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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 20, 1999PRIOR LAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Monday, December 20, 1999 5:30 p.m. Fire Station City Council Chambers Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance. Those present were President Barsness, Commissioners Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, Executive Director Boyles, Planning Director Rye and Recording Secretary Meyer. Consider Approval of Minutes from November 15, 1999 Regular Meeting and December 6, 1999 Special Meeting. MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH TO APPROVE NOVEMBER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Underferth, Jader and Schenck, the motion carried. 15, 1999 MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH TO APPROVE DECEMBER 6, 1999 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES. VOTE: Ayes by Underferth, Jader and Schenck, the motion carried. President Barsness and Commissioner Kedrowski abstained. Consider Approval of Consent Agenda. BOYLE~: Briefly reviewed the schedule of Invoice to be paid which was the only consent agenda item. MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS SUBMITTED. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. Presentation by Crystal Care LLC. The Presentation by Crystal Care LLC was deferred to a later date. Planning Director Rye gave a brief update on the Fountain Hills Business Park. RYE: Noted that the City had received a site plat for one of the parcels in the business park for a 32,000 square foot office/showroom/warehouse building. After the site plan has been approved, Wensmann would be in a position to pull a building permit and start construction. BOYLES: Asked Planning Director Rye to clarify the definition and process for site plan approval. RYE: Explained that the site plan approval process is fairly shod and simple. The uses proposed are 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes December 20, 1999 permitted under commercial zoning, and it does not require Planning Commission or City Council review. Staff determines if the site plan meets the criteria under the zoning ordinance, and then can authorize the building permit to be issued. UNDERFERTH: Asked if the project is being completed for Wensmann's use, or if it is being constructed for a specific company. RYE: Understands that Wensmann will occupy a portion of the showroom for their interior design products. We also have an indication that there will be a lighting showroom in the building. BOYLES: Noted that the plan indicates Creative Flooring in two of the locations, in addition to a lighting store, and an appliance store. RYE: Clarified that there is not a final decision on the appliance store portion, and that the only portion operated by Wensmann will be the Creative Flooring store. The other properties will most likely be leased out. The projection is that construction will start in the spring and be completed no later than August of 2000. Consider Approval of Business Assistance Policy. BOYLE$: Gave a brief overview of the policy as discussed by the EDA at its last meeting. RYE: Noted that the policy is virtually identical to the County policy. A few minor revisions were made to the agreement on provisions that do not apply at the municipal level. Noted a specific change to page 2 where the County had a minimum deposit or a minimum percentage of the project and the staff has suggested just a minimum deposit to simplify things. SCHENCK: Asked how other cities are handling adoption of a policy. RYE: Noted that one of the recommendations when this policy was proposed was that some consistency would be created between the County and its municipalities for a assistance policy. To render any assistance after August 1 2000, municipalities would have had to adopt a policy. Also advised that once the EDA makes a recommendation, the policy will go to the Council for consideration. MOTION BY UNDERFERTH, SECOND BY SCHENCK TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE POLICY AS PROPOSED BY STAFF. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. Consider Approval of Specific Recommendations to the City Council from Business Survey. RYI~: Advised that at the last EDA regular meeting, Commissioner Schenck gave a presentation on the results of the business survey recently completed by the EDA. The intent of tonight's discussion is to I:~,DVBODYS\EDA\MINUTES\99\122099.DOC Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes December 20, 1999 recommend to the City Council some more specific steps to be taken to address the issues identified as a result of the survey. SCHENCK: Noted the importance of not only repeating the survey every 2 -3 years, but having it developed by a professional survey firm and conducted by the EDA Commissioners. UNDERFERTH: Agrees that the survey needs to be repeated and that a professionally developed survey would be advantageous. Also supports continuation of the Downtown Redevelopment project. Questioned whether hiring a Community Dev. Director was practical and is a question for the City Council. Strongly supported the recommendation of a business-oriented newsletter. Believes much of the issue at this point is communication with our business community. Also endorsed regular meetings between the Chamber and EDA, service