HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-24-12
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES – MAY 24, 2012
1.Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m. in the Wagon Bridge Conference Room at City
Hall. Members present: Troy Presler, Mike Myser, Joe Passofaro, Greg Schweich, Wade Larson
Bernie Carlson and Bill Henry. Members absent: Adam Blahnik, Mary Viereck, Sandi Fleck and
Thane Tande. Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe.
2.Approval of March 29, 2012 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION BY HENRY and SECOND BY CARLSON, to approve the April 26, 2012 minutes as
submitted. Motion adopted unanimously.
3.Old Business.
City of Prior Lake Business Friendly Update
McCabe: presented staff’s report and provided a summary of recent activities of the EDAC’s
Business Friendly subcommittee and an update on the previous EDAC discussion related to
access and circulation issues at the 17178-17182 Adelman Street property.
Business Friendly Subcommittee – McCabe: provided EDAC members with three spreadsheets
comparing Prior Lake’s zoning requirements, approved building materials, and permitted and
conditional uses in the I-1, Light Industrial District to eight selected peer communities from the
region.
EDAC Members: discussed the results, some of which indicated certain Prior Lake zoning and
design standards are more restrictive than other regional communities.
EDAC Members: suggested the subcommittee define and provide examples of the types of
building materials approved in the selected communities and a proposed list of revised
approved building materials should be reviewed with the EDAC.
Passofaro: suggested the information presented in the spreadsheets should be converted to
graph form for presentation.
McCabe: stated that regular updates of the Business Friendly subcommittee progress will be
provided to the EDAC.
17178-17182 Adelman Street property – McCabe: provided an overview of the access and
circulation issues expressed to staff by the owners of the property at 17178-17185 Adelman
Street, including: access onto Adelman St. from CR 21, circulation issues around the southern
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portion of the building related to the location of the exterior storage area, an owner request for
an additional access (driveway approach) to the property, and the property owners’ desire to
vacate, and possibly relocate, a trail and access easement for maintenance of the storm water
retention pond.
EDAC Members: discussed the issues related to the Adelman St. property and requested staff
work with the property owners in an attempt to resolve or alleviate these issues.
McCabe: stated that staff will schedule a meeting with the property owners and an update will
be provided to the EDAC.
4.New Business.
Downtown South Study
Rogness: provided a summary of the Prior Lake Downtown South Study newsletter including
information related to the Open House event to present existing and anticipated future
challenges in the study area and give participants an opportunity to identify other issues that
are of concern to the community; the Open House has been scheduled for June 5, 2012 from
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Rogness: also announced applications for the study’s Citizen and Business Group are being
accepted. Interested parties should apply by the May 29, 2012 deadline. Member
responsibilities would include representing the interests of all property owners and businesses,
and communicate the study issues, alternatives and recommendations to residents and
businesses.
Rogness: presented the approved design for the downtown Prior Lake gateway signage to be
installed near the southwest corner of the CR 21 / Arcadia Avenue intersection.
Rogness: stated that regular updates of the Downtown South Study will be provided to the
EDAC.
EDAC Liaison to the EDA
McCabe: presented staff’s report related to the Economic Development Advisory Committee
appointing a liaison to the EDA. In an effort to provide better communication between the EDA
and EDAC, the Economic Development Authority requested the EDAC appoint a liaison to the
EDA. Duties of the liaison would include regular attendance at EDA meeting, providing a
regular update of EDA activity to the EDAC, and providing a regular update of EDAC activity to
the EDA.
EDAC Members: reviewed the request and determined the liaison position would alternate
between EDAC members. Member Henry agreed to attend the next EDA meeting on June 11,
2012.
EDAC Members: requested staff provides a calendar of upcoming EDA meetings to allow EDAC
members to select dates to attend EDA meetings when they are available.
Downtown Prior Lake Speed Limits
McCabe: presented staff’s report regarding Member Carlson’s request for the EDAC to review
the posted speed limits along CR 21 through downtown Prior Lake and the process to
potentially request lowering the speed limit.
McCabe: stated City staff discussed the process to request a speed limit change with Larry
Poppler, Prior Lake City Engineer and Lezlie Vermillion, Deputy County Administrator for Scott
County. The speed limit on CR 21, like most county roads, is set by the Commissioner of the
Minnesota Department of Transportation. When determining the speed limit the following
factors are considered; road type and condition, location and type of access points, length of
roadway, existing traffic control devices, crash history, traffic volume, sight distances, test drive
results, and speed study.
McCabe: stated staff’s research indicated the most important part of the traffic investigation is
the speed study. When choosing a speed, drivers take many roadway environment factors into
consideration. Therefore, the speed that the majority (85%) of people consider prudent is an
important value.
McCabe: summarized his conversation with Ms. Vermillion, who felt the current speed limit of
35 mph was probably correct for the type of road and conditions. As a minor arterial, CR 21’s
purpose is to move traffic and provide connectivity throughout Scott County. Ms. Vermillion
stated that it is very rare for a county road to have a speed limit less than 35 mph. Generally,
only a highly urbanized roadway with multiple driveway approaches would have a speed limit
less than 35 mph, and even under those circumstances Ms. Vermillion said it is still rare to have
a speed limit less than 35 mph.
Carlson: indicated the County’s purpose is to move traffic and provide connectivity through
Scott County but the EDAC should be concerned about the effects on downtown businesses.
Carlson also stated there are other examples in the area of a County Road having a speed limit
of less than 35 mph. Member Carlson agreed to provide specific examples of lower speed
limits.
Rogness: noted that at this time it is not known what impact the signalization of the Arcadia /
CR 21 intersection and the removal of the existing four-way stop signs at the intersection of
Main Ave. and CR 21 will have on traffic speeds.
Carlson: stated that a speed limit of 30 mph through downtown Prior Lake would be desirable
for businesses and the safety of residents; EDAC Members agreed.
McCabe: noted that both Mr. Poppler and Ms. Vermillion cautioned that the results of a speed
study may very well result in the speed limit being increased along CR 21.
Carlson: suggested that an enhanced crossing, including LED lights and signage, at the
intersection of Main Avenue and CR 21 should be looked into.
EDAC Members: directed staff to complete further research into the procedure, process, and
timing of a speed study or determine if other avenues exist to change speed limits.
Bus Stop at CR 21 / Main Avenue SE Intersection
McCabe: presented staff’s report regarding the current bus pick-up/drop-off location at CR 21 /
Main Avenue SE intersection. Blue Express commuters appear to be parking their personal
vehicles along Main Avenue and occupying a parking stall all day while they utilize the bus
service.
McCabe: stated that during the April 26, 2012 EDAC meeting, members asked staff to evaluate
alternate locations for pick-up/drop-off, possibly near a city parking lot, to avoid bus patron
vehicles form occupying many of the on-street parking stalls which serve the downtown
businesses.
McCabe: indicated staff researched the bus pick up/drop off location and CR 21 and Main
Avenue SE is not currently an “official” scheduled stop; however, this location will officially be
an official scheduled stop when the new bus schedule comes out in July. Apparently bus drivers
and passengers have had a somewhat informal arrangement in the past and this stop has slowly
developed over time. At this time the city cannot prevent vehicles from parking along a public
street because there is no parking restriction in place.
McCabe: stated that City staff has researched alternate locations to serve bus patrons but staff
was informed the busses must run on a schedule and altering the bus route to stop at a city
owned parking lot is somewhat impractical, due to the proximity of the parking lots off CR 21.
EDAC Members: discussed this issue and reinforced their concern about the busses stopping at
CR 21 / Main Avenue and directed staff to continue discussions with other City staff related to
the bus pick-up/drop-off location. Due to safety concerns and inconvenience to business
owners and patrons, related to commuters parking along Main Avenue, the EDAC asked staff to
further evaluate alternate locations.
5.Other Business.
EDA Updates
Rogness: presented an EDA update, including:
Prior Lake Business Venture Fair – the Prior Lake Business Venture Fair, originally scheduled for
Wednesday, May 23, 2012, has been postponed by the EDA due to lack of registered
attendants. It is anticipated this event will be re-scheduled in the fall of 2012.
Broadband Fiber Network – The EDA granted an extension of one month to allow the
completion of the broadband fiber network need and feasibility study. The broadband fiber
subcommittee will present its findings and recommendations to the EDA at a special meeting to
be scheduled in June 2012.
Rogness: stated that as part of the their research, the broadband fiber network subcommittee
has asked for statements from local residents or business owners either addressing the
insufficiency of current providers or a statement about how a faster and larger network may
have a positive impact on their business. EDAC members who have comments they would like
to include in the report or have suggested contacts were asked to notify Rogness or McCabe.
Technology Village Incubator – The Technology Village subcommittee has nearly completed its
business plan and recommendations, which will be presented at the June 11, 2012 meeting of
the EDA.
EDA Business Plan – The EDA and City staff have been working on an EDA Business Plan; the
latest business plan draft will be reviewed by the EDA at the June 11, 2012 meeting.
6.Next Meeting Date. The next EDAC meeting will be Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 7:30 a.m.
7.Adjourn. With a MOTION BY CARLSON and SECOND BY HENRY, the meeting adjourned at 8:55
a.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe