuss alternatives and arrive at an action plan. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted: l~/~,~C~ Carol Hymel Recording Secretary Attest: Bob Brantly Chair