HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 27 2014 EDAC minutes
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES March 27, 2014
1. Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m. in the Wagon Bridge Conference Room at Prior Lake City Hall.
Members present: Bill Henry, Greg Schweich, Lloyd Erbaugh, Mark Petersen, Sandi Fleck, Wade Larson,
Mike Stout and Michelle Choudek. Members absent: James Ford, Annie Sheehan-Kerber, Jim Mahoney,
Thane Tande and Bernie Carlson. Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes.
a. February 27, 2014
MOTION BY PETERSEN and SECOND BY HENRY to approve the February 27, 2014 meeting minutes
as submitted. Motion adopted unanimously.
3. Old Business
a. Business & Industry Forum Action Item Discussion
McCabe: stated that during the February 27, 2014 meeting, committee members recommended city staff
revise a few of the Business & Industry Forum (B&I) action items. The purpose of the revisions is to
clearly define the action that will be taken by the EDAC. Mr. McCabe presented alternate language for
three of the B&I action items.
EDAC Members: discussed the revised action items and provided additional direction to staff related to
revisions. Because some of the action items involve collaboration with the Prior Lake Downtown
Business Association (PLDBA), committee members considered adding a representative of the PLDBA
to the EDAC. Members also felt the city could do a better job of showing appreciation to existing
businesses. A suggestion was made for the City Manager and/or Mayor to send a letter of appreciation
to businesses with city updates, for the City Manager to schedule a visit with the top employers in the
community, or a message thanking businesses for serving Prior Lake on the downtown monument signs.
MOTION BY FLECK and SECOND BY PETERSEN to place this agenda item on a future meeting agenda
for additional discussion. Motion adopted unanimously.
4. New Business
a. Downtown Parking Improvement and Signage Plan
Rogness: informed the committee that the EDA has directed city staff to work with the EDAC and PLDBA
to develop a Downtown Parking Improvement and Signage Plan. The plan would address alternate
parking options for downtown employees and public parking identification signage. The plan may also
include future parking options and locations, additional wayfinding signage, parking lot lighting,
improvements and other safety issues. Mr. Rogness mentioned a Scott County Community
Development Agency (CDA) Economic Development Incentive (EDI) Grant Program which could
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potentially be used to study downtown parking improvements. The grant application deadline is June 2,
2014.
Larson: asked about a transit circulator route through downtown Prior Lake to bring customers and
employees without creating additional parking demand.
Rogness: responded that with the potential merger of Prior Lake Transit and Minnesota Valley Transit
Authority (MVTA), MVTA has agreed to complete a transit study to evaluate a circulator route through
Prior Lake, Shakopee and Savage.
City Staff: asked if any members of the EDAC would be willing to serve on a Downtown Parking
Improvement and Signage Plan subcommittee
Henry: volunteered to serve on the Downtown Parking Improvement and Signage Plan subcommittee.
City Staff will contact representatives of the PLDBA to gauge interest in participating in a Downtown
Parking Improvement and Signage Plan subcommittee. This item will be placed on a future meeting
agenda for additional discussion.
b. Prior Lake Business Contact
EDAC Members: discussed whether or not to continue Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E)
surveys in 2014 or establish another form of business contact or interaction.
Fleck: stated that it is important to thank the businesses for remaining in Prior Lake. Mr. Henry and Ms.
Fleck supported continuing the BR&E surveys, possibly in the CR 42/Hwy 13 commercial area.
EDAC Members: discussed the value of continuing the surveys and the potential outcome of the survey
results. Some members commented that the committee should have a plan to use the survey results
before gathering more information. Other comments included following up with the current survey results
and action items before continuing the surveys.
EDAC Members: felt this item needed additional discussion and recommended it be added to a future
agenda. The April agenda appears to be full so this item will possibly be discussed in May.
5. Other Business
a. EDA Updates
i.EDA Business Plan
ii.EDA Annual Report
EDAC Members were provided with a copy of the EDA Business Plan and EDA Annual Report
which were both approved by the EDA during their March 17, 2014 meeting. Both the business
plan and report will be presented to the City Council during their April 7 meeting.
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b. Staff Updates
i.Prior Lake Business Pages
McCabe: informed the committee that the Prior Lake Business Pages e-newsletter has been
sent out.
c. Member Ideas/Recommendations
i.Industrial Use District Building/Design Standards
Henry: shared recent comments he received from business owners within the Deerfield Industrial
Park related to the recent Industrial zoning ordinance amendments and relaxed building
standards. Mr. Henry commented on what appeared to be confusion among property owners
related to the different zoning standards and design requirements between Industrial and
Business Park use districts. Mr. Henry recommended the city attempt to do a better job of
communicating these differences in the future.
6. Next Meeting Date.
The next regular meeting of the EDAC will be on April 24, 2014.
7. Adjourn. MOTION BY PETERSEN and SECOND BY FLECK to adjourn the meeting. Motion adopted
unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 a.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe