HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 05 2013 Economic Developmetn Advisory minutes
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES – December 5, 2013
1.Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:39 a.m. in the Wagon Bridge Conference Room at Prior Lake City Hall. Members
present: Bill Henry, Greg Schweich, Lloyd Erbaugh, Mike Stout, James Ford, Mark Peterson, Wade Larson, Annie
Sheehan-Kerber and Jim Mahoney. Members absent: Michelle Choudek, Thane Tande, Sandi Fleck and Bernie
Carlson. Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe.
2.Approval of Meeting Minutes.
a.October 24, 2013
MOTION BY LARSON and SECOND BY ERBAUGH to approve the October 24, 2013 meeting minutes as
submitted. Motion adopted unanimously.
3.Old Business
a.Prior Lake Marketing Materials
McCabe: presented a draft marketing packet created by city staff for review. Mr. McCabe informed the committee
that the EDA has discussed the need for a new community marketing packet and directed staff to work with the
EDAC to complete a draft document for their review. The EDA also authorized funding from their professional
services fund for printing costs.
Henry: recommended the EDAC form a subcommittee to draft a marketing packet for the community. This
subcommittee would contact local developers, brokers and business leaders to identify the type of information to
be included and would prepare a draft packet for EDAC and EDA review.
The following committee members volunteered to serve on the marketing packet subcommittee: Peterson, Henry,
Sheehan-Kerber and Erbaugh. EDAC members also felt Choudek would be a valuable subcommittee member if
she is interested.
EDAC Members: directed staff to schedule a marketing packet subcommittee member meeting in December.
Stout: recommended the marketing materials are also made available online which would allow the materials to
be easily customized based on a specific inquiry. The printed materials will be part of the overall community
message but the printed materials should not be the only marketing efforts.
4.New Business
a.Communication Materials Promoting Commercial Activity
McCabe: stated the EDA recently discussed comments received during the business retention & expansion
surveys related to the lack of commercial activity in Prior Lake. The EDA noted commercial activity is on the rise
and feels a need to share and promote this activity. The EDA directed staff to work with the EDAC to develop a
plan to communicate and promote business growth and the positive steps taken by the City of Prior Lake to improve
the local business climate; including commercial construction activity, growth in the Prior Lake Chamber
memberships and business friendly zoning ordinance amendments.
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Henry: asked where do businesses receive their information; what can the committee do to get the word out?
EDAC Members: discussed the Prior Lake Business Pages, an online e-newsletter used to provide information to
the business community, but acknowledged multiple sources should be used to get the city’s message out. This
may include social media such as Twitter or facebook, or city website banners, “New News” articles on the website,
or a section in the Prior Lake American highlighting new business.
Stout: shared a comment about the need for a community brand and this communication should be one part of
the branding strategy.
Henry: would like to invite the City of Prior Lake Communications Coordinator to a future meeting to discuss the
city website and receive information related to the website improvements the city’s communications committee is
working on.
b.Track Commercial Vacancies
McCabe: informed the committee that the EDA requested city staff work with the EDAC to track commercial
vacancies in the community and make the information available on the City of Prior Lake website. Mr. McCabe
added that staff has kept a list of vacant commercial properties in the past but it was very time consuming and is
currently provided in PDF format on the city’s website.
EDAC Members: offered a few online suggestions, such as cityfeet.com, MNCAR, or possibly working with the
Scott County First Stop Shop to develop a self-populating template where owners can supply and monitor their
own property information.
McCabe: stated staff will consider the options provided by the committee and will provide an update on this item
during the next regular EDAC meeting.
5.Other Business
a.EDA Updates
McCabe: provided the committee with an update of EDA activity from their November 18, 2013 meeting related to
the following items:
Adopt Resolution to Approve Final 2014 EDA Budget and Tax Levy
Marketing Material for Prior Lake
Downtown Building Façade Program
EDAC, Technology Village and EDA 2013 Accomplishments & 2014 Goals
b.Staff Updates
None.
c.Member Ideas/Recommendations
Henry: shared information with the committee about the City Council / Advisory Committee meeting on November
25. Mr. Henry commented on one of the EDAC goals for 2014 related to working with the Scott County First Stop
th
Shop (FSS) and asked the committee to discuss what work or cooperation should be pursued with FSS.
EDAC Members: recommended Stacy Crakes with FSS attend a future EDAC meeting.
Stout: informed the committee that residents of the downtown Prior Lake area appeared at a recent City Council
meeting requesting additional information related to the Transitional Town Center Use District. Mr. Stout stated
the councilors informed the residents they would receive follow up information but that has not yet occurred.
EDAC Members: discussed whether or not they should play a role in a response to the property owners.
Committee members directed staff to report what follow up action had occurred at the next regular meeting of the
EDAC.
6.Next Meeting Date.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the EDAC conflicts with the Christmas holiday so the December meeting will
be cancelled. The next regular meeting of the EDAC will be on January 23, 2014.
7.Adjourn. MOTION BY ERBAUGH and SECOND BY PETERSON to adjourn the meeting. Motion adopted
unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:13 a.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe