Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-29-09Attachments: City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 5:00 p.m. City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville, MN 1 Call meeting to order 2. Approve August 25, 2009 meeting minutes 3. Continued Discussion of Proposed Zoning Amendments on Exterior Materials Requirements for Commercial and Industrial Buildings 4. Update on Minnesota Investment Fund Application for Genesis Poly Recycling 5. Director's Report 6. Adjourn August 2009 Building Permit Report Malt -O -Meal Press Release, September 15, 2009 "Stella's Fish Cafe Owner takes new concept to Lakeville site," Minneapolis /St. Paul Business Journal, September 18, 2009 CDA Foreclosure Update, September 15, 2009 "Minnesota Unemployment Rate Falls to 8 percent" DEED News Release, September 17, 2009 Dakota -Scott Workforce Investment Board News and Notes, Summer 2009 "34 Metro Mayors Will Analyze Business Competition," StarTribune.com, August 30, 2009 Dakota Future Intelligent Community Initiative Members Present: Comms. Matasosky, Tushie, Vlasak, Starfield, Schubert, Emond, Brantly, Longie, Ex- officio member Mayor Holly Dahl, c-officio member City Administrator Steve Mielke, Ex- officio member Chamber 'f' Commerce Executive Director Todd Bornhauser. ng to order at Av r Lakeville' elopment Special! Members Absent: Smith, Erickson. Others Present: Adam Kienberger, Economic 1. Call Meeting to Order Vice Chair Tushie called the m Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes August 25, 2009 Marion Conference Room, City Hall 2. Approve June 30, 2009 Meeting Minute Motion 09.07 3. Review, nt Business etention Visits Item No. a p.m. in the Marion Conference nnesota. bert/L o moved to approve the minutes of the 09 mng as presented. Motion carried ienberger ave a r *port on the business visits with Con Agra and Advanced ess. Mr. Kienberger reviewer the EDC memo and noted that the Con Agra visit was conducteey Comm Longie and Mayor Dahl, and the Advanced Wireless visit was conducted i,Comrantly and Dave Olson. Mr. Kienberger stated that Con Agra had many positive things to say about Lakeville and added that they likely see their operations continuing here for the foreseeable future. Comm. Longie added that the intersection of Hamburg Avenue and Lakeville Boulevard is a concern of several businesses in the industrial park. There have been several accidents at this intersection and the City should look at making this a four -way stop. Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes August 25, 2009 Mr. Kienberger responded that the concern will be forwarded to the City's public works and engineering department for review. Advanced Wireless indicated that they are very satisfied with having their business located in Lakeville. They were asked whether the current tax climate was inhibiting their growth and they indicated that it was not a major factor. They indicated that the current private lending climate was much more of an issue and concern. Advanced Wireless did request contact information for a number agencies which staff provided. No other additional follow -up was requested. Comm. Brantly stated that they had a very good visit it dvanced Wireless. The business has transitioned into being very research ntensive and is likely to grow. He added that Mr. Olson is following up with Advanced Wire l on some business financing options for this potential growth. A 4. Review and Provide Recommendation on Proposed Business Subsidy for Genesis Poly Recycling Mr. Kienberger reviewed the provided the group with some- request. A summary of the pr memo regarding Genesis Poly Recycling and on the company and the nature of their The company as forme AGSI in Savage and ceased operations there in 2fl08 Management from SI is relaunching the company and is working on securing fin g fo their': operations. Gnss as th main componen of their business plan to recycle materials as altural, orticultural, mixed post consumer and food industry astics. The roduct of this recycling process is recycled plastic pellets that n be sold to businesses t t utilize this type of material in their manufacturing ass. Genesis is also exploring options that would result in them manufacturing their theiri'-'rpwn plastic finished products. Staff has been th contact with Genesis Poly Recycling, the Minnesota Departmen of mployment and Economic Development (DEED), USDA, MPCA, and US Ban help facilitate this business locating in Lakeville. Genesis is currently in lease negotiations with First Industrial to lease the new 285,000 square foot spec building that was constructed in First Park Lakeville located at the intersection of Dodd Blvd. and County Road 70. In our discussions with DEED, they have indicated that Genesis Poly Recycling is a candidate for the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) program for up to a $500,000 low interest loan. The MIF program is setup as a grant/loan to the City 2 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes August 25, 2009 which in turn makes a loan to the business. The City becomes the conduit for the loan funds from the State to the business. This is the same program that the City utilized for New Morning Windows in 1995. Comm. Tushie asked what we currently use the money for that was generated by the New Morning Windows MIF loan. Mr. Kienberger responded that most of the money is c ntly designated as a revolving loan fund. He added that due to the amount currently available in the fund, err, it tends to be cost prohibitive to make a loan unless the loan fund is built up to an amount where it can become cost effective to make a business loan. The EDC discussed the obligations the City w ld have to rePe y the loan to DEED in the event that the business was not successful and was unable repay the loan. The EDC expressed concern over the fecl that the Cr would be oted to pay back the loan in the event of default. Whi EED___ s never collected repayment through default from a local government, expressed concern that the current economic situation mayal,ise this prac o change. Mr. Kienberger added that prior an agreements ing considered, DEED will review the application from the City as provided by the*siness and will review the business plan, financi .and risk associated with f oan. Mr. Kienberger er added 1 approve appli> en to DEED occur during the alicatio. Council needed prior: any ac Corm Tushie ty can apply fo businesses that ma hat the remmendation being asked of the EDC is to MIF program. Further evaluation and analysis will with a p 14blic hearing and approval from the City etng formulated. e is a limit on how many MIF projects or MIF dollars a alendar year; would the City be limiting the existing for this program from applying this year Mr. Kienberger stated t# at he would contact DEED and provide an answer at a future ED aeeting e added that the amount of MIF money available from DEED is in a constant tate of flux as the program is funded by loan repayments. There is no guarantee tf az able project were to come along in the future, that MIF money would even be available due to this funding mechanism. Comm. Tushie stated that depending on the restrictions of the program, he would put a higher priority on money going to an existing Lakeville business looking to expand, followed by an existing business looking to relocate to Lakeville, and thirdly to a business startup. Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes August 25, 2009 Chair Matasosky noted that this is the challenge with business startups, and it is often tricky for them to secure financing due the concerns outlined by the EDC. Chair Matasosky added that he can support an application to DEED, but is concerned about the risk that may be assumed by the City in the case the business defaults on the loan. The EDC expressed support for the project and application with the understanding that further review and information is required prior to aye financial commitments being made. Motion 09.08 Comms. Tushie /Emond moved to' commend to the City Council approving the application applying to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic evelopment for p to $500,000 in Minnesota Investment Fund' un dollars for Genesis Ply Recycling contingent upon further view of the business by both the City and the State of Minnesota. Mon caunanimously. 5. Director's Report Mr. Kienberger reviewed the Dir permit activity through the end of Steve Mielke note budget. At the permits. In b building permits, is currently projecti 10 residential building permits in 2010 as well. Decreases in revenel g with current tax laws are aving a negative impact on the City due to La l #e's d ecease in g rwth. The tax laws also negatively affected Lakeville i °g times of hig Chair atasosky adder hat eventually the City will start to see some devaluation of properties=cur due toite decrease in growth. :hat devaluation is already occurring this year. For the first time the City's'n ax capacity is going down. Mr. Mielke ided an update on building wth this year is having an impact on the in 2004, we had 904 residential building et we had anticipated 150 residential x to 100 in the spring of 2009. The City Mr. Kienberger reviewed the rest of the Director's Report and noted that the next EDC meeting will be on September 29, 2009. 4 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes August 25, 2009 6. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Attested to: Adam Kienberger, R T, ntly, Secretary Economic Development Specialist 5 Memorandum Item No. 3 City of Lakeville Planning Department To: Economic Development Commission From: Daryl Morey, Planning Director Allyn Kuennen, Associate Planner Ack Copy: David L. Olson, Community Economic Development Director Date: September 25, 2009 Subject: Packet Material for the September 29, 2009 Economic Development Commission Meeting. At the May 26 Economic Development Commission meeting staff presented proposed changes to the exterior building finish standards for commercial and industrial zoning districts (Section 11 -17 -9 of the Zoning Ordinance) which are being considered with the overall Zoning Ordinance update. The Economic Development Commission discussed the proposed updates and requested clarification on several aspects of the proposed exterior building finish standards at the next meeting in June. At the June 30 Economic Development Commission meeting staff presented a comparison clarifying how the existing exterior building finish standards compared with the updated standards and presented several examples to show how the proposed regulations may affect future additions to existing industrial buildings. Staff also clarified that in general, the proposed standards require industrial buildings to be constructed of the same materials (glass, textured block, architecturally precast concrete panels, stucco, etc.) as the current standards. However, the new standards include a percentage requirement for these materials to ensure a balanced mix and variation of exterior building materials. The mix of materials in the updated standards reflects the types of materials being used to construct current industrial and commercial buildings within Lakeville. Staff further clarified that the proposed exterior building finish standards include two significant revisions for industrial buildings. The first revision is in regard to the use of steel, aluminum or cor -ten siding. The current industrial exterior building finish standards require that any portion of the building abutting a non industrial zoning district, public right of way /property and an adjacent building with no metal exterior materials, must be finished with a minimum of 50% stone, brick or precast concrete panels. The remainder of the exterior of the building may be finished with steel, aluminum or cor -ten siding. The updated exterior building finish standards recommend the elimination of steel, aluminum or cor -ten siding as an acceptable exterior finish material for new buildings constructed in Industrial Districts. The second significant revision is in regard to future additions or expansions of existing industrial buildings. The updated exterior building finish standards include a requirement that any addition that is greater than 50% of the existing building must meet the proposed exterior building finish standards. For a business that has a building which is constructed of integrally colored architectural precast concrete panels, this would mean little to no impact since the current integrally colored architectural precast concrete panels is an acceptable material as proposed in the updated standards. However, if a business has a facility which has metal siding as the primary exterior building finish and they wanted to construct an addition to the building that was over 50% of the existing structure, the exterior building materials of the addition could not include metal siding. An exemption to this requirement is allowed for in the updated standards through the Conditional Use Permit process. Staff also updated the Economic Development Commission on the schedule and steps for completing the updates to the Zoning Ordinance and the process for obtaining input from the public. The Economic Development Commission did not make a recommendation regarding the updated standards and wanted additional time to further study the updates and to consider input from the business community. The June 30 Economic Development Commission meeting minutes are attached. The City hosted an open house on September 15 and invited commercial and industrial property owners to review the updated exterior building finish standards. A summary of the open house process, the materials presented, and the input received from the attendees is attached. Verbal and written comments received during and after the open house primarily consisted of general statements requesting the City not make any changes that will financially affect current businesses or reduce the City's ability to recruit additional businesses to the community. Several business and property owners have indicated support for the updated standards as a way to protect the investment they have made in their businesses. Staff has reviewed the comments regarding the proposed updated exterior building finish standards received from the business community, Economic Development Commission and the Planning Commission as well as the long term goals for the community as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan. The following options regarding the updates to the exterior building finish standards are presented for your consideration: 1. Recommend the Zoning Ordinance not be revised to include updated exterior building finish standards. 2. Recommend the Zoning Ordinance be revised to include the updated standards as presented. 3. Recommend the updated exterior building finish standards be revised to include an exemption for existing buildings and apply the new standards to only new buildings. 4. Recommend the updated exterior building finish standards be revised as follows: a. Allow 20% metal exterior finishes for buildings within Industrial Districts as an architectural design element. b. Allow artificial materials such as Quik -Brik as a Grade B material. c. Allow two distinct textures on architecturally precast concrete panels to count toward meeting the exterior building finish requirement. Staff will be available at the September 29 Economic Development Commission meeting to review the above items, answer your questions and finalize the discussion regarding the proposed exterior building finish standards. Memorandum To: Daryl Morey, Planning Director David Olson, Community Economic Development Director From: Allyn Kuennen, Associate Planner Date: September 25, 2009 Subject: Summary of Open House Comments. Agenda Item: Zoning Ordinance Update. City of Lakeville Planning Department An open house was held on September 15, 2009 to invite commercial and industrial property owners and developers to review and submit input regarding the proposed Zoning Ordinance update to the exterior building finish standards. The City sent out approximately 188 invitations to the open house with the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce also forwarding the notice to over 400 of their members. The open house was attended by 26 persons who signed their names on the sign -in sheet. The attendance list is attached. City staff attending the open house included City Administrator Steve Mielke, Planning Director Daryl Morey, Community and Economic Development Director David Olson and Associate Planners Frank Dempsey and Allyn Kuennen. Planning Commission Chair Bart Davis, Planning Commission Vice -Chair Brooks Lillehei, and Planning Commission member. Karl Drotning were also present. In addition, Economic Development Commission Chair Jack Matasosky and Economic Development Commission member Glen Starfield were present. The format of the open house included a short introduction by staff followed by attendees reviewing the presentation boards that were placed around the City Council Chambers illustrating the proposed updates to the commercial and industrial exterior building finishes. A questionnaire was also provided to participants to submit their comments in writing. City staff was available at the presentation boards to answer questions and receive comments from those in attendance. The following exhibits are attached for your review: Exhibit A open house presentation boards Exhibit B hand -out provided at the open house Exhibit C open house list of attendees Exhibit D responses to the questionnaire Exhibit E letters and emails submitted to the City cc: Steven Mielke, City Administrator EXHIBIT A Open House Presentation Boards The proposed updates to the Exterior Building Finish Standards ilkIn general, the proposed standards require commercial and industrial buildings to be constructed of the same materials as the current standards. However, the new standards include a percentage requirement for these materials to ensure a balanced mix and variation of exterior building materials. The proposed exterior building finish standards include Grades A E and are summarized as follows: Grade A brick, natural /artificial stone, glass and copper (variations in stone and brick can be counted as separate materials). Grade B integrally colored textured concrete block, integrally colored architectural precast concrete panels, stucco and ceramic. Grade C EFIS, opaque panels, ornamental metal and fiber cement siding. Grade D integrally colored smooth cast or scored concrete block, integrally colored smooth cast concrete panels, glass block and weather resistant wood. Grade E vinyl, steel and aluminum. The Proposed Updates to the Exterior Building Finish Standards for INDUSTRIAL Buildings Industrial Uses: The exterior of industrial buildings shall comply with the following requirements: 1. The exterior building finish shall use at least two different Grade A or Grade B materials. 