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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-04-04 City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes January 27,2004 .Marion Conference Room, City Hall Members Present: Comms. Brantly, Emond, J. Erickson, Gehrke, Matasosky, .Miller, Pogatchnik, Tushie, Ex-Officio member Robert Erickson -City Administrator Members Absent:. Comms. Schubert, Smith, Ex-Officio member Todd Bornhauser - Executive Director -Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce Others Present: Staff present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Amanda Schwabe, Economic Development Coordinator 1. Call .Meeting to Order. Chair Matasosky called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, Minnesota. 2. Approve December 9, 2003 Meeting Minutes . Motion 04.01. :Comms. Tushie/Erickson moved to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2003 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Election of Officers Mr. Olson stated that the February 22, 1994 Resolution Confirming and Defining the Purpose, Responsibilities and Terms of Office for the Economic Development Commission state that "at the first meeting of the year, the Commission shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary from amongst its appointed members to serve for a term of one year." Chair Matasosky asked for nominations to fill the three positions. Comms. Erickson recommended. keeping the same officers that were elected in 2003. Motion 04.02 Comms. Erickson/Miller moved to elect Comm. Matasosky as Chair, Comm. Pogatchnik as Vice-Chair, and Comm. Brantly as Secretary of the Economic Development Commission for 2004. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Video Presentation -Pat Summerall Productions - "Best Managed Small Cities in America" City Administrator Erickson informed EDC members that Pat Summerall Productions recently selected Lakeville as one of the best managed small cities in .America. The City has received both a 2-minute and 6-minute video produced by Pat Summerall 1 Productions. He mentioned that the 2-minute video .would. be aired on CNN Headline News on January 29, _2004 between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Pat • Summerall Productions did filming for the videos and provided much of the script. Comms. Pogatchnik stated that this video is the best thing the City has to distribute and that it is definitely a first class production.. It makes me proud to be a resident of Lakeville. Comms. Tushie recommended sending the video to local television stations. Comms. Gehrke suggested running the video before council meetings as people are being seated. Mr. Olson. explained that streaming the video on the City's website may be another .way for the public to view it. Comms. Pogatchnik stated that Mr. Summerall's voice is very distinctive and will be recognized by many people. Comms. Brantly questioned how timely the video would be. Mr. Erickson stated that the City would be able to use the video as a marketing tool for at least one year. He .also shared that the Fortune 300 companies that are located in Lakeville have requested copies of the video to give to their corporate • headquarters. Mr. Olson asked EDC members to let him or Ms. Schwabe know if they have contacts who would like a copy of the video.. He stated that .the companies .mentioned in the video would be receiving complimentary copies as well as other businesses that request copies. 5. Presentation of 2003 Economic Development Annual Report Mr. Olson presented a PowerPoint presentation. to highlight major achievements, .recognize how EDC initiatives have played a role in accomplishments, and identify what staff will be working on in 2004. Comms. Pogatchnik asked about the occupancy at Lakeville Town Office. Mr. Olson stated that Mr. Dunsmore has commitments, meaning units have either been sold or leased, in all but one or two of the seventeen units. He also. said that Mr. Dunsmore -is interested in constructing another fifteen or sixteen units on the parcel adjacent to his current project and the ..Family Swim School. Mr. Olson indicated that Lakeville Office Park tenants would include realtors, financial .offices and builders. • Mr. Olson stated that Lakeville family Dental building is also fully leased. Comms. Pogatchnik questioned why Cub Foods would. build a store in the Crossroads development when it is so close to their location in Apple Valley? 2 City Administrator Erickson stated that the number of housing units in .Lakeville, Farmington and Apple. Valley were a deciding factor. He mentioned that the • Kowalski's grocery store chain is still interested in locating in Lakeville. City Administrator Erickson continued by saying that the sit-down restaurant site in the Crossroads Development has been acquired by the owners of Champs restaurants but that they are not interested in doing a Champs here, but rather something higher end. Comms. Erickson asked if any tenants had been found .for the Heritage Commons 2r,a Addition building? City Administrator Erickson informed EDC members that Theresa's Restaurant,. a sit-down Mexican restaurant, is in the process of completing the necessary paperwork for a liquor license application to locate in the Heritage Commons 2na Addition. Comms. Pogatchnik mentioned that he has seen a "For Sale" sign downtown and .asked which parcels of land are for sale? Mr. Olson shared that the Fleck properties currently being used as parking lots, including the site next to Erickson Drug, are currently for sale. Comms. Erickson asked what the status was of the two houses owned by the VFW? • City Administrator .Erickson. informed EDC members that the City has offered to assist in the demolition of the two houses. At the completion of the PowerPoint presentation, Chair Matasosky asked how the EDC could share this message with residents? Mr. Olson stated that one way would be to put the PowerPoint on the City's website. Mr. Olson .informed EDC members that. money has been budgeted to bring. in an outside facilitator to assist in the planning of the 2005-2007 Strategic Plan .Work. Program. Comms.. Pogatchnik asked if EDC members could be present at the City Council meeting during the .presentation? City Administrator .Erickson stated that more credibility.. would be gained if EDC :members could'be present at the meeting. Comms. Pogatchnik, Emond and Matasosky volunteered to be present at the Feb. 2, 2004 City Council meeting when the Summary of Economic Development in 2003 PowerPoint is presented. • 6. 