training for City employees, regulation of wireless communications, and cleaning-up and improving the initial impression of the City. JADER: Believes the survey was a great first step. Strongly recommends that businesses have an advocate at City Hall, but that appointing current personnel would be a better first step rather than hiring a full-time Community Dev. Director. Also noted that most of the concerns raised by the business community can be related back to communication. Supported the newsletter, joint meetings with the Chamber, and improving the initial impression of the City. Believes the City Manager needs to be directly involved in the areas of concern registered by the business community. KEDROWSKI.' Supported all of the proposed recommendations except the hiring of a full-time Economic Development Director. Asked Roger Guennette for an indication of what a community needs to be doing before a full-time Economic Development Director is necessary. Also asked about the possibility of an intern. (~UENNETTE: Agrees with Commissioner Jader that at present there probably is enough to keep a person busy for 40 hours a week, and that ultimately the goal of an economic development program is to actively promote and have development occur. Given the reality of the City's current posture, does not believe a full-time position will realize tangible accomplishments in terms of development that would be significantly different than what the City will accomplish without such a staff person. There is merit in looking at an internship position that would fulfill the City's needs at this point. The key is finding a person who has an understanding and working practical knowledge who is willing to make a long enough commitment. An Economic Development Director may be necessary, but probably not until at the very least definitive action is taken to proceed with the downtown redevelopment project, or some other significant project. KEDROWSKI: Suggested delaying recommending hiring an Economic Development Director until a specific project moves forward, and that as an alternative suggested offering an internship or part-time position. BARSNESS: Agrees with much of the discussion and the suggested recommendations. SCHENCK: Suggested modifying recommendation number 3 to read determine a business point of contact within City Hall and investigate the use of interns. I:~DVBODYS\EDA\MINUTES\99\122099.DOC 3 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes December 20, 1999 MOTION BY SCHENCK, SECOND BY JADER, TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS SURVEY RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED. UNDERFERTH: Suggested including a statement with the recommendations indicating that the EDA is seeking approval of this plan consisting of these recommendations to be accomplished from a timing standpoint at the discretion and direction of the EDA. KEDROWSKI: Suggested identifying within the recommendations whether the action is a work plan for the EDA, or a suggestion for action by the Council. SCHENCK: Suggested that items 1, 3, 4 and 5 be included under the EDA work plan, item 2 be a cooperative effort of the EDA and City Council, items 6 and 7 are recommended for action by the Council, and item 8 be recommended for action to the City Council, County and State. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. Consider Proposal to Advertise in Chamber of Commerce Community Map. BOYLES: Noted that the Chamber is devising and circulating a community map to be distributed to new members, both residential and commercial, to the City. Suggested that the EDA purchase 100 copies for distribution from City Hall for EDA relating issues. Also noted that the Chamber is seeking sponsorship through ad sales to be included on the map. MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECOND BY SCHENCK TO DIRECT STAFF TO WORK IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO DEVELOP AN ADVERTISEMENT NOT TO EXCEED $850. UNDERFERTH: Noted that he will abstain from the vote due his position with the Chamber. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader and Schenck, the motion carried. Commissioner Underferth abstained. Review EDA Goals and Objectives. BARSNESS: Asked if there is any discussion from staff or Commissioners as to the EDA goals and objectives. No discussion. This item appears on each agenda for review purposes and direction if any. I:~DVBODYS\EDA\MIN UTES\99\122099. DOC 4 Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes December 20, 1999 Update on New Post Office Facility. BOYLES: Noted that the Post Office had been contacted stating that given the timeframe and the Postal Service's actions at this point to move forward with the other site, the City suggested to locate the new postal facility downtown cannot be accomplished. Other Business: BARSNESS: Noted a last piece of correspondence noting the resignation of Commissioner Jader due to his move from the City of Prior Lake. MOTION BY Schenck, SECOND BY UNDERFERTH TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ADVERTISE THE VACANCY ON THE EDA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. VOTE: Ayes by Barsness, Kedrowski, Jader, Underferth and Schenck, the motion carried. Upon a motion and second, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. I:~DVBODYS\E DA\M IN UTES\99\122099. DOC 5