2. The exterior building finish shall be composed of at least sixty five (65) percent Grade A or Grade B materials; not more than thirty five (35) percent of Grade C or Grade D materials; and not more than ten (10) percent of the exterior finish shall be Grade D materials. Airlake South Creek Business Park _sue=^ Examples of current INDUSTRIAL developments that reflect the updated exterior building finish standards First Park Lakeville First Park Lakeville Hk ART H:- 11���t1 41[4,11 F1e Airlake 4 Office /Warehouse Drywall Supply lwfAi Mendell Machine Expansion MENDELL !I I! ■1 11 II /t u I! II n How do the updates being considered affect EXISTING INDUSTRIAL buildings? No changes will be required for existing industrial buildings unless a building addition is proposed. If an addition is larger than 50% of the existing building the exterior building finish of the addition will need to comply with the proposed exterior building finish standards. For a building which is constructed of integrally colored architectural precast concrete panels, this would mean little to no impact since the current integrally colored architectural precast concrete panels are an acceptable material as proposed in the new standards. liklf an addition is proposed to a building with metal siding as the primary exterior building finish, and the addition was over 50% of the existing structure, the exterior building materials of the addition would need to be from Grades A, B, C and D which does not include metal siding. likA property owner may apply for an exception to the exterior building finish requirements through the Conditional Use Permit process. This would provide an opportunity for the property owner to present their case to the Planning Commission and City Council. 4 How do the updates being considered affect NEW INDUSTRIAL buildings? 4.The City of Lakeville reviewed existing ordinances from several cities throughout the south metro area as well as recent industrial developments within the city to develop the proposed exterior building finish standards. The proposed standards are basically codifying the types of building standards the City is already getting within most new industrial developments which reflect the quality of exterior building finishes that are being developed in comparable communities. The proposed exterior building finish standards recommend the elimination of steel, aluminum or tor- ten siding as an acceptable exterior building finish in the Industrial Districts for all new developments. All new industrial buildings and developments would need to comply with the proposed updated exterior building finish standards. Current Standards Comparison of INDUSTRIAL Exterior Finishes Proposed Standards r 4100111111101---_, WESTERN FREIGHTLINER LQ The proposed updates to the COMMERCIAL /RETAIL Exterior Building Finish Standards AB-Commercial/Retail Uses: The exterior of commercial, office and institutional buildings shall comply with the following requirements: 1. The exterior building finish shall use at least three (3) Grade A materials. 2. The exterior building finish shall be composed of at least sixty five (65) percent Grade A materials; not more than thirty five (35) percent Grade B or Grade C materials; and not more than ten (10) percent Grade D materials. 3. All sides of the principal and accessory structures are to have essentially the same or coordinated harmonious exterior finish treatment. How do the updates being considered affect RETAIL /COMMERCIAL buildings? The City of Lakeville reviewed existing ordinances from several cities throughout the south metro area as well as recent retail and commercial developments within the city to develop the proposed exterior building finish standards. The proposed standards are basically codifying the types of building standards the City is already getting within most new retail and commercial developments which reflect the quality of exterior building finishes that are being developed in comparable communities. All new commercial and retail buildings would need to comply with the proposed updated exterior building finish standards. °No changes will be required for existing commercial and retail buildings unless a building addition is proposed. If an addition is larger than 50% of the existing building, the exterior building finish of the addition will need to comply with the proposed exterior building finish standards. iiIwA property owner may apply for an exemption from the exterior building finish standards through the Conditional Use Permit process. Examples of current COMMERCIAL /RETAIL developments that reflect the updated exterior building finish standards TimberCrest a Minnesota School of Busi Hoppe Market Place Kenrick Corner Heritage Commons .1 1 111 III IRA Argonne Village 01 Comparison of COMMERCIAL /RETAIL Exterior Finishes Current Standards Proposed Standards EXHIBIT B Hand -out Provided at the Open House Why are revisions to the exterior building materials being considered? The proposed exterior building materials standards are being reviewed in response to comments generated as part of the 2008 Comprehensive Land Use Plan update regarding the quality of new commercial and industrial buildings. iiwThe proposed standards are basically codifying the types of building standards the City is already getting within most new commercial and industrial developments which reflect the quality of exterior building finishes that are being developed in comparable communities. Submitting Comments, Suggestions and Recommendations viiiTalk to staff City staff is available to answer any questions you may have while reviewing the presentation boards. iiirQuestionnaire please fill out the attached questionnaire. The completed questionnaire can be given to a member of staff tonight or returned to the Planning Department by September 22 viii,Post-it note pads you may also write your comments and suggestions on post -it note pads available on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and then place your comment or suggestion directly on the boards. aii.On the web comments, suggestions and recommendations regarding the proposed updates to the Zoning Ordinance may also be submitted through Lakeville's Planning Department webpage at www.lakevillemn.gov. Next Steps All comments submitted at or following tonight's meeting will be compiled for review by the City Council, Planning Commission and the Economic Development Commission. 'The next steps include Additional work sessions with the Planning Commission, City Council, Economic Development Commission. After the Planning Commission and City Council have reviewed all the proposed revisions to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, the City will host another open house to present these revisions to the general public. After the open house, a public hearing will be scheduled for a Planning Commission meeting in early 2010 to formally recommend the proposed revisions to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances. Formal adoption of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance update by the City Council will follow shortly thereafter. Stay Informed itkProposed Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Updates all proposed Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance updates reviewed by the City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission can be viewed by visiting the City of Lakeville's Planning Department webpage at www.Iakevillemn.gov. You may also contact the Planning Department at 952 985 -4420 or e-mail us at planninginfo @lakevillemn.gov with questions and comments. Email notification sign up for automatic email notices so whenever new information regarding the Zoning Ordinance update is posted on the Planning Department's website the City will send out an email letting you know that new information is available for review. You may sign up on the City's website at www.lakevillemn.gov or complete the attached automatic email notification form and give it to a staff member. 0 0 3 0 O 0 0 a) z Q 0 0 O co 0. m 0 0o c a cQ m cn 0) 0. 0) Q. u) B. Residential And Commercial Districts: 1. Except in the A -P and RA zoning districts, all accessory buildings in excess of one hundred twenty (120) square feet that are accessory to residential dwelling units shall be constructed with a design consistent with the general character of the principal structure on the lot. 2. Accessory buildings for nonresidential uses, including those allowed in the residential districts, shall be of a similar character, design, and facade as the principal structure. (4) Integral colored (not including natural gray) split face (rock face) concrete block. (Ord. 730, sec. 7, 3 -17 -2003) (5) Wood, natural or composite, provided the surfaces are finished for exterior use or wood of proven exterior durability is used, such as cedar, redwood or cypress. (6) Glass curtain wall panels. (7) Stucco (natural or artificial). (8) Steel or aluminum siding. d. The primary exterior building facade finishes for industrial and institutional uses shall consist of materials comparable in grade and quality to the following: (1) Brick. (2) Stone (natural or artificial). (Ord. 674, sec. 1, 7- 17- 2000) (3) integral colored (not including natural gray) cast in place concrete or precast concrete panels. (Ord. 730, sec. 8, 3 -17 -2003) (4) Integral colored (not including natural gray) split face (rock face) concrete block. (Ord. 730, sec. 9, 3 -17 -2003) (5) Wood, natural or composite, provided the surfaces are finished for exterior use or wood of proven exterior durability is used, such as cedar, redwood, or cypress. (Ord. 674, sec. 1, 7 -17 -2000) (6) Except in the CC and P -OS districts, curtain wall panels of steel, fiberglass and aluminum (nonstructural, nonload bearing), provided such panels are factory fabricated and finished with a durable nonfade surface and their fasteners are of a corrosion resistant design. (Ord. 812, sec. 2, 10 -16 -2006) (7) Glass curtain wall panels. (8) Stucco (natural or artificial). (9) Steel, aluminum, COR -TEN siding. e. Building foundations not exceeding two feet (2') and other such portions of a building's facade need not comply with the requirements for the primary facade treatment or materials. D. Commercial, Office and Institutional Uses: The exterior of commercial, office and institutional buildings shall include a variation in building materials and forms to be distributed throughout the facade and coordinated into the design of the structure to create an architecturally balanced appearance and shall comply with the following requirements: 1. The exterior building finish shall use at least three (3) Grade A materials. 1 2. The exterior building finish shall be composed of at least sixty five (65) percent Grade A materials; not more than 35 percent Grade B or Grade C material and not more than ten percent Grade D materials. 3. All sides of the principal and accessory structures are to have essentially the same or coordinated harmonious exterior finish treatment. C. Residential Uses: 1. The primary exterior building finish for residential uses shall consist of Grade A, B, C, D and/or E materials. 2. Required use of exterior building materials for buildings within the RST -2, RM -1, RH -1 and RH -2 Districts shall be as set forth by the respective zoning districts. c. Integral color smooth as cast concrete panels. d. Integral color architecturally precast concrete panels having a smooth as cast finish. e. Glass block. f. Wood provided that the surfaces are finished for exterior use or the wood is of proven durability for exterior use, such as cedar, redwood or cypress. 5. Grade E: a. Vinyl, Steel, aluminum. 6. Steel Or Aluminum Buildings: Except in association with farms as defined by this Title, no galvanized or unfinished steel or unfinished aluminum buildings (walls or roofs), except those specifically intended to have a corrosive designed finish such as COR -TEN steel shall be permitted in any zoning district. 7. Integral Color: For the purpose of this section, exterior finish materials requiring integral color shall not include natural gray. 8. Foundations: Building foundations not exceeding one foot (1') and other such portions of a building's facade below the elevation of the first floor need not comply with the requirements for the primary facade treatment or materials. 9. Garage doors, window trim, flashing accent items and the like, shall not constitute required materials that make up the exterior finish of a building for the purposes of this section. D. Exceptions: Exceptions to the provisions of this section may be granted as a conditional use permit by the city council, provided that: 1. The proposed building maintains the quality intended by this title. 2. The proposed building is compatible and in harmony with other structures within the district. 3. The provisions of chapter 4 of this title are considered and satisfied. (Ord. 674, sec. 1, 7 -17 -2000) C. Industrial Districts: (In addition to the industrial standards outlined on Page 2 of this chart the following standards also apply) 1. In the C -W district and all industrial districts defined by chapter 45 of this title, all buildings constructed of curtain wall panels of finished steel, aluminum or fiberglass shall be required to be faced with brick, wood, stone, architectural concrete cast in place or precast concrete panels on wall surfaces abutting public rights of way, a nonindustrial zoning district, an adjacent industrial building with brick, wood, stone or decorative concrete wall surfaces, residential uses, or public areas. The required wall surface treatment may allow a maximum of fifty percent (50 of the metal or fiberglass wall to remain exposed if it is coordinated into the architectural design and is similar to the building frontage. G. Exceptions: Exceptions to the provisions of this section may be granted as a conditional use, provided that: 1. The applicant shall have the burden of demonstrating that: a. The proposed building maintains the quality in design and materials intended by this Title. b. The proposed building design and materials are compatible and in harmony with other structures within the district. 2. The justification for deviation from the requirements of this section shall not be based on economic considerations. 1 F. Other Requirements: 1. Buildings may be constructed primarily of one specific Grade A material provided the design is obviously superior to the general intent of this Title, provides variation in detailing, footprint of the structure or deviations in long wall sections to provide visual interest. 2. Minor blended color variations shall not be considered as a separate material, except that a distinctively different color of brick may be considered as a second Grade A material. 3. To be counted as a primary material, the product shall comprise at least five (5) percent of the exterior wall. 4. The back of parapets that are visible shall be finished with materials and colors compatible with the front of the parapet. 5. Brick or stone exteriors shall not be painted during the life of the exterior materials. 6. Accessory Structures: a. Except in the A -P and RA zoning districts, all accessory buildings in excess of one hundred twenty (120) square feet that are accessory to residential dwelling units shall be constructed with a design and exterior building materials consistent with the general character of the principal structure on the lot. b. Accessory buildings for nonresidential uses, including those allowed in the residential districts, shall be of a similar character, design, and facade as the principal structure. 7. Expansions: 1. Remodeling or maintenance of existing buildings that do not increase the floor area of the existing structure shall be regulated by Chapter 15 of this Title. 2. Additions of less than fifty (50) percent of the floor area of the existing building may use the same or higher grade materials as the existing structure. 