2002-2004 Strategic P an Work Program for 2004 Mr. Olson stated that 2004 is the final year of the three-year plan and that the 2004 Work Plan goals were derived from reviewing the four Strategic Work Areas that the 3 EDC identified in the 2002-2004 Strategic Plan for Economic Development. He informed the EOC members that many of the goals and efforts pertaining to these Work Areas were also included in the 2003 Work Plan. are ongoing and thus a number of these goals have been carried forward into 2004. Efforts to achieve the first goal, "to inform the residents of the benefits of commercial/industrial development," include continuation of the Spotlight on Business Program, which has been slightly modified to invite the developers of large commercial retail and industrial projects to give updates or status reports on their respective projects,. hosting EDC meetings/tours at area. businesses and utilizing the strategies recommended by Himle Horner including increasing the utilization of Cable Channel.l6 and the City's website to provide additional information on new commercial and industrial development occurring in the community. The second goal and strategic work area. to be continued in 2004 is the "Support of Major Transportation Facilities in the City." Efforts will include continuing to work on the interchange improvements at Co. Rd. 50 and 60 as well as identifying funding for the Co. Rd. 70 interchange improvements. Mr. Olson informed EDC members that the City is eligible for $5.5 million in TEA-21 funding that is anticipated to be available in 2007. Staff will continue to work on the 1-35 and Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transit. Study, East-West Corridor. Study and the County 2025 Transportation Plan in which the Ten Ton road issue is proposed to be addressed. Efforts to achieve the. third goal of "Encouraging the investigation of critical business infrastructure" continues with assisting the Airlake Airport in implementing their plans to expand their commercial hanger facilities. Staff will also continue to monitor the :.Metropolitan Council's effort to complete a Regional Wastewater System Plan. Update. City Administrator Erickson informed EDC members that Caren Dewar, Deputy Regional Administrator, resigned from the Metropolitan Council last week. Erickson stated that the City would benefit from this change in the coming years. The fourth goal and strategic work area is for the EDC to "encourage a balance between commercial/industrial and residential tax base." Mr. Olson explained that business retention and expansion efforts, manufacturing week activities and communications methods such as continuing the Airlake Newsletter would continue in 2004. Additional activities continuing from previous strategic plans include: the distribution, collection and tracking of Development Project Feedback Surveys and Customer Service Training for City Employees which is included in the 2004 Budget and is proposed to be conducted again this year. He mentioned, that the Pat Summerall Productions video promoting .Lakeville would also be available for use as a marketing piece in attracting businesses and industries to Lakeville. • Mr. Olson reiterated to EDC members that staff would begin work on the 2005-2007 Strategic Plan for Economic Development in August or September. He stated that funding is included in the approved budget to bring in an outside facilitator to assist in the planning process. 4 Comms. Matasosky indicated that it is good to have a Strategic Plan that is manageable. • Comms. Po t m nt how ga chnik stated that. all of the current develop e s s how. far along the city has come. . Motion 04.03. .Comms. Emond/Pogatchnik moved to approve the 2004 Work Plan for the Economic Development Strategic Plan. Motion carried unanimously. 7. Summary of 2003 Development Project Feedback Surveys Ms. Schwabe informed EDC members that as a result of the 1995 Strategic Plan for Economic Development, each year the City conducts a "survey of business after the development .process for feedback." She explained that the surveys are- sent to developers and owners of commercial and industrial projects after they have received a certificate of occupancy for their project. Ms. Schwabe stated that .the City sent out 62 survey letters in 2003 for which 21 responses were received. She mentioned that a copy of the survey and results dating back to 1999 were included in the packet. Mr. Olson concluded by saying that all respondents receive a signed letter from the Mayor saying thank you for responding. Comms. Brantly stated that the positive remarks that were received would be a great motivation for staff. Comms. Pogatchnik questioned if there was an incentive for staff to receive favorable comments? Mr. Olson responded by saying that the comments #hat are received. on the development surveys are taken into consideration during employee merit evaluations that take place at the end of the year. Comms. Pogatchnik stated that 100% satisfaction shows that the City is treating everyone fairly with .consistency. 8. 2003 Building Permit Analysis Mr. Olson explained to :EDC members that the City of Lakeville. has surpassed its .previous record #or annual total building permit valuation. He stated that in 2003, the City issued building permits with a total valuation of $250,107,515. This represented an increase of .more than $82,965,156 over the previous .record of $167,142,359 :established in 2002. Mr. Olson informed EDC members that Commercial /Industrial. building ..permits • represented approximately 17.2% of the total building. permit valuation in 2003 (excluding the New High School and other tax exempt .projects) compared to 12.5% for Commercial /Industrial permits issued in 2002 (excluding tax exempt. projects). 5 Mr. Olson stated that he would not go into great detail regarding specific projects since most were included in the Presentation of 2003 Economic Development Annual Report.. Comms. Tushie asked if the City needs to consider a moratorium on residential development? City Administrator Erickson responded that the Mayor has responded to this question by saying that the City should wait two years until staff begins updating the Comprehensive Plan in 2006. He continued to say that the direction right now is to continue on the course of processing the current level of building permits, focusing on transportation issues including interchange improvements and the East-West Corridor Study as well as the Community Center. Motion 04.04 Comms. Tushie/Pogatchnik moved to revisit the Strategic .Work Plan Areas and their relation to overall development during the next EDC Strategic Planning session in September. Motion carried unanimously. 9. Directors Report Mr. Olson informed EDC members that the 2004 meeting schedule was included in the packet. Mr. Olson shared that C.H. Carpenter Lumber Company, Inc. was featured at the January 20, 2004 City Council meeting and was introduced by EDC Chair Jack Matasosky.: Mr. Olson also stated that. the Dakota Electric. Association Partners In Progress Event is scheduled for March 3, 2004 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Royal Cliff in Eagan. Comms. Matasosky and Brantly confirmed having received invitations to the Partners In Progress event. 10. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. R spectfully submitted by: Attested to: Amanda Schwabe, R. T. Brantly, Secret Economic Development Coordinator 6