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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-94 k CITY OF LAKEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 3, 1994 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tushie at 7:10 P.M. at City Hall. Roll call of members was taken. Present: Brantly, Detjen, Krejci, Matasosky, Pogatchnik, Tushie. Absent: Emond, Erickson, Vogel. Also present: Cindy Johnson, Lakeville Chamber of Commerce; Michael Sobota, Director of Community and Economic Development; Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Carol Graff, Economic Development Specialist. 94.10 Motion by Matasosky, seconded by Pogatchnik to approve minutes of September 27, 1994 EDC meeting. Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous. Projects and Activities Update Sobota reviewed the project activities that have taken place. Staff met with New Morning Windows and representatives from MN DTED to discuss an application for a state program for small issue IDRB mortgage financing for the building. The program would assist the company and move the Fairfield project forward. Sobota has been contacted for information regarding Airlake Industrial Park by a group of potential buyers/investors of the industrial park. The Premier Bank group that holds the Sheriff's Certificate provided an option to this group. Finalization of the ownership of Airlake Industrial Park is expected to take place on December 5, 1994. Wisconsin Warehouse, Inc., a public warehouse owner/developer, has met with lack Matasosky, Appro Development, and the owners of a 25+ acre Fischer parcel adjacent to Airlake Industrial Park. Staff previously surveyed several Airlake Industrial Park businesses about current warehouse needs. Discussions are on-going. The Fischer site has no rail which is a strong consideration by the warehouse developer who has previously looked at another site that has rail. Discussion by the commission centered on the possibility of establishing warehouse/distribution area on sites that are located outside the MUSA boundary. Since submitting a proposal, no information has been received regarding the Hoyt project. A recent article in the Minnesota Real Estate Journal suggested that the Hoyt Companies is seriously looking at Hudson, Wisconsin as a site to build a 50,000 square foot facility. City Administrator Erickson told the commission that an article would appear on the Messages section of an upcoming Life & Times newspaper indicating that property taxes, including school district taxes, on residents and businesses will be lower in 1995, due to several factors. Sobota provided an update on the C.R 46 interchange project and the acquisition of several remnant ' parcels of land near the interchange. Once federal funds are released for the project, the commission will make recommendations regarding the landscaping and final design of the C.R. 46 bridge. The bridge represents the gateway into Lakeville and input by the commission on design is an important part of the Economic Development Strategic Plan. A meeting between the EDC Chairman and Dakota County Highway Dept. staff will be scheduled. Discussion of Strateeic Workulan Chamber Feedback. Chairman Tushie asked Cindy Johnson, Lakeville Chamber of Commerce, to present the feedback received from the meetings that were recently held to discuss the Economic Development Strategic Plan. Johnson commented that most of the conunents were positive. She will provide a formal report to the City Council and commission members in the near future. Tushie commented that a common issue between the two meetings was affordable housing. He added that the need for affordable housing should be spread over a region and not be concentrated in one community. City Administrator Erickson added that the issue is addressed in the City's Comprehensive Plan. It was noted that Farmington recently approv ed a PLID containing 500 affordable housing units. Another issue brought up in the meetings was additional labor supply. Graff provided the commission with an update on meetings that have taken place between the school district and the Dakota County Employment and Training Center to assist businesses in the industrial pazk. The Human Resources Network group, representing a mix of manufacturing businesses in Airlake have been discussing holding a job fair to introduce students to the companies in Airlake Industrial Park. The commission stated that a tour of several of the businesses by high school students would make them aware of employment opportunties in the park. Discussion of Worknlan Kev Programs & Schedule Sobota and Graff provided information to the commission on the proposed steps, timelines and cost to implement the strategic workplan. The EDC reviewed each of the action plans and discussed the steps and timeline. The EDC suggested several changes to the workplan. Revisions to the Strategic Work Plan are as follows: Team 1 -Retail & Commercial Action Plan D The EDC discussed the correct verbiage to describe the current downtown business district and the proposed town square study. The action plan was changed to reflect this concern. Thus, the new Key Program E states: Evaluate and consider the proposed town square location study in the existing central business district. It