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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-94 J CITY OF LAKEVILLE • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JULY 25, 1994 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tushie at 7:08 P.M. in the Administrative Conference Room of City Hall. Roll call of members was taken. Present: Erickson, Detjen, Brandy, Matasosky, Vogel, Pogatchnik, Emond. Absent: Krejci. Also present: Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Michael Sobota, Director of Community and Economic Development; Nels Nelson, Barr Engineering; Carol Graff, Economic Development Specialist. 94.06 Motion by Matasosky, seconded by Detjen to approve the minutes of the May 24, 1994 EDC meeting. Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous. Project Undate Sobota updated the commission on the Parker Hannifin project. Staff met with the business representatives to discuss and review their proposed 20,000 square foot expansion in Airlake Industrial Park. • An update on the New Morning Windows project in the Fairfield Business Campus was discussed. At the August 1 meeting, the City Council will be asked to set a special Council meeting to consider a letter of understanding with New Morning Windows, approve plans and specifications and set a bid date for grading of the site. Grading of the site will also accommodate other businesses who are interested in locating in the northwest and southwest parts of the business campus. R. Erickson stated that the Life & Times may contact some of the members of the commission regarding the strategic growth process and its effects on the city. He added that the number of housing starts is currently developing on the rate of 450 units which was the goal of the Strategic Growth Task Force. Tushie commented on the memo from David Krings, City Building Official, which compared Lakeville's housing starts with other cities in the metropolitan area. Except for Farmington, housing starts were down in other cities. R. Erickson added that while housing starts were down by 22% from the same period in 1993, the total market value of single family homes in 1994 totaled 1993 values. Staff discussed several housing projects taking place near the central business district that will help maintain or enhance the economic vitality of the downtown. CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES • JULY 25, 1994 Page 2 Century Refining. Inc_ Graff provided an overview of the proposed Century Refining TIF project for Airlake Industrial Park. The company proposes to build on a vacant site and has submitted an application for tax increment financing. The commission was asked for their recommendation to the City Council to accept the tax increment application at a public hearing scheduled for September 6. Sobota described the proposed plan as the creation of a 15-year Renewal and Renovation District with pay-as-you-go financing. Graff reviewed how the tax increment funds would be used in the project. The project will allow the business to expand on the site if desired at a future date. 94.07 Motion was made by Brandy, seconded by Erickson to recommend to the City Council acceptance of the tax increment application from Century Refining, Inc. at a public hearing scheduled for September 6, 1994. Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Brantly, Erickson, Pogatchnik, Tushie, Detjen. Abstained: Matasosky, Emond. Review of the Proposed Storm Water Utility Fee Nels Nelson, Barr Engineering, presented information regarding the proposed storm • water utility fee. State law requires either watershed management organizations or - the City be responsible for storm water management. Nelson reviewed possible alternative actions to provide funds for maintaining the storm water system including connection fees, increased land development fees, taxes, special assessments, grants, and cost sharing with other cities. R. Erickson, City Administrator, stated that Lakeville is the last city in Dakota County to impose the proposed stonn water utility fee. The proposed fee structure was recommended so that all properties would be charged fairly based on runoff. He added that many residences have never paid trunk storm water charges. Nelson reviewed who would be charged the proposed fee, including single-family residences, golf courses, manufactured housing, schools, apartments, churches, and retail, commercial, warehouse and industrial properties. R. Erickson added that on agricultural properties, only homesteads would be charged. It was stressed that while existing fees are taking care of existing needs, the proposed utility fee is to address additional environmental programs mandated by the State, including environmental management. Discussion by members of the commission took place regarding the hiring of an environmental engineer and that agricultural properties were not being asked to pay their fair share of the cost. Nelson gave an overview of where the funds generated by the proposed fee would be allocated. R. Erickson stated that past residential surveys indicated strong support for this type of program. The survey, conducted twice, showed almost 70% of the residents surveyed supported a water quality enhancement program. • CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JULY 25, 1994 Page 3 Nelson stressed to the commission that if Lakeville did not impose some type of management, the State would probably impose a moratorium on filling any existing wetlands which would stop virtually any development. R. Erickson stated that Lakeville has applied for a designation to run it's own storm water management program that would allow development to occur and lessen the impact of applying to several government agencies. Additionally, a wetland bank could be created to facilitate the State's requirements. He added that the City had done extensive research on the utility fee and had notified all homeowners, businesses, and others regarding the proposed fee and the public hearing. Tushie asked if existing and proposed regional ponds are planned for recreational and aesthetic purposes in the city. Sobota stated that it was not a formal policy at this time. Tushie requested that consideration be made that recreational and aesthetic uses of the ponds become a part of the formal review policy. The commission agreed. 94.08 Motion was made by Pogatchnik, seconded by Vogel, to recommend to the City Council approval and implementation of the storm water utility fees. Tushie proposed an amendment to the motion supporting regional ponding and that whenever possible, recreational and aesthetic uses become a part of the design. Amended motion was seconded by Vogel. Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous. R. Erickson stated that he would forward the commission's concern regarding the issue of agriculture paying an equitable share of the storm water fee to the City Council Discussion of Strategic Workalans Sobota reviewed with the commission the steps taken up to the present regarding the workplans and asked that discussion center on the risk and reward for each strategy as well as designating a timeline for each activity. Vogel further explained the steps of determining risk and reward. He described how the commission should prioritize and schedule the workplans in order to accomplish their goals, thus achieving the reward. The commission reviewed the strategic workplans, establishing time-lines in which to complete the plans and prioritizing each workplan by it's risk/reward level. Upon completion of the review of the strategic workplans, R. Erickson suggested to the commission that a joint worksession be held with the City Council in September at which time the Economic Development Commission would present their strategic workplans. The commission agreed and a date will be arranged to hold a joint worksession. CITY OF LAI{EVILLE • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JULY 25, 1994 Page 4 Meeting adjourned at 9:58 P.M. Respectfully submitted: Carol Graff, Recordi g etary ATTEST: obert Brant y, Secretary