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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-89 r CITY OF LAKEVILLE • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 24, 1989 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Berg at 7:00 p.m, in the City Ha11 conference room. Roll call of members was taken. Present: Berg, Emond, Leslie, Matasoaky, Meledandri. Absent: Erickson, Tushie. Also present was Jim Robinette, Community Development Director, Daryl Morey, Assistant Community Development Director and Elizabeth Halbach, Executive Director of the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce. 89.24 Motion was made by Emond, seconded by Meledandri to approve the minutes of the September 26, 1989 Economic Development Commission meeting. Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous. Commission members discussed last week's Commerce and Industry Day. Initial reports indicate that attendance was down this year somewhat compared with the last two years. Commission members • expressed their views, comments and impressions of this year's Commerce and Industry Day. Commission members discussed some possible changes to the Commerce and Industry Day format. They include: 1. Hold the event every other year instead of on a yearly basis. 2. Alter the scheduled activities every year to help promote continued interest in the event, 3. Target and invite a lesser number of more specialized and prominant development people as opposed to a greater number of general interest people. 4. Follow up the invitation with a telephone call two to three days prior to the event. 5. Design the event more like a trade show. 6. Have a full day of events as opposed to a half day of events. A subcommittee was formed to discuss and organize next year's event months in advance to avoid last minute organizational pitfalls. Subcommittee members include: Leslie, Matasosky and Meledandri. They will provide a brief update of their progress at each month's Economic Development Commission meeting. Subcom- mittee members will research other cities' Commerce and Industry Day -type events for ideas that may help improve our event. Commission members discussed the Business Retention and Expansion Program. Jim Robinette stated that we have received over 20 • surveys back from industrial business. That represents a greater than 25% response rate, which is very good. Mr. Robinette also stated that Commission members need to get with Elizabeth to ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 24, 1989 schedule the businesses they will be interviewing to satisfy Part 2 of the Business Retention and Expansion Program. Mr. Robinette stated that these interviews need to be scheduled and performed very soon so the City can meet the DTED's deadline on completion of the Business Retention and Expansion Program. Mr. Robinette stated that difficulty finding employees is consistently one of the greatest concerns expressed by businesses that have returned the survey thus far. Commission members discussed the current situation regarding Despatch Industries and their on-going strike. Jim Robinette stated that Despatch Industries may close down manufacturing activities in Lakeville if the strike is not settled soon. However, they are participating in the Business Retention and Expansion Program. Commission members discussed possible ways to assist those businesses that are having difficulty with their employment base. Mr. Robinette stated the City needs to target moderate income housing (such as Brad and Audrey Johnson's proposed apartment development on Highway 50) for tax increment financing assistance in an effort to provide an employment base for industrial businesses. Ben Meledandri discussed some flexible alternatives to the typical, rigid, one person, 40 hour work week system that might help businesses attract and retain employees. Mr. Meledandri stated that he would be willing to discuss his ideas with interested businesses as part of an economic assistance program designed to attract new businesses and retain existing ones. Commission members discussed specific developments from the Current and Pending Development Report dated October 13, 1989. Commission members also discussed traffic concerns at I-35 and Highway 70, and 175th Street and Highway 50. Mr. Robinette updated Commission members on the Kindercare development and stated his idea was to have a traffic study performed in the 175th/Highway 50/Junnelle Path area. He also stated the City continues to work with the State on getting a traffic signal at 175th Street and Highway 50. Commission members discussed next month's meeting date and agenda. It was agreed that November 28th would be no problem for Commission members to attend and that a review of Lakeville's Tax Increment Financing Districts and Policy would be the only agenda item for discussion. A date and agenda for December's meeting will be discussed at the November meeting. 89.25 Motion was made by Emond, seconded by Matasosky to adjourn the • meeting. 2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 24, 1989 Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes: Unanimous. Time 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Daryl Mor y, Ass'sta Community Development Director ATTEST Randy Berg, Chairman • 3