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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-22-08-08 City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes April 22, 2008 Marion Conference Room, City Hall Members Present: Comms. Matasosky, Vlasak, Emond, Erickson, Schubert, Tushie, Brantly, Ex-officio member Mayor Holly Dahl, Ex-officio member City Administrator Steve Mielke. Members Absent: Comm. Smith, Pogatchnik, Stanfield, Ex-officio member Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Todd Bornhauser. Others Present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist. 1. Call Meeting to Order Chair Matasosky called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, Minnesota. 2. Approve February 26,_2008 Meeting Minutes Motion 08.04 Comms. Erickson/Schubert moved to approve the minutes of the February 26, 2008 meeting as presented. Motion .carried unanimously. 3. Introduction of New EDC Member Due to a previously scheduled commitment new EDC member Glenn Stanfield was unable to attend the meeting. 4. Update on Lakeville Broadband Issues Adam Kienberger gave an update on the status of broadband planning in Lakeville. Staff is currently working on an RFP for a consultant to perform a feasibility study on constructing and open-access fiber to the home (FTTH) network. This is the result of the work done by the ,Business Telecommunications Technology Task Force (BTTTF) in 2007 to study broadband options for Lakeville businesses. ` Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes April 22, 2008 Mr. Kienberger noted that Eagan is currently conducting a similar feasibility study and that Red Wing just hired the same consultant Lakeville used for the BTTTF to do their own feasibility study.. It was also noted that broadband .has become acounty-wide effort with the intent focused on leveraging economies of scale and collaboration of knowledge. Lakeville will continue to remain active and involved both locally and at a County-wide level. 5. Update on Downtown Market Park Project Mr. Kienberger provided an update on the status of the Downtown Market Park Project. The City of Lakeville recently received. a $200,000 grant from the Dakota County CDA Redevelopment incentive program. The City previously received a commitment from the Dakota .County CDA for $350,000 in TIF assistance for this project from an existing CDA TIF District. Comm. Emond asked who would .own the newly created parking lot and gathering space. David Olson responded that the lot would be owned by the City of Lakeville. Mr. Olson went on to explain how this new public space would be part of an overall downtown parking system. He also noted the planned expansion of the privately owned parking lot on the corner of 207th Street West and Holt Avenue. Comm. Vlasak inquired if by having the City own this newly created space, would it .have an impact on parking requirements for a future adjacent business. Mr. Olson responded that public parking is a common occurrence in a downtown setting, and that this is one of ,the steps towards creating a comprehensive downtown parking system. Comm. Emond asked what the status of the Peterson building was and how is the demolition being funded.. Mr. Olson responded that the demolition is being paid for with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds administered by the Dakota County CDA. Comm. Emond commented how he has noticed more people walking in Downtown to some of the new destinations and amenities. 2 ` Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes April 22, 2008 6. Update of the County Road 70 Interchange Bids Mr. Olson reviewed the progress on the County Road 70 interchange project and noted that this has been in the planning stages for nearly 17 years. Dakota County .recently opened bids on the County Road 70 ! I-35 Interchange Project. There were seven bids received and Ames Construction Inc. of Burnsville was the low bidder with a base bid of $19,693,797.53. This bid amount is .approximately 7% under the engineer's estimate for. the project. In addition to the base or contract bid amount, Ames included in their bid. a time period of 100, days to complete the new bridge in 2009. Failure to meet the 100 day schedule will result in a cost of $10,000 per .day for Ames Construction. Ames Construction was also the contractor for. the County Road 46 project a number of years ago. The County had originally planned to award the bid at the April 15th Board meeting. However, a delay in completing the necessary paperwork at MnDOT and the Federal .Highway Administration has delayed the bid award tothe May 6th Board meeting. It is anticipated. that construction .will commence shortly after the bid award. City staff will be coordinating with County staff to provide timely communications to businesses and residents as to the construction activities, including information on detour routes. It is the plan to keep all of the roads and ramps open to traffic in 2008 with the actual bridge closing to occur for up to 1.00 days in 2009. Mr. Olson added that the new interchange will be upwards of a $25 million project. 7. Update on Economic Development Legislative- Issues Mr. Olson reviewed economic development related legislative issues including updates on the JOBZ, SEED and MIF programs. Mr. Olson also provided an update on a financing option being pursued by the Mall of America in Bloomington to utilize fiscal disparities for a planned expansion.. Mr. Mielke added that fiscal disparities were started in the 1970s to help surrounding communities benefit from regional draws. Mr. Mielke added that fiscal disparities have not historically been used to "fund" new projects as is being proposed. The -City of Lakeville is opposed to fiscal disparities being used in this manner. 