HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 10 2013 Technology Village minutes
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING MINUTES – July 10, 2013
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Technology Village Conference Room at City Hall.
Members present: Gerry Hughes, Kris Pauna, Lori Frank and Dave Rech. Members absent: Bob Jader and
Bob Morris. Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe. Guests present: Rick Beer, Mark Friesen and
Marisa Colby.
2. Approval of June 6, 2013 Meeting Minutes
MOTION BY PAUNA and SECOND BY FRANK to approve the June 6, 2013 meeting minutes as submitted.
Motion adopted unanimously.
3. Old Business
a. Client Needs Assessment – Innovative Computer Professionals (ICP)
i. Discussion with Innovative Computer Professionals
Hughes: informed the board that he met with Rick Beer, President of ICP, on July 9, 2013 to review
the Client Needs Assessment Form. Mr. Hughes summarized their meeting and the needs identified
by ICP.
Beer: provided a summary of the business and previous ICP projects as well as the history of the
company. Mr. Beer gave the board a review of the current challenges facing ICP and expressed an
interest to complete a business plan based on recent and future changes in the company.
Hughes: stated he will complete a summary of comments from the July 9 meeting with ICP and send
th
to all board members for review.
b. Marketing/Promotion of Technology Village
i. Technology Village Links on PL Chamber Website
McCabe: informed the board that the Prior Lake Chamber has added a Technology Village banner ad
to their website which links to the Technology Village Website. Mr. McCabe stated the Prior Lake
Chamber logo and website link has also been added to the Partners page on the Technology Village
website.
c. Technology Village Goals and Metrics
Hughes: reviewed staff’s report which summarized the goals and metrics previously identified by the
board. Mr. Hughes inquired about the ability to track views on the Technology Village Website.
McCabe: stated design a tivity will be adding the capability to track hits on the Technology Village
website. An update will be provided to the board during the next regular meeting.
Board Members: reviewed and were in agreement with the listed 2013 metrics.
Phone: 952.447.9813 / Email: drogness@cityofpriorlake.com / www.cityofpriorlake.com
Rech: commented that the board should develop a process to report on the listed metrics.
Hughes: added that the metrics should be reviewed and discussed during regular board meetings.
Board Members: reviewed and discussed the listed 2013 goals and determined that the board will
track and report on the listed metrics but refrain from establishing specific goals for 2013.
Board Members: directed staff to revise staff’s report to reflect the board’s decision to track and report
on the listed metrics in lieu of establishing specific goals for 2013.
d. Funding Partners
Frank: stated she has received one financial partner letter from Cedar Point Capital, LLC and
anticipates receiving two additional letters from other financial organizations within one week. The
letter confirms Cedar Point Capital would be interested in reviewing any potential funding
opportunities that Technology Village clients may have in the future.
Rogness: stated he has contacted RAIN Source Capital to gauge their interest in becoming a funding
partner. RAIN Source Capital has not followed up with Mr. Rogness.
4. New Business
a. Program Application – OMG North America
Board Members: reviewed and discussed the program application submitted by OMG North America.
Members had a few questions about OMG North America related to current employment numbers
and projections, or any potential conflict or collaboration ability with existing program participant
design a tivity. The board felt an additional conversation with OMG would be beneficial prior to
making a decision on approval or denial of the program application.
Rogness: stated Mr. Jader has met with OMG North America and Mr. Jader felt the board should
discuss how this company may fit into Technology Village and the board should consider a potential
relationship or conflict with design a tivity.
Rech and Frank: volunteered to meet with OMG North America.
Rech: suggested staff coordinate a meeting between design a tivity and OMG to determine if there is
an opportunity for the two organizations to collaborate.
Hughes: suggested Ms. Frank and/or Mr. Rech should have a conversation with Mr. Jader prior to
their meeting with OMG.
Rogness: stated staff will coordinate a meeting between OMG, staff and Ms. Frank and/or Mr. Rech.
5. Staff Update
a. Bob Morris Resignation
Rogness: informed the board that Bob Morris has submitted his verbal resignation from the Prior Lake
Economic Development Authority and the Technology Village Board of Directors. Mr. Rogness stated
once an official letter of resignation is received, the EDA will take appropriate steps to fill the vacated
position on the EDA and the Technology Village Board of Directors.
b. Technology Village Fall Community Fest Booth
McCabe: stated design a tivity has inquired about the board sponsoring a booth at the annual Fall
Community Fest on September 16, 2013. This event is held at the Prior Lake High School and is co-
sponsored by the Prior Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
Community Education and the Savage Chamber of Commerce. Mr. McCabe added the cost for a
booth is $125 (with electrical service) and the booth would be used to advertise and promote
Technology Village as well as the program participants.
MOTION BY PAUNA and SECOND BY FRANK to approve the Technology Village sponsored Fall
Community Fest booth. Motion adopted unanimously.
c. Potential Program Participant – Blackdog Computer Services, LLC
Colby: submitted a program application on behalf of Blackdog Computer Services, LLC. Mr. Rogness
stated that he has previously met with the owner of Blackdog Computer Services, which is a software
development company currently operating from a home office in Lakeville.
Board Members: requested staff provide a copy of the program application to each member for
review prior to the next meeting of the board.
Board Members: thanked Ms. Colby for her efforts to promote Technology Village and secure two
program applications.
MOTION BY PAUNA and SECOND BY HUGHES to direct Board Member Jader to meet with the
owner of Blackdog Computer Services and report back to the board. Motion adopted unanimously.
d. July Work Session – July 18, 2013
McCabe: asked the board if they are willing to meet during their regularly scheduled work session on
Thursday, July 18, 2013.
Board Members: agreed to meet and discussed possible work session items. The board determined
that if staff concludes enough information is provided to make a decision on the applications of OMG
North America and/or Black Dog Computer Services, the July 18, 2013 meeting should be noticed as
a regular meeting of the board. The board was in agreement that the next work session topic should
be the discussion of virtual incubator assistance, which is assistance that can be offered to home
based and other businesses not physically located in the Technology Village space.
e. Prior Lake Chamber Memberships
McCabe: informed the board that both Technology Village program participants, ICP and design a
tivity, have become members of the Prior Lake Chamber.
f. Board Member Ideas/Recommendations
Colby: provided information to the board about the Prior Lake Downtown Business Association and
invited Mr. Rogness or any board member to the next meeting of the association on July 17 at 9:00
a.m. in City Hall to talk about Technology Village.
6. Adjourn
MOTION BY HUGHES and SECOND BY RECH to adjourn the meeting. Motion adopted unanimously;
meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe