HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 23 2012 EDA Minutes '4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES — FEBRUARY 23, 2012
1. Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m. in the Wagon Bridge Room at City Hall. Members
present: Troy Presler, Bernie Carlson, Mike Myser, Adam Blahnik and Joe Passofaro. Members
absent: Mary Viereck, Sandi Fleck, Terry Gutowski, Greg Schweich, Wade Larson, Thane Tande,
and Bill Henry. Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe. Others: None.
2. Approval of November 18, 2011 and January 26, 2012 Meeting Minutes.
With no quorum present, the EDAC was not able to approve the November 18, 2011 and
January 26, 2012 meeting minutes.
3. Old Business.
Meet -N -Greet Event
EDAC members discussed comments received at the October 27, 2011 Meet -N -Greet event.
The comments have been divided into four categories: City, Farmer's Market, Signs and Parking,
and Miscellaneous and the comments have further been divided into short- and long-term
goals.
Farmers Market — Members discussed alternate locations for the Farmer's Market including the
Kopp Farm and Dakota Avenue.
City - Presler: recapped the EDAC discussion about City of Prior Lake "business friendliness"
from the previous meeting relating to a panel discussion with local developers. The purpose of
the panel discussion would be to identify specific examples and specific areas for staff
improvements.
Myser: referenced three specific changes adopted by the City of Prior Lake to become more
business friendly; including the repeal of optional Chapter 1306 special fire protection system,
amendments to section 1102.1103 of the Zoning Ordinance and section 301 of the City Code
related to liquor licenses at restaurants in C-2 Districts, and Zoning Ordinance amendments
related to signage.
Passofaro: suggested city staff conducts exit interviews with builders and developers upon
completion of their project; the exit interview can be conducted via mail or electronic survey.
Signs and Parking — Presler inquired about the status of the downtown parking study update.
Staff will be updating the 2004 downtown parking study in the spring of 2012.
Miscellaneous — EDAC members discussed the upcoming construction projects at CR 21/Arcadia
Ave intersection, CR 21/Hwy 13, and Main Ave/Hwy 13 intersection. Member Carlson stressed
the importance of communication between the city and residents and adjacent business
owners prior to and during these construction projects. A pre -construction meeting was
recommended with area businesses.
Status of Business Retention & Expansion (BR & E) Surveys
Presler: provided an overview of last month's EDAC discussion regarding the BR & E survey and
gave a brief history of the EDAC's involvement in this program. Presler handed out the list of
businesses within Welcome Industrial, Waterfront Passage, and Deerfield Industrial Park who
have not been contacted for a BR & E visit.
Members discussed the option of adding a question related to signage. Members noted that
the signage question can be discussed during questions 8 or 9 of the survey, "What changes, if
any, would make this location more appealing to your company?" or "What can the City of Prior
Lake do to make your business prosper and grow?"
Members discussed gathering information from property owners related to use of Class A
building materials in the Industrial Park areas. Members asked if building design standards
should be more lenient in the industrial park areas to encourage industrial development.
The building design standards will be revisited by the EDAC through the review of codes and
regulations at future meetings in an attempt for the City to become more "business friendly."
Bylaws
Without a quorum present, the EDAC was not able to recommend changes to the Bylaws by a
majority vote of its members. This item will be placed on the next meeting agenda for
discussion.
4. New Business.
Evaluation of City Codes / Regulations and the City's Development Service Level
EDAC members discussed comments received at Meet -N -Greet related to the City of Prior Lake
becoming more "Business Friendly' during Old Business. Discussion will continue at future
meetings.
S. Other Business.
EDA Updates
Rogness presented an EDA update, including; a current vacancy in the EDA due to a resignation
from EDA member Hitchcock, status of the broadband fiber network study, status of the
proposed business incubator discussion, and update on the proposed Venture Fair to be held in
the spring of 2012.
Business Newsletter
Due to time constraints, EDAC members deferred this discussion to the next meeting.
Explore Business Saturday Event
The EDAC discussed the upcoming Explore Business Saturday event which is co-sponsored by
the Prior Lake and Savage Chambers of Commerce and Prior Lake Savage Area Community
Education. The event will be held on March 10, 2012 at Prior Lake High School from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m.
Members discussed the opportunity to operate an informational booth at the event. Without a
quorum present, the EDAC deferred to the City of Prior Lake to determine whether or not to
have a booth. If the city chooses to have a booth at the event, member Blahnik volunteered to
work at the event.
Miscellaneous
Member Terry Gutowski resigned from the EDAC.
Presler: discussed the monthly meeting frequency and asked members in attendance if
quarterly meetings would result in better attendance from EDAC members. It was noted that
the EDAC Bylaws state regular meeting shall be held quarterly and it is important that all
available members attend the March 29, 2012 meeting so a quorum and official meeting can be
held.
6. Next Meeting Date. The next EDAC meeting will be Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 7:30 a.m.
7. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe