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Home My WebLink About05 20 2013 EDA 8A Quarterly Report Q � PRip� h � v 4b46 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake. MN 55372 '��viveso'��` ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: May 20, 2013 AGENDA #: 8A PREPARED BY: Casey McCabe, Community Development Specialist PRESENTED BY: Bill Henry, EDAC Chair AGENDA ITEM: QUARTERLY EDAC REPORT DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to provide a quarterly report of EDAC activity to the EDA. Historv In an effort to provide better communication between the Economic Development Authori- ty and the Economic Development Advisory Committee, the EDA liaison, Michelle Choudek, attends regular monthly EDAC meetings and the EDAC provides quarterly ac- tivity reports to the EDA. Current Circumstances Over the first quarter of 2013, the EDAC has been very active. Below is a summary of recent projects and activities. Prior Lake Business Pages e-Newsletter The EDAC published its 6� issue of the Prior Lake Business Pages electronic newsletter in April. The newsletter is intended to provide another source of communication with the business community and is currently distributed to over 360 recipients who have specifi- cally requested to receive the Prior Lake Business Pages on the City of Prior Lake web- site. The e-newsletter is a valuable tool to provide information about pending projects, make announcements and keep the public informed about the services provided by the EDAC and the Community & Economic Development Department. The latest edition included brief articles about the recently approved I-1, General Industrial "Business Friendly" Zoning Ordinance amendments, information on the Business & Indus- try Forum, announcement of the new Technology Village Business Accelerator program, a comparison of commercial and residential building permits issued in 2011 and 2012, busi- ness retention & expansion survey information and an announcement of new and recently expanded businesses. Business Retention and Expansion Surveys Volunteers from the EDAC have completed nineteen business retention & expansion sur- veys; primarily in the Deerfield, Waterfront Passage, and Welcome Avenue industrial park area. The surveys, which are also available on the Economic Development page of the City website, are being completed by the EDAC in collaboration with Scott County and GREATER MSP. Businesses are informed that the information collected will be used by . the City of Prior Lake, Scott County and GREATER MSP to establish economic develop- ment priorities and enact policies to support and address the concerns and opportunities identified by local businesses. Survey results will be presented to the EDA during a future meeting. Business & Industry Forum The EDAC spent a great amount of time planning and coordinating the Business & Indus- try Forum (formerly Meet-N-Greet) which was held on April 25� at Fong's Event Center. Approximately 50 people attended the event, including all members of the EDA. The pri- mary purpose of this event was to provide an open forum for business leaders, property owners, developers and local elected and appointed officials to gather and discuss con- cerns or issues facing Prior Lake businesses as well as promote the positive steps taken by the City Council, EDA and EDAC to address concerns and issues identified during pre- vious events. City staff compiled the list of comments received by EDAC members during the event (at- tached). The EDAC members began discussing a process whereby they will review, evaluate and prepare draft responses to the submitted comments for EDA consideration before they are distributed. As part of its recommendations to the EDA, the EDAC also plans to enumerate steps it recommends be considered for implementation to assist and promote local small busi- nesses (such as the potential benefits of a City of Prior Lake Open House / Grand Open- ing Policy and promotion of the "shop local" message). Conclusion Updates of EDAC activity will be presented by the EDAC Chair, Bill Henry, during the May 20, 2013 EDA meeting. ISSUES: The EDA should consider the extent to which the work contemplated herein by the EDAC furthers their business retention role. FINANCIAL Staff time will be invested in attendance at the meetings and preparation of the list of pro- IMPACT: posals to the EDA. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second to direct the EDAC to evaluate the feedback received through the business and industry forum and formulate responses to be considered by the EDA before sending, as well as recommendations for the assistance and promotion of small businesses. 2. Take no action RECOMMENDED Alternative 1. MOTION: ATTACHMENT: 1. Business & Industry Forum Comments z 2013 Business & Industrv Forum Comments Downtown & Economic Development ➢ Need to plan, need to have financial incentives for business to expand o City could help upgrade building faces south of Hwy 21. Fresh look like north of Hwy 21 ➢ Businesses south of CR21 to improve facades like the north side of CR 21 ➢ Develop ways to connect commercial areas instead of pockets in the community ➢[need for] Seniors e-pharmacy, CVS pharmacy ➢ Office building across from Cleary Lake Regional Park ➢ Love the "about face" of City working towards being more business friendly ➢ Restaurants would be an attractive draw ➢ Unplatted lots in Deerfield Industrial area. Can be rezoned. Felt the city was a little inflexible in the past. o High density residential ➢ Higher income housing ($400,000+) an excellent way to diversify the tax base ➢ Diggers redevelopment project discussion ➢ Attract more businesses people (work force) so more people can work/play/live in PL ➢ Two key people at City has improved with being consistent and are positive - Dan & Casey - need to keep them in their roles to continue the push moving forward ➢ Reputation of `hard to work with' continues - how to break this: o New blood - has happened with Dan & Casey o Being consistent throughout PL - do not show favoritism ➢ Why do businesses NOT come to PL? o Suggest to go back to old records and investigate - person, building or $'s? ➢ Let's stop comparing PL with Savage/Shakopee if we are not going to be the same (10% of the market). Who should we compare to? Stillwater, Chanhassen, Chaska, etc? Or who do we want to become? ➢ More partnering with SMSC - especially in helping businesses expand, grow, etc ➢ What is the % of land and how much in acres/lot sizes left that is marked for business development? o Develop a want list of businesses - some that came up (to continue to live, work and play in PL) ■ Restaurants- family and upscale (Carbone's, Snuffy Malt Shop, Pizza Ranch) ■ Theater - movie and/or performing arts ■ Clothing stores/shoes ■ Sporting goods (also enhanced lake accessories) _ ■ Appliance store ■ Trader Joes ■ Mayo Campus ➢ Highlight our positives and market them, School District, downtown, parks, trails, lake, small town feel ➢ More businesses along CR42 ➢ Market PL - it isn't that far away - change that image by advertising - maybe doing some marketing ideas ➢ Really push to spend dollars locally and live, work, play — right here ➢ Downtown Prior Lake o Need a sign to Prior Lake downtown o Need to promote downtown o Need for small downtown businesses to join the Chamber and/or have meetings for businesses ➢ Have the casino advertise downtown businesses o Downtown would need to offer some benefit to SMSGcasino ➢ Need to allow other businesses (other than tech) to use Technology Village o Technology Village is not full; why can't other service businesses use the facility? Transportation / Parkin� ➢ Three-quarter access from Hwy 13 to Pleasant St. o Three-quarter access is vital ➢ Hwy 13 & CR21 intersection; this upgrade may reduce or eliminate the need to close Main Ave. on CR21 o Two left turn lanes may eliminate the stacking problem; downtown should not be split ➢ Main Avenue should be kept open as long as possible, speed should be 25 MPH - 30 MPH ➢ Crosswalk sign at Main Avenue o Crosswalk signs should be put back up ➢ Since 1961, Hwy 13 keeps sinking ➢ Funeral Home would move their entrance to Arcadia if this new road could come through ➢ Rock Creek Building parking lot should be a 2-hour limit 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (M-F) o Bus riders and employees fill up the parking lot ➢ Concerned about downtown throughway being closed at Main Avenue ➢ Connect Downtown to Uptown and add businesses and walking trails/bike trails, this group was very positive with the Arcadia road to Hwy13 Tourism / Visitors ➢ Expand tourism, specifically the lake. o Provide and promote more parking options near and around the lake to promote fishing, beaches and boating. Further business will come to bars, restaurants and other retail stores ➢ Positives are big events like MusicFest - we should be showcasing PL at that time, people are here why not put out the red carpet - show them the positives ➢ Visitor's Bureau needed General / Miscellaneous ➢[B & I Forum is a] Good opportunity for discussion. ➢ Satellite University in Prior Lake ➢ Why does this drug house still exist? (Main Avenue) o Stop by and watch "transactions" ➢ Inspector still a problem (building inspector) not consumer friendly, until this changes/retrain - new builders are not willing to move to PL ➢ Keep positive with SMSC ➢ Need a facility for the performing arts o PL Players want to do more shows but cannot get a facility where they can perform. o ISD 719 facilities are too busy, too small and it limits when the PL Players can have a performance o Also need help in promotion of shows . ➢ Corner of CR42 & Hwy 13 not good for Prior Lake o Need to promote Prior Lake at this corner; install a welcome sign and promote Prior Lake