3. Not more than one (1) exterior wall designed for removal to allow future building expansion may be allowed to use Grade D materials notwithstanding other applicable provisions of this section provided that the wall does not face a public street. I E. Industrial Uses: The exterior of industrial buildings shall include a variation in building materials and forms to be distributed throughout the facade and coordinated into the design of the structure to create an architecturally balanced appearance and shall comply with the following requirements: 1. The exterior building finish shall use at least two different Grade A or Grade B materials. 2. The exterior building finish shall be composed of at least sixty five (65) percent Grade A or Grade B materials; not more than thirty five (35) percent of Grade C or Grade D materials; and not more than ten (10) percent of the exterior finish shall be Grade D materials. QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and return it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninainfo lakevillemn.gov or faxed to 952.985.4409. +.k What is your area of interest? Industrial and /or Commercial What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? 4 What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): AUTOMATIC EMAIL NOTIFICATION FORM To receive periodic email notices regarding the Zoning Ordinance update please fill out the following information: Ili Name: Email address: EXHIBIT C Open House List of Attendees LIST OF ATTENDEES ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE OPEN HOUSE SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 David Paschall Tee Jay North Wes Anderson— National Polymers Lynn Buri International Chemtex Corp Donald Wysocki Custom Color Printing Greg Bauer Braun Intertec Dean Spiros Star Tribune Mary Miller Masterglas Gordon Granse Polyethylene Technology Inc. Grant Jacobson Jacobson Engineers Josh Van Abel Mike Waters Provincial Bank Jim Morrow Davich, Wilson Morrow Associates Patti McDonald McDonald Eye Care Dan Schmitt Schmitty Sons School Buses Dean Simon Ace Hardware Calleen Ratzlaff LaBeau Ratzlaff Homes Jim Price BP Woodworks Steve Wolf Cerron Commercial Properties Roz Peterson Cerron Commercial Properties Bruce Rydeen Cerron Commercial Properties Jack Matasosky APPRO Development Craig Knudsen Dakota Electric Association Jeff Belzer Belzer Auto Dealerships Jeff Belzer Jr. Belzer Auto Dealerships Dave Felton Progressive Rail EXHIBIT D Responses to the Questionnaire SEP -17 -09 THU 09:28 AM APPRO DEVELOPEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE FAX NO, 952 469 2173 P. 01/01 tc'rt,e 1:4 rc;crsra.:;:rat to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to r;r;srari;r. if you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you t•;, d ri: Ium it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at tha I'Sc•.Fnrtrrt& i t or it can be ern,ailed to plannir info @lakevillemn.gov or faxed to wc2. 109, V'VhJ.it is yoi.,tr area of interest? Industrial t-" and /or Commercial I VVhni r ,comrnc:ndE tions do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior iy!li:1 lino 1inis >ia standards? /la.- �)Dy�P.. 'PO j �'i,,, t, co.. c 010/1) r, frill rl� /Ltfi'C- )1,1041. sf,,1 1'':; t t OA S t to S i' 'te-/ e:eT 5,e.., i Q.4'r•E.e )'hB fA 1. S e,e =r /t f'c'r'. t �7 Gt'c. i 1.1 01% '"'t (1 C 't... E O y �'}%Oi'di ��/.;`�i V i �/41 ter,' 4) 11 r cc 1 1 ia.�:j);r7,�•�4�, �I fzar;rar���3Ji��• 1 .5 c l:,� i •t r I ti. S I 1/�?-t. i'r �'U Cl l' i'4 f 1 �2�✓) }•ti? 1r! s ✓,11 4 �'1 L!P.r L fll�C',r.� i ro t i .f;) r F c f) r rr> 6'> %e.y, c v r w y s c. t 6.l c 4 d )111 t s o IA 11 Gv (,..0 t Yrc r'.t r't r s t t'+.. ..-2- 6 .e...' ff l r't...1'..�.A C4 i'; k- 11..‘ 1,7I 6 (1.. s f c t' I L i WA- \o V't /hc■t oth clt;�ngus or revisio to the Zoning Ordinance should the Cify consider w part of the overall update? 1 'I'. `•a V\� vei( t'.•.'Z.� 6,611�1 1 l rve.sse. s lb 1 tGt'tall i v'r;i.fv' c 1 t` f`Af 1./0., CA t rwt kck. t\ 1,kivy.ck.'. 'PAC. .\I d.G%L.ki C' r "V t, t 5;1. c:; l e4 v S fl (keit /Y.- t.1) ft'\1 0 C1,Yc G UNC t S o e 11111- d S. tut 10,-.- t' i•'Cr t�. t.) y�'att1/t e� �lrr- t1 1�•t,.'` ti:��t y t►l; 5 Lrt.ra nCr� �6Y I� .c.s�!:, fill it t.)'1 e ta ea 1 I; %v1.•f' :11' (21 Anyo pa Ott s i+ S1)r.pi uvoN q •r rp, ,'4 0:,,rar::rai Con Iments (please USE; the back of the sheet if necessary): 9 .'5 c ,1GI (e/i,) '+!t,•✓ l /t'1ellsa�F' cti.,tir.L•�l✓ry,-(3.El:i-- P Ili,t '1 iI.,k r., .1'. 11^ i'\ 'G j l(4 S '1- `l,.c.s,c_ ry y e A..PS 11. itr- L 1 A- �1. r` vitt-k (tie IA I y i 1, 1 t:. e t' p''t' r i 1, ‘10) orit S rt s 1.1rt.,'C. ,.C el I I QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and retum it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninginfoa.lakevillemn.gov or faxed to 952.985.4409. 4 What is your area of interest? Industrial (and /or Commercial 4 What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? 001 115 t v.. 0 4 What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? fr u j c f)as )c :03,) C a c'ks )era R iS C3 ��P Pel 4 General Comments lease use the back of th eet if n cessa 5 �p ry)� QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and retum it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninginfo( Iakevillemn.gov or faxed to 952.985.4409. What is your area of interest? Industrial and /or Commercial 4 What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? G ✓o '-a 0 11�Co •w ---x� S s .�ecdrs -y 1471 elofie c.„Id r d- �1 V t L e.4ote r. Ci e.4,9 .d'lo.we. k What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): ✓Si e„. (944) Ate-, '%-f-111 r d i 11 44, 7 <ll c '9 Co y M, (,oA4 S:clW) 14GV1K v 4b✓14" 10cC,at> p r t6tivvq1). ^t 9 L'Co (.v 4 s na 4.1 '�1^ 6 Y k bp44 t A .,y 7e s 7 (1 4 T G As 4-ht P QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and return it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninginfo @lakevillemn.gov or faxed to 952.985.4409. What is your area of interest? Industrial and /or Commercial Ilk What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? C),Psvv(71V3 WI I V /1 c- ,ft ALI What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? owt I g r 71 General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and return it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninginfoalakevillemn.clov or faxed to 952.985.4409. 4 What is your area of interest? Industrial and /or Commercial 4 What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? S i roc E., p po or t 12 L pre- E i S F3 01(- o OT; 1 r "'`tom SEE "IV r_k Am PC.£ PA E /1/4-) Tl IV I SSE. N E- w G v l b E L l u >`..,s re, d2 'j'}-t wPt. T f t l Pt (5 ov Kt LL. 4 What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? 4 General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and return it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninainfo @lakevillemn.aov or faxed to 952.985.4409. 4 What is your area of interest? Industrial \and /or Commercial LAJ6U A/1)0 5 Tilt What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? p M. 77h N< L_,p-- uf Le-E 57)9 i n-t a Y P e b04", 7?E T th 5 -tom' ,uf, 17 -7--0 77/ 'I. What other changes or revisions to the Zoning rdinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? ,X CL) o s ;e t f4-1_, ,q- e 44 1 d 5 E oS A P 6,0y. 'A-097(4 p 4 General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): i Y etil v 0 Z.. Ti ✓Ll 13 ..`/y c, s 6 /9 2 l e &;7 ce_ !L a 6 2 l A_,Dus Svt -c 4. s u ��T1 rol� C.," Stlbui -tJ !/Y 7771-r--"r QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and return it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninainfoa.lakevillemn.gov or faxed to 952.985.4409. 4 What is your area of interest? Industrial and /or Commercial What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? �1vP wt 6r- T /Pq 'poL-L What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? t Cet- C OP General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): QUESTIONNAIRE Please take a moment to complete the following questions and submit the questionnaire to a staff member. If you are unable to complete the form tonight please take it with you and return it to the City by September 22 The questionnaire can be dropped off at the Planning Department or it can be emailed to planninqinfoa,lakevillemn.qov or faxed to 952.985.4409. 4 What is your area of interest? Industrial and /or Commercial 4 What recommendations do you have regarding the proposed updates to the exterior building finish standards? JO tJeG 4 What other changes or revisions to the Zoning Ordinance should the City consider as part of the overall update? 41114r /1'6 T) /'elnJ7?^'L Co C /.vvot /c,i- -n tl,AfS 71dr6 Al '0 rww/1-i A.N13 C`M/N ($k/L /iz-- O WrLr1.(J j' 3aj' 441 L t 'C. (44_ Dt t. t3 To /mac R Zekle 0 c 4f A4 /71 64G-1 t.bfl 7 Ib/L <0S44 t -f 1441 alscistor S Per t s pa. n S 1 C ,J g1 ?1t16 tac Ads pwt►4. ■j 6%W SKL 'ma ke r ,v n1 7y- General Comments (please use the back of the sheet if necessary): t Ja,J e EXHIBIT E Letters and E -mails submitted to the City From: Bryan Bartz [mailto:Bryan.Bartz @mendell.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 5:15 PM To: 'Holly Dahl'; 'smielke @ci.lakeville.mn.us' Subject: Business Property Hello Holly, I hope that this letter finds you well. My understanding is that the City of Lakeville is hosting an Open House tonight. Unfortunately, I have a previous engagement this evening that prohibits my attending. As such, I'm including a concern that I would have potentially addressed at the Open House. It has been brought to my attention that the City of Lakeville is considering some fairly significant changes to their zoning ordinances. My concern is that these changes will directly or indirectly affect the stability, growth, and revenues of small businesses occupying the properties subject to these zoning ordinances. In addition, redundant zoning regulation will not be likely to encourage start -ups and existing companies to consider Lakeville as a potential home. Added regulation that does not exponentially attract new or existing companies to Lakeville— or grow small businesses that already call Lakeville home— is not the right choice for the City of Lakeville. I ask that the City of Lakeville's leadership consider the burden that excessive regulation will add to small businesses /Lakeville property owners who are already carrying increased financial and regulatory burdens in this volatile economy. Adding further zoning regulations to those that already exist to protect Airlake is not what Lakeville property owners need in this economy. Please ask City of Lakeville leadership to consider a practical approach, rather than proposing more regulation that will hurt, not help, the City of Lakeville...or the property owners who have made Lakeville their home. Respectfully yours, Bryan K. Bartz President bryanb©mendell.com Mendell 21463 Grenada Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 Tel: (952) 469 -5500 Fax: (952) 469 -5511 Specializing in Precision Machining, From: Jack Matasosky [mailto:JackM @approdevelopment.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:52 AM To: Holly Dahl; Mielke, Steven Subject: My opinion on Development changes Good morning Holly and Steve: The attached letter summarizes my opinion regarding the proposed ordinance changes. A couple of other notes: The landscaping screening signage revisions were not addressed in any discussions I was involved with or heard about. I keep hearing of our comparison to Woodbury, Eden Prairie as our peers, competitors. They are not we compete (poorly) with companies considering Faribault, Owatonna, Red Wing, Farmington as site alternatives. (they allow buildings this ordinance revision would reject, and many of them have the incentives advantage, as well TIF, JoB Z, etc. I hope you consider the views and needs of the business community (existing and potential market prospects) in your process and outcome. Thank you for hosting the open house last night Jack 9/23/2009 Jack D. Matasosky 21476 Grenada Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 (952) 469 -2171 jackm@approdevelopment.com www.APPRODEVELOPMENT.com www.CERRON.com This email has been scanned by MessageLabs Mayor Holly Dahl City Council Planning Commission City of Lakeville City Hall 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 Dear Mayor Dahl, September 10, 2009 I am writing to you to convey my professional and personal opinions on the development and zoning ordinance revisions currently proposed. I have been involved in the development of our community's industrial and commercial properties for over 30 years. I am an owner of APPRO Development, Inc. and CERRON Commercial Properties, LLC. I agree with the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce position "We strongly recommend that City policy makers and staff take NO action that impedes our ability to draw new business and retain existing businesses in our community." Our competitive position in the development community is difficult, as it is. Adopting these changes would increase the cost of construction and therefore cause new and existing businesses to consider options outside of Lakeville. My review of initial proposed revisions led me to believe that few, if any, properties in Airlake, Fairfield and First Park would exist, as they are if these new standards were in place at the time of their construction and therefore would request that the proposed changes not be adopted. Let's respect Business Owners and continue to give them the opportunity to make good choices along with their architects! At a time when many communities are assessing their position in the marketplace we should be, like they are looking at ways to streamline the processes and by to minimize financial impacts to new projects. We sincerely need to respect business owners in these difficult times, and do what we can to keep their positions viable so they can continue to employ our residents and pay their property taxes. They lave shown themselves to be great corporate citizens and need this consideration. As a business owner, a developer, a property owner, and as a resident of this community,1 respectfully ask that you please help keep our community's business climate attractive to existing businesses and new business opportunities, and not approve the proposed changes. Since Matasosky 0, APPRO Deve .pment, Inc. Owner /Broker, CERRON Commercial Properties, LLC JM /ak 21476 Grenada Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 952.469.2171 Fax 952. 469.2173 www.APPRODEVELOPMENT.com Jeanne, Kuennen, Allyn From: Mielke, Steven Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:07 PM To: 'Jeanne Marie Hutter'; Dahl, Holly Cc: Dahl, Holly; Olson, David; Morey, Daryl; Kuennen, Allyn Subject: RE: City's Open House -Gov Affairs Thanks for copying me on your message to Mayor Dahl. I appreciate your input and perspectives as you extensively work with the hospitality businesses in Lakeville. Clearly you understand the importance of community image and attractiveness as well as corporate identity. We did have a business owner at the open house last night concerned that we were "discouraging corporate branding I clarified that the depiction of the proposal as discouraging corporate branding was inaccurate and misleading. The language in the proposed ordinance states: "Corporate Identity. The intent and purpose of these architectural standards supersede corporate identity designs; when a corporate identity design does not meet the intent and purpose of the architectural standards, the corporate identity design shall be limited to the area immediately adjacent to the main entry but shall otherwise be consistent with the intent of this section." What this really means is that businesses will need to work with us to have a building that meets the standards but also allows for their corporate identity. We had several depictions of this at the meeting. Some examples of how this works were on boards for people to view. Best Buy and Target and Cub Foods are three examples of how they maintain their identity, but otherwise meet the standards. As to the Country Inn proposal, there were many development issues (property cost, size, storm water requirements) that were never able to be resolved, primarily between the developer and the property owner. The property owner has their own design standards which the two parties were unable to resolve. As you were not able to be there, I would certainly invite you to come to City Hall and we can review the information and answer any questions you may have. I will make sure your comments are noted for the City Council, Planning Commission and EDC. Thanks again for taking the time to send your comments, Steven Mielke, City Administrator City of Lakeville 1 20195 Holyoke Avenue 1 Lakeville, MN 55044 office: 952 985 -4401 I Fax: 952 985 -4409 1 www.lakevillemn.gov The information contained in this transmission including any attached documentation may be privileged and confidential. It is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copy of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the City of Lakeville immediately by replying to this email. Original Message From: Jeanne Marie Rutter [mailto:jeanne @visitlakeville.org] Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:08 AM To: Dahl, Holly Cc: Mielke, Steven Subject: City's Open House -Gov Affairs Holly, sorry I could not make the Open House last night. Thanks for the invite. I have just a few thoughts. Although I understand why the city wishes to make these changes, I feel it is difficult enough to lure new business to a community during these economic times, and I think sensitivity and flexibility to these businesses needs to be considered now more than ever. 1 4 Regarding the proposal to raise the building standards for exterior wall materials and discourage "corporate branding (1) Exterior wall materials are very expensive to upgrade and sometimes a business image is different that what we are asking of them (for instance we lost the Country Inn Suites proposed for the property next to Harry's a few years back over this issue with the exterior siding and they went and built in Faribault instead). (2) Many businesses thrive on "branding" and it is an important element in their marketing and success of their business. (3) The use of colors, lighting, and finish materials are also important to businesses image. As for the second part of the proposal, I will stay tuned to learn more about these proposed changes. Jeanne Marie Huffer, Director Marketing, Communications Tourism VISIT LAKEVILLE MINNESOTA Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce 19950 Dodd Blvd. Suite 101 Lakeville, MN 55044 952 469 -2020 visitlakeville.org minneapolissouth.com 2 Kuennen, Allyn From: Olson, David Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 20094:51 PM To: Kuennen, Allyn Subject: Comments from Norm Oberto Imperial Plastics Allyn, The following is a summary of the comments made by Norm Oberto of Imperial Plastics during our phone conversation with him yesterday regarding the proposed zoning ordinance revisions dealing with exterior buildings: Page 1 of 1 He was not opposed to the proposed restriction on metal buildings. He feels that pre -cast concrete is a better type of building for manufacturing. His company owns two of these type of buildings and in Airlake Industrial Park and he indicated that he would not like a metal building to be constructed adjacent to his building. He did express concerns about a requirement for landscape islands in parking lots. He indicated that islands do not make sense in parking lots for manufacturing type businesses and that parking lots should not be "cluttered up" with these type of improvements. It was not opposed to a reasonable amount of perimeter landscaping and feels that manufacturing buildings should still have "curb appeal." (Note: The proposed zoning ordinance amendments would not require landscape islands in industrial zoned areas but rather in commercial districts only. I will convey this information to Norm.) Finally, he expressed concerns with an ordinance that would require "cognateness" on industrial building. He indicated that industrial buildings should be simple and "that there is beauty in plainness." He is not opposed to having texture and bands incorporated into pre -cast panels. (Note: It appears as though his newer building on Heron Way would meet the new proposed zoning ordinance standards.) The information contained in this transmission including any attached documentation may be privileged and confidential. It is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copy of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the City of Lakeville immediately by replying to this email. 9/16/2009 David Olson, Community Economic Development Director City of Lakeville 1 20195 Holyoke Avenue 1 Lakeville, MN 55044 office: 952- 985 -4421 1 Fax: 952- 985 -4499 1 www.lakevillemn.gov Kuennen, Allyn From: Mielke, Steven Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:59 AM To: Kuennen, Allyn Subject: Fw: From: Tom 3 <Tom @midstatecompanies.com> To: Mielke, Steven Sent: Fri Sep 11 13:46:09 2009 Subject: Steve, I would like to voice my opinion on the zoning ordinance that can /would have significant impacts on existing properties and new proposed developments in our community. I strongly object to any changes that would take decisions and design authority away from business owners. Please stop and consider what is going on in the industrial park, there are for sale/ for lease signs everywhere. Need I say more? Office Direct (952)985 -6140 Cell (612) 968 -1535 9/16/2009 Page 1 of 1 From: Wes Anderson mailto :wes ©nationalpolymersllc.com] Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 2:06 PM To: Dahl, Holly; 'Planning Commision'; Mielke, Steven Subject: Proposed new ordinances for Industrial in Airlake To whom it may concern, I am writing this email to the planning commission in regards to the possible upcoming changes in the building codes. First of all I was disappointed in the open house forum because it did not allow for debating the changes good or bad. It seemed to me that when the city representative could not answer the questions after the intro the forum was shut down in that format. Hmm... When I walk the property around my building and all I see is "for sale" signs I wonder why the city would impose new restrictions on an already struggling business park. I am currently vacillating on whether to add on to the existing structure we have here or not. When we first built our first building in 1972 we were a small company trying to find its way. There were 5 people that came down from a thriving business in Minneapolis and taking a risk in an unknown area south of the metro. Where our building is we have picture of a farmer on a tractor cutting his crop down behind the customary "ground breaking" ceremony. We then added on about 4 years later and we had about 72,000 square feet. This was a nice size building at this time. We have been going back and forth for quite a while on our next expansion and contacted Appro to lay out a plan for maximum expansion of our property. I know the times are tuff but it might be the time to expand and that would help local contractors in tuff times. When Jack cam back to me with a plan I was dumbfounded when he told me the maximum I could expand our current building was 38,000 square feet. I said "What When we had our last addition we were told from Maynard Johnson we could double the size of our existing building which would be another 72,000 square feet. What the heck happened to my 34,000 sq. ft.? Well there have been apparently a lot of changes since then. The city of Lakeville basically took away that many square feet of building from me. Unbelievable! And now all these other change besides that may add up to 10% to my existing plan. This is real money people! These new changes for me could be up to a quarter of a million dollars. The extra money does not make my business run any better. The problem with government officials is that they forget why they came into office in the 1 place and lose sight of what there constituent's goals were. This was once a growing business park but in the last 5 -10 years it seems like the city has taken an anti business attitude unlike other thriving business parks to the south and west of us. 1 may not want to use certain building materials but I do not have the right to tell some else what they can use. There has to be a REASONABLE solution here. You can't continue impede on the private sector too long here in Lakeville before it will move on, prosper and bring jobs to other areas. Thanks Wes Anderson National Polymers 9/23/2009 ROGRESSIVE RAIL September 15, 2009 Mayor Holly Dahl Planning Commission City of Lakeville 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville Minnesota 55044 Hello Mayor Dahl, There is nothing certain in today's economy; however, I can guarantee there is one exception to that rule. That is, if the city counsel adopts the newly proposed zoning ordinance changes that will affectively eliminate any future industrial development prospect for the City of Lakeville. The facts that back up my statement are simply today's captains of industry are considering multiple options throughout the Midwest, United States and even the entire worldwide theater when they are considering an investment in a new manufacturing or distribution center. There are certain trigger points that up until today have allowed Progressive Rail to successfully secure valuable additions to our community with examples like Boise Cascade, Clover Leaf Cold Storage and the Carload Connection's Transloading Center just to name a few examples of what occurs when the proper zoning environment is in place. Mayor Dahl, this potential zoning change issue being contemplated by the City of Lakeville's counsel is as serious as it gets and that is why i am imploring you and your fellow colleagues at the City of Lakeville to not change any of the zoning ordinances, as now more than ever Lakeville needs to be especially arp on what you can offer to prospective decision makers. Finally, if you would like l to be up close and personal to see all of the incredible economic, cultural and even environmental benefits that have occurred over the past decade throughout Airlake Industrial Park, I would suggest that you should take me up on my offer to be a part of a tour of what sound, well thought out zoning ordinances have allowed to occur in Lakeville, Minnesota. As you can expect, we are going to tour the Airlake Industrial Park via rail. I am looking forward to r call and your commitment to doing whatever it takes to not change the existing zoning nances. 1 Dave Fellon President 952;985-7245 wwwpr gress %ve iliCom 71117 3ery /cp 7ronis7oaigin WO "1 0us/ q Zarb 7:3e /ivfl AIRLAKE INDUSTRIAL PARK 21778 HIGHVIEW AVENUE LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA 55044 r' ,DAKOTA ASSOCIATION Your Touchstone Energy' Partner A locally owned, nonprofit electric utility An Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer #102 printed on recycled paper September 22, 2009 Allyn Kuennen City of Lakeville 20195 Holyoke Ave. Lakeville, MN 55044 RE: 2009 Zoning Ordinance Update Dear Mr. Kuennen, This letter is in response to the proposed changes to the 2009 City of Lakeville Zoning Ordinance affecting commercial facilities. As we discussed prior to the September 15, 2009 open house, there are several components to the proposed ordinance that would have a strong negative impact on Dakota Electric Association (DEA) with respect to our future substation construction projects. Our primary concern is if the ordinance is passed with the current language it could potentially prohibit future substations and future sources of energy to regions within the city. Historically substations have been approved in all zoning districts as an essential service, subject to the zoning ordinance. Examples of conflict within the new zoning proposal are with the required building materials, color, fencing, lighting and landscape. As an example, DEA's substation switchgear units are a pre manufactured enclosure that is made of a metal clad exterior. This equipment is not available in other materials and cannot be ordered to meet the new requirements. Due to access panels and other structural components it is impractical for the manufacture to produce this equipment in other materials. It would be similar to trying to build a water tower out of a masonry product. In addition, DEA provides seven -foot high chain link fence with one -foot of barbed wire at a 45- degree angle facing out of the substation. This fencing is required to be grounded and cannot be grounded if it has the vinyl coating as required by the proposed change. For security purposed DEA installs a one -foot section of barbed wire angled away from the substation. These substations have high voltage associated with them and it is necessary to discourage access as much as possible. There are a number of features that are unique to electrical substations that make it very difficult to comply with the proposed restrictions. In the past DEA has platted or subdivided land for these facilities and by going through this process we have been able to satisfy the city's development standards. In our phone conversation we discussed several of these items and based on the characteristics we discussed the potential of an exception to the ordinance for substations. Therefore, DEA would request that the revised zoning ordinance allow for an exception to the electrical utility industry in order to allow for electrical substations. I would appreciate your bringing this proposal forward for discussion and I would be more than happy to discuss this further. Please feel free to contact me at (651) 463 -6332 if you have any questions or would like me to take part in these discussions. Sincerely raig E. Knudsen Land Use Manager cc: Daryl Morey 4300 220th Street West Farmington, MN 55024 -9583 1-800-874-3409 general: 651-463-6212 fax: 651-463-6256 www.dakotaelectriccom Olson, David Page 1 of 1 From: Luigi Bernardi [Iuigi @aurora investments.com] Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:20 PM To: Olson, David Subject: Code review Mr. Olson, I am in favor on the City of Lakeville's initiative to change the architectural requirements and building materials specifications for all future developments. We strongly believe and have always believed that building high quality commercial properties with interesting and pleasing architectural features and using high quality building materials that one can attract and retain more businesses within those properties. This in turns increases the quality of life in a community not only aesthetically but by enhancing the commercial /retail experience you reduce the risk of blight. A high quality commercial property makes it inviting for customers to shop there and guarantees it success. Sincerely, Luigi Bernardi President Aurora Investments, LLC 5215 Edina. Industrial Boulevard Suite 100 Edina, Minnesota 55439 -3023 952 831 -5002 (Office) 952 893 -0165 (Fax) 09/24/2009 Memorandum City of Lakeville Community and Economic Development To: Economic Development Commission From: David L. Olson, Community Economic Development Directo Copy: Steven Mielke, City Administrator Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist Date: September 29, 2009 Subject: Update on the Status of the Genesis Poly Recycling Project Item No. i f Staff will be discussing this proposed project with the City Council at their Work Session on Monday, September 28 The recommendation of the EDC regarding the submittal of the grant /loan application to the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) administered by the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will be included in the information provided to the Council. Staff will provide a verbal update to the EDC regarding any comments from the Council on this project as well as the overall status of this application. Memorandum The following is the Director's Report for September of 2009. 2009 Manufacturing Week Events October 26 -30 is Minnesota Manufacturing Week this year. Item No. City of Lakeville Community and Economic Development To: Economic Development Commission From: David L. Olson, Community and Economic Development Director,g Copy: Steve Mielke, City Administrator Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist Date: September 29, 2009 Subject: September Director's Report Building Permit Report The City issued building permits through August with a total valuation of $46,857,546. This compares to a total of $60,121,561 for the same period in 2008. Included in this valuation were commercial and industrial permits through July with a total valuation of $5,856,500. This compares to a total commercial industrial valuation of $22,115,900 for the same period in 2008. The City issued permits for 13 single family homes in August with a total valuation of $3,739,000. This compares to 8 single family home permits in August of 2008 with a total valuation of $2,017,000. The City has issued a total of 77 new single family home permits through July compared to 94 during the same period in 2008. The City issued no permits for townhome and condo units in August which compares to 8 townhome and condo permits issued in August of 2008. Traditionally, Lakeville has hosted a Manufacturers Luncheon during this week to recognize Lakeville's manufacturers and industrial businesses. Based on feedback the City received, we will be switching up the format this year to a Lakeville Manufacturing Expo that will give the businesses more of an opportunity to meet and talk to each other. Manufacturers and industrial businesses will be given the opportunity to have a table at the event showcasing their business while enjoying a more casual event. We hope to provide a better setting for businesses to connect with other businesses in the industrial park. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at the Holiday Inn Suites from 4 -7 p.m. EDC members are encouraged to attend if your schedules allow. The Mayor and City Council will be asked to approve a proclamation designating October 26 through October 30 as Manufacturing Week in Lakeville at their October 19 City Council meeting. It would be appreciated if one or two EDC members could be in attendance at that meeting to receive the proclamation. Sale of the former Hearth and Home (Heat- n -Glo) Building Malt -O -Meal has closed on the purchase of the former Hearth and Home building on Kensington Blvd. in the Fairfield Business Campus on September 14 They have already begun interior demolition work on the building. The Company plans to have their employees working out of this facility by December of this year. A copy of the press release that was sent to the local newspapers on this transaction is attached. Development Update A new restaurant is planned to open in the former Copper Bleu building in the Crossroads Shopping Center located at Cedar and Dodd. Premier Restaurant Management plans to open its first Molly Cool's Seafood Tavern concept in the Twin Cities at this location. They currently operate this concept at a location in Milwaukee, WI. Molly Cool's will be somewhat similar to Stella's Fish Cafe i(which is also operated by Premier Restaurant Management) in the Minneapolis Uptown area but will not be quite as upscale. The Copper Bleu building was purchased by Tim Haase in December of 2008 and he has been marketing the building for lease since then. Molly Cool's Seafood Tavern plans to be open by the end of October. The City is currently reviewing a permit application received from the Dakota County CDA to construct 40 work force rental townhomes on the former Wren site located on the north side of 210 Street two blocks east of the Art Center. As the EDC may recall, the City assisted the CDA in the acquisition of this property by allocating some of the City's Community and Development Block Grant funds for this acquisition. The CDA then obtained State and Met Council grants to complete the clean -up of the former dump that was located on the site. Construction on these 40 units will take place over the winter and occupancy is expected in late summer or early fall of 2010. Transit Update EDC members were sent an invitation to a dedication ceremony for the new Kenrick Avenue Park and Ride that is opening for service on Monday, September 28 The dedication is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Park and Ride located at 16775 Kenrick Avenue. Governor Pawlenty along with Chair Peter Bell of the Metropolitan Council and Tom Sorel, Commissioner of MnDOT and Victor Mendez will be providing comments. The initial service that will be provided at this facility will consist of six a.m. express trips to Downtown Minneapolis and six p.m. trips back to Lakeville. Construction is continuing on the park and ride facility which will be a surface lot along Cedar Avenue at 181s Street which is approximately 1/4 mile south of the Cub Foods. The estimated completion of this facility is October. Transit Service in Lakeville on Cedar Avenue will also begin on September 28 The service provider will be Minnesota Valley Transit and the Park and Ride facility is planned to be operated out of the Crossroads Church parking lot until the Park and Ride facility on Cedar Avenue is completed. There will be five express trips to Downtown Minneapolis in both the a.m. and p.m. from this facility. Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) Event On Sunday, September 20 staff attended a reception at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis as part of the 2009 Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) fall forum. The IAMC is a membership organization of national site selectors and corporate real estate people, and this is the first time that the IAMC has hosted their event in Minnesota. Through Lakeville's membership in the statewide marketing group Positively Minnesota, the City partnered with Burnsville and Rosemount to co- sponsor the conference and promote itself to a national audience. There were over 275 people from around the United States and Canada at the event. Staff from the Department of Employment and Economic Development told us that they heard from people in attendance that the conference was a great showcase for the state of Minnesota and its partners Foreclosure Update Attached is the monthly update on foreclosures in Dakota County provided by the Dakota County CDA. There have been 21 Sheriff Sales as a result of foreclosures in Lakeville in August. There have been a total of 152 Sheriff's Sales for the first 8 months of this year. This compares to a total of 286 Sheriff's sales in 2008. Cl> pd a A: 0 0 0 A CM 0 0 cn 0 a cro 0 co rb aq 0 0 0 0 a a a. NE et 6 VI g tll VI d M t0 0 vo a a y CD 0- 0 0 0 w -P. o In O w O O w w w O O O- o O o o O 0 O w o O N cn fix O LA \D J \O 00 N N N 6\ O\ \O l0 LA O■ 00 Cn \O W 0 0 0 \O w -1 vi -J 'O w O O O w 0 0 0 w 0 0 0o O O O N w 0 0 0 O O O O O v O O O v C�ii O C O O c i\ O C O O O V C O O O O O *co C O Cn O O w N W J 0 -a N W W �1 A "P \O \O O W 0 0 w J P O\ to a\ O W 0 O .0 In In J IA 0 CO C O 'co O o O O O O O 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O C O O O C O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O W W 0 00 O O O O O N O O O O O O N O O O O O O O O O O O O P. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O N O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O '0- O N O O ■o 0 co N vi In N N O D\ N 0 0 0 N N O O O W N© O O■ N 00 00 0 0 N W 0- N --1 N •N 1 Vi J N '.O O 00 W W O\ 00 00 O V 1 \O w LA .P to J O\ 0 0 0 a\ 01 O\ p. Ln O O \O \O O O\ N 00 ..D000 Cn 00 000000 O O O O w Cn O N o O N -1 \O 0100 LA LA O 0 0 0 in In 0 0 O o 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N n 0 0 0 0 Cn 0, 0 LA 01 0 0 01 0 LA 0 is.) 0 0 N N N 0 N is.) i--` O w \O w 00 ■O N \O w 0 N N ---1 N 1 4 .0 O\ -1 Cn O O\ CA 00 C\ 0 -IP J O 00 O w 0 O O O O 0 O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O o O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O o O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O �WLn 00000000000000 0 0 0 O O O o o O O O O -P-P O O w o w CiN o O O 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O N o 0 b b b b 0 0 0 0 0 w 0 0 0 O\ 0o O i-- O O 0 0 0 0 0 00000000000000000000 \O 0 0 0 00 00 -P. 0 0 e y *C z 5 P o C• at 0 0 4 co cn w cro J O N O 0 O O O 0 co a cop m o CJl 00 N Jl O O O O O O 0 0 L) 00 O O O O 0 co co O O 0 0 0 0 .A 0 0 w O O 0 O O O 0 O O N oo coo Co O N 01 co, O O N N O cn LA O O 0 0 0 cii O O O O O O O O O O 00 0 O O O cra 0 `G 0 0 CT ro AD CT) 5 GJ 0 0 N w 0 0 0 c.n w 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 cn w 0 0\ cm 0 N N \0 O C�II w --a W W \0 Q\ w J O O 00 Cli O O O O O oo s.0 �0 \0 0 0 0 0 0 Co \C O O N 00 O 40 vi O \0 CO 0 0 CO 0 0 CO 0 ial LA O i..rt O Vi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 O Vi O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O 0 O 0 O O O 0 O O O O W N O 0 w coo O O O oo oo 0 O oo O O O O O O O O O O O O O O V O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Cobb O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O P P P P P P P P P P P O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 o o o o o o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O.O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O oo cc oo O O O O O O O O O O O O O N O 00 0 0 0 C1 N 0 0 0�— O 0\ O N 0 0 01 O. N O O N A ■0 N 0\ .P N 0 oo --1 -.1 W W W cm -...1 W -...1 C!i w W J W W N 01 J O V0 O p. '40 O O '.0 ‘.0 00 vi -..3 C O O Co oo \C O N O \C Co 0? --i O to 0 0 0 000 U 00 L 00000000 000000c.nOOw0 00000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0000 C 00 00 0 W N O. N N ---.1 0 0 0 O O O O LA O O O LA O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O --I O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Co 0 Co 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O 0 0 0 O co O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O CO O Co O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O 0 0 Co 0 0 O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 00 00 N N O O O O O C 0 O 0 O O O O O 0 0 O 0 0 0 999 O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 999 O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O bb O O O O O O 0 01 O O O O co n O 0 O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 tr.)i∎ O O A 0 0 O O c.n O O coo O O O 00000'8 0'0000 O 999999 000000 O O O O O O 0 O O A 0 0 O 0 O 0 0 0 coo 0 0 0 O 00 O O O O O O O O O 00 cr N O 0 J O O O 0 G O 000000 J O O O O O O O O O 0 O w 0 O\ N O vi 0 00 0 N w N 00 V0 0\ LA O w .0 O J O T 0 sc vi 0 On to O cJ O 00 O O O O .D 0 0 0 0— 0 0 w tV W N w O O .c 0 0 0 0 ON 0 0 0000.00000 O 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 000000000 O 0 00 W 0 0 w N w w w w v 1-+ 00 1C w O 00 00 10 C../1 0 0 c.n vm 0 0 0 u 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LP 0 0 N A 00 00 W x 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 00000000' O O 0 O O O O O O 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 O 000000000 O 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 Jl N 00 0 O O O O O O O 00 r+ A A A w w U w L O O O O A 00 10 00 V0 0 0 0 0 0 Ui O cn O J 000000000 c.n N W N A �1 O O O O w J <A000 000000000 O (00000000o= 0000600000 O O O O O O O O O O w 0 00 01 N A w A O O O O A �1 co O Qn A O 0 0 0 1 c.n c.n O C w O O co 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 w N_ O 00 A O A i-- 0 O O O N O O O O tal O 0000000000 co 0000000000 0000000009 0 000000000 Uri ZD 00 O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O w a O N 00 N O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O rD 0 0 0 0 m m m CD °Q R g p n CD m cp 0 0 D 0 ri ao 0 0 0 0. x US m m 0 N 0 az crc, az CA W fO O ut W r-+ J O\ r- W J 41. O w O O\ vi O\ J ON O O VD \D 01 N O O 00 W 0 •P -4 N 0 0 r!,' 1.•-+ N J O W N VI W 00 '0 r- Q\ Vt J J W V N "CO IA W Vi J .P VI VI N O O o i--, O W 00 O\ Q0 k.0 q: N N 00 0 Vi N 0 -4 J 00 Vi 4 W \0 '-0 O 00 5. N 00 J 'D N J w 00 O 00 sD N J J N W VI \D 0 0 VD O VI �D �D J N N J •1. O O J W d\ N O O "co O vt ut W O c.n O J c.n O cn O O J O •P cn La 'co 5- O N N 00 O O O Vt O\ r-- i..0 O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 u, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c.n O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 N N J CD Q\ 01 r-- N W oo -4 00 O A LA i-+ N 0 d\ W O\ N •P 00 O c- 00 0, 10 O N N 4 N w O O N? O 00 J n -4 00 -4 0 O\ u, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cn O N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 VI sO O O O W U W ■D O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 tN 0 0 O N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 w O O w W 0 0 O 0 U Co La O •P O O O J VD w- Cn J 0 J N N 0 00 CT O J O— •A ON VI O W N N C\ Vi O- O— O N N N '00-4 W VI N N w 4\ W oo sD N N N w A La la O O N Vi J N W w 0 vn A 4 N D •P w A O cn 'co w oo w ∎0 00 CS 00 N W N 0 V0 ‘.0 N O■ a\ s.0 •P VD 0 C0 VD w ON VD O )D s.0 J 1-+ O c.n O oo O w co N 0 0 zD A O VD J CT J O Vi N 00 O, ■O O O LA N ill cn O Vi vt Cn N O La Vt C 0, O w 0 0 0 0o N J N P O O C 41 N� O W O O Vi O O VI O O O VI O\ O O O O cr O O O O O v, cn vt cn 0 CA O O Vi VI 0 Vi 0 ut 0 0 w .A ON 00 O N VI p-- O w J O O N cn CO c0 0o 0 N 00 J Cn N J 0 N N N O O VI N ut O N 'VP W O� 0 ON O s N 00 N W P O 0 0 A ON 41 O O O O W J O O O O O ∎O O O O O O O O 0 VI 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0000000000000 O O O O O 0 O Co 'co 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O o-- N ON r- 0-■ Lit �D W J 00 0-- i--• w O \D Q\ -J VD 00 O N N W .1::, 00 a1 00 �D O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V1 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cn O O )O o0 0 0 VI N N O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 w 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0\ 0 0 In 0 W O O O -4 O O O 00 0 ro z U.) O 00 999 O O O O N.) 00 999 O b O O O O to CA H v, Cl) to 0 c O CD N O w w 0 0 0 t i w'0 00 O ON w O S .0 0 0 m Y Y o I' A g A MI a o co o to vi .P •P N 4A 0 0 0 ul CT 4 ‘C) w O 0 0 00 W W J W N •P W N 1-- o--■ O o--' 00 �O �1 1-- .D w 00 \0 W 0 VI W w '.D Co.) '.D CD VI CA J LA N t-41 0 N W �D O \0 00 VI O O \D A J CD w VI --I c0 VI --1 O --1 --1 00 00 C0 oo O 0 J 00 Co J O CO 0 0 0 0 Cn O N O u, Cn cn it !JI ;al O c.n O O O Ca Vi 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cn CJI O 0 -1 O in 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O W O O O O W 00 0-- co.) CJi yo r LA 0\ 00 W LA O W O J 00 O P O O O O,D Ow 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O to Cn O w 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0000000000000000000000000000000000 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O N O i--• N N d\ W W W CJl p O W 0\ 00 N O W O 00 C0 N CJi N C0 o0 i-- O N N 1-- �l Q■ N -1 0\ W 00 -1 �1 r--+ CJI 00 CJI VI W C.41 IN w \D VI W IA C.41 LA CD A W co �D r.- O O CJI C./I VI -4 W VI W -.4 01 0\ VI LA W W LA W 0 00 Co J CN '.0 0 VD Vl 00 -4 A 0\ 00 W 'D 0 w 00 0 VD VI CD 'D 00 a1 CJI N CJI '.0 CJI \D W VI CJI CJI i rl a1 i it O cJl O VI O to O O O O O CJI O O O <n CJI ut O O O in N cJl U.. iJl i.n O O O O O W o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o W VI N N -P ■D O\ co N N t N N -3 N N Vt --1 --1 '.D N w i O 'D IA CJI O CD O\ 0 0 VI �l N VI 0 VI 'D 0\ O CJI O 0 CD VI O O O 0 VI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 to 00-' O O o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A CJI 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 00000000 O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O lD 0 0\ 00 w N 00 in 0 a 0 a O O O 0 U.) O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O CO O O 0 C oC C 0 0 o w co o cia c4. ao as o a O 0 O O O O O O O O Co w 01 LA O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 LA N Cn -.1 O Cn 0 0 O O O O O O O O 0 0 O o w w 00 00 N 0\ O O O O 0 O O W O ON O O O 0 W O w a\ 0 O C O O Cn O 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 J 0■ O aN 990900 06000 0 000000 0 0 0 O.0 O 000000 N 41. W O\ 00 0■ N Cn CO co oo O L000 O O O O O N 00 VP O O O N N �1 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 w 0 O O O O O O "co 999900 0 0 0 0 0 0 c o o 0 0 0 0 O 0 O LA W N J o 00 0 w r- 0 N C\.) C W 0 N- W 0 W N J 0 W 01 O CA N l0 4:=. VD 00 ON Cn Cn O O Cn Cn 0 C/i W in O --1 O O vO O O O O oo O 0 4 -P Q1 W -Co N --71 ,----1 01 00 Cn o W 0 \O N C 0 41. ∎O -1 �0 J 0 'O W A0 w t.,1 Oo Cn O N 111 O W 'NJ 00 J Cn 00 r� 8 0 0 C0 0 0 N '-0 0 --1 J N O O 0■ Cn 0 0 L 0 0 0 9 9 O O O 0 LA W CO to 0 0 1 0 01 O 0 O O O 0 O O O C O 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 6 6 6 0 o 0 O O O O O O O c o c a O O O O O c o c a O O O O O O 9999999999 0000000000 Q 0 0 0 O O co. A LA W 00 W N Cn 4:1.. Cn N 00 N N 01 W J W N N W O w '0 00 0 --1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 Q■ A ■O ---.1 O r- V, N CA O 0 0 0 0 4 O O O O O O O O O O 9999999999 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 b o o a C Qa o" A' P' O 0 0 M a 5 a w w 0■ N stO Cn O O O 0 0 A 0 r 0 Y a A G P •0 0 n ooa 0 2 n ^o 4 0 0 n no y 0 0 0■ N 00 00 J N 0\ O w N W N Cn N W 0■ W J \O O\ 1 J W ∎O -1 O ■O '0 N W -1 'O W CO LA O Cn Co O w 0 0 w cn O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 O 0 0 0 O O O O O O CO O O O O O O O O O O O O O W W W W P N cs■ r N r+ W CO C A 41. s Cn 1-- J r-- W N IA 1.-• W l0 --1 W P �O J w Cn. .A N Cn A J W �1 N sO CO P O N oo W co 00 Z.A. 0 0 Cn O cn 0 0 0 W 0 In 0 o 0 0 0 0 coo W o 0 W LA �O W '-O P N 4 Q\ O Cn N O a1 O o0 0\ CO r- J v, 0 0 0 O O O O LA 000600000660 c o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 0 0 0 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 O O O O 0 O N 00 00 00 O O O 0 y vn y a on E a J N O O O O O O O O O O .A Do Oo 0 O O O O O O O O O cr v c 0 o 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O N 0 O 0 0 NEWS from the City of Lakeville FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2009 CONTACT: David Olson, Community Economic Development Director 952- 985 -4421 The City is pleased to announce that the Malt -O -Meal Company has purchased the former Hearth and Home Technologies building located at 20802 Kensington Boulevard. Malt -O -Meal plans to relocate more than 120 of its administrative employees from a facility in Northfield to this building in Lakeville. After determining that there were no buildings available in Northfield to move administrative staff to, Malt -O -Meal conducted a search of existing facilities along the I -35 corridor and subsequently reached an agreement to purchase the Hearth and Home Technologies building. Malt -O -Meal plans to complete the remodeling of this building and be operational at this new office location by the end of 2009. David Olson, Community and Economic Development Director said that the City is extremely pleased to have a company of Malt -O- Meal's caliber choose to locate in Lakeville. "The existing building they have purchased will meet the Company's needs both now and into the future. The quality professional jobs that Malt -O -Meal will be relocating to Lakeville will benefit our local economy and the City looks forward to a long and positive relationship with the Malt -O -Meal Company," said Olson. September 18, 2009 Stella's Fish Cafe owner takes new concept to Lakeville site BY JOHN VOMHOF JR. STAFF WRITER Premier Restaurant Management Inc. will open its Molly Cool's Seafood Tavern concept in the Twin Cities. St Louis Park -based Premier signed a lease for the former Copper Bleu American Bistro restau- rant site at 17516 Dodd Blvd. in Lakeville. Molly Cool's is scheduled to open there in late October. Premier, which opened its first Molly Cool's restaurant in downtown Milwaukee in May, wants to expand the concept rapidly It plans a site in Austin, Texas, and possibly one or two more Twin Cities locations. "There are some reasonably large -sized sea- food chains in other parts of the country with 20 to 50 units," Premier CEO Bob Carlson said. "I could see us in that range within five to 10 years." Molly Cool's is a sister to Premier's popu- lar Stella's Fish Cafe Prestige Oyster Bar in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood, but it's not quite as upscale. Guest checks run be- tween $15 and $25 at Molly Cool's, compared to an average of about $35 at Stella's. Molly Cool's most popular dishes are sword- fish, halibut and crab legs, but the menu also includes burgers, ribs and steaks. Phil Roberts, co- founder of Edina -based Parasole Restaurant Holdings, said Molly Cool's has potential to grow; assuming the Lakeville location lives up to expectations. At the early stage, you have to have all success- 23, S, V.. LAUVIL jvomhof @bizjsurnals.com 1 (612) 288 -2101 Minneapolis /St. Paul Business Journal I mspbj.com es," said Roberts, who developed the Stella's concept for Premier. Premier is leasing its 6,800 square -foot space in Lakeville from Tim Hasse, who was represented on the deal by Peter Grones, a broker at Cambridge Commercial Real Estate in Edina. Hasse bought the building from Copper Bleu founder Scott Wmer for $1.6 million in late 2008, more than a year after the restaurant closed. Winer had spent approximately $6 million to build the restaurant, including a copper exterior, cherry floors, cedar paneling and custom fixtures. Premier will spend about $500,000 on inte- rior changes such as new floor coverings, an oyster bar and more flat -panel televisions. Premier also operates five Majors Sports Cafe restaurants throughout the Twin Cities; Throwbacks Grille Bar in Woodbury; McHugh's Bar Grille in Savage; Bootleggers Bar Grill in Milwaukee; The Belmont in Austin, Texas; and Miami's Chophouse in Miami. The company expects to surpass $40 million in revenue in 2010. FAEGRE MexA I 2009 BENSON] C O N F E R E N C E A MUST ATTEND M &A EVENT IN THE MIDWEST CONFERENCE AGENDA Market Update: Current M &A Deal Trends, Valuations and Outlook Cross Border M &A Transactions Distressed Company M &A: Section 363 Sales and Other Transaction Alternatives The Dealmakers Speak: Doing Deals in Tough Times Shareholder Activism: The Changing Landscape for Public Corporations Evaluating Deal Certainty in Turbulent Times State of the Debt Markets Timely Tax Strategies (in Plain English) Seller Financing: Bridging the Gap What's Maret" for M &A Deal Terms .1 I.. rs per r vi hi. .1, ...'.i 'a so, e4 bit MO ttll Pr IW Sa CS 6F i j r T lO IL 12. IPI 1.14,..: dry f' sa•5.. .1 a e el i1I(:I1 ACHIEVEMENT AI\\`, \'ti TAKES PLACE IN 11 IF FRANHI?\ \'O1(K or 111(il I EXPECTATION. 1 j Architectural and Structural Precast Concrete• 1111M II Bt Hanson HEIDELBERGCEMENTGroup Steven Bergerson Photography 763.425.5555 PO Box 1360, Maple Grove, N 55311 Ss www.hansonsm.com Who Should Attend M &A dealmakers and the professionals who advise them Thursday, October 29 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Minneapolis Marriott City Center Registration Fee: $395 Lunch and reception included Event Information and Registration www.faegre.com/M&Aconference Volume discount is available A Dakota County Community Deve CD lopment Agency To: Dakota County Cities From: Dan Rogness, Director of Community Revitalization Date: September 15, 2009 Re: Foreclosure Update Extended Hours for Foreclosure Counseling The CDA would like to announce extended hours for mortgage foreclosure prevention counseling. Previously, counselors were generally available between the CDA's business hours of 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Now, on the third Wednesday of every month, housing counselors will be available to meet with homeowners at the CDA's office building until 7 p.m. This month, the third Wednesday falls on September 16. Postponement of Foreclosure Sale Effective June 15, 2009, Minnesota state law allows homeowners to delay the Sheriff Sale of their home by five months. Postponing the Sheriff Sale would give the homeowners five more months to bring their mortgage current, but it also reduces the Redemption Period to five weeks. Normally, the Redemption Period in Minnesota lasts six months. The law is time sensitive. There is only a small window of time to postpone the sale. The first publication of the Sheriff Sale must have occurred and it must be at least 15 days before the scheduled sale. If the homeowners are unable to bring the mortgage current or redeem during the Redemption Period, the home must be vacated at the end of the five -week Redemption Period. Postponement under the new law can only be done once, regardless of whether the homeowners bring the mortgage current or not. The lender and the foreclosing attorney are not required to publish notice or serve the homeowners with additional information about the change in the Sheriff Sale date, or when the Redemption Period ends. For more information on the new law, or for steps on how to postpone the sale, please visit www.hocmn.org or call 651- 675 -4555 to speak with a CDA housing counselor. DA Dakota County Community Development Agency Dakota County Stats August 2009 of Sheriff Sales in August 160 (compared to 157 in August 2008) Total Sheriff Sales for 2009 1,192 (compared to 1,451 Jan.- August, 2008) of Notices of Pendency Filed in August 291 Total Notices of Pendency Filed for 2009— 2,627 A Notice of Pendency is filed by a mortgage company's attorney as official notification that the foreclosure process has begun. Not all of these result in sheriff sales. Pages 3 and 4 of this PDF file have Sheriff Sale and Notice of Pendency statistics for each city. Mapping Using Dakota County GIS http://gis.co.dakota.mn.us/website/dakotanetgis/ The Dakota County Office of GIS is updating the 2009 Foreclosures and Notice of Pendency layers on a monthly basis. If you need assistance using this Web page, please call Randy Knippel or Mary Hagerman with the Office of GIS at (952) 891 -7081. In The News Provided in this PDF file are a few notable foreclosure articles that were published in the last month. Among the points of interest: Pending home sales in the Twin Cities area rose for the 13 consecutive month in July, but the area median sale price fell to $171,000 due in large part to discounted foreclosed homes. A new Minnesota law that went into effect on August 1 forbids the influencing of housing appraisers by mortgage lenders and real estate agents, among others. Such influence played a role in inflating the housing bubble. Nearly six out of every 100 mortgages in Minnesota were either in foreclosure or more than 90 days past due at the end of the second quarter. A year ago, four out of every 100 mortgages in the state were seriously delinquent. A national article that tells a personal story of the frustration and obstacles that homeowners are encountering with the government's latest effort to stem the rising tide in foreclosures. If you have any other concerns, please call me at (651) 675 -4464 or send me an e- mail at drognessedakotacda.state.mn.us. A U C cu Q1 Q 0) O 4 T a) O V c 0 cos) 0 0 Z' U) Q U 00 N N N N N N c1' N O N To a. a. 4 CO O. N N O N N L/l O M M N O M fis CO N N N N CO N c"O N O N vs W CO O L+1 c 0 et LL 611 N CO N N CO 'O 00 00 CO O% CO 611 O 'O 00 N N 6t1 vO N CO N. T J N O M O O O O O N 'O N N. 00 O. O O' LO N M N CO 611 O 611 Cr) O' O' N N LA 'C N '.D 6n CO 00 J 4 O u u 0 U C C O 'TV CL s n c C L11 0 E S O y cn ccl a) h s O Y a+ �y O ed C O u to In E 5 O C L O E 0 LL V 01 c w E 0 N CI 0 U E LC. Y E O D U col) er 0 N 3 4 OZ 0 0 O O 0 r4 IGJ! 0 CO 4 d LL I N •4 M M O f\ NJ- .O M To d O_ 4 N. N C• Oro er n M LA N NO LA L O 1- CO Lr1 M CO f\ IJ I M O CO M W .O N N e N O N O N N o• L/1 N er eT N O• N eT N .O CO O• M I N I .O I I M CO et J O I N N N. LJ 00 0' N M O N N N I N O CO N N CO O O LC1 N O .0 N N eT M .O N N` N CO el' M 0% M N N 0 O' 0 C a.) N L N N Z d 4j 'n a O Z V G E -0 0 st 1 3 s cd y w V o iv L d L C N C O L 4- so U N t L O s o L CO N w d O 4 s- 0 d C V 7 o U `4 o N i L 3 C c C 4-. o C N N 04 b d O E O u -0 Z O d N u td s C C c 0_ N O N u Z N Z w H O -c Z Home sales deals up 16 percent from 2008 1 StarTribune.com StarTr ne com Page 1 of 2 Home sales deals up 16 percent from 2008 Pending home sales in the Twin Cities area rose for the 13th consecutive month in July, but deeply discounted foreclosed homes continue to drag down sale prices. Signed purchase agreements in the 13- county metropolitan area increased 16 percent from a year earlier, to 5,174, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. Closed sales rose nearly 26 percent from a year ago, to 5,235. But housing prices continue to suffer. The area's median sale price fell to $171,000 in July, down 18 percent from 2008 and down 27 percent from 2007. July's prices even slumped from June's median price of $173,500. Until last month, prices had been increasing since bottoming out in February at $150,000. The association blamed the price decline on the high number of foreclosed homes on the market. About 44 percent of July pending home sales were of lender- mediated foreclosures and short sales, where the lender agrees to a sale for less than the amount of the mortgage. While that percentage is far from ideal, it's better than earlier this year, when about 60 percent of pending sales came from foreclosures or short sales, said Steve Havig, president of the Minneapolis Realtors group. The median sale price for traditional home sales, which excludes those lender- mediated, rose slightly from June to July, but at $213,150 is 6 percent less than a year ago. Havig said traditional home -sale prices have been dragged down by buyers' price expectations, which are tainted from the buzz swirling around foreclosed homes. "Anyone who was out there looking for a home felt entitled to a good deal," he said. Even though conditions are improving, there is a lag time for home buyers' expectations, said Evan Hermodson, an agent at Edina Realty's Minneapolis Parkway office. "A lot of buyers still have this flawed idea that there's a lot out there and it's all really cheap," Hermodson said. Havig said that once the foreclosed homes are culled from the market, median home sale price will increase and the market will stabilize. "Within a year we should be able to clear these things out of the system," Havig predicted of the foreclosures. But Scott Anderson, a senior economist for Wells Fargo Co., expects home sale prices to continue Print Powered By http://www.startribune.com/local/south/53082292.html?page=2&c=y 8/13/2009 Home sales deals up 16 percent from 2008 1 StarTribune.com StarTribune.com Page 2 of 2 to drop until spring 2010, as high unemployment causes more foreclosures. The unemployment rate in Minnesota was 8.4 percent in June. "We do expect prices to still decline modestly," Anderson said. "There will most likely be another spike of foreclosures into 2010." Nationally, Moody's Economy.com, an independent economic analysis provider, predicted in a report that there will be 3.85 million defaults this year. Defaults are the first step in a foreclosure, though not all defaults lead to foreclosures. In 2008 there were 2.7 million defaults. Alex Robinson 612- 673 -7405 Print Powered http://www.startribune.com/local/south/53082292.html?page=2&c=y For- 8/13/2009 Appraisers cheer tougher rules Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal: Page 1 of 2 Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal August 17, 2009 ttwincibes/stories/2009/08/17/story4.html Bus Jci Friday, August 14, 2009 Appraisers cheer tougher rules Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal by Jennifer Niemela Staff writer The reputation of real estate appraisers has taken a hit along with the prices of the houses they're appraising. But industry players believe a new Minnesota law and stronger enforcement by the Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC) will help repair that image. The law forbids the influencing of housing appraisers by mortgage lenders, real estate agents and others. Such influence played a role in inflating the housing bubble. The DOC has cracked down on shoddy appraisers in recent years, issuing 57 enforcement actions in the first seven months of 2009, compared to eight in all of 2002. It was instrumental in orchestrating passage in the Legislature of the Appraisal Independence Bill, which went into effect on Aug. 1. The bill strengthens the DOC's ability to go after appraisers for many of the offenses it's already been tackling, including one of the industry's biggest problems: appraisers allowing themselves to be influenced by mortgage lenders when deciding the value of a piece of real estate. Enforcement actions include fines, revoked licenses and the like. jniemela @bizjournals.com 1 (612) 288 -2138 Members: http: twincities .bizjournals.com /twincities /stories /2009 /08 /17 /story4.html ?t= printable 8/14/2009 Mortgage delinquencies keep relentless rise TwinCities.com TwinCities com Print Powered By http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_13173164?nclick_check=1 Page 1 of 2 Mortgage delinquencies keep relentless rise 6% of state's home loans 90 days past due or foreclosed By Christopher Snowbeck csnowbeck @pioneerpress.com Updated: 08/20/2009 10 :48:27 PM CDT More falling behind The rate of seriously delinquent mort gage loans on residenti properties in Minnesota continued its upward trend during the second quarter. Seriously delinquent mortgages are those 90 or more days past due or going through a bank foreclosure. Share of Minnesota residential mortgages seriously delinquent Mb 2nd quarter 2009: L The share of home mortgages in Minnesota that are seriously delinquent keeps going up. Nearly six out of every 100 mortgages in the state either were in foreclosure or more than 90 days past due at the end of the second quarter, according to the latest report Thursday from the Mortgage Bankers Association. A year earlier, nearly four out of every 100 mortgages in the state were seriously delinquent, and the rate in 2003 was just 1 percent. Sustained growth in the number of delinquent borrowers has tempered enthusiasm about recent declines in the number of foreclosures in the state. In Minnesota and across the country, the surge in foreclosure activity has shifted from subprime to prime borrowers, according to the report released Thursday, as more homeowners struggle to make mortgage payments because of loss of jobs and income. From 2005 through 2007, foreclosures spiked primarily because of the failure of subprime borrowers to stay current on mortgages that some experts say were destined to fail with a downturn in the housing market. One indicator of the shift: Prime fixed -rate loans now account for one in three foreclosure starts across the nation, up from one in five a year ago, said Jay Brinkman, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association. "There was a major drop in foreclosures on subprime (adjustable rate mortgage) loans," Brinkman said in a statement. "The drop, however, was offset by increases in the foreclosure rates on the other types of loans, with prime fixed -rate loans having the biggest increase." Minnesota had 11,089 bank foreclosures in the first six months of 2009, down 18 percent from the same period a year ago, according to a report earlier this month from a consortium of housing groups. Foreclosure numbers likely have dropped in part 8/24/2009 Mortgage delinquencies keep relentless rise TwinCities.com TwinCities corn Print Powered By http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_13173164?nclick_check=1 Page 2 of 2 because many lenders volunteered to stop repossessing homes this winter and spring while the government worked out details of a plan to prevent foreclosures. Brinkman said it's questionable how well that federal program will work for prime, fixed -rate borrowers struggling to make payments due to a lack of income. During a conference call with reporters Thursday, Brinkman again stressed that much of the nation's foreclosure problem stems from troubles in four states California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona. Those states accounted for 44.1 percent of all foreclosure starts in the country during the second quarter. That top -heavy distribution means 43 states including Minnesota actually had a below average rate of foreclosure starts during the second quarter, Brinkman said. Christopher Snowbeck can be reached at 651 -228- 5479. 