HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 24 2015 EDAC minutes
1
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES – September 24, 2015
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 a.m. in the Wagon Bridge Conference Room at Prior Lake City Hall. Members
present: Lloyd Erbaugh, Bill Henry, Jim Mahoney, Thane Tande, Kim Prchal, and EDA Liaison Michele Choudek.
Members absent: Wade Larson, Mike Stout, Marisa Colby and Chamber of Commerce Liaison Sandi Fleck. Staff
present: Casey McCabe. Guests Present: Marie Voreis and Celina Byers.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
a. September 1, 2015
MOTION BY HENRY and SECOND BY PRCHAL to approve the September 1, 2015 meeting minutes. Motion
adopted 5-0.
3. Old Business
a. Prior Lake Community Assets and Sharpening of Message
McCabe: reviewed the marketing focus topics suggested by the EDAC during previous meetings, including a
business focus and residential focus. EDAC members reviewed the specific suggestions to sharpen Prior Lake’s
message. Committee members provided additional ‘sharpening’ direction to staff including, add information
about the fiber network improvements made by the City, SMSC and Integra; add Farmer’s Market to downtown
event; add school district information related to a ‘destination city’ and top 13th ranked school; add facts to
support strong business climate (sales tax receipts and other sources). Staff will update the marketing
information and present the results to the EDA at their next meeting.
4. New Business
a. Positive Prior Lake PR
McCabe: confirmed earlier EDAC discussions about positive Prior Lake public relations. EDAC members will
forward information related to new or expanding businesses or other positive commercial activity to city staff for
promotion through social media.
b. Prior Lake Business Pages
McCabe: reviewed possible topics for the next Prior Lake Business Pages e-newsletter, including: Business
Mixer; Downtown Parking Analysis; Economic Gardening Program; Prior Lake Building Activity; and Highlight
New/Relocated Businesses. EDAC members were comfortable with the suggested topics. The target
distribution date is early October 2015.
c. EDA/EDAC Meeting Follow-Up
McCabe: commented on an email sent earlier in the week from staff to all EDAC members. The email included
attachments provided by Stacy Crakes, Business Development Manager with First Stop Shop (FSS). Ms.
Crakes shared the information in response to a questions she received at the joint EDA/EDAC meeting about
how many Prior Lake properties have been submitted for the ‘leads’ that FSS received. Members were asked
to direct any questions for additional information to staff.
EDAC Members: reviewed a letter drafted by Mr. Erbaugh which summarized the joint EDA/EDAC meeting
based on EDAC member comments.
EDAC Members: discussed whether the letter should be sent from Mr. Erbaugh or from all members of the
EDAC. The committee requested Mr. Erbaugh email the letter to all committee members for comment and
those members that wished to sign the letter could do so.
Voreis: asked what is the key strategic point of the letter and encouraged the letter clearly identify the key points,
desired follow up, and suggest a possible solution.
EDAC Members: felt regular meetings with the EDA that were structured more as a workshop than a regular
meeting would be beneficial. Committee members recommended an agenda be established prior to the
meetings so both the EDA and EDAC have a clear understanding of what will be discussed.
5. Other Business
a. EDA Meeting Update
McCabe: provided a summary of the September 21, 2015 EDA meeting topics, including:
Jeffers Pond PUD Commercial Development Update
Technology Village Phase III RFP
Prior Lake Business Mixer
Downtown Planter Program (Discussion Postponed)
Commercial & Industrial Development Update (Discussion Postponed)
Economic Gardening Program (Discussion Postponed)
b. Residential and Commercial Activity Update
EDAC Members: reviewed the residential and commercial activity update as of August 31, 2015. .
c. Staff Updates
i. Planning Process for Fall 2015 Community Event
McCabe: provided an update of the planning process for the fall business event and shared a draft
event flyer. EDAC subcommittee members who are planning this event requested a subcommittee
meeting be scheduled within the next week.
d. EDAC Commercial Area Liaison Updates
None.
e. Member Ideas/Recommendations
None.
6. Next Meeting Date. The next regular meeting of the EDAC will be on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 7:30 a.m.
7. Adjourn. MOTION BY HENRY and SECOND BY MAHONEY to adjourn the meeting. Motion adopted 5-0. The meeting
adjourned at 8:57 a.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe