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Home My WebLink About04 15 2013 EDA 8C Business Subsidies Policy Discussion 0 � PR / U tr 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake_ MN 55372 4/ INNESo l P ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: April 15, 2013 AGENDA #: 8C PREPARED BY: Casey McCabe, Community Development Specialist AGENDA ITEM: BUSINESS SUBSIDIES POLICY DISCUSSION DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to discuss possible amendments to the City of Prior Lake Business Subsidies Policy, adopted by the City Council on October 18, 2004. History In 1999, the State Legislature adopted the "Business Subsidy Act;" a summary of the law is at- tached to this report. Under the law, a business subsidy means a state or local government agency grant, contribution of personal property, real property, infrastructure, the principal amount of a loan at rates below those commercially available to the recipient, any reduction or deferral of any tax or any fee, any guarantee of any payment under any loan, lease, or other obligation, or any preferential use of government facilities given to a business. The Law, as amended in 2008, provides for certain exceptions identified in the statute, most nota- ble of which are the exemption from regulation of any subsidy of less than $150,000. The city's Business Subsidies Policy was written to facilitate city compliance with the Business Subsidies Act. The key provisions of the policy are: D The purpose of the policy is to: establish guidelines and criteria regarding the use of business subsidies for private development projects within the City of Prior Lake; to define the types of business subsidy which the City Council may consider; to clarify that subsidies must be the minimum necessary assistance to allow the prospect to proceed; and to provide that the City will review each application on a case by case basis. D Business subsidies are defined in accordance with the law. D Business subsidies must achieve one or more "public purpose." D Specific guidelines are provided for commercial /industrial projects, including such things as: a demonstrated increase in tax base; reduction of blight; increase in employment; retention of jobs; specific wage and job goals; and the like. D Required content for Business Subsidy Agreements. D Reporting requirements, application process and procedure. Current Circumstances Staff is proposing to update the city's Business Subsidies Policy and would appreciate EDA direc- tion related to the following items: • "But For" Clause Consider removal of the references to "but for" in Section 1 and Section 5. The reference to "but for" is a term typically used in reference to TIF districts; the development would not occur but for the use of TIF (or other financial support). The term but for does not appear in the Minnesota Statute regulating local and state business subsidies. The but for test would still apply to TIF districts but this test may be difficult to meet when de- velopers or property owners apply for other types of incentives offered by the City, such as a below market lease or the sewer and water fee deferral program. • Establish Minimum Standards to be Considered a Business Subsidy Although a business subsidy of less than $150,000 is exempt from the Act, the City of Prior Lake has previously required all business subsidies, regardless of size, to comply with all of the requirements of the Act to be eligible for funds. The EDA may wish to consider amending the Business Subsidies Policy to mirror State Statute requirements. Staff anticipates future subsidies in the form of micro - enterprise loans, Sewer and Water Fee Deferral Program loans, Technology Village and City owned property leases, or other incen- tives with a value of less than $150,000. Staff believes these types of incentives would be required to comply with the reporting requirements under the current policy and would not be required to comply with the same requirements if the policy were amended to mirror State Statute requirements. • Wage Requirements The current minimum wage requirement for a job to be considered a new or retained job is established in Section 5. D. at $13.00 per hour, exclusive of benefits. Staff recommends the EDA consider amending this language so the minimum wage will adjust based on cost of liv- ing and inflation modifications. Recommended language may be, "The minimum wage re- quirement for a job to be considered a new or retained job is established at 120% of the fed- eral poverty level for a family of four, as determined annually by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, exclusive of benefits." If amended, the current minimum wage requirement would be $13.59 per hour and the federal poverty level has increased by an av- erage of 2.5% each year over the past ten years. • Identify Loan and Incentive Programs The EDA may wish to include a list of current City of Prior Lake tools and incentives within the Business Subsidies Policy (Agenda Item 8A). • Application Fees The EDA should provide direction to staff related to application fees. Section 8 of the Busi- ness Subsidies Policy currently states, "A fee of $2,500 shall accompany any Tax Increment Finance, Tax Abatement, or grant request application to cover the City's initial legal, adminis- trative, and planning costs." The official 2013 fee schedule identifies a preliminary TIF appli- cation fee of $2,500, a TIF escrow deposit of $12,000 and a conduit bond financing origina- tion fee of $50,000. The official fee schedule does not identify a fee for tax abatements or other loan and grant programs. Conclusion The EDA should review the city's existing Business Subsidies Policy in light of comments noted above and in light of State Statutes, and then provide direction to staff. City staff anticipates pre- senting a revised Business Subsidies Policy to the EDA during its May 2013 meeting followed by a City Council review during a public hearing in June 2013. ISSUES: The EDA should provide direction to staff related to the city's Business Subsidies Policy and any proposed amendments in comparison to State Statute requirements. FINANCIAL Use of public subsidies. IMPACT: ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and Second directing City staff to amend the City of Prior Lake Business Subsidies Policy based on the recommendations of the EDA. 2. Provide direction to staff and continue discussion at a future meeting. RECOMMENDED As determined by the EDA. MOTION: ATTACHMENTS: 1. MN Statutes 116J.993 through 116J.995 2. City of Prior Lake Business Subsidies Policy (Current) 1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 1161.993 116J.993 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 116J.993 to 116.1.995, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them. Subd. 2. Benefit date. "Benefit date" means the date that the recipient receives the business subsidy. If the business subsidy involves the purchase, lease, or donation of physical equipment, then the benefit date begins when the recipient puts the equipment into service. If the business subsidy is for improvements to property, then the benefit date refers to the earliest date of either: (1) when the improvements are finished for the entire project; or (2) when a business occupies the property. If a business occupies the property and the subsidy grantor expects that other businesses will also occupy the same property, the grantor may assign a separate benefit date for each business when it first occupies the property. Subd. 3. Business subsidy. "Business subsidy" or "subsidy" means a state or local government agency grant, contribution of personal property, real property, infrastructure, the principal amount of a loan at rates below those commercially available to the recipient, any reduction or deferral of any tax or any fee, any guarantee of any payment under any loan, tease, or other obligation, or any preferential use of government facilities given to a business. The following forms of financial assistance are not a business subsidy: (1) a business subsidy of less than $150,000; (2) assistance that is generally available to all businesses or to a r eneral class of simil g a businesses, such as a line of business, size, location, or similar general criteria; (3) public improvements to buildings or lands owned by the state or local government that serve a public purpose and do not principally benefit a single business or defined group of businesses at the time the improvements are made; (4) redevelopment property polluted by contaminants as defined in section 1161.552, subdivision 3; (5) assistance provided for the sole purpose of renovating old or decaying building stock or bringing it up to code and assistance provided for designated historic preservation districts, provided that the assistance is equal to or less than 50 percent of the total cost; (6) assistance to provide job readiness and training services if the sole purpose of the assistance is to provide those services; (7) assistance for housing; (8) assistance for pollution control or abatement, including assistance for a tax increment financing hazardous substance subdistrict as defined under section 469.174, subdivision 23; (9) assistance for energy conservation; (10) tax reductions resulting from conformity with federal tax law; (11) rvorkers' compensation and unemployment insurance; (12) benefits derived from regulation; (13) indirect benefits derived from assistance to educational institutions; Copyright 0 20I2 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 2 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.993 (14) fimds from bonds allocated under chapter 474A, bonds issued to refund outstanding bonds, and bonds issued for the benefit of an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1999; (15) assistance for a collaboration between a Minnesota higher education institution and a business; (16) assistance for a tax increment financing soils condition district as defined under section 469.174, subdivision 19; (17) redevelopment when the recipient's investment in the purchase of the site and in site preparation is 70 percent or more of the assessor's current year's estimated market value; (18) general changes in tax increment financing law and other general tax law changes of a principally technical nature; (19) federal assistance until the assistance has been repaid to, and reinvested by, the state or local government agency; (20) fiords from dock and wharf bonds issued by a seaway port authority; (21) business loans and loan guarantees of $150,000 or less; (22) federal loan funds provided through the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration; and (23) property tax abatements granted under section 469.1813 to property that is subject to valuation under Minnesota Rules, chapter 8100. Subd. 4. Grantor. "Grantor" means any state or local government agency with the authority to grant a business subsidy. Subd. 5. Local government agency. "Local govermnent agency" includes a statutory or hone rule charter city, housing and redevelopment authority, town, county, port authority, economic development authority, community development agency, nonprofit entity created by a local government agency, or any other entity created by or authorized by a local government with authority to provide business subsidies. Subd. 6. Recipient. "Recipient" means any for -profit or nonprofit business entity that receives a business subsidy. Only nonprofit entities with at least 100 full -time equivalent positions and with a ratio of highest to lowest paid employee, that exceeds ten to one, determined on the basis of full -time equivalent positions, are included in this definition. Subd. 6a. Residence. "Residence" means the place where an individual has established a permanent home from which the individual has no present intention of moving. Subd. 7. State government agency. "State government agency" means any state agency that has the authority to award business subsidies. History: 1999 c 243 art 12 s 1; 2000 c 482 s 1; 2004 c 206 s 52; 1 Sp2005 c 3 art 7 s 1; 2006 c259ar14s1; 2008c366art5s2 Copyright 0 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.994 116J.994 REGULATING LOCAL AND STATE BUSINESS SUBSIDIES. Subdivision 1. Public purpose. A business subsidy must meet a public purpose which may include, but may not be limited to, increasing the tax base. Job retention may only be used as a public purpose in cases where job loss is specific and demonstrable. Subd. 2. Developing a set of criteria. A business subsidy may not be granted until the grantor has adopted criteria after a public hearing for awarding business subsidies that comply with this section. The criteria may not be adopted on a case -by -case basis. The criteria must set specific minimum requirements that recipients must meet in order to be eligible to receive business subsidies. The criteria must include a specific wage floor for the wages to be paid for the jobs created. The wage floor may be stated as a specific dollar amount or may be stated as a formula that will generate a specific dollar amount. A grantor may deviate from its criteria by documenting in writing the reason for the deviation and attaching a copy of the document to its next annual report to the department. The commissioner of employment and economic development may assist local government agencies in developing criteria. A copy of the criteria must be submitted to the Department of Employment and Economic Development along with the first atmual report following May 15, 2000, or with the first annual report after it has adopted criteria, whichever is earlier. Notwithstanding section 116J.993, subdivision 3, clauses (1) and (21), for the purpose of this subdivision, "business subsidies" as defined under section 116J.993 includes the following forms of financial assistance: (1) a business subsidy of $25,000 or more; and (2) business loans and guarantees of $75,000 or more. Subd. 3. Subsidy agreement. (a) A recipient must enter into a subsidy agreement with the grantor of the subsidy that includes: (1) a description of the subsidy, including the amount and type of subsidy, and type of district if the subsidy is tax increment financing; (2) a statement of the public purposes for the subsidy; (3) measurable, specific, and tangible goals for the subsidy; (4) a description of the financial obligation of the recipient if the goals are not met; (5) a statement of why the subsidy is needed; (6) a commitment to continue operations in the jurisdiction where the subsidy is used for at least five years after the benefit date; (7) the name and address of the parent corporation of the recipient, if any; and (8) a list of all financial assistance by all grantors for the project. (b) Business subsidies in the form of grants must be structured as forgivable loans. For other types of business subsidies, the agreement must state the fair market value of the subsidy to the recipient, including the value of conveying property at less than a fair market price, or other in -kind benefits to the recipient. (c) If a business subsidy benefits more than one recipient, the grantor must assign a proportion of the business subsidy to each recipient that signs a subsidy agreement. The • proportion assessed to each recipient must reflect a reasonable estimate of the recipient's share of the total benefits of the project. • Copyright C 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. Ali Rights Reserved. 2 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.994 (d) The state or local government agency and the recipient must both sign the subsidy agreement and, if the grantor is a local government agency, the agreement must be approved by the local elected governing body, except for the St. Paul Port Authority and a seaway port authority. (e) Notwithstanding the provision in paragraph (a), clause (6), a recipient may be authorized to move from the jurisdiction where the subsidy is used within the five -year period after the benefit date if, after a public hearing, the grantor approves the recipient's request to move. For the purpose of this paragraph, if the grantor is a state government agency other than the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, 'jurisdiction" means a city or township. Subd. 4. Wage and job goals. The subsidy agreement, in addition to any other goals, must include: (1) goals for the number of jobs created, which may include separate goals for the number of part -time or full -time jobs, or, in cases where job loss is specific and demonstrable, goals for the number of jobs retained; (2) wage goals for any jobs created or retained; and (3) wage goals for any jobs to be enhanced through increased wages. After a public hearing, if the creation or retention of jobs is determined not to be a goal, the wage and job goals may be set • at zero. The goals for the number of jobs to be created or retained must result in job creation or retention by the recipient within the granting jurisdiction overall. In addition to other specific goal time frames, the wage and job goals must contain specific goals to be attained within two years of the benefit date. Subd. 5. Public notice and hearing. (a) Before granting a business subsidy that exceeds $500,000 for a state government grantor and $150,000 for a local government grantor, the grantor must provide public notice and a hearing on the subsidy. A public hearing and notice under this subdivision is not required if a hearing and notice on the subsidy is otherwise required by law. (b) Public notice of a proposed business subsidy under this subdivision by a state government grantor; other than the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, must be published in the State Register. Public notice of a proposed business subsidy under this subdivision by a local government grantor or the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board must be published in a local newspaper of general circulation. The public notice must identify the location at which information about the business subsidy, including a summary of the terms of the subsidy; is available. Published notice should be sufficiently conspicuous in size and placement to distinguish the notice from the surrounding text. The grantor must make the information available in printed paper copies and, if possible, on the Internet. The government agency must provide at least a ten -day notice for the public hearing. (c) The public notice must include the date, time, and place of the hearing. (d) The public hearing by, a state government grantor other than the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board must be held in St. Paul. (e) If more than one nonstate grantor provides a business subsidy to the same recipient, the nonstate grantors may designate one nonstate grantor to hold a single public hearing regarding the business subsidies provided by all nonstate grantors. For the purposes of this paragraph, "nonstate grantor" includes the iron range resources and rehabilitation board. (f) The public notice of any public meeting about a business subsidy agreement, including those required by this subdivision and by subdivision 4, must include notice that a person with residence in or the owner of taxable property in the granting jurisdiction may file a written complaint with the grantor if the grantor fails to comply with sections 1161993 to 1161995, Copyright © 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. • 3 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.994 and that no action may be filed against the grantor for the failure to comply unless a written complaint is filed. Subd. 6. Failure to meet goals. (a) The subsidy agreement must specify the recipient's obligation if the recipient does not fulfill the agreement. At a minimum, the agreement must require a recipient failing to meet subsidy agreement goals to pay back the assistance plus interest to the grantor or, at the grantor's option, to the account created under section 116J.551 provided that repayment may be prorated to reflect partial fulfillment of goals. The interest rate must be set at no less than the implicit price deflator for government consumption expenditures and gross investment for state and local governments prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce for the 12 -month period ending March 31 of the previous year. The grantor, after a public hearing, may extend for up to one year the period for meeting the wage and job goals under subdivision 4 provided in a subsidy agreement. A grantor may extend the period for meeting other goals under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (3), by documenting in writing the reason for the extension and attaching a copy of the document to its next annual report to the department. (b) A recipient that fails to meet the terms of a subsidy agreement may not receive a business subsidy from any grantor for a period of five years from the date of failure or until a recipient satisfies its repayment obligation under this subdivision, whichever occurs first. (c) Before a grantor signs a business subsidy agreement, the grantor must check with the compilation and summary report required by this section to determine if the recipient is eligible to receive a business subsidy. Subd. 7. Reports by recipients to grantors. (a) A business subsidy grantor must monitor the progress by the recipient in achieving agreement goals. (b) A recipient must provide information regarding goals and results for two years after the benefit date or until the goals are met, whichever is later. If the goals are not met, the recipient must continue to provide information on the subsidy until the subsidy is repaid. The information must be filed on forms developed by the commissioner in cooperation with representatives of local government. Copies of the completed forms must be sent to the local government agency that provided the subsidy or to the commissioner if the grantor is a state agency. If the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board is the grantor, the copies must be sent to the board. The report must include: (1) the type, public purpose, and amount of subsidies and type of district, if the subsidy is tax increment financing; (2) the hourly wage of each job created with separate bands of wages; (3) the sum of the hourly wages and cost of health insurance provided by the employer with separate bands of wages; (4) the date the job and wage goals will be reached; (5) a statement of goals identified in the subsidy agreement and an update on achievement of those goals; (6) the location of the recipient prior to receiving the business subsidy; (7) the number of employees who ceased to be employed by the recipient when the recipient relocated to become eligible for the business subsidy; Copyright 0 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 4 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.994 (8) why the recipient did not complete the project outlined in the subsidy agreement at their previous location, if the recipient was previously located at another site in Minnesota; (9) the name and address of the parent corporation of the recipient, if any; (10) a list of all financial assistance by all grantors for the project; and (11) other information the commissioner may request. A report must be filed no later than March 1 of each year for the previous year. The local agency and the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board must forward copies of the reports received by recipients to the commissioner by April 1. (c) Financial assistance that is excluded from the definition of "business subsidy" by section 1161993, subdivision 3, clauses (4), (5), (8), and (16), is subject to the reporting requirements of this subdivision, except that the report of the recipient must include instead: (1) the type, public purpose, and amount of the financial assistance, and type of district if the assistance is tax increment financing; (2) progress towards meeting goals stated in the assistance agreement and the public purpose of the assistance; (3) if the agreement includes job creation, the hourly wage of each job created with separate bands of wages; (4) if the agreement includes job creation, the sum of the hourly wages and cost of health insurance provided by the employer with separate bands of wages; (5) the location of the recipient prior to receiving the assistance; and (6) other information the grantor requests. (d) If the recipient does not submit its report, the local government agency must trail the recipient a warning within one week of the required filing date. If, after 14 days of the postmarked date of the warning, the recipient fails to provide a report, the recipient must pay to the grantor a penalty of $100 for each subsequent day until the report is filed. The maximum penalty shall not exceed $1,000. Subd. 8. Reports by grantors. (a) Local government agencies of a local government with a population of more than 2,500 and state government agencies, regardless of whether or not they have awarded any business subsidies, must file a report by April 1 of each year with the commissioner. Local government agencies of a local government with a population of 2,500 or less are exempt from filing this report if they have not awarded a business subsidy in the past five years. The report must include a list of recipients that did not complete the recipient report required under subdivision 7 and a list of recipients that have not met their job and wage goals within two years and the steps being taken to bring them into compliance or to recoup the subsidy. If the commissioner has not received the report by April 1 from an entity required to report, the commissioner shall issue a warning to the government agency. If the commissioner has still not received the report by June 1 of that same year from an entity required to report, then that government agency may not award any business subsidies until the report has been filed. (b) The report required under paragraph (a) is also required for financial assistance of $25,000 and greater that is excluded from the definition of "business subsidy" by section 1161993, subdivision 3, clause (1), and of $75,000 and greater that is excluded from the definition of Copyright 0 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 5 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.994 "business subsidy" by section 116.1.993, subdivision 3, clause (21). The report for the financial assistance under this paragraph must be completed within one year of the granting of the financial assistance. The report required for financial assistance under this paragraph must include: (1) the name of the recipient, its organizational structure, its address and contact information, and its industry sector; (2) a description of the amount and use of the financial assistance and the total project budget, including a list of all financial assistance by all grantors for the project and the private sources of financial assistance; (3) the public purpose of the financial assistance, the job goals associated with both the financial assistance and the total project in which the financial assistance is included, the hourly wage of each job created, and the cost of health insurance provided by the employer; (4) the date the project will be completed; (5) the name and address of the parent corporation of the recipient, if any; and (6) any other information the commissioner may request. (c) Within one year of completing a report under paragraph (b), the local government agency must report to the commissioner on progress in achieving the purposes and goals under paragraph (b), clause (3). (d) The commissioner of employment and economic development must provide information on reporting requirements to state and local government agencies. Subd. 9. Compilation and summary report. The Department of Employment and Economic Development must publish a compilation and summary of the results of the reports for the previous two calendar years by December 1 of 2004 and every other year thereafter. The reports of the government agencies to the department and the compilation and summary report of the department must be made available to the public. The commissioner must make copies of all business subsidy reports submitted by local and state granting agencies available on the department's Web site by October 1 of the year in which they were submitted. The commissioner must coordinate the production of reports so that useful comparisons across time periods and across grantors can be made. The commissioner may add other information to the report as the commissioner deems necessary to evaluate business subsidies. Among the information in the summary and compilation report, the commissioner trust include: (1) total amount of subsidies awarded in each development region of the state; (2) distribution of business subsidy amounts by size of the business subsidy; (3) distribution of business subsidy amounts by time category; (4) distribution of subsidies by type and by public purpose; (5) percent of all business subsidies that reached their goals; (6) percent of business subsidies that did not reach their goals by two years from the benefit date; (7) total dollar amount of business subsidies that did not meet their goals after two years from the benefit date; Copyright © 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 6 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.994 (8) percent of subsidies that did not meet their goals and that did not receive repayment; (9) list of recipients that have failed to meet the terms ofa subsidy agreement in the past five years and have not satisfied their repayment obligations; (10) number of part -time and full -time jobs within separate bands of wages for the entire state and for each development region of the state; (11) benefits paid within separate bands of wages for the entire state and for each development region of the state; and (12) number of employees in the entire state and in each development region of the state who ceased to be employed because their employers relocated to become eligible for a business subsidy. Subd. 10. Compilation. The Department of Employment and Economic Development must publish a compilation of granting agencies' criteria policies adopted in the previous two calendar years by December 1 of 2004 and every other year thereafter. Subd. 11. Enforcement. (a) A person with residence in or an owner of taxable property located in the jurisdiction of the grantor may bring an action for equitable relief arising out of • the failure of the grantor to comply with sections 116J993 to 116J.995. The court may award a prevailing party in an action under this subdivision costs and reasonable attorney fees. (b) Prior to bringing an action, the party must file a written complaint with the grantor stating the alleged violation and proposing a remedy. The grantor has up to 30 days to reply to the complaint in writing and may take action to comply with sections 116J.993 to 116J.995. (c) The written complaint under this subdivision for failure to comply with subdivisions 1 to 5, must be filed with the grantor within 180 days after approval of the subsidy agreement under subdivision 3, paragraph (d). An action under this subdivision must be commenced within 30 days following receipt of the grantor's reply, or within 180 days after approval of the subsidy agreement under subdivision 3, paragraph (d), whichever is later. History: 1999 c 243 art 12 s 2; 2000 c 482 s 2 -11; 2001 c 7 s 28; 2003 c 128 all 13 s 24 -26; 1Sp2003 c o s 1; 2004 c 206 s 24,25; 1Sp2005 c 1 cat 4 s 23,24; 1Sp2005 c 3 art 7 s 2 -5; 2008 c 366 art 5 s 3 -5 Copyright C 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 116J.995 116J.995 ECONOMIC GRANTS. An appropriation rider in an appropriation to the Department of Employment and Economic Development that specifies that the appropriation be granted to a particular business or class of businesses must contain a statement of the expected benefits associated with the grant. At a minimum, the statement must include goals for the number of jobs created or enhanced, wages paid, and the tax revenue increases due to the grant. The wage and job goals must contain specific goals to be attained within two years of the benefit date. The statement must specify the recipient's obligation if the recipient does not attain the goals. At a minimum, the statement must require a recipient failing to meet the job and wage goals to pay back the assistance plus interest to the Department of Employment and Economic Development provided that repayment may be prorated to reflect partial fulfillment of goals. The interest rate must be set at no less than the implicit price deflator as defined under section 116J.994, subdivision 6. The legislature, after a public hearing, may extend for up to one year the period for meeting the goals provided in the statement. History: 1999 c 243 art 12 s 3; 2000 c 482 s 12; 2001 c 7 s 29; 2003 c 128 art 13 s 27; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1 Copyright © 2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. City of Prior Lake, Minnesota Business Subsidies Policy Adopted: DATE: Prior Lake City Council Oct. 18, 2004 Amended: City of Prior Lake 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue, S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372 (952) 447 -9805 DN: 230703 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE POLICY AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE USE OF BUSINESS SUBSIDIES 1. PURPOSE For the purposes of this document, the term "City" includes the Prior Lake City Council and Economic Development Authority. This policy establishes guidelines and criteria regarding the use of business subsidies, such as tax increment financing ( "TIF "), tax abatement and other business subsidies for private development projects within the City of Prior Lake, These guidelines and criteria are in addition to the requirements and limitations set forth by provisions of Minnesota Statute 116J.093 ( "MN Business Subsidy Law "), and policies and guidelines with respect to any particular form of subsidy. The fundamental purpose of business subsidies in the City is to encourage desirable development or redevelopment that would not otherwise occur "but for" the assistance. Business subsidies do not exist to enhance the return on investment for projects that would otherwise occur, but to facilitate development that would not otherwise occur. Any developer that applies for business subsidy assistance may look to these guidelines for guidance regarding the criterion the City will use in evaluating an application. However, whether a particular project meets the criterion and serves the City's present needs shall be the City's decision. The guidelines are instructive only and do not have the force of law. If the City finds that its present needs require one project to be given priority over another, then the City's judgment will ultimately prevail. The City will provide subsidies and incentives in the most limited fashion possible to assure that the project will proceed. The City reserves the right to approve or reject projects on a case -by -case basis, taking into account established policies, specific project criteria, and demand on city services in relation to the potential benefits to be achieved from a proposed project. This process is inherently subjective, and whether a project receives a business subsidy may be as much a function of the City's budget as the merit of the project. The City will work to maximize the subsidies to those projects that, in the City's judgment, will address the most pressing public purpose. The ability to demonstrate that the project will most likely achieve its stated goals and therefore address the most pressing public purpose will be the primary factor in determining whether a project receives a business subsidy. Meeting these policy guidelines does not guarantee that a business subsidy will be awarded. Furthermore, the approval or denial of one project should not be construed as setting a precedent that another similar project should be approved or denied. The City cannot possibly approve a business subsidy for every worthy project. Whenever possible, it is the City's intent to coordinate the use of business subsidies with other applicable taxing jurisdictions. ON: 230703 2 II. DEFINITION OF "BUSINESS SUBSIDY" The following types of assistance in excess of $25,000.00 are defined as a "business subsidy" within the MN Business Subsidy Law: • State and local government agency grants; • Contributions of personal property, real property, or infrastructure; • Any loan that has a principal amount in excess of $75,000 for which interest accrues at a rate below those commercially available for loans of that risk profile; • Reductions or deferrals of taxes or fees; • Guarantees of any payment under any loan, lease, or other obligation; • Preferential use of government facilities. In any case where the value of the business subsidy is indeterminate, the City will make a good faith determination of the value of the subsidy. Although only assistance in excess of $25,000.00 is subject to the law, the City of Prior Lake has a policy requiring all developers that request business subsidies to comply with the requirements imposed by the MN Business Subsidy Law, regardless of the size of the grant or loan. Therefore, although they are not strictly subject to the act, developers requesting subsidies under $25,000.00 must agree to comply with all the requirements of the Act to be eligible. III. PUBLIC PURPOSE OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS SUBSIDIES In accordance with the MN Business Subsidy Law, the City will consider using business subsidies to assist private development projects in an attempt to achieve one or more of the following public purpose objectives: • To retain local jobs and /or increase the number and diversity of jobs that offer stable employment and/or attractive wages and benefits. Because it is required by the Business Subsidy Law, if the stated public purpose is to retain jobs, there must be a showing that job loss in the affected area is specific and demonstrable. • To enhance and diversify the City of Prior Lake's tax base. • To encourage additional unsubsidized private development in the area, either directly or indirectly, through "spin off' development. In this case, a business subsidy may be given to an "anchor» property in the hopes that one business locating in the area will create a domino affect and other unsubsidized businesses will locate to the area. • To achieve development on sites that would not be developed without business subsidies assistance. • To remove blight and /or encourage development of commercial and industrial areas in the city that result in higher quality development or redevelopment and private investment. • To offset increased costs of development of specific properties when the unique physical characteristics of the site may otherwise preclude private investment. DN: 230703 3 IV. GENERAL POLICIES FOR THE USE OF BUSINESS SUBSIDIES A. Business subsidy assistance will be provided from the City, by a "pay - as- you -go" note method, to the developer if the business subsidy is tax increment financing or tax abatement. Requests for up front financing will be considered on a case -by -case basis. However, the MN Business Subsidies Law requires that any up front grant financing be given in the form of forgivable loans. This means that any grants will be documented as loans that will be forgiven if the specific goals of the subsidy are met. B. A developer requesting business subsidy assistance must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the City, sufficient cash equity investment in the project as required within the City's policy for the particular form of subsidy. The City will assure that the business will be adequately capitalized to guarantee it will continue as a going concern for many years. C. Business subsidies will not be provided in circumstances where land and /or property price is demonstrated by the County Assessor to be in excess of fair market value. This would normally be where the acquisition price is more than 10% in excess of market value as determined by an independent appraiser. D. A developer must be able to demonstrate to the City, or, if applicable, to the underwriting authority, market demand for a proposed project. E. Business subsidies will not be given if the subsidy would create an unfair and significant competitive financial advantage over other similar projects in the area. F. Business subsidies will not be given to projects that would place extraordinary demands on city infrastructure and services. G. If the City requests it the developer will provide adequate financial guarantees to ensure completion of the project, including, but not limited to: assessment agreements, letters of credit, cash escrows, personal guaranties, mortgages, and other securities. H. Each developer must be able to demonstrate to the City's satisfaction an ability to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed project based on past experience, general reputation, and credit history. If requested by the City, or its consultants, the developer shall provide sufficient market, financial, environmental, or other data relative to the successful operation of the project. J. Projects receiving business subsidy approval from other affected taxing jurisdictions will be more favorably received by the City. DN: 230703 4 V. GUIDELINES FOR C OMMERCIAL /INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS SUBSIDIES A. Business subsidies will not be used for on -site retail or service business unless it is a redevelopment project that demonstrates that it will result in a substantial increase in tax base and a significant improvement in quality employment. B. The project must be consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Plan, and Zoning Ordinances. C. The project must result in the retention of existing jobs that would be lost "but for the proposed development, or result in an increase and diversification in local jobs that would not otherwise occur, "but for" the proposed development, D. The City will determine the specific wage and job goals giving consideration to the particular form of the subsidy, nature of the development, the purpose of the subsidy, local economic conditions and similar factors. The recipient will have up to two years to meet the job and wage goals established by the City. The minimum wage for a job to be considered a new or retained job shall be $13.00 per hour, exclusive of benefits. Deviations Tess than the wage floor will be considered on a case -by -case basis and in accordance with the requirements of the MN Business Subsidy Law. E. Business subsidies will not be given to commercial /industrial projects or developers that have a history of inconsistent compliance with applicable environmental rules and regulations, or failure to comply with State and Federal Regulations regarding Equal Opportunity g q pportunity and Occupational Safety Standards. VI. BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT Each developer receiving a business subsidy, regardless of the size of that subsidy, shall be subject to the subsidy agreement set forth by the MN Business Subsidy Law and summarized below: A. A Statement of the Public Pur ose. The recipient must state the public purpose the subsidy will address. B. Goals of the Subsid . The recipient will state the specific and tangible wage goals that will be achieved by the subsidy. Specifically, the agreement will outline the number of jobs created and the wage goals for each of those jobs. Although it is possible that the job and wage goals may be set at zero, there must then be a public hearing that addresses what the public purpose for the subsidy will be. C. Need. The recipient will state in the Business Subsidy Agreement why the subsidy is necessary and describe why the economic development would not occur without the subsidy. DN: 230703 5 D. Maintain Facility. The recipient agrees to maintain and operate its facility at the site where the subsidy is used for a period of five years after the date the subsidy is provided. E. Failure to Comply Business. Failing to comply with the subsidy agreement will be subject to fines, repayment requirements, and be deemed ineligible by the state to receive any loans or grants from public entities for a period of five years. VII. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Each developer receiving a business subsidy, regardless of the size of that subsidy, shall be subject to the subsidy reporting requirements set forth by the MN Business Subsidy Law and summarized below: A. Responsibility to Report. Any developer receiving a business subsidy will provide information regarding the goals and results for two years after the subsidy is granted, or until the goals are met, whichever is later. If the goals go unmet beyond two years, then the developer will provide reports until the subsidy is fully repaid. B. Public Purpose. The developer will restate in each report the public purpose of the subsidy. C. Wages. The developer will report on the hourly wage of each job created by the subsidy, D. Benefits. The developer will report on the sum of hourly wages and any health insurance provided by the developer. E. Goal Date. Each year the developer will reassess the date it expects to meet its specific job and wage goals and report what that date is. F. Update. Each year the developer will provide an informal update on the likelihood that the goals will be achieved and indicate the progress made during the year toward achieving the stated goals. G. Recipient Information. Each year the recipient developer will report its name, address of itself and any parent corporation. Furthermore, the report will include a summary of all financial assistance received from the Authority or any other organization and any other information the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development may request. VIII. SUBSIDY APPLICATION PROCESS AND PROCEDURE A. Application for business subsidies shall be made on forms for the particular form of assistance provided by the City of Prior Lake Community Development Director, or designee. A fee of $2,500.00 shall accompany any Tax Increment Finance, Tax Abatement, or grant DN: 230703 6 request application to cover the City's initial legal, administrative, and planning costs. B. Following a review by appropriate City Staff the application shall be referred to either the Economic Development Authority or City Council for further action. C. The application for business subsidies shall request information required within the City's policies on the particular form of subsidy, including, but not limited to: a detailed description of the project; a preliminary site plan; the amount of business subsidy requested; the public purpose of the project; the number and types of jobs to be created; the wages and benefits to be paid new employees; and verifiable funding sources and uses. DN: 230703 7 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TAX INCREMENT FINANCING POLICY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL APRIL 16, 2001 PURPOSE This policy is established to outline the City's position on the use of tax increment financing ( "TIF ") policy for private development. This policy will be used as a guide in processing and reviewing applications for tax increment financing assistance. in accordance with the TIF policy, TIF requests must comply with applicable state statutes. The City of Prior Lake is governed by the limitations established in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 469.174, the Minnesota Tax Increment Financing Act, for all districts created after August 1, 1979. PROGRAM GOALS This program exists to achieve the following goals: 1. To promote commercial, industrial and residential development under special circumstances that would otherwise not occur. 2. To increase and diversify the long -term tax base of the City in order to ensure the ability of the City to provide adequate services for its residents while lessening reliance on the residential property tax. 3. To improve the City's economic vitality through the creation and expansion of employment opportunities. 4. To remove blight and encourage redevelopment in the commercial and industrial areas of the City in order to encourage high levels of property maintenance and private reinvestment in those areas. 5. To assure that projects are constructed and maintained at a level of quality consistent with the goals of the City of Prior Lake. 6. To retain local jobs, increase the local job base and provide economic diversity in that job base. The Program will only be used to retain jobs in those situations when job loss has been documented and specific and demonstrable. 7. To assist in achieving other goals contained in adopted public policies as may be adopted by the City Council from time -to -time, including, without limitation, quality design and construction, energy conservation and reductions in the capital and operating costs of government. 8. To provide high density housing in the Downtown (C -3) zoning district and to assist in the development of other housing in the community that is consistent with City goals and policies and is generally not being provided by the private sector. DN: 230703 1 PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Qualified projects should meet or exceed the following criteria to be eligible for TIF assistance. These criteria are being adopted to meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Annotated § 116,1.994 Subdivision 2. Meeting the threshold of eligibility does not guarantee approval of the project by the City. Final approval of any project will be made by the City Council. 1. The project must be consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan, zoning ordinance and other applicable City ordinances as well as applicable state statutes. 2. The project shall meet at least one of the Program Goals listed above. 3. The applicant must be willing to enter into a development or redevelopment agreement satisfactory to the City. 4. It must be demonstrated that the project would not be financially feasible but for the public assistance to be provided. The level of TIF financing shall be reduced to the lowest possible level. 5. The project must comply with all applicable environmental regulations. 6. The applicant must submit all of the materials required in the application. 7. The applicant must agree to provide surety to the City to cover all costs paid by the increment, unless the project is a "pay -as- you -go" agreement. These may include assessment agreements, letters of credit, personal deficiency guarantees, guaranteed maximum cost contracts and minimum payment agreements. 8. The applicant /developer must provide a minimum of 10% equity in the project. 9 The City Council will favor owner - occupied projects over projects that will be leased. 10. For projects in an Economic Development District, a maximum of $10,000 of public money will be invested for each full -time equivalent position created or retained. 11. For projects in Redevelopment Districts, those that remove or prevent blight will be favored. 12. For projects in Redevelopment Districts, a ratio of taxes paid before and after redevelopment of 1:2 is desired. 13. TIF will not be used in projects that would give: a significant competitive financial advantage over similar projects in the area. Developers will provide information to demonstrate that this criterion is met. 14. The developer should be able to provide market data, letters of intent or financial statements that illustrate the market potential or demand for the project. The applicant for assistance must complete an Application for TIF Assistance pursuant to the procedures outlined in the Application. PROJECT COSTS ELIGIBLE FOR TIF ASSISTANCE Project costs that qualify for TIF assistance include the following: • Property acquisition • Land clearance • Relocation and demolition of structures • Site preparation DN: 230703 2 • Soils correction • Removal of hazardous wastes or remediation of site contamination • Installation of Utilities • Construction of public or private improvements • Administrative costs directly related to the identified parcels • Design fees • Surveys • Environmental studies • Relocation of building occupants • Rehabilitation of structures • Special assessments • Other costs allowed by Minnesota Statutes DN: 230703 3 P e ti 9 z 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake. MN 55372 41 ?'NESOl ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: April 15, 2013 AGENDA #: 8D PREPARED BY: Dan Rogness, Community and Economic Development Director AGENDA ITEM: DOWNTOWN DISCUSSION — REDEVELOPMENT, SOUTH DOWNTOWN, AND ENVISION MINNESOTA DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to discuss three issues: (1) redevelopment of the old Sinclair Gas Station site, (2) redevelopment as part of the South Down- town plan, and (3) a summary of the Envion Minnesota report. History Significant public and private investments have occurred in downtown Prior Lake over the past ten years. It is important for the city to continue investing in a stra- tegic way in order to maintain this focal area of the city as vibrant and attractive. Current Circumstances Sinclair Gas Station Site - A private party is interested in upgrading and renovating the existing Sinclair building for office purposes. He discussed potential TIF assis- tance that fits with the eligibility standards in the city's TIF Policy. Rather than providing direct assistance to a project, one option surfaced whereby the city would acquire the vacant corner of the property not needed by the new owner. The estimated lot area for city acquisition is 2,300 square feet, or a lot size of 35 x 67 feet. This land area closely matches the most recent Speiker Building at 44 x 53 feet. By owning and controlling this key corner, the city can sell the lot to someone at a discount that is willing to build another multi -level "Speiker" building. The estimated acquisition cost of this 2,300 square foot area is $50,000 - $75,000. Downtown South Redevelopment - Any future redevelopment of the Digger's site that achieves the highest and best commercial use requires a new signalized in- tersection at Franklin and TH 13. In order to obtain MnDOT's support for this type of intersection spacing and corresponding improvements, further study is needed to evaluate this TH 13 area at a cost of $50,000. Staff has asked TOLD Devel- opment to share in the cost ($9505) of the study directly related to the parcel they propose to develop.They responded that they would not pay any portion of the cost as in other communities such costs are not passed along to them and that is their belief that the consultant has telegraphed that MnDOT is not likely to approve the signaled intersection. The full study will require six months. This may be another reason for TOLD to reject our request as they will not be able to begin building until next year. Wheth- er or not TOLD proceeds, this study will be needed to answer questions which council members have posed which are prerequisite to finalizing short and long range transportation plans for the downtown. Funding would be drawn from a combination of 2013 budget dollars and General Fund Reserve. The EDA should consider whether this study, resulting in potential MnDOT support for the signal- ized intersection, is a key step to strengthen the commercial "core" of Prior Lake through redevelopment. Envision Minnesota - Envision Minnesota led a downtown workshop in October of 2012. A summary memo and survey results were done by Envision staff. The city has not allocated any time or effort to follow up with this information. Therefore, this is an opportunity to review the memo and survey results in order to see if any further action is necessary to strengthen the downtown area. With the small scale of Prior Lake's downtown, a variety of smaller initiatives can help improve the im- portant "small town" feel that comes with this downtown. We could summarize the results at the up coming Business and Industry Forum however given that there is only a two hour window, we would have to be brief. Conclusion Staff is asking for some direction from the EDA on one or more of three downtown topics, including redevelopment of the Sinclair property, support for further study to achieve a new signalized intersection on TH 13, and any further work related to the Envision Minnesota information. ISSUES: The EDA has limited existing resources available to assist with downtown rede- velopment, including $200,000 in TIF 1 -1 funds, and some budget authority relat- ed to professional services. Smaller projects or initatives could be undertaken with existing resources. A larger redevelopment project would likely require the establishment of new TIF or Tax Abatement districts /agreements. Assisting the redevelopment of the Sinclair site would likely fit the smaller category while rede- velopment of the Digger's site would require new TIF or Abatement resources. FINANCIAL The potential use of existing financial resources and /or the approval of new re- IMPACT: sources used for redevelopment. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second to direct staff to further evaluate the most appropriate type of assistance available forredeveloping the Sinclair site. 2. Motion and second to recommend that the city council direct staff to consider EDA funding for the TH 13 intersection and signalization study. 3. Motion and second to direct staff to undertake specified actions related to the Envision Minnesota workshop results. 4. Table action and provide the staff with direction. RECOMMENDED As directed by the EDA. MOTION: ATTACHMENTS: 1. Sinclair site survey and building pictures; Speiker site plan 2. South Downtown connection option map and Digger's redevelopment plan 3. Envision MN memo 4. Envision MN survey results 'I A/ \ z7 1� W e ^ CO FH • • 7-- &R) SOUTH UNE OF G , k ---- ' CIC N0. 1121 '0\ 0 LP 16 / NORTH LINE \ \ b 4 4� V OF LOT 5 v / " • 'IOR LAKE 2 ' x " E6 k > n IP 4 k `,376 • . •'. :.. :., � k ' . . • f• ltjwr m/ t : . ...1.1. v • . (/j� o \• •:- FOUND 1/2" / p ' • . • ,• �;. . 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' s, \ . / • p ...' ■ ...k , ;r t..' . ..; ;// 1 1 1 I • • ... ' , k ,/,,,!;',".,7 . : f ' Y" A PRELIMINARY DESIGN CONCEPT 6 h. ., „c,, ,, iit I ■ 4.444,.., * - *. 4 "` 4 1k‘ 44 4;4: t, i ". 1 4,4 „ ' ' ::::— .q. , r , , . , ...4''''t j ' 4g` k t/51/TODY T, -''' '' R i DOTtpt4 0i 1 VJ p 1 111 II V G 3 Q . Q .,I * II ■ - , . „ , ii lk 4 j ` o 1 . ",‘,-- ' ,) I , , :„. :.\\\ ._.: #% .SS SS** S , it :' , 11:''''''''; ' ''' : ! \ N.,, ESTIMATED EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS Low High Pharmac y 50 75 - -- --,..__..._---- - - -- Small Shops SO 125 C -store 10 25 Quick - Service 25 50 Total 135 275 ESTIMATED MARKET VALUATION Low High Pharmacy $ 4,000,000 $ 7,000,000 Small Shops $ 2,250,000 $ 5,000,000 _C -store $ 1,500,000 $ 2,500,000 Quick- Service $ 1,000,000 $ 2,000,000 Total $ 8,750,000 $ 16,500,000 apprii 1 e nvIsIon MINNESOTA thoughtful development. thriving communities. Envision Minnesota Technical Assistance Program Results Memo for the City of Prior Lake, Minnesota r WELCOME TO b PRIOR LAKE 2012 Envision Minnesota technical assistance work was funded through a grant to Forterra from the US EPA Office of Sustainable Communities. Introduction In 2012 Envision Minnesota provided technical assistance to six communities in the state of Minnesota with funding provided through a grant to Forterra by the office of Sustainable Communities at EPA. The purpose of the assistance was to provide support to communities wishing to move from "idea to action" on a sustainable land use issue. The recipients of assistance in 2012 were: Austin, Blue Earth, La Crescent, Lexington, Pine River, and Prior Lake. Communities were required to apply for the assistance and were evaluated based on need, impact, readiness, likelihood of success. The City Prior Lake applied to work with Envision Minnesota because they were "seeking assistance to 1 identify sustainability and livability E n v i s i o n M i n n e s o t a strategies in order to create a more Technical Assistance Recipients vital downtown area" through technical assistance from Envision 2012 Minnesota. This suburb of the Twin Cities grew rapidly in past decades and is now trying to sustain their vitality by re- investing in the historic downtown area. Their goal is to encourage new investment in the downtown area while preserving small town character as Pine Rive • Community Overviews aw.ein i, pnr,ulnR impreemene, identified in the community's 2030 omd t* streets and downtown vitality. Vision and Strategic Plan. Noe Gr wa a e°lnne>seth. Rabili dheaM of the downtewn ana. V Geuent h w°rWnR b understand Process how bluff -skit conservation development vdll >}hn t�ln leunCton is bcused w the proteRion Selected communities were asked Lexington of roswrces within Memoria park. • k pine River plans to Incorporate to assemble a local advisory team . "' Inoth.i.d "alepmeM 'nrt4ttopull.<,/ plan to incrasse hLLe and walkin=rcess Prior Lake Saint Paul oehedowntown. that could serve as advisors and prior lake seeks to improve the viUlity local stewards of the project in el ns dawnrown a..a partnership with the Envision La Crescent Minnesota technical assistance Blue Earth Austin • • team. In Prior Lake, the primary • contacts for the project were City "' wn1. 1• rnPntar . °"Ya,e "n.un�Ae "' " pattrns that r onset' : *fa/mind totes. end nreeral +- rcsor<es ndthal Oiomole he>Rhy. IY:able <omniunArcz staff. Members of the EDA served d 10 Mlles / • 1 Through Rs( onm∎unn; n.siAan<e r.ork G: won hlain•sota aszisis <onunnn Ries to pin Iw a su<zesshd lotto n a .ri as advisors and helped with event that balances go r.eh`onsr' "°" planning and hosting. • tu"""` -r^t^" Vas perk is tended through a `Q % • MojorCRy pant to Parterre from the US IRA eof SU Aalnahle COminunniez. i Ira LnV1:in rlNOj h°dured Ey: En:lsion hlnnezota 16 1011 envision lone , hm�ongea Carmzraphr: hlatther: x<de < MINNESOTA l:lh.nesota Counties Sour" : FSRM, 0111DFY. 1InDOT 4l p001f Envision Minnesota Results Memo I Prior Lake, MN - 1- Timeline The City of Prior Lake, Minnesota was selected as a participant in the Envision Minnesota technical assistance program in May of 2012. Envision staff met with City representatives and visited the project focus area initially in July with an additional follow up meeting in August. The local advisory team, comprised primarily as a subset of the Prior Lake EDA, worked with Envision staff to plan two events in the community to help reach the goals of the technical assistance. A tabling event at the Saturday morning farmers market was held August 25, 2012 and an open community workshop was held October 18, 2012. Technical Assistance Technical Assistance was provided to Prior Lake in three phases: assessment, delivery, and reporting. Although Envision staff followed a general outline for assistance in each community, it was tailored to individual community needs based on feedback from the advisory group. During the assessment phase, Envision Minnesota staff worked to identify the best possible assistance to provide within the scope and scale of the assistance available. The goal of this phase was to match tools Envision had to offer with the needs of the community. The community contribution of time, local knowledge, and local support was a critical component of the assistance. Additionally, other technical experts who could best contribute to the process where identified and brought up to speed on the process. Additionally, a community survey was conducted, the detailed results of which were provided digitally to Prior Lake. This phase was the most time consuming for Envision staff, but appropriate preparation helped with a better overall product. In the delivery phase of the assistance, Prior Lake received 5 hours of in community workshop time as well as assistance hosting an informational tabling event at the downtown farmers market. The goal of this phase was to provide a space, information, and tools the community needed to identify solutions and actions to meet their needs. Specifically the City of Prior Lake hoped to build upon an existing foundation to encourage new investment in the downtown area while preserving small town character. The workshops combined an educational presentation by Emily Northey, as well as focused and interactive discussions led by Envision staff to identify goals, objectives, and action steps required to move each community forward on their identified initiatives. Emily Northey of Minnesota Main Street, a program of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, provides participating local Main Street organizations with the training, tools, information, and networking they need to be successful in their downtown revitalization efforts. All Envision Minnesota staff leading the workshops are Art of Hosting (AOH) trained facilitators (in addition to other facilitation methods) and used AOH and modified AOH facilitation techniques during workshops in order to encourage bottom -up community based solutions rather than top -down, outside expert -based solutions. Envision Minnesota Results Memo 1 Prior Lake, MN - 2 - The delivery phase was the "heart" of the technical assistance program: having the community members together in the room to discuss and build solutions for themselves. Downtown Prior Lake is, and should continue to serve the community as, a unique asset. Overwhelmingly, residents expressed how much they value the small town feel and friendly atmosphere. They enjoy the shopping and dining options, but wish there were more and that the area felt more vibrant in the evenings. Many people expressed concerns regarding safety in the downtown, in particular interactions between pedestrians and automobile users. Downtown Prior Lake has a strong foundation and the community should continue to build off of existing momentum to best take advantage of the resource. Prior Lake should consider that not all areas can serve all purposes, and that the small town feel of the downtown which is so highly valued might be best maintained by focusing on the pedestrian experience rather than the automobile driver experience. During the workshop participants came to consensus around the following goal (followed by potential actions): • Prior Lake should build upon and connect existing and future assets in order to maintain a safe, welcoming, and economically vital downtown that retains its small town fell and is accessible to all users. o Continue to maintain core community services in the downtown area, such as libraries, city hall schools, etc. o Build upon the existing enthusiasm for active living in the community by increasing biking and walking connections with the downtown from residential areas and to recreation amenities (parks and trails). o Allow and encourage a mix of uses in the downtown area including housing, commercial, retail, and passive community gathering spaces. o Consider ways to move traffic through the downtown that minimizes disruptions to non - automotive users. Off- street parking areas should be near, but not concentrated on main streets, with clear signage to the downtown area. o Consider creative solutions to the connectivity of north and south downtown Prior Lake — public art, alternative traffic management, and other street calming techniques may help link the downtowns while still meeting MNDoT's objectives. o Include business owners in the decision making, they have a vested interest in vital downtown. The reporting phase consists primarily of a results memo delivered to each community. The goal of this phase is to make sure all information captured in the other phases is available and accessible to each community as well as to provide any additional resources or recommendations. These memos were written by Envision Minnesota staff and in some cases reviewed by the additional technical experts which had been brought into the process during the delivery phase. Envision Minnesota Results Memo 1 Prior Lake, MN - 3 - Additionally, Prior Lake received GIS and mapping support as part of the technical assistance package from Envision Minnesota. A set of base maps were created and reviewed with the local advisory team. All maps were provided electronically as part of the reporting process. Other Supporting Materials — the following materials were provided digitally • Survey Results • PowerPoint Presentations • Maps o Aerial Photo o Minor Watersheds o Transportation o Topography o Planned Land Use o Location o Lakes and Wetlands o Floodplains o Current Land Use o Downtown project area map Envision Minnesota Results Memo I Prior Lake, MN - 4 - City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 Are you a resident of Prior Lake? Answered; 177 Skipped: 7 Yes No 0% 20% 40% ISO% 80% 100% Answer Choices Responses Yes 85.31% 151 No 14.69% 26 Total 177 1/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 How frequently do you visit downtown Prior Lake? Often (several times a week) Occasionally (a few times a month) Rarely (once or twice a year) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Answer Choices Responses Often (several times a week) 48.31% 86 Occasionally (a few times a month) 43.82% 78 Rarely (once or twice a year) 7.87% 14 otal 178 2/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 How do you most often access the downtown? Answered: 175 Walk Bicycle Automobile Transit I 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Answer Choices Responses Walk 8% 14 Bicycle 0.57% 1 Automobile 90.86% 159 Transit 0.57% 1 Total 175 3/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 What are the primary activities you engage in downtown Prior Lake? (check all that apply) Answered: 174 Skipped: 4 Shopping Meetings , � v Services Library Coffee /Dining Entertainment Socializing Recreation re, „ , Working 0% 20% 40% 60% 60% 100% Answer Choices Responses Shopping 58.05% 101 Meetings 27.01% 47 Services 24.71% 43 Library 36.78% 64 Coffee /Dining 54.02% 94 Entertainment 17.24% 30 Socializing 39.66% 69 Recreation 18.97% 33 Working 20.69% 36 Other (please specify) (32 ) Total Respondents: 174 # Other (please specify) Date 1 paying bills /downtown 10/2/2012 10:24 AM 2 Farmer's Market 10/1/2012 10:53 AM 3 I need to drive through downtown every day, several times a day in order to get onto Co Rd 21 to go north. I 9/28/2012 7:55 AM need to drive through downtown in order to get onto Hwy 13 to go in either direction north or south. A majority of the time traffic is so congested on Co Rd 21 it is next to impossible anytime during the day to gain access onto it unless you use Main Street. In the morning and evening rush hours the intersection at Main Street and 21 is so dangerous and congested I stay away from it unless it is absolutely necessary. The same goes for Hwy 13 and Co Rd 21. 4/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 4 dining only 9/26/2012 9:34 AM 5 Farmers market 9/20/2012 5:43 PM 6 Farmers Market 9/20/2012 11:25 AM 7 Park 9/20/2012 8:17 AM 8 Kramer Chiropractic 9/17/2012 11:04 AM 9 farmers market 9/17/2012 6:41 AM 10 Farmer's Market 9/16/2012 6:23 AM 11 VFW 9/15/2012 5:36 AM 12 Farmers Market 9/13/2012 1:20 PM 13 Farmers Market 9/12/2012 2:38 PM 14 Shopping is primarily done at Farmer's Market on Saturdays 9/11/2012 9:16 AM 15 St. Michaels Church 9/11/2012 7:39 AM 16 City Hall meetings 9/10/2012 2:44 PM 17 Lakefront Park 9/10/2012 12:56 PM 18 Farmers Market 9/10/2012 12:04 PM 19 Club Prior for exercise ans socializing 9/8/2012 6:15 PM 20 Farmers Market 9/5/2012 9:10 PM 21 City hall meetings, preschool drop off 9/5/2012 6:58 PM 22 Church Service 9/5/2012 10:29 AM 23 Farmers Market 9/4/2012 1:07 PM 24 dropping off my water bill 9/4/2012 12:53 PM 25 Work 9/4/2012 12:41 PM 26 Carlson ACE Hardware, Viking Liquor 8/31/2012 10:38 AM 27 i walk and bike the park paths 8/28/2012 12:26 PM 28 Farmers Market 8/27/2012 3:57 PM 29 farmers market 8/27/2012 9:43 AM 30 Farmers Market 8/25/2012 3:38 PM 31 I own a business in DT 8/25/2012 1:18 PM 32 Church 8/25/2012 9:17 AM 5/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 What do you Tike /value most about downtown Prior Lake? Answered: 154 Skipped: 24 # Responses Date 1 small town feel with a few good shops 10/4/2012 12:08 PM 2 Food places, Farmer's Market, Library 10/3/2012 7:28 AM 3 I like the unique boutiques that we have. I like the bakery and the high end restaurant. Prior Lake resident 10/2/2012 12:02 PM owned businesses. 4 Friendly merchants 10/2/2012 10:27 AM 5 Small town feel 10/2/2012 10:27 AM 6 Convenience 10/2/2012 10:26 AM 7 Good shops (Ace and Viking) 10/2/2012 10:25 AM 8 Close to home 10/2/2012 10:24 AM 9 Small town size, minimal traffic - except at "rush hours" 10/2/2012 10:18 AM 10 Events like lakefront days 10/2/2012 10:16 AM 11 Downtown street - scaping /look to the downtown 10/2/2012 10:14 AM 12 Easy to park 10/1/2012 10:53 AM 13 Small town, specialty boutiques and local businesses to support. 9/28/2012 5:31 PM 14 Small town environment 9/28/2012 10:55 AM 15 The thing that I like most about downtown Prior Lake is its traditional feel. I feel like I am still walking in the 9/28/2012 10:53 AM history of Prior Lake with buildings that have been around longer than I have. 16 I enjoy our downtown. I wish there was access by walking or bike. We live behind Village Marketing in the 9/28/2012 10:31 AM Woodridge developement. We wish there was a safe cross (4 way stop) for pedertians and kids at Franklin Trail and Park Nicollet Ave South East. There is no side walk to lead you to hwy 13 and Eagle Creek. There is some trail in Timber creek park but nothing that extends to Franklin Trail. That is why we usually have to drive to downtown because lake of walking and bike trail to downtown. 17 Several quality businesses and organization that we cater and enjoy, and are of benefit to Prior Lake 9/28/2012 9:52 AM 18 I like small town atmosphere and I like that I feel safe from crime. I also like that they have the Farmers 9/28/2012 9:02 AM Market every Saturday in the summer but I'm usually to busy to go. Even though its not considered a part of 'downtown', I do really like Lakefront Park - I love walking the paths and having such great access to the beach. 19 Being able to use it as a drive through to get on 13 or 21. I like the small town atmosphere until you get to 9/28/2012 7:55 AM the intersection of Main and 21 or Hwy 13 and 21. 20 Support local small business. 9/27/2012 10:27 AM 21 Perron's and the Library 9/26/2012 9:34 AM 22 Stores and boutiques; Bakery 9/25/2012 12:25 PM 23 the quant feeling of it 9/25/2012 8:04 AM 24 The pedestrian friendly storefronts 9/24/2012 1:09 PM 25 The small -town feel and friendly atmosphere. 9/24/2012 12:48 PM 26 the small town feel - its very cozy 9/24/2012 12:48 PM 27 VFW and coffee shop 9/24/2012 12:43 PM 28 Flower pots with flowers Flages Parade 9/24/2012 9:44 AM 29 That we actually have a downtown and know where it is and can travel up and down Main St. 9/24/2012 5:28 AM 30 Easy to pay water, phone, dentist bills. 9/23/2012 6:28 PM 31 It's quintness along with its variety of businesses 9/21/2012 1:48 PM 32 Small town feel, know your neighbors attitude. 9/21/2012 10:48 AM 33 The water feature in the pond and the look of the bridge and lake front park. 9/20/2012 7:03 PM 34 That it is close by and has a small town feel 9/20/2012 12:24 PM 6/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 35 I like that Prior Lake has a unique more historical downtown area, some cities don't have that. 9/20/2012 12:23 PM 36 Small town feel...Must work to maintain it...Farmers market is a wonderful asset and needs to be kept 9/20/2012 11:18 AM dow ntow n 37 Small town atmosphere. 9/20/2012 11:04 AM 38 Small town atmosphere 9/20/2012 10:12 AM 39 Small town feel 9/20/2012 10:09 AM 40 Farmer's Market, bars, winter /Christmas activities, Lakefront days, jazz festival 9/20/2012 10:01 AM 41 Able to walk around 9/20/2012 9:56 AM 42 The people are what make it. Other than that, its very lacking. 9/20/2012 9:55 AM 43 Small town feel. 9/20/2012 8:17 AM 44 It has several boutiques gift stores that cater to women. Also a new Art store that is unique. It has a good 9/19/2012 10:26 AM hardware store. 45 Eidelweiss, Farmers Market, Nothing else 9/19/2012 10:25 AM 46 small town feel. 9/18/2012 5:51 PM 47 Retail Shops /Dinning, Convenience, Small- Hometown feeling, farmers market, friendliness, clean, 9/18/2012 7:58 AM 48 Small town feel. Face recognition. 9/17/2012 12:05 PM 49 I like that there are shops where I can by plants, flowers, gifts. I love the bakery and farmers market as well. 9/17/2012 11:04 AM like seeing people I know and visiting. I like the way store /business fronts have been enhanced and the City flower posts,signage, parking and access to Lakefront park - beautiful area. Nice Job! 50 Small town atmosphere 9/17/2012 9:02 AM 51 Small town feel. 9/17/2012 7:00 AM 52 Small town feeling 9/17/2012 6:24 AM 53 Beautiful main street and the friendly atmosphere. Farmers Market and Chamber /City events are great. Love 9/17/2012 5:55 AM Lakefront Park so close and the addition of the Lakefront outdoor summer music festival. 54 The library, bakery and Lakefront Park. 9/16/2012 7:04 PM 55 Small community feel. 9/16/2012 3:52 PM 56 Unique 9/16/2012 3:38 PM 57 Not Much 9/16/2012 6:23 AM 58 Bakery Antique store & boutiques Library & Club Prior 9/15/2012 7:22 PM 59 VFW 9/15/2012 5:36 AM 60 The small town feel. 9/14/2012 9:37 PM 61 Have no real likes about downtown. I actually don't even think of it as a downtown area and I have lived here 9/14/2012 5:29 PM for 30 years. I shop at Target and head to Burnsville. 62 not a lot of hustle /bustle 9/14/2012 4:09 PM 63 local businesses and farmer's market 9/14/2012 3:03 PM 64 The over all look of the downtown. I am proud of it. 9/14/2012 2:35 PM 65 small town feeling 9/14/2012 2:07 PM 66 I appreciate the attempt to make the newer buildings look like they fit together; that a plan is in place. 9/14/2012 2:01 PM 67 Close to home. 9/14/2012 1:33 PM 68 Small and Quiet 9/14/2012 1:28 PM 69 I like that the businesses are mostly locally owned and not national chains. 9/14/2012 1:26 PM 70 Small town felling 9/13/2012 1:48 PM 71 Proximity. We have been able to bike to the library and the the farmers market. We have walked through 9/13/2012 1:20 PM the park to have dinner. Also, having key stores local is great (hardware store, beer, etc.) 72 THE PEOPLE 9/12/2012 4:53 PM 73 It is small and doesn't have the chain store feel to it. 9/12/2012 2:40 PM 74 Everything is so convenient and it just seems to be getting better. Am looking forward to more growth. 9/12/2012 2:38 PM 75 Small town feel. 9/12/2012 1:00 PM 7/21 City of Prbr Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 76 locally owned businesses 9/12/2012 12:21 PM 77 Community feel 9/12/2012 11:48 AM 78 Small town 9/12/2012 9:22 AM 79 Offers a few services /retailers that are of value. 9/12/2012 9:09 AM 80 The wonderful small town shops. Would love to see more restaurants and an ice cream shop. 9/12/2012 7:44 AM 81 Its small town feel. Enjoy having a main street with stores. Like how recreational paths tie in Lake Front Park 9/11/2012 9:16 AM and Downtown Also, good sidewalks for when my wife and I ride our bikes into downtown. Lake Front Music festival has been a great event 82 Small town feel 9/11/2012 7:54 AM 83 Farmers Market 9/11/2012 7:49 AM 84 History 9/11/2012 7:43 AM 85 Farmers markets, Fangs, Viking Liquor 9/11/2012 7:39 AM 86 small town, friendly place .... nice setting 9/10/2012 2:44 PM 87 Hove the farmers market, edelweiss, and the library. We often bike through also. 9/10/2012 12:56 PM 88 History and unique shops 9/10/2012 12:04 PM 89 Small bars 9/10/2012 11:18 AM 90 That there is a downtown! 9/8/2012 6:15 PM 91 Services 9/6/2012 6:53 PM 92 The small town look and feel 9/6/2012 12:45 PM 93 I have a job there and its close to home 9/6/2012 9:20 AM 94 Cute shops to stroll through and look at. Love the bakery and Su Lago. 9/5/2012 9:10 PM 95 Easy to get to and through. 9/5/2012 6:58 PM 96 I enjoy the bakery and the small shops 9/5/2012 4:39 PM 97 Small town feel 9/5/2012 3:34 PM 98 friendly /quaint 9/5/2012 3:15 PM 99 Small town atmosphere - Friendly merchants 9/5/2012 3:05 PM 100 small town feel 9/5/2012 2:54 PM 101 small town atmosphere 9/5/2012 2:06 PM 102 Proximity to my home. Variety of fun stores. Farmer's Market. 9/5/2012 1:35 PM 103 SAFETY AND SECURffY 9/5/2012 11:56 AM 104 Quaintness, cleanliness 9/5/2012 11:55 AM 105 Personable / local business people on Main Street... these people live and work in Prior Lake and try to 9/5/2012 11:24 AM support the other businesses as much as possible. 106 Friendly, love the flowerpots that are along Main Avenue, love to sit outside to enjoy coffee /lunch 9/5/2012 11:00 AM 107 Small town feel within a bigger city. The area is well- maintained. 9/5/2012 10:40 AM 108 Has kept its character and has a variety of businesses. Love Edelweiss bakery. 9/5/2012 10:29 AM 109 It's ease of Parking 9/5/2012 10:18 AM 110 easy to get around 9/5/2012 10:17 AM 111 Improved aesthetics, and the addition of bakeries and boutiques rather than auto services and bars; lots of 9/5/2012 10:03 AM community events 112 Small -town feel. 9/4/2012 8:07 PM 113 farmers market and the bakery - the hardware and car part stores E 9/4/2012 6:40 PM 114 small feel, no chain stores, easy to get around i 9/4/2012 5:57 PM 115 small town feel with a good, unique variety. Trustworthy and trusting community 1 9/4/2012 5:39 PM 116 I like the variety of businesses and the small town nature of the area. 9/4/2012 2:35 PM 117 the shops 9/4/2012 1:55 PM ____.......__..--.._..---.-....__- 118 Quaint atmosphere, farmers market. Nice shops with friendly business owners and employees 9/4/2012 1:30 PM 119 It still has a quaint feel to it. 9/4/2012 1:07 PM 8/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 120 It's close to my house 9/4/2012 12:53 PM 121 It has alot to offer - shopping, food and business. 9/4/2012 12:41 PM 122 The new stores 9/4/2012 12:27 PM 123 food /drink options 9/4/2012 12:27 PM 124 The library is my favorite 9/4/2012 12:23 PM 125 the variety of businesses 9/4/2012 12:22 PM 126 I like the Main St. feel. It feels like the small towns from the past. 9/4/2012 12:20 PM 127 It's close to home 9/4/2012 12:11 PM 128 The bakery, the library, and the farmers market 9/4/2012 12:09 PM 129 quaint. 8/31/2012 2:21 PM 130 Farmers Market on Saturday AM, small -town feel in a larger city, Community events, Family- oriented 8/31/2012 10:38 AM 131 The recent improvements like the Library, City Hall, Police station and the new Rock Creek, Speiker and the 8/30/2012 11:14 AM improvement to the Carlson Dental building have improved the look of DT. 132 I like that it has a small town feel to it. 8/30/2012 6:12 AM 133 THE SMALL TOWN FELL 8/30/2012 5:55 AM 134 Compact, attractive, walkable. 8/30/2012 5:10 AM 135 Convenient, central gathering location 8/30/2012 3:01 AM 136 Bakery and Laker Store 8/29/2012 5:55 PM 137 Community feel about the place 8/29/2012 5:10 PM 138 Hove the farmer's market on Saturdays! The additional boutiques in the downtown area are also an 8/29/2012 4:39 PM attraction. There are some good restaurant options as well. 139 Its compact but diverse nature 8/29/2012 4:06 PM 140 I like Eidelweiss and Sul Lago. They are about the only 2 businesses that I visit. 8/29/2012 1:58 PM 141 Easy Parking 8/29/2012 1:46 PM 142 Small town feel - both in look and friendliness. 8/29/2012 1:32 PM 143 Small town feel, safe and the friendly people and the new shops and farmers market that give us something 8/29/2012 1:01 PM to do there 144 Downtown Prior Lake has lots of great features that make being in Prior Lake and staying in Prior Lake 8/29/2012 5:15 AM easier...shopping banks gas stations grocery etc 145 where exactly is downtown Prior Lake? 8/28/2012 12:26 PM 146 small town atmosphere. quaint shops. good food. bakery. farmers market 8/28/2012 11:13 AM 147 It is where I grew up and my family is here. THe lake is recreation . 8/27/2012 5:02 PM 148 We walk our dog to the farmers market every Saturday to listen to the musicians and see people. It is so 8/27/2012 3:57 PM convenient to stop by the library while we are there. 149 compact 8/27/2012 9:43 AM 150 close enough for me to walk when weather is nice.Love Edelweiss. 8/26/2012 7:13 PM 151 Small town friendly type atmosphere. This is especially evident at the farmers market and many small shops 8/25/2012 3:38 PM where people know each other. 152 The small town feel in a growing city. The small unique business, No big box stores...all locally owned & 8/25/2012 1:18 PM independent small buisiness. 153 Variety of business 8/25/2012 9:17 AM 154 The adorable shops and the farmer's market in the summer 8/25/2012 8:37 AM 9/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 Q6 What do you least Tike /value about downtown Prior Lake? Answered: 152 Skipped: 26 # Responses Date 1 Not connected to the lake 10/4/2012 12:08 PM 2 Parking 10/3/2012 7:28 AM 3 the lack of variety, the lack of unique dining, lack of convenience for everyday items, lack of charm. 10/2/2012 12:02 PM 4 Parking, 4 -way intersection 10/2/2012 10:27 AM 5 No parking - With new street layout, will be hard to get from one side to the other 10/2/2012 10:26 AM 6 Over priced - can't afford to shop in stores. Not enough doughnut selection and too high priced bakery 10/2/2012 10:24 AM 7 limited shops 10/2/2012 10:18 AM 8 traffic 10/2/2012 10:16 AM 9 Lumber yard /blighted homes 10/2/2012 10:14 AM 10 Not enough businesses 10/1/2012 10:53 AM 11 Not enough of the above! 9/28/2012 5:31 PM 12 Limited parking 9/28/2012 10:55 AM 13 The thing that I like least about Prior Lake is how crowded and chaotic it seems during traffic hours. I run 9/28/2012 10:53 AM past the four -way stop sign at times and I feel as if people are in a rush. Me, being a pedestrian, has to wait for cars to when it should be the other way around. 14 Too much traffic. Cars rule. Wish it wasn't such a speed way. Wish we had a fair price restaurant to go to in 9/28/2012 10:31 AM downtown. Miss the good restaurant at dance studio. Great sandwichs and food. 15 Even though it is at an intersection of busy roads, it is essentially disconnected from the other business areas 9/28/2012 9:52 AM of the City, and it does not have proper access, parking or connectivity (Mike Svoboda's word) to conpensate for this deficiency. Additionally, many of the buildings are at the end of their useful) life, and do not maximize the use of the property, that restricts their ability to pay foir the needed improvements to provide ungraded access, appeal and easy connectivity to compete with other business areas in Prior Lake and Savage. We are encouraging businesses to spend money on downtown improvements, without an established rational plan for making it competitive. its at least debatable whether the downtown is actually historical or unique, so we may want to establish a specific theme (e.g., Leavenworth WA), to attract customers and activity. 16 I wish there was more to draw me to visit downtown Prior Lake. There aren't any restaurants or appealing 9/28/2012 9:02 AM shops. I don't care for the Edelweiss Bakery - too expensive and I miss the old bakery that used to be downtown like 20 years ago. I don't even really try to go to Fongs or the liquor store because it's kind of complicated to come in and out of that area by the hardware store. I can honestly say that almost none of my paycheck goes toward any businesses here in Prior Lake. I go up to Savage Target to do my shopping. I get my gas at Costco. I literally live in Prior Lake and will maybe meet my friends at Memories on Main two to three times a year. I also get very frustrated when I'm trying to get on Highway 21 from West Avenue because it's so hard to get on the highway with all the traffic during the day. I have to drive out of my way just to get on the highway even if I just need to mail something at the post office. 17 The intersections at Main Street and Co Rd 21 and Hwy 13 and 21. There are to many vehicles coming 9/28/2012 7:55 AM through a small area with no regard to the speed limits or pedestrian safety.The Arcadia intersection doesn't have any rhyme or reason to it. It hasn't and probably wont do any justice to the downtown area, only create more confusion. Hugh mistake and waste of the taxpayers money. 18 Parking 9/27/2012 10:27 AM 19 Bar scene, auto parts store and no diner /breakfast /lunch choices. 9/26/2012 9:34 AM 20 Parking 9/25/2012 12:25 PM 21 it needs updating and more vibrant shops and stores 9/25/2012 8:04 AM 22 The split between the north and south sections 9/24/2012 1:09 PM 23 all the traffic 9/24/2012 12:48 PM 24 the angle parking - vehicles are always sticking out into the driving lanes. Poor visibility. 9/24/2012 12:43 PM 25 Doesn't offer much 9/24/2012 9:44 AM 26 That businessses like the bank moved out. 9/24/2012 5:28 AM 27 There is nothing there. A couple of cheesy bars, a body shop (really ?) and a lumber company ?? One nice 9/23/2012 6:28 PM restaurant, Sul Lago, which is very over priced for the average Prior Lake resident. Fongs is OK. Really, no 10/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 reason to drive down there. And now, even the Basement, the only place in Prior Lake to have music, has been shut down. Therre is no place to go to have a fun evening. We need a vital downtown!!!! 28 Nightlife is geared towards the young and while there is a variety of businesses in DT Prior Lake it is small 9/21/2012 1:48 PM and limiting 29 Lately we have taken away the feel of the small town and replaced it with over built, over spent government 9/21/2012 10:48 AM buildings and services we have had no voice in 30 There is no anchor shops or restaurants /fine dining /Star Buck, Walgreens etc.. 9/20/2012 7:03 PM 31 No good shops. Prior Lake should have arts and crafts shops as well as good restaurants, not a lumber 9/20/2012 5:43 PM company a car parts store and bar food. 32 Not centralized. Too spread out. 9/20/2012 12:24 PM 33 Outdoor seating areas at coffee shop and restaurants. Feels kind of like a ghost town, some flowers and 9/20/2012 12:23 PM events downtown would help. 34 Asthetics and that its split by the highway. 9/20/2012 11:25 AM 35 ? ?? 9/20/2012 11:18 AM 36 Not really a Main Street that has everything together and parking is a pain. 9/20/2012 11:04 AM 37 Access 9/20/2012 10:12 AM 38 traffic, limited space /shops 9/20/2012 10:10 AM 39 disconnect between north and south downtown 9/20/2012 10:09 AM 40 I don't really take advantage of the shopping 9/20/2012 10:01 AM 41 There is very little sense of community. It seems like downtown is off the beaten path. 9/20/2012 10:01 AM 42 The Intersection. 9/20/2012 9:56 AM 43 The small, disconnected feel. Lack of trendy bars /restaurants /shops. 9/20/2012 9:55 AM 44 Too many auto stores. 9/20/2012 8:17 AM 45 The new monument sign "Welcome to downtown Prior Lake" is way to big, and I believe cost 40K. 9/19/2012 10:26 AM Downtown Prior Lake is cute and very small. A nice but more modest sign would have better reflected downtown Prior Lake. 46 The ugly buildings. Heavy traffic that zooms through the down town area. The noise with the traffic, The new 9/19/2012 10:25 AM landing strip! 47 taking 5 minutes to get across 13, single lane traffic on 13 and specifically, intersection of 13 & 21. 9/18/2012 5:51 PM 48 Not enough places to eat. 9/18/2012 7:58 AM 49 north and south sides of downtown, split by 21, somewhat less than integrated 9/17/2012 12:05 PM 50 I wish there were a few more blocks on both sides with more shops, etc. I also wish there was a Art Center 9/17/2012 11:04 AM like Lakeville, Burnsville, and other surrounding communities. 51 City buildings in the middle of downtown 9/17/2012 9:02 AM 52 Nothing 9/17/2012 7:00 AM 53 Tiny Main St. 9/17/2012 6:41 AM 54 The traffic light settings on 13 & 21 9/17/2012 6:24 AM 55 21 & Main intersection for walking; driving is OK 9/17/2012 5:55 AM 56 The Prior Lake residents spoke up about not spending a large amount of money or taking people's homes or 9/16/2012 7:04 PM businesses to change the roads. The city still seems to be pursuing that and other ways to unnecessarily spend tax payer dollars downtown. 57 Lack of restaurants and retail shops. Casino is main focus for individuals visiting Prior Lake. 9/16/2012 3:52 PM 58 No reason to go there, I am not a bar person, I do not have much money for dust catchers. Also, I leave 9/16/2012 6:23 AM town at 5:OOAM and arrive home at 6:30 PM. 59 Bars 9/15/2012 7:22 PM 60 The parking angle can not see if a car is coming when backing out and curbs that bump out making street 9/15/2012 5:36 AM narrow (between 21 coming up towards Car Quest area) 61 The four way stop. 9/14/2012 9:37 PM 62 All the bars. 9/14/2012 5:29 PM 63 main & 21 intersection 9/14/2012 4:09 PM 64 not enough restaurants, shops close early 9/14/2012 3:03 PM 11 / 21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 65 Parking not always available and crossing 21. Plus the long lines to wait on 21 at stop sign. 9/14/2012 2:35 PM 66 traffic 9/14/2012 2:07 PM 67 The condition of some of the buildings. 9/14/2012 2:01 PM 68 Not walking friendly. Unattractive in appearance besides the Rock Creek & Eidelwiess buildings. The buildings 9/14/2012 1:33 PM do not have any flow or consistency. There isn't a central location with a monument /small park/fountain where people can relax. 69 Not very easy to navigate 9/14/2012 1:28 PM 70 Parking is sometimes limited if there is an event like Lakefront days. 9/14/2012 1:26 PM 71 It's mostly dirty bars. It looks old - not quaint old - just scuffy old. There's not enough there to go and wander 9/14/2012 1:19 PM around - so I only go for a specific purpose. 72 Lack of stores and resturants. Have to drive to Burnsville to shop. 9/13/2012 1:48 PM 73 Lack of critical mass of services. There needs to be some type of grocery (we like Mazopyia, a bank branch, 9/13/2012 1:20 PM etc.). Family restaurants. 74 TRAFFIC 9/12/2012 4:53 PM 75 Traffic situation on 21...but we are used to it. 9/12/2012 2:40 PM 76 Parking 9/12/2012 2:38 PM 77 Farmer's Market should not be on Main Street, downtown is already conjested with very limited parking. also 9/12/2012 1:00 PM safety issues involved. 78 Not enough things to do" downtown, we need more options 9/12/2012 12:21 PM 79 Parking is difficult on day to day but is really limited if special events 9/12/2012 11:48 AM 80 Where is the charm of the city for eg: Chaska it is too spread out and not enought places to shop 9/12/2012 9:22 AM 81 There's not much here that draws consumers in. What's the draw? If there is there's limited awareness that 9/12/2012 9:09 AM its going on.. 82 Not enough restaurants. 9/12/2012 7:44 AM 83 few dining options. Would like to see more options. Bar food not best for dining. Enjoy Su Logo but it would 9/11/2012 9:16 AM be nice to have other options. Parking can be difficult. Not much as far as shops but I am an adult male in early 30's. I'm married and expecting child in March 2013. I'm probably not the main demographic target for downtown store fronts. The Library is a good draw. Nice building and will look forward to activities we can eventually have our child participate in. Feel safe. Having the police station downtown will hopefully control this as our population grows. 84 We need more retail 9/11/2012 7:54 AM 85 Upkeep 9/11/2012 7:43 AM 86 traffic on Rt 13 9/10/2012 2:44 PM 87 I cannot stand having to put my and my families lives at stake to cross Highway 13. The intersections are 9/10/2012 12:56 PM incredibly busy and we have almost been hit on two occasions, even though we absolutely always follow traffic signals. 88 nothing at this time 9/10/2012 12:04 PM 89 stop signs on Main St. 9/10/2012 11:18 AM 90 The lack of shops and the apparent dislike of city polititians to allow businesses into the city limits. 9/8/2012 6:15 PM 91 unfortunately I don't go downtown that often to give a usable comment 9/6/2012 6:53 PM 92 not a lot to offer 9/6/2012 12:45 PM 93 There are no retail places of interest to me 9/6/2012 9:20 AM 94 Shops not every day functional and they smell like mold. The bars are not nice. , 9/5/2012 9:10 PM 95 No coffee shop or hang out place. 9/5/2012 6:58 PM 96 The lumber yard and the awful buldings and bars on the south side of 21 19/5/2012 4:39 PM 97 Quality of retailers 9/5/2012 3:34 PM 98 No parking, not enough retail, ugly lumber -yard in the heart of town! 9/5/2012 3:15 PM 99 Traffic congestion 9/5/2012 3:05 PM 100 traffic flow is horrible 9/5/2012 2:54 PM 101 The waste of money on silly things like wavy sidewalks. If I did not know it was supposed to represent a 1 9/5/2012 2:06 PM wave, no one would ever know that. It is hard to walk them too. The wave in front of city hall is another example of excess waste and no one really knows it is supposed to be a wave. 12 / 21 City of Prbr Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 102 Lack of nicer restaurants /bars. 9/5/2012 1:35 PM 103 older buildings and integra eyesore 9/5/2012 11:55 AM 104 It doesn't have that home town / small town feeling to it. Unfortunately, you cant bring the lake into view 9/5/2012 11:24 AM from downtown. 105 would like to have all the bars /restaurants /eating establishments offer outdoor sitting. Crossing 21 on foot 9/5/2012 11:00 AM 106 No close parking for the Italian restaurant near the senior citizen apartment on Main Street. 9/5/2012 10:29 AM 107 It's inconsistent appearance and business hours 9/5/2012 10:18 AM 108 not really much to do, go to a few shops and /or bars and that's about it. Not a big variety. 9/5/2012 10:17 AM 109 Disected by 21, south side has unimproved buildings and streetscape. 9/5/2012 10:03 AM 110 Some of the dumpier looking buildings. 9/4/2012 8:07 PM 111 No place to eat. 9/4/2012 7:20 PM 112 not enough parking 9/4/2012 6:46 PM 113 the bars look dated 9/4/2012 6:40 PM 114 store hours - I like the small owner /operator stores, but sometimes the hours are inconvenient 9/4/2012 5:57 PM 115 very sad that the ladies' nights out have been cancelled 9/4/2012 5:39 PM 116 Both sides need to be completed and the old gas station need a tenant. 9/4/2012 2:35 PM 117 the farmer market on the main street on sat. 9/4/2012 1:55 PM 118 No grocer. The lack of (decent) restaurants. 9/4/2012 1:41 PM 119 Properties that are unkempt. More businesses would be nice 9/4/2012 1:30 PM 120 Parking. 9/4/2012 1:07 PM 121 Not enough options for retail. Also has no good breakfast place. 9/4/2012 12:53 PM 122 Lack of parking. 9/4/2012 12:41 PM 123 not many good food /drink options 9/4/2012 12:27 PM 124 Too many bars, too much traffic, nothing really enticing is down there. The half by the VFW is crummy. 9/4/2012 12:23 PM 125 lack of restaurants, too many bars 9/4/2012 12:22 PM 126 Not enough businesses. There is only 1 or 2 shops and 1 place to eat. 9/4/2012 12:20 PM 127 Not many stores that have what I need 9/4/2012 12:11 PM 128 Seems to only be "open" during the Farmers Market 8/31/2012 2:21 PM 129 Heavy traffic, road construction back -up, the sign for Memories on Main is ridiculous - I have not and will not 8/31/2012 10:38 AM visit a bar with the acronym "MOM" - I enjoyed "O'Malley's ". 130 the 4 way stop gets really backed up at times 8/30/2012 11:14 AM 131 The mismatch and extreme variations in business. 8/30/2012 6:12 AM 132 LACK OF PLACE TO GET BREAKFAST OR LIGHT LUNCH 8/30/2012 5:55 AM 133 Limited shopping and dining. 8/30/2012 5:10 AM 134 Run down and only a couple businesses 8/30/2012 3:01 AM 135 Parking 8/29/2012 5:55 PM 136 That we don't have more service /shopping opportunities 8/29/2012 5:10 PM 137 Although there are a few restaurants and boutiques in the downtown area, adding more would motivate me 8/29/2012 4:39 PM to head downtown PL more rather than going to Savage or Burnsville. 138 Worn out buildings housing businesses inconsistent with a downtown. 8/29/2012 4:06 PM 139 Most of it is old and run down and doesn't offer a whole lot for families or young people. 8/29/2012 1:58 PM 140 Limited services and product. 8/29/2012 1:46 PM 141 Not enough places to eat. Eidelweiss is only open in daytime and I don't necessarily want to go to a bar for 8/29/2012 1:32 PM lunch. Sul Lago is great, but that is a high- ticket place only for dinner. I miss a place like Jazz Cafe was. 142 Lumber yard, auto service and body shops need to go to make room for more shopping, dining and retail. 8/29/2012 1:01 PM 143 Traffic is always a challenge it takes a very long time to get from hwy 13 (bank, village market etc) to eagle 8/29/2012 5:15 AM creek (bars, shopping, bakery) and traffic congestion between the two areas is always high. Also, the two areas of Prior Lake shopping /entertainment /grocery/bank /gas station seems split up as opposed to being a "downtown" 13 / 21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 144 the traffic on eagle creek or hiway 21 divides the downtown and their is no crosswalks across 21 8/28/2012 12:26 PM 145 poor parking and handicap accessibility. more evening shopping hours 8/28/2012 11:13 AM 146 The high property taxes. A very spendy city manager and sity council. 8/27/2012 5:02 PM 147 The buildings on the South side of 21 don't look or feel like a downtown so there isn't much of it. Only the 2 8/27/2012 3:57 PM blocks by the farmers market really meet my expectations. Few of the businesses we utilize are there and we haven't needed anything in those government buildings. 148 limited stores 8/27/2012 9:43 AM 149 lack of parking and restaurants 8/26/2012 7:13 PM 150 After the farmers market ends in the fall, there is really no place to have a sit down breakfast 8/25/2012 3:38 PM 151 The city owned "eye sore" of a house on the corner of Pleasant St & Main Ave. The lack of care to the 8/25/2012 1:18 PM southern part of Main Ave. 152 lack of support from the city and the very few spaces to park 8/25/2012 8:37 AM 14 / 21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 Q7 What changes would improve downtown Prior Lake? Answered: 149 Skipped: 29 # Responses Date 1 Connect existing downtown to the lake. 10/4/2012 12:08 PM 2 Have more kid friendly places 10/3/2012 7:28 AM 3 Less auto related businesses. Variety of eating places, unique shops, more of a lakeside /small town "charm ". 10/2/2012 12:02 PM For the farmer's market, it would be nice to see more FARM products /produce. I like the feel and look of Stillwater. 4 Street scape 10/2/2012 10:27 AM 5 No freeway through downtown! 10/2/2012 10:25 AM 6 Better parking and accessibility. Better traffic flow. Maybe some discount stores or inexpensive burger joint 10/2/2012 10:24 AM or bagel shop. Tear down old library and flower shop and put in a roundabout 7 Change Co #21 back to a 2 lane, and vigorously enforce the speed limit, especially along the area crossing 10/2/2012 10:18 AM the lake. +40 mph is unacceptable and unsafe 8 more events like lakefront days 10/2/2012 10:16 AM 9 Base line option implemented and option 9 of the downtown south study 10/2/2012 10:14 AM 10 Bring in more unique retail experiences, entertainment 10/1/2012 10:53 AM 11 We may waant to think of the downtown as a large shopping center and retain a consultant who has 9/30/2012 6:23 AM experience in designing unique shopping centers, since it seems that many of our downtown issues are similar to ones faced by large enclosed centers or outside shopping areas like Maple Grove or Woodbury. 12 Need to develop business on the VFW side (south of 21). If expansion occurs, keep building facades, old- 9/28/2012 5:31 PM town style, one level. Quaint, boutique shoppes will continue to bring customers in. 13 I don't think any immediate changes are necessary; overall, I like the downtown environment just the way it 9/28/2012 10:55 AM is and don't feel expending tax payer dollars to modify what essentially works, is a wise course at this juncture. 14 Changes that would improve downtown Prior Lake would to be direct traffic elsewhere, outside of 9/28/2012 10:53 AM downtown. It's too small of a downtown to have that many cars going through. 15 I would request the Council to consider an medium to long term plan to connect downtown to other adjacent 9/28/2012 9:52 AM business areas with some specific time tables, confirm this in the comp plan and zoning with specific discussion with affected owners of non - conforming residential property, develop with the downtown owners a commercially -based forward - looking economically based theme for downtown that can be put into a formal policy to guide future use and development, start a property assemblage discussion to enhance values and future development, design an CASH 21 overpass and begin a funding program, and use the current low interest environment to develop a fund for assistance to projects that further these goals. There probably needs to be a strong downtown association to push and support these efforts, and to provide a means for the downtown to do "better" and more effective marketing. Nothing meaningful can happen until downtown is connected (externally and internally), focused, rationally financed, and strongly and financially supported by the downtown owners. A key, but interesting, component of the plan may need to be to devise an equitable and unique exit strategy for those owners with businesses that will not benefit from such long term changes, regardless of whether the lack of benefit is real or perceived. 16 I would make some more appealing restaurants and not necessarily chain restaurants. I would utilize that 9/28/2012 9:02 AM space in the Village Mall better by putting better shops and restaurants. A few of my friends live in Minneapolis and other surrounding suburbs and they never want to come visit me in Prior Lake because there's nothing to do. 17 Divert the traffic, especially the semi - trucks and gravel haulers. Slow down the traffic and enforce it to the 9/28/2012 7:55 AM maximum. That needs to be done all along Co Rd 21. City Hall needs to be more receptive to the residents wants and needs instead of what City Hall thinks the residents want or need. City Hall doesn't listen well. 18 More retail 9/27/2012 10:27 AM 19 It would be nice if the stores were catered more toward women /shopping /upscale. 9/26/2012 9:34 AM 20 More retail stores 9/25/2012 12:25 PM 21 facelift and more places to eat 9/25/2012 8:04 AM 22 Better retail and entertainment options on the south side of 21 9/24/2012 1:09 PM 23 lessen the traffic that's just on peoples commute versus living in the community 9/24/2012 12:48 PM 24 Bring in cafes and social gathering places. 9/24/2012 12:43 PM 15 / 21 City of Prbr Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 25 I really don't think the downtown will ever become something other than what it is. I wish we spent more 9/24/2012 9:44 AM time on our lake with a few restraurants, burger joints, etc actually on the lake to promote our town. Captain Jack's a dive! 26 Keep Main as a through Street and encourage businesses to stay. Get rid of old house on South end and 9/24/2012 5:28 AM bring in some type of new business on that corner like a drug store. 27 Would love to have some small town shopping, a couple of "favorite type restaurants" (maybe a sports bar ?? 9/23/2012 6:28 PM There really is no downtown. 28 Offer a range of family and individual establishments that promote community and evening entertainment 9/21/2012 1:48 PM options - The Jazz Cafe was wonderful 29 Return our town to a quiet /quaint establishment without all this waste 9/21/2012 10:48 AM 30 Get more anchor shops and fine dining. Put in Kwik Trip on 185th. 9/20/2012 7:03 PM 31 See above 9/20/2012 5:43 PM 32 Have a bigger and more user friendly centralized downtown 9/20/2012 12:24 PM 33 More unique specialty shops, coffee shops and restaurants with outdoor seating. A Yoga studio would be 9/20/2012 12:23 PM nice. Maps with trails to walking paths and parks. Events at the Library posted outside for people driving though or walking by. Bike and boat rentals. Art gallery. 34 Remodeled building facades to attract visitors. Somehow link both side together. Path over the highway with 9/20/2012 11:25 AM main street re- opened as a walking mall only. 35 Additional botique like businesses 9/20/2012 11:18 AM 36 Parking garage and make the different areas flow together more. 9/20/2012 11:04 AM 37 Better access linking the south (Brooksville) to downtown. 9/20/2012 10:12 AM 38 traffic flow larger area more stores /dinning options 9/20/2012 10:10 AM 39 Not sure 9/20/2012 10:01 AM 40 More development. Increased foot traffic. More restaurants and shops. 9/20/2012 10:01 AM 41 Put a walking bridge over HW21 9/20/2012 9:56 AM 42 Personally, I feel like the residential areas next to downtown should be rezoned. Additional new commercial 9/20/2012 9:55 AM development is sorely needed. 43 More restaurants. More fun activities. 9/20/2012 8:17 AM 44 Stoplight at Duluth /21 and turn signals at Duluth /13 9/19/2012 7:12 PM 45 A lot of changes meant to improve the image of downtown Prior Lake have been made in the last 5 years. 9/19/2012 10:26 AM Nothing more is needed. 46 Not much, it was destroyed years ago 9/19/2012 10:25 AM 47 2 lanes each way on 13. I'm originally from IL where they allow left turns on green lights - That would make a 9/18/2012 5:51 PM huge difference with traffic, nothing worse than sitting at a red arrow when no one is coming. Face lift on local businesses (for example, downtown Savage on 13, compared to 10 years ago) 48 More restaurants, shops - retail. Jobs 9/18/2012 7:58 AM 49 a pedestrian walkway over 21 9/17/2012 12:05 PM 50 Leave it to the private sector to determine. 9/17/2012 9:02 AM 51 Get a business open in old gas station 9/17/2012 7:00 AM 52 Restaurants, parking 9/17/2012 6:41 AM 53 Add a Papa Murphy's Pizza and more restaurants 9/17/2012 6:24 AM 54 update main street south of 21 to Pleasant - long over due. 9/17/2012 5:55 AM 55 Stop spending taxpayer dollars on downtown. It is fine how it is. 9/16/2012 7:04 PM 56 Attract retail and restaurants, give people a reason to visit. 9/16/2012 3:52 PM 57 Restaurants [like] Red Lobster would bring people in and help other businesses as well.Buy out the lumber 9/16/2012 3:38 PM yard etc. 58 A theme. Also, I do not have much discretionary cash and almost everything downtown is fluff, stuff that one 9/16/2012 6:23 AM does not need to survive. I go to, Hardware Store, Sebastian's, Library, Bakery and Farmers Market. On the other end of town, I use Village Market, Holiday, Tractor Supply, Subway, McDonalds, Dairy Queen. Otherwise I shop out of town. Again, note: I leave town at 5:00 AM and do not arrive home at 6:30 PM. Saturday is errands, Sunday is rest. 59 ?? 9/15/2012 7:22 PM 60 Customer friendly stores /boutiques /restaurants (where real people can shop, not these over priced yuppie 9/15/2012 5:36 AM 16 / 21 City of Prlor Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 places for skinny people). Not tanning salong, hair salons, nail salons, video stores, fitness places we have enough of those all over. 61 Get rid of the four way stop and put a light at Duluth Ave. 9/14/2012 9 :37 PM 62 more stores (similar to Shakopee's downtown area) 9/14/2012 5:29 PM 63 more restaurants, longer opening hours, particularly on weekends 9/14/2012 3:03 PM 64 Better walking acess around town. In other words sidewalks on streets that do not have them or on Hwy 9/14/2012 2:35 PM 13. 65 i would keep it small town 9/14/2012 2:07 PM 66 Better traffic flow at the corner of 21 and Main. A few more businesses that attracted shoppers 9/14/2012 2:01 PM 67 Purchase a big chunk of homes in downtown and knock them down and create a place where people would 9/14/2012 1:33 PM want to spend time and money. 68 Open to Business 9/14/2012 1:28 PM 69 I like the older buildings, I'd like to know the history of them, maybe a small sign with an old picture outside 9/14/2012 1:26 PM each one would be fun. 70 Better traffic pattern, resturants, more retail shops. 9/13/2012 1:48 PM 71 More real retail business. More family oriented restaurants. 9/13/2012 1:20 PM 72 RIGHT ON, RIGHT OFF MAIN ONTO 21 9/12/2012 4:53 PM 73 NO CHANGES! We live with the traffic just fine. This is a bedroom community. I do not see the City of Prior 9/12/2012 2:40 PM Lake benefiting from previous decades of "Downtown" improvement projects and bad planning. You cant just mow down all the neighborhoods. The street improvements in from of Police Station and Library along with rezoning along CR21 by the lake were a waste of tax dollars!! You aren't fooling anyone! Most people that the "City fathers" and "City Hall" is a joke in this community!! The new city hall "Tahjma Hall" project should have been voter approved not by approved by city council to exploit $13 million of our dollars!!! Get smart and leave downtown alone...you just had a improvement project there within the last 4 or 5 years! Grow up! 74 Parking and needs more stores. 9/12/2012 2:38 PM 75 More parking, more destinations 9/12/2012 1:00 PM 76 Bring in more locally owned businesses, make it easier for existing businesses to thrive by supporring them 9/12/2012 12:21 PM 77 Additonal shopping, If the few stores could manage to stay open later or be open on Sunday. 9/12/2012 9:22 AM 78 Types of businesses (services /retailers) that would be a draw /destination = more then a utility of value (auto 9/12/2012 9:09 AM repair, prof. services, etc.). 79 More restaurants and shops 9/12/2012 7:44 AM 80 More dining options. 9/11/2012 9:16 AM 81 See above 9/11/2012 7:54 AM 82 Attract the money!! 30 - 60 year olds with money. 9/11/2012 7:43 AM 83 improve traffic, but not with a big bypass bridge et al 9/10/2012 2:44 PM 84 We NEED a tunnel at the intersection of Highway 13 and 160th street. The city of Chaska has many of these 9/10/2012 12:56 PM such tunnels and they are wonderful. The east side of 13 not only contains many prior lake residents who like to visit downtown, but it is also prime parking space for events at Lakefront Park. I've looked and there is definitely physical room for a tunnel, and you would reduce the risk of injury and increase easy access to downtown for pedestrians and bikers, and better link the east and west sides of prior lake. A prime example would also be the traffic interruptions caused by larger numbers of pedestrians crossing 13 following the 7/4 celebration: officers would be best utilized elsewhere and would be freed from directing traffic in that section if there was a pedestrian tunnel. 85 nothing at this time. Would be nice if it were bigger but that's impossible. 9/10/2012 12:04 PM 86 More parking 9/10/2012 11:18 AM 87 More shops and more parking would help. 9/8/2012 6:15 PM 88 More mktg of the botique stores you do have. I didn't realize there were as many as there were. Guys are 9/6/2012 6:53 PM going to go where their wives go. 89 essential retail, pharmacy, groceries, etc. 9/6/2012 12:45 PM 90 Walking and biking paths to expand the area, and the Farmer's Market + make both a quaint and functional 9/5/2012 9:10 PM shopping and activity area. Maybe a nice lunch location, 91 Another restaurant. More outdoor tables with places to sit and enjoy downtown. 9/5/2012 6:58 PM 92 More restaurants, more places to shop, a drug store and improve the looks of the south side of 21 9/5/2012 4:39 PM 93 Better bar /restaurants (love Sul Lago!) - better retail shops 9/5/2012 3:34 PM 17 / 21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 94 get rid of the lumber -yard and get a nice building with parking and retail. 9/5/2012 3:15 PM 95 More businesses 9/5/2012 3:05 PM 96 improve traffic flow 9/5/2012 2:54 PM 97 Better access to parking 9/5/2012 2:06 PM 98 Pizza type restaurant. Sports Bar. More shops. 9/5/2012 1:35 PM 99 MORE PARKING FOR WHEN ALL COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ARE AT FULL CAPACITY 9/5/2012 11:56 AM 100 More, better and usable services, eateries -- -bike path off Cty rd 21 bridge under bridge to lakefront park 9/5/2012 11:55 AM access without xing hwy 101 Try to relocate the lumberyard, automotive repair shops to other industrial area of city. Try to increase the 9/5/2012 11:24 AM retail shop, professional, and personal service businesses to "Main Street" 102 Parking ramp (expensive), would allow foot traffic, look at vision of DT and replace /move /buy out 9/5/2012 11:00 AM businesses /houses that do not have the same goals. 103 I would love to see Lakefront Days activities downtown. Lakefront Park is difficult to access and not enough 9/5/2012 10:40 AM parking. 104 None 9/5/2012 10:29 AM 105 Improved traffic flow on Hwy 21 9/5/2012 10:18 AM 106 so many other towns in MN have a bustling downtown area; several places to shop & eat & window shop, PL 9/5/2012 10:17 AM has none of that home town feel 107 Greater area for new business extending along Colorado and Dakota Streets, and /or to Anna Trail area, and 9/5/2012 10:03 AM more quality buildings and retail/dining options 108 Having a cafe in the downtown area. Improve exteriors of less attractive store - fronts. 9/4/2012 8:07 PM 109 Needs a sandwich shop or something. 9/4/2012 7:20 PM 110 Another restraunt, drug store, and more parking 9/4/2012 6:46 PM 111 store fronts and signs for stores - i don't know how to get to giggle gals 9/4/2012 6:40 PM 112 add a nice, family restaurant 9/4/2012 5:57 PM 113 Complete the unfinished part of downtown. 9/4/2012 2:35 PM 114 move the farmer market to the park 9/4/2012 1:55 PM 115 An overall facelift. Smaller towns such as Jordon, Fairbault, Zumbrota, Northfield all seem to have a better 9/4/2012 1:41 PM downtown feel and look. 116 More options for shopping and dining 9/4/2012 1:30 PM 117 More choices in retail, more casual dining. 9/4/2012 1:07 PM 118 A good breakfast place. 9/4/2012 12:53 PM 119 More parking - Years ago the planters were put in and now they are not being maintained. 9 /4/2012 12:41 PM 120 More retail 9/4/2012 12:27 PM 121 good restaurant, mid - priced, good food and drinks 9/4/2012 12:27 PM 122 Ger rid of the bars, put more eateries, get rid of the traffic jams by the 4 way stop, make it look better. If 9/4/2012 12:23 PM you are going to have a bar, make it a classy one with a few tables out front for the casual lunch /drink. Make it classy! Prior Lake is a high end town- expensive to live in a lake town, so show off the high end by bringing the casual /wealth downtown. 123 more businesses geared towards children's activities 9/4/2012 12:22 PM 124 Remodel some of the buildings to hold more businesses. 9/4/2012 12:20 PM 125 A facelift and better traffic flow 9/4/2012 12:11 PM 126 Restaurants, liven it up. 8/31/2012 2:21 PM 127 Things seem to be moving in the right direction with road work! 8/31/2012 10:38 AM 128 Moving The lumberyard...WHY DOWNTOWN? I know he's been there FOREVER but someone please help him 8/30/2012 11:14 AM find a better place. 129 More boutique type shops, up scale wine cafe. 8/30/2012 6:12 AM 130 AS ABOVE MORE PARKING 8/30/2012 5:55 AM 131 Restaurants. 8/30/2012 5:10 AM 132 More, diverse businesses and renovate 8/30/2012 3:01 AM 133 Parking, improve appearance of main street, making it more inviting and create excitement 8/29/2012 5:55 PM 18 / 21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 134 Wine bar, more restaurant choices, coffee bar, etc. Would be great to be able to go downtown and spend 8/29/2012 5:10 PM the night (i.e. not as a kid looking to drink at a bar all night) 135 Better traffic flow, more upscale dining /shops, pharmacy or drug store options 8/29/2012 4:39 PM 136 Remove the worn out buildings and businesses they house and get new of each in there. 8/29/2012 4:06 PM 137 At least on the north side of 21,maybe shut it down to cars and make it more like Nicollet in Minneapolis or 8/29/2012 1:58 PM the shops of St. Louis Park (much smaller scale obviously). Little shops, cafe's, a nicer bar, maybe. Just not sure that its really large enough to attract the kind of businesses and customers, though. Skeptical. 138 5:00 rush hour. The 4 -way stop gets a little ridiculous. Need to streamline it. 8/29/2012 1:32 PM 139 See 6 and make sure there's enough parking and let merchants promote their business more 8/29/2012 1:01 PM 140 More roads connecting the separate "downtown" areas would be great as well as help with alternative 8/29/2012 5:15 AM routes thru town. Also, a drug store would be great!!! 141 where is downtown? The river walk in San Antonio Texas The malecon in puerto vallart mexico The shops at 8/28/2012 12:26 PM west end in St louis Park Mn 142 more parking, more shops, more variety of shopping, employment opportunities 8/28/2012 11:13 AM 143 Fiscal responsibility Business freindly to increase the rax base 8/27/2012 5:02 PM 144 It needs to reach critical mass to attract visitors other than Saturday noon. Also need to improve the look / 8/27/2012 3:57 PM feel South of 21. Try to attract a mid size "intellect" employment such as an engineering firm, call center, design center, medical billing firm, etc. to bring more people in during the week days. 145 more fun stores for shopping 8/27/2012 9:43 AM 146 more restaurants, more parking 8/26/2012 7:13 PM 147 A breakfast /lunch restaurant providing wholesome, well priced food. 8/25/2012 3:38 PM 148 Improve the sidewalks /streets /buildings on the southern end of Main Ave, 8/25/2012 1:18 PM 149 highlighting more events to show off the downtown rather than just focusing on Lakefront Park 8/25/2012 8:37 AM 19/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 Q8 Would you like more information on this process? Please provide your contact information (email preferred): Answered: 51 Skipped: 127 # Responses Date 1 No 10/2/2012 10:16 AM 2 Ipoppler @cityofpriorlake.com 10/2/2012 10:14 AM 3 sisko003 @d.umn.edu 9/28/2012 10:53 AM 4 amsheehan @mchsi.com 9/28/2012 10:31 AM 5 bdh @priorlakelaw.com 9/28/2012 9:52 AM 6 No, not at this time. 9/28/2012 9:02 AM 7 Thank you, No 9/28/2012 7:55 AM 8 fullmonty @mchsi.com 9/26/2012 9:34 AM 9 bsnyder13 @hotmail.com 9/24/2012 12:48 PM 10 No thank you. I am aware of how to get the information. 9/24/2012 12:43 PM 11 devildog @integra.net 9/24/2012 5:28 AM 12 Yes. We have been here for 25 years and would love to see a downtown like Stillwater, Lake City or Red 9/23/2012 6:28 PM Wing where there is a reason to drive "downtown ". 13 Yes.. swseeley @cbburnet.com 9/20/2012 7:03 PM 14 Yes please I will be moving to Prior Lake soon. jaimejmlint @gmail.com 9/20/2012 12:23 PM 15 jeffandmaryellen @hotmail.com 9/20/2012 11:25 AM 16 No. Update the website for comments. 9/20/2012 11:04 AM 17 ggentz @rehder.com 9/20/2012 10:12 AM 18 phurley @blackhawkinc.com 9/20/2012 9:56 AM 19 I already follow all the progress. 9/20/2012 9:55 AM 20 n.melink @integra.net 9/19/2012 10:26 AM 21 kuper005 @umn.edu 9/19/2012 10:25 AM 22 No, getting updates through website and newspaper. Great communication by city. 9/17/2012 5:55 AM 23 tracerdc @gmail.com 9/16/2012 7:04 PM 24 James.palamara @shell.com 9/16/2012 3:52 PM 25 norahs @integra.net 9/14/2012 9:37 PM 26 no 9/14/2012 3:03 PM 27 eplaisted @sterlingstatebank.com 9/14/2012 1:33 PM 28 Yes, I would like more information. svengazibo @hotmail.com 9/14/2012 1:26 PM 29 biker @mcgillhouse.com 9/12/2012 4:53 PM 30 mabprlk @gmail.com 9/12/2012 2:40 PM 31 jc3282 @yahoo.com 9/12/2012 2:38 PM 32 Andrea Mullenmeister, Furthurfar @Hotmail.com 9/12/2012 12:21 PM 33 Yes. bmjohnso22 @yahoo.com (Brett Johnson) 9/11/2012 9:16 AM 34 No 9/11/2012 7:54 AM 35 No 9/11/2012 7:43 AM 36 dbthorsen @gmail.com 9/10/2012 2:44 PM 37 morgan.anderson2 @target.com please :) 9/10/2012 12:56 PM 20/21 City of Prior Lake Downtown Customer Survey - Summer 2012 38 evensonpaul @hotmail.com 9/8/2012 6:15 PM 39 mmfeldman @activar.com 9/6/2012 12:45 PM 40 dennis.e.arneson @gmail.com 9/5/2012 11:55 AM 41 BrendalRodgers @msn.com 9/5/2012 10:29 AM 42 tenison.stone @mchsi.com 9/4/2012 6:40 PM 43 shellmutz @aol.com 9/4/2012 5:39 PM 44 emilydritsas @yahoo.com 9/4/2012 12:22 PM 45 kiah_nichols @yahoo.com 16829 Toronto Ave SE #109 8/31/2012 10:38 AM 46 NO WILL WATCH PROCESS 8/30/2012 5:55 AM 47 I am already involved. 8/29/2012 5:10 PM 48 frank10350 @mchsi.com 8/29/2012 4:06 PM 49 marjeebill @integra.net 8/28/2012 11:13 AM 50 dpschwamm @gmail.com 8/25/2012 3:38 PM 51 YES, PLEASE! marietb99 @yahoo.com 8/25/2012 1:18 PM 21 / 21