HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 13, 2000 Memo
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October 13, 2000
TO: Frank Boyles, City Manager
SUBJECT: Economic Development Authority
When I first became a member of the City Council in January of 1996, the authority for economic
development in Prior Lake was the City Council. There also existed at that time an Economic Advisory
Committee whose function was to advise the City on economic development affairs. However, in 1996
the City Council majority opted to eliminate the Economic Advisory Committee, and to replace it with an
appointed Economic Development Authority, and to transfer responsibility for economic development in
Prior Lake from the City Council to the appointed EDA.
At the last City Council meeting, I stated that it was my intention to recommend that authority for
economic development be returned to the City Council. It would also be my recommendation that we
re-establish an Economic Advisory Committee with men and women of business background, to assist
the Council in establishing and implementing a program to market Prior Lake as a desirable business
location to selected business owners and leaders. There are several reasons for my recommendation,
some of which are highlighted below.
1. It has always been my opinion that both taxing and spending authority should be in the hands of
elected officials who are responsible and accountable to the voters, rather than in the hands of
individuals who obtain their position by appointment.
2. It is readily apparent that the current EDA structure has been essentially unsuccessful in
effecting economic development in Prior Lake. Four years have passed since the inception of
the current EDA, and expenses for economic development during this timeframe have totaled
about a $250,000. Yet, we have little if anything tangible to show for it.
3. Because the City Council is required to act on most major EDA recommendations, there is
considerable redundant effort by staff and consultants. Staff and consultants are repeatedly
required to attend both City Council and EDA meetings to review the same data and participate
in the same discussions. This costs money and time, and frustrates potential business
developers who sometimes get conflicting signals from the two bodies. It also frustrates City
staff and consultants who are trying to satisfy both bodies.
Economic development in Prior Lake is constrained by a number of real factors including our location
on the very outer fringe of the metropolitan area, lack of land suitable for commercial development, and
lack of major highways or other transportation means into our City. Economic development
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. s.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Boyles: EDA
October 13, 2000
Page 2 of 2
expectations must be realistically tempered by these factors. I think it is time to establish realistic goals,
objectives and plans, and I believe it is appropriate that this be accomplished under the direction of
those who have been elected to do so.
Therefore, I request that you place this issue on the agenda for deliberation at an upcoming EDA
meeting, and then on a future City Council agenda for final deliberation and decision.
cc: EDA Commissioners
City Councilmembers
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