8/24/2009 Frustration rising over mortgage relief Reinventing America Page 1 of 4 MSNBC.com Frustration rising over mortgage relief Government's latest effort to stem rising tide is mired in problems By John W. Schoen Senior producer updated 12:40 p.m. ET, Thurs., Aug 20, 2009 After months of dead ends, rejections and runarounds from bank representatives, Dan Binder is still in loan modification limbo. When Binder lost his job as a media researcher, he and his wife left their southern California home in July 2008 and relocated to North Carolina where he found a new job in the media business. Since then, he's never missed a payment on the three bedroom home in Riverside County, Calif., he said, though it's lost about half its value since he bought it in 2005 for $418,000. When his wife lost her job after the move, he called his lender, Wells Fargo, to see if the bank could rewrite the loan to lower the monthly payments. Since then, he said, he's gotten conflicting responses from multiple bank representatives, one of whom said he was days away from a new loan that was subsequently rejected. At one point, after assurances that he submitted all the appropriate paperwork, he was told a form was missing. When he provided it, he was told the remaining paperwork was more than 30 days old and he would have to update and resubmit each document. At another point, he said, he was told his file showed a sizable credit card debt he didn't owe. After his latest rejection he asked for an explanation. "They said the notes from the investors (holding the mortgage) said, 'You spend too much on food,' he said. If all this sounds familiar, it's because homeowners around the country have been jumping through similar hoops with the same fruitless results. Nearly two years after the federal government's first program to slow the relentless rise in the pace of home foreclosures, the latest attempt, known as Making Home Affordable, is turning out to be another painful disappointment for millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes. Dozens of e-mails from msnbc.com readers report months of futile effort to modify their loans. The list of problems includes misdirected calls, lost paperwork and conflicting advice from multiple representatives for the same lender. A Wells Fargo spokeswoman said the company can't comment on individual customer's loans due to privacy restrictions. But she said the company is "working with all of its customers who experience hardships and need assistance with their mortgage payments up the point of actual foreclosure sale." "As the government guidelines have changed and as we have gotten more options to help people, there has been some communication confusion that we are working to absolutely get on top of and correct for customers," she said. HUD approved housing counselors the frontline professionals trying to help borrowers modify mortgages have expressed frustrations with a variety of roadblocks, bureaucratic snafus and ongoing confusion about the program. "Even if (the homeowner) gets hold of somebody, that person might not necessarily understand the complexity of (the program)," said Helene Raynaud, an executive at the National Foundation for Credit http /www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3247913 9 /ns/ business- reinventing_america/page /3 /print 1 8/24/2009 Frustration rising over mortgage relief Reinventing America Page 2 of 4 Counseling, an umbrella group that certifies and sets standards for housing counselors. "Counselors end up talking to different people as well, which makes it very difficult. Depending on who they talk to, and the level of seniority and the level of training and the different servicers (they deal with), they get completely different outcomes." Downward spiral Despite recent signs of a bottom in the housing market, the pace of foreclosures shows no signs of slowing. More than 13 percent of homeowners with a mortgage are either behind on their payments or in foreclosure, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday. As of June, more than 4 percent of all borrowers were in foreclosure and about 9 percent had missed at least one payment. A separate report found that more than 272,000 borrowers were at some stage of foreclosure in July, up 8 percent from June and 55 percent from July 2007, according to RealtyTrac, which maintains a national database of foreclosure filings. The continuing rise in foreclosures delays any meaningful recovery in the U.S. economy, in part because housing typically leads the economy out of recession. Although there have been recent signs of life in home construction and housing sales, they have been weak and from extremely depressed levels. Every new foreclosed home increases the unsold inventory on the market and cuts into demand for new construction. Foreclosed homes sold in distressed safes or auctions also push nearby home prices lower. Unless the pace of foreclosures can be slowed or stopped, millions more homeowners who are current on their loans will be forced "under water" owing more than their house is worth. Those homeowners become new candidates for default. One recent research report from Deutsche Bank estimates that roughly half of all U.S. homeowners will be under water by 2011. Falling home prices also destroy billions of dollars of consumer wealth as homeowners watch their home equity evaporate. That loss of consumer spending power creates another major headwind to any economic recovery. The collapse of home prices in high foreclosure neighborhoods also slows economic activity by forcing owners to make tough choices when they sell their house. Readers in high- foreclosure areas report that they're unable to relocate for a new job, buy a bigger house for an expanding family or downsize for a planned retirement because they can't afford to sell their home at a loss. When Carol Hardee's daughter Laura died last year, she faced an uphill battle selling the daughter's Atlanta home, which was purchased in 2000 for $150,000. In February Hardee got an offer for $140,000. But with so many foreclosed properties in the neighborhood, the appraisal came back at just $75,000, and the deal fell through. "There was a house just around the corner from her it was like a three- or four- bedroom house that sold for $25,000," she said. Hardee said she was unable to work out a loan modification with her lender, and the house eventually sold at a foreclosure auction for $100,000, which still left her with some equity to settle her daughter's estate. "I had no choice," she said. "I had to sell the house. There were bills to pay with it." Frustration with mortgage relief efforts also has led desperate homeowners to fall victim to a variety of foreclosure "rescue" scams. Since April, the Federal Trade Commission has brought 14 cases over these schemes, while 23 state attorneys general and other agencies have taken action against 178 companies. Last year, reported incidents of all forms of mortgage fraud hit an all -time high up 26 percent from 2007, according to the Mortgage Asset Research Institute. Making Home Affordable is supposed to offer troubled borrowers two possible solutions. The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is designed to lower payments on existing loans by cutting the interest rate and stretching out the term. The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) gives borrowers who are current on their payments but "under water" a chance to refinance into a new loan for the same amount, with lower payments. http:// www .msnbc.msn.com/id /32479139/ns/ business reinventing_america /page /3 /print/ 1 8/24/2009 Frustration rising over mortgage relief Reinventing America Page 3 of 4 The program pays incentives of several thousand dollars for each modified loan to mortgage servicers, which often are not the same as the lenders who hold the mortgage. Lenders and servicers report their own frustrations with the MHA program, which was unveiled by the Obama administration in March with no advance notice to allow these companies to gear up and train workers. As recently as Iast month, key components of the program were still not in place, and some of the initial guidelines limit the program's "potential to help homeowners," according to a July report from the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. The report also found that "a number of HAMP programs remain largely undefined." Though many servicers had already increased staff to work on troubled loans, they've been overwhelmed by the volume of applications for affordable loans. "The number of calls coming in is staggering," said a representative from one of the 10 largest servicers, who asked not to be identified because she was not authorized to speak publicly. "You're talking about call after call after call after call after call of people in bad economic circumstances needing attention for their loan." Servicers say they also have been frustrated by the tepid response to their efforts to reach out to homeowners at risk of default. The servicer representative who asked not to be identified said her company sent out one round of 45,000 packages to homeowners believed to be at risk; only 15 percent of them responded. Staffing is also an issue at the Treasury's Homeownership Preservation Office, which was set up in November to address the sharp rise in foreclosures. As of mid -July, the office still had no permanent executive in charge, according to the GAO. Eleven positions had been filled with permanent employees and three with temporary workers borrowed from other agencies while 17 positions remained vacant, the GAO said. The Making Home Affordable program was proposed by the Obama administration and enacted by Congress after two previous government- sponsored efforts, the Hope Now Alliance and the Hope for Homeowners program, failed to make a significant dent in the foreclosure rate. Hope Now, launched in October 2007, has modified several hundred thousand mortgages, although the "redefault" rate from this first round of modifications ran as high as 50 percent. The Hope for Homeowners program, launched in July 2008, was expected to reach 400,000 distressed mortgage holders. At first the program was hampered by cumbersome terms and red tape, and only one homeowner got help. Terms were loosened in November without any meaningful impact. This month, the government announced it is rewriting the program again. The unchecked rise in foreclosures also is destroying the value of assets backed by mortgages that are held by banks and private investors. So far, most investors have refused to take that loss upfront and reduce the loan amounts for homeowners who owe more than their house is worth. Though most major lenders and servicers have signed on to the MHA program, the decision to make a loan more affordable or forgive some of the principal amount is entirely voluntary. "(Investors) have already suffered this loss: They've suffered it on paper," said John Taylor, president of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. "They're waiting for this loss to begin to dissipate as the housing market recovers. What it's doing, though, is continuing to exacerbate the foreclosure problems and drag down the economy." That deep recession has amplified the pace of foreclosures. When the mortgage market began melting down in late 2006, many of those in default were subprime borrowers and others who were sold adjustable loans that "reset" to unaffordable payments. Now, with 7 million jobs destroyed by the housing -led recession, lost paychecks have become a much thornier problem for groups working to slow the pace of foreclosures. "The (MHA) program is still not fitted to people who have experienced a severe reduction in income," said Raynaud of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, That has cast doubt on just how many homeowners may ultimately get help. The White House has estimated that as many as 40 percent of the more than 10 million homeowners who are likely at risk of default and http: /www.msnbc.msn.com/id/ 32479139/ns/ business reinventing _americalpage /3 /print/ 1 8/24/2009 Frustration rising over mortgage relief Reinventing America Page 4 of 4 foreclosure could be helped. But the GAO, in its July report, found that estimate "problematic." The servicer representative who asked not to be identified estimated that only 20 percent of the loans serviced by her company were good candidates for modification or refinance. Under current guidelines, borrowers must show they can devote 31 percent of their income to the new monthly mortgage payment. Some servicers say that's too high, and have suggested to the Treasury that the threshold be lowered to 25 percent to qualify more homeowners. For whatever reason, voluntary efforts to modify loans have proceeded at a snail's pace. As of the end of July, only 9 percent of an eligible 2.7 million borrowers had seen their mortgages modified under the new program, according to the latest Treasury data. Bank of America, for example, one of the largest holders of home mortgages, had modified only 4 percent of eligible borrowers as of last month. Some lenders had not modified a single loan. That has raised question about the need for tougher measures to determine how aggressively servicers are working to modify loans. "What was the lever to mandate and hold them accountable said Taylor. "I just don't see that. It keeps returning to what is the fundamental flaw in (former Treasury Secretary Henry) Paulson's plan and now in (Treasury Secretary Timothy) Geithner's: that it's voluntary by nature." In its July report, the GAO agreed. "No comprehensive processes have yet been established to assure that all borrowers at risk of default in participating servicers' (mortgage) portfolios are reached," the report said. The government's "carrot" approach to stopping foreclosures offering $50 billion in incentives to servicers to modify loans was adopted after the financial services industry successfully fought back a powerful "stick" that would have granted bankruptcy judges authority to modify the terms of a mortgage loan from the bench. Judges can do that with any other form of consumer debt in a bankruptcy proceeding but not mortgages. Congress proposed the so- called "cramdown" provision several times in the past two years, including separate bills introduced in the House and Senate in January. But for now, there are no proposals to revive the bankruptcy provision or adopt other measures to force lenders to modify mortgages. "At some point we have to realize is that the voluntary efforts haven't worked," said Kathleen Keest, a senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending. "It's time to make it mandatory, but that can't happen without Congress acting." 2009 msnbc.com Reprints URL: http:// www .msnbc.msn.com/id /32479139/ns/ business reinventing america /page /3/ MSN Privacy Legal 2009 MSNBC.com http:// www .msnbc.msn.com/id /32479139/ns/ business reinventing _america /page /3 /print/ 1 8/24/2009 Olson, David From: Monte Hanson [Monte.Hanson @state.mn.us] Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:24 AM Cc: _Groupl Subject: August Employment Numbers Communications Office 651/259 -7161 or 1- 800 657 -3858 TTY 1- 800 657 -3973 Fax 651/215 -3841 www.PositivelyMinnesota.com Date: September 17, 2009 For Immediate Release 09/17/2009 Contact: Kirsten Morel% 651- 259 -7161 Kirsten. Morelllstate. mnus Minnesota Unemployment Rate Falls to 8 Percent Employers Shed 10,300 Jobs in August ST. PAUL Minnesota's unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted 8 percent in August, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The U.S. unemployment rate climbed 0.3 percent to 9.7 percent in August. Minnesota employers shed 10,300 jobs in August. Minnesota's over the -year job loss is 4.3 percent, compared with the nation's loss of 4.4 percent. "The road to economic recovery will lead us through many twists and turns," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. "I am encouraged to see the gap between Minnesota's and the nation's unemployment rates widening, suggesting that the state may experience an earlier economic rebound." Three of the state's 11 industry sectors gained employment during the month. The strongest sector was professional and business services, which added 1,300 jobs. Other gains were seen by other services (up 400) and information (up 300). Job losses occurred in leisure and hospitality (down 3,200), trade, transportation and utilities (down 3,000), education and health care (down 2,200), government (down 2,100), manufacturing (down 900), financial activities (down 500), construction (down 300), and logging and mining (down 100). Over the past year, education and health services added 11,600 jobs and government added 700 jobs. Jobs losses occurred over the past year in manufacturing (down 40,100), professional and business services (down 33,900), trade, transportation and utilities (down 24,800), construction (down 16,200), leisure and hospitality (down 5,300), other services (down 4,700), financial Page 1 of 3 Over The Year Employment Growth By Industry Sector (NSA) Seasonally adjusted OTY Job Change OTY Growth Rate U.S. OTY Growth Rate Total Non -Farm Employment 120,300 -4.3 -4.4 Logging and Mining -2,100 -31.5 -10.9 Construction 16,200 -13.1 -14.8 Manufacturing 40,100 -11.7 -12.0 Trade, Trans. and Utilities 24,800 -4.7 -4.6 Information -3,000 -5.2 -5.6 Financial Activities -2,400 -1.4 -5.4 Prof. Business Services 33,900 -10.1 -6.4 Ed. and Health Services 11,600 2.6 1.9 Leisure and Hospitality -5,300 -2.0 -2.2 Other Services -4,700 -3.9 -2.1 Government 700 0.2 -0.6 activities (down 2,400), information (down 3,000), and logging and mining (down 2,100). In the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas, over the -year job losses occurred in the Duluth Superior MSA (down 5.3 percent), Minneapolis -St. Paul MSA (down 4 percent), St. Cloud MSA (down 3.7 percent) and Rochester MSA (down 2 percent). DEED also announced the findings of its fourth annual business services survey in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, which showed mixed prospects for employment, sales revenue, profits and wages over the next year among Minnesota professional business services firms. The survey showed that 66 percent of business services firms expect employment levels to remain the same in 2010. About 55 percent of firms expect employee wages to remain the same or decrease. The survey also indicates that 30 percent of business services respondents expect revenue increases, and 27 percent expect increases in profits for 2010. For additional information on the August employment figures and the business services survey, visit www.PositivelyMinnesota.com 09/17/2009 Page 2 of 3 Seasonally adjusted Not seasonally adjusted Unemployment Rate Aug. 2009 July 2009 Minnesota 8.0 8.1 U.S. 9.7 9.4 Employment Aug. 2009 July 2009 Aug. '08 -Aug. '09 Level Change Aug. '08 -Aug. '09 Percent Change Minnesota 2,644,100 2,654,400 120,300 -4.3 U.S. 131,223,000 131,439,000 5,999,000 -4.4 activities (down 2,400), information (down 3,000), and logging and mining (down 2,100). In the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas, over the -year job losses occurred in the Duluth Superior MSA (down 5.3 percent), Minneapolis -St. Paul MSA (down 4 percent), St. Cloud MSA (down 3.7 percent) and Rochester MSA (down 2 percent). DEED also announced the findings of its fourth annual business services survey in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, which showed mixed prospects for employment, sales revenue, profits and wages over the next year among Minnesota professional business services firms. The survey showed that 66 percent of business services firms expect employment levels to remain the same in 2010. About 55 percent of firms expect employee wages to remain the same or decrease. The survey also indicates that 30 percent of business services respondents expect revenue increases, and 27 percent expect increases in profits for 2010. For additional information on the August employment figures and the business services survey, visit www.PositivelyMinnesota.com 09/17/2009 Page 2 of 3 Metropolitan Statistical Area OTY Employment Change NSA) OTY Employment Change NSA) Minneapolis -St. Paul MN -WI MSA 71,800 -4.0 Duluth Superior MN -WI MSA -7,100 -5.3 Rochester MSA -2,100 -2.0 St. Cloud MSA -3,800 -3.7 Mankato -North Mankato MSA Data available in 2010 Notes: All labor force data are subject to revision. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people actively seeking work compared with those in the labor force (employed plus unemployed). Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk. 09/17/2009 -30- Page 3 of 3 Welcome to the Dakota -Scott Workforce Investment Board's (WIB) News and Notes. This newsletter's purpose is to provide you with an update of workforce and economic development activities. www.mnwfc.ore /dakota July Unemployment Dakota 7.3%; Scott 7.4% Minnesota's rate for July was 7.8% and the U.S. rate was 9.7% http: /www.deed. state. mn. us /lmi /tools/laus/GeogSelect.aspx. 8,426 Visitors to Area WorkForce Centers In July, there were a total of 3,942 customers served in West St. Paul; 2,874 customers served in Burnsville; and 1,610 served in Shakopee. Lost Your Job? Go to www.uimn.org to file for unemployment. After filing, find local resources to help identify the next steps in your job search and networking efforts at www.mnwfc.org /dakota. WIB Member Updates The WIB welcomes Carol Schultz, President of the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce as its newest member. Weik Selected to Lead Metro Board Cathy Weik, Chairperson of the Dakota -Scott WIB, was recently elected Chairperson of the Greater Metro Workforce Council. Inver Hills Program for Dislocated Workers Advanced Career Planning for Unemployed and Underemployed Workers is a program designed by the College to assist dislocated workers. Free Transit for Disabled Veterans Minnesota's disabled veterans can use public transportation throughout Minnesota free. Disabled veterans need to show the proper identification card to bus operators of any fixed route service in the state. To qualify for the free rides, disabled veterans must show a Veterans Identification Card, issued by a VA Medical Center with the words "Service Connected" or the initials "SC" below the photo. The cards are available at the VA medical centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud. http.// www. va. gov healtheli gibility /application/IDCard.asp Dakota -Scott Workforce Investment Board News and Notes Summer 2009, Vol. 7 -2 Septemberfest Fun and Free for Entire Family The popular event is Saturday, Sept. 12 at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount. www.dctc.edu/go /fest Want to Start a Business? http: www. mnwfc .org /dakota/entrepreneur.htm. Workshops for Veterans Veterans Networking Job Club takes place every Monday 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Burnsville Workforce Center. "Are Men Bearing the Brunt of the Economic Downturn The September 2009 Minnesota Economic TRENDS article takes a look at this topic. http://www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/publications/trends/0909/h e cession.htm Stretch Your Dollars The Dakota -Scott Financial Empowerment Collaborative has a new personal finance webpage at http://wwvv.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/CaringFor/P ersFinance /default.htm. This site connects you to honest, reliable information to help navigate the world of money. Topics include: Everyday Personal Finance: making a spending plan, how to get a free credit report, saving and investing, financial education, identity theft, buying a car, credit and debt counseling, healthcare and insurance; Facing a Financial Crisis: energy and food support, local food shelves and community meals, mortgage foreclosure and prevention, rental housing, bankruptcy and unemployment; Business and Higher Education: financing college, starting a business. Flu Info Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers For info on the H1N1 situation, visit www.Flu.gov. Funding Resources for Businesses The WIB hosted an event to inform companies about available financial resources. One example is the new funding programs available through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Materials from the event are available at http: /www.dctc4business.com CleanPrint Preview StarTribu ne, 34 metro mayors will analyze business competition They want to study the region's strengths and weaknesses to learn how to better compete nationally and globally. By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune Last update: August 30, 2009 10:38 PM When a medical device company with more than 300 employees moved from Arden Hills to a new building in New Brighton last year, Arden Hills Mayor Stan Harpstead didn't wring his hands or try to cajole the firm's executives into staying. The company, he pointed out, had just moved across the freeway. The firm's employees hadn't gone anywhere. They were still living in Arden Hills and perhaps in places like Minneapolis and Stillwater, too. "Cities have realized that they're not competing with each other because there's an artificial line running down the middle of the street," Harpstead said. "We are competing with India, and competing with China, and with southern California and Texas." That global attitude is driving an unusual project by the Regional Council of Mayors to seize the initiative on job creation and business competitiveness in the Twin Cities area. Thirty-four mayors, representing cities from Minneapolis and St. Paul to Edina, Apple Valley, Brooklyn Park and Roseville, are beginning a two year project to analyze where the region's economic strengths and weaknesses lie, what challenges and opportunities key industries face and what can be done to capitalize on strengths or fix problems. The emphasis on collaboration extends to a group of project partners that includes the Urban Land Institute, which acts as a coordinator for the council of mayors, the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which is contributing $250,000 in state funding. "They don't want to study, they don't want to train, they want action," said Burke Murphy, DEED's regional administrator for the metro area. "We want to get a handle on what is going on in the economy now so we can make investments and not just do triage build for the long term. And the mayors are going to lead." Mayors are a natural for the project, Murphy said, because most of them are part-time politicians and full -time business people. That most mayors run without party affiliation should help keep politics out of the process, she said. Advertisement http://www.startribune.com/local/west/56265407.html Print Pc veered Page 1 of 3 09/01/2009 Clean Print Preview StarTribu ne,com Advertisement Page 2 of 3 "It's a real selfless group. There's no turf battles, said Edina Mayor Jim Hovland. "We're more problem- solvers than politicians." The new project grew out of previous work done by the council, which was founded in 2005. Mayors talked about affordable housing and transportation issues and the importance of job growth, and realized no one in the state is really responsible for focusing on that in the Twin Cities area, said Caren Dewar, executive director of the Urban Land Institute in Minnesota. "That's how the regional competitiveness project was born," she said. "The mayors are like entrepreneurial professionals. There's real power in a group of mayors who want to work together and get things done." Collaboration also is being pushed in Washington, where Murphy said it has become clear that the way to win federal grants is to cooperate across city and county borders. The project will have its kickoff in October with a visit from Joe Cortright, an economic development specialist from Oregon who is an expert on "cluster analysis," the foundation of the competitiveness project. Key industries that are strong here, like the medical device or information technology fields, will be analyzed, with mayors going out in pairs to talk to executives about the challenges and opportunities facing each industry. "The question is, what makes those clusters here competitive as opposed to those in other places, and what can be done to strengthen them here," said Lee Munnich, senior fellow with the Humphrey Institute. The result should be a "blueprint for economic competitiveness," he said. The hope is that the work will result in concrete recommendations that can result in legislation or policy changes. Hovland sees some urgency in the job. Many of the region's Fortune 500 companies were established generations ago, he said, and the local footprint of some of those legacy companies has ebbed as they've been bought and jobs moved away from the area. "We've not been doing a good job on innovation, entrepreneurship and incubating new industry here," Hovland said. "How can we take our natural assets and supercharge our region and really make it move Harpstead, who is president of a medical start-up called RST Implanted Cell Technology, said the goal is not only to find out how to nurture strong businesses that are already here but powerful ideas that might be just a notion swimming around in someone's head. "What don't we know yet Harpstead asked. "We have to have a culture that cultivates that. Because you never know when the next Microsoft http://www.startribune.com/local/west/56265407.html Print Powered By 09/01/2009 CleanPrint Preview StarTribu ne.com pops up. A lot will come out of a community that has a lot of creative and smart people." Mary Jane Smetanka 612- 673 -7380 Advertisement http://www.startribune.com/local/west/56265407.html Print Powered By Page 3 of 3 E 09/01/2009 Urban Land Institute (ULI MN) Regional Council of Mayors (RCM) Regional Competitiveness Project Work Plan The nationally recognized Regional Council of Mayors (RCM) was formed in 2005 and is supported by the Urban Land Institute Minnesota (ULI MN). It includes Minneapolis, St. Paul and 34 municipalities in the developed and developing suburbs. This collaborative partnership provides a non partisan platform focused on building action strategies to raise the region's overall economic competitiveness and quality of life. Urban Land Institute Minnesota (ULI MN) actively engages public and private sector leaders to foster collaboration, share knowledge and join in meaningful, strategic action to create thriving, sustainable communities. ULI MN is a District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members and sponsors. ULI's mission is to provide responsible leadership in the use of land and in the creation of thriving communities worldwide. The Regional Competitiveness Project, a partnership among DEED, the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs (HHH), and ULI MN /RCM is a very creative and entrepreneurial initiative that aligns with the RCM goals of seeking regional collective action to strengthen economic competitiveness. There is great value in connecting these efforts supported by the leadership provided by metropolitan mayors. The RCM created a Jobs /Economic Development Task Force, Co- Chaired by Mayor Stan Harpstead, Arden Hills and Carol Nielsen, VP Finance, Target Corporation, to address the barriers that limit regional job growth and economic development. Its key strategies will support the Regional Competiveness Project as follows: 1) Elevate the issue. The RCM has successfully drawn attention to the long -term pressure on regional job growth; it will continue to elevate the need for regional strategic action to support economic competiveness and quality of life. 2) Provide Leadership. RCM's non partisan, entrepreneurial professional mayoral leadership is well positioned to support regional strategies. It has selected four priority areas and has developed action strategies and demonstrated results for each: housing, transportation, the environment and job growth /economic development. In addition, Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, Burnsville, RCM Co- Chair, is in line to become the President of the US Conference of Mayors in January, 2010. She will leverage the work of the Regional Competiveness Project in shaping her national platform. 3) Connect with Industry. Mayors provide significant connections to their local industry business leaders; these relationships will support and enhance the industry cluster analysis. In addition, RCM representation on the Itasca Project's Job Growth Task Force, to be co chaired by Ken Powell, President and CEO of General Mills, will link these two strategic initiatives and ensure that efforts are synergistic. 4) Identify Regional Solutions. In partnership with the HHH, DEED and the Itasca Project, regional economic strengths and weaknesses along with next step strategies, will be identified. The Regional Competitiveness Project will be conducted over a two -year period. Task 1. Develop a Detailed Work Plan and Assemble Project Team July August 2009 The work plan will be finalized and key dates will be agreed to with DEED, HHH and RCM. This will coordinate with the RCM Jobs /Economic Development Task Force. Deliverables: Detailed work plan; Fund RCM —Staff Support. Task 2. Conduct Strategic Review and Economic Analysis August December 2009 Metro Area strategic review and preliminary economic analysis conducted by HHH and DEED research staff. This will include cluster analysis and mapping; analysis of indicators of regional competitiveness, innovation and entrepreneurship; examination of best practices and benchmarking, e.g. Oregon Benchmarks, UC San Diego Connect. Deliverables: Regional cluster analysis and mapping; best practices and benchmarking report; RCM Task Force coordination with HHH and DEED Task 3. Mayors Review and Clusters Selection September October 2009 Schedule half day to kick off project and select clusters based on preliminary analysis and criteria. Criteria will be developed by HHH, DEED and RCM leadership and used for selecting three regional clusters for further examination, business interviews and the capstone workshop. Deliverables: Industry cluster selection Task 4. Conduct Industry Interviews and Focus Groups October 2009 January 2010 Mayors will conduct interviews with key business leaders in selected industry clusters. Focus groups may be set up to gather current information about clusters and the challenges and opportunities facing each industry. These initial interviews will also set the stage for the capstone workshop projects. Deliverables: Coordinate industry cluster interviews focus groups with representative Mayors; preliminary findings and issues. Task 5. Conduct Capstone Workshop January -May 2010 Conduct workshop for up to 25 HHH and Carlson School graduate students during the University of MN's 2010 spring semester (January 21 -May 6). The capstone workshop will consist of five team cluster studies (three Metro and two in Greater Minnesota). Each cluster study will include a diagnosis, vision and action plan, and will culminate in a report and oral presentation to a guest jury of Mayors and other invited guests. Deliverables: Capstone workshop cluster strategy reports; oral presentation to guest jury. Task 6. Evaluate Cluster Projects and Action Plans May June 2010 Following the capstone workshop, the RCM Task Force will meet to evaluate the cluster projects and decide next steps based on the proposed action plans. This evaluation and decision on action plans will lay the groundwork for implementation in Task 7 and further define the regional competitiveness strategy model. Deliverables: Coordinate RCM decisions on next steps for implementing cluster action plans. Task 7. Implement Cluster Strategy Action Plans --July 2010 June 2011 This phase of the project will focus on implementing the cluster strategy action plans and engaging the Workforce Center System, WSA's, MnSCU, ABE in using the information from the cluster studies. During this phase additional clusters may also be examined. Deliverables: Cluster action plans implemented as appropriate within the Metro Region; begin additional cluster studies Task 8. Evaluate Project Results and Recommend Next Steps October 2010 -May 2011 The project team will evaluate the project results of the initial cluster projects and identify next steps for the regional partnership, state and local policy implications, and legislative proposals for the 2011 legislative session. Deliverables: Evaluation of project; state and local policy implications; legislative proposals