was determined by staff that this program become a part of the Marketing Consultant's workplan and would increase the budget by $5,000. Key Program F would now read: Make recommendations on location, improvements, and mix of uses. The time table to achieve Action Plan D is September, 1995. Team 2 -Marketing Plan Action Plan A After reviewing the action plan and its key programs, the following revision was made to Key Program A: Retain a facilitator to conduct a focus group among commission members, representatives from residential, business, institution sectors, and Chamber. The time table to achieve Action Plan A remained unchanged. ' Action Plan D The commission decided to expand this action plan to be more comprehensive and include water supply issues. Key Program B was revised to designate 3sub-steps: 1. Determine how much industrial land is within the MUSA boundary and outside the MUSA boundary. Scope of the survey includes: Lakeville and South of the River communities. 2. Conduct amarket-driven analysis to determine appropriate amount of industrial-zoned areas. 3. Determine approaches to interim use regulation. The time table to accomplish Key Program B is the 2nd quarter of 1995. A key program was inserted between B and C and includes: Evaluation of water supply needs, public vs. private systems. The time table to accomplish the new Key Program C is 2nd quarter of 1995 and will be accomplished along with Key Program B. The estimated cost to perform this step is $2,500. The balance of the key programs under Action Plan 2D are moved down in order. The time table for F and G are moved up to be completed by the 4th quarter of 1995. Team 3 -Communications & Interactions Action Plan A The commission members felt strongly that Action Plan 3A was too important and should be completed in 1995 and not in 1996 as designated. It was also decided that SEH was better qualified to complete this action plan and that the estimated cost of completing this plan was too low. City Administrator Erickson suggested that a range between $10,000 and $15,000 should be budgeted for this action plan and suggested that trunk funds could be used to cover the cost of the action plan. The commission members stated that the key program time table be moved up 9-12 months so that the plan would be completed in the 4th quarter of 1995. Action Plan 3A was revised to show the changes discussed by the EDC. Action Plan C The EDC agreed that Key Programs A and B be revised to include customer service improvement programs in each step. Action Plan D The commission stressed the importance of continuing to provide businesses with on-going updates on work activities relating to the plan. It was also noted that when the Strategic Work Plan has final approval by the City Council, that businesses be provided a copy. A key program was added to the action plan and states: C. Provide copies of the approved Strategic Work Plan to businesses and provide plan updates quarterly. The time table for this key program is considered on-going. Previous Key Program C was changed to D; previous key program D was changed to E. Team 6 -Transportation & Infrastructure Action Plan C Correction was made to the staff responsible for carrying out this action plan. Previously noted as the Engineering Dept., the action plan was revised to denote staff responsible as the City Engineer and City Administrator. Action Plan D Clarification for persons responsible in assisting the commission in carrying out the action plan were revised to read as follows: I-35W Solutions Alliance Lakeville Members -Harvey, Johnson, Erickson, Drotning, Tummers. ' Action Plan E Discussions took place among the commission members regarding the importance of providing input to the Dakota County Highway Department regarding the construction of the C.R. 46 Bridge over I-35. Chairman Tushie stressed the importance of meeting with representatives from Dakota County to discuss architectural plans for the bridge. It was determined that a key program be inserted between steps A and B to read as follows: Key Program B: Meeting between city staff, EDC Chairman, and Dakota County Highway regarding the design considerations for the I-35 and C.R. 46 bridge. The time line was scheduled for early 1st quarter. Previous noted key programs B, C, and D changed designation to C, D, and E. The time line for all the key programs were moved up by 3-4 months. The action plan will be completed by 3rd quarter 1995. Other Business Sobota reminded the commission of the upcoming recognition banquet for commission members that will take place December 14. Discussion to change the start time for EDC meetings was presented to the conunission. It was recommended that the meetings begin an hour earlier at 6:00 P.M.. After discussion by the members, meetings after January 1, 1995 were recommended to the City Council to begin at 6:00 P.M. City Administrator Erickson suggested that the Chamber provide a draft of their comments regarding the Strategic Workplan to Chairman Tushie for review before final presentation of the workplan to the City Council November 15. Cindy Johnson provided Tushie with a draft of the Chamber's comments. ` Meeting adjourned at 9:25 P.M. Respectfully submitted: Carol Graff, Reco d ng Secretary Robert Brantly, Secretary