3 ' Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes April 22, .2008 8. Review of Local Foreclosure Information. Mr. Olson summarized a report by the Dakota County CDA outlining the foreclosure _ rates in Dakota County. Comm. Emond asked if there are ways the City can get early notices of foreclosure #rom .neighbors, realtors etc. to prevent problems typically associated with foreclosed houses. Mayor Dahl indicated that. the City is currently pursuing several options to remain proactive on dealing with foreclosed properties in Lakeville. 9. Director's Report Mr. Mielke discussed the status of transit in Lakeville with the EDC. The Metropolitan Council has very recently presented, Lakeville with a unique transportation proposal that would bring transit facilities and services, as well as highway improvements :beneficial to the City by using state, regional, and federal funding. The proposal would require that the City join the transit taxing district, and, due to federal and state requirements, a City Council decision on the proposal must be made by May Stn The proposed transportation amenities would be developed using Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) funds. The UPA is a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative to address traffic congestion. The UPA funding creates potential transit opportunities for Lakeville that were not previously available. The Met Council is proposing:- • Northbound I-35 High Occupancy Tollway (HOT/HOV) lane extension from Burnsville Parkway to the I-35 split by 2011. • By 2009, construction of apark-and-ride station on the east side of I-35, just west of Kenrick/167th Street, at the location of the current park-and-pool lot. • Bus-only entrance and exit ramps from 1-35 to service the park-and-ride. facility. • Funding for a minimum of six express trips to downtown Minneapolis during both morning and afternoon peak times using coach bus service. • By 2009, construction of a parking facility with passenger waiting area along the Cedar Avenue corridor between 179th and 185th Streets. 4 ' Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes April 22, 2008 • Extension of the existing Cedar Avenue transit route from Apple Valley to Lakeville for a minimum of five peak hour trips daily. • Off-peak station-to-station mid-day bus service when available. • Support for future improvements. For the Met Council to be able to provide these facilities and services, Lakeville must become a member of the Metropolitan Transit Taxing District. If Lakeville joins the transit district, the Met Council .would increase the levy on taxes. for Lakeville property owners. While details have not been finalized, the levy increase to join the transit taxing district could mean a $36 annual increase in property. taxes on the averagevalued -home. While joining the transit taxing district is currently optional, Lakeville could at some future point be legislatively forced into the taxing. district. The transportation options now being offered due to UPA funding would no longer be available. Addressing Lakeville's transportation needs is an important consideration for residents and for the City Council. Traffic congestion and the cost of transportation improvements. are .increasing problems for all metro area cities. Choices made now may affect the City's ability to meet the needs of today's commuters and those of future generations. The City Council is carefully considering the proposal's benefits to the community and cost to .taxpayers. The Council must officially act on the proposal by May 5. To give residents more information, gather public input, and answer questions, the City will hold an open house: Informational Open House City Hall 20195 Holyoke Ave. Tuesday, April 29 6 to 8 p.m., presentation at 6:30 p.m. Comm. Brantly asked how buses currently get to Minneapolis from the Cedar Avenue transit stations. Mr. Mielke responded that they travel Cedar Ave to 62/Crosstown to 35W. Comm. Tushie indicated that when transit facilities were constructed in Burnsville they grew very quickly. He also noted some unique development opportunities would present themselves around the proposed transit locations. 5 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes AprN 22, 2008 Chair. Matasosky expressed his agreement with Comm. Tushie that transit in Lakeville would be very helpful to the community and the local economy. Mr. Mielke added .that because -the City of Lakeville already owns land at the intersection of County Road 70 and I-35 this proposal opens up future possibilities for that intersection as well Comm. Tushie noted that transit takes people off of the roadways and helps everyone including those that don't ride the bus. Comm. Schubert added that we need to look .long-term and realize that an opportunity like this may not present itself for another 20-30 years. Mayor Dahl also added that future competition for these types of grant dollars would likely be much more intense as the need for transit grows in the Twin Cities. Mr. Olson noted that Lakeville is unique in by the fact of having two transit ways running through it. Mr. Mielke added that Lakeville is also the largest city in the Metro that is currently not part of the Transit Taxing District. Comm. Emond stated that the value of this proposal will likely be realized quickly through new job and business growth. Motion 08.05 Comms. Tushie/Emond moved to forward the support of the EDC to the City Council of the transit proposal as presented at the EDC meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Olson reviewed the remainder of the Director's Report. 10.Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Attested to: ff Adam Kienberge R. T. Brantly, Secre ry Economic Development Specialist 6