HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 05 2013 Technology Village minutes
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING MINUTES – September 5, 2013
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m. in the Technology Village Conference Room at City Hall.
Members present: Lori Frank, Bob Jader and David Rech. Members absent: Kris Pauna and Gerry Hughes.
Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe.
2. Approval of August 18, 2013 Meeting Minutes
MOTION BY FRANK and SECOND BY JADER to approve the August 18, 2013 meeting minutes as
submitted. Motion adopted unanimously.
3. Old Business
a. Potential Program Participant Update – Blackdog Computer Services
Rogness: provided an update to the committee members on the status of the lease agreement
negotiations with Blackdog Computer Services.
b. Potential Program Participant Update – Akicita Technology, Inc.
Rogness: informed the board Akicita Technology, Inc. is interested in leasing space. Staff has
proposed Akicita Technology would lease the current conference room space, which would require
additional office furniture. Akicita has offered to share the leased space with another program
participant.
Board Members: were in favor of Akicita Technology leasing the conference room space provided
alternate offices are not available. Board members directed staff to enter into a lease agreement with
Akicita Technology for one-half of the conference room space if additional office space was not
available. A future program participant would possibly lease the remaining one-half of the office area.
c. Potential Program Participant Update – Argos Risk
Frank: stated Argos Risk is interested in leasing two cubicle areas in the open office area. Ms. Frank
said Argos Risk would like a few repairs and additions to Technology Village; including, fixing the
desk tilt, the addition of a white board, adding a small table or relocate the conference room table to
the open work space area, provide garbage and recycling cans, and repair or replace the existing
copy machine.
McCabe: stated Rick Beer, with Innovative Computer Professionals, had agreed to amend the ICP
lease agreement to make their cubicle space available to Argos Risk. Originally Argos Risk had
anticipated using three cubicles, now that the ICP cube is no longer needed by Argos Risk, Mr.
McCabe asked the board for direction related to the ICP lease amendment.
Board Members: agreed to honor the lease amendment for ICP which does not require ICP to pay for
the cubicle space if they are not using it.
Phone: 952.447.9813 / Email: drogness@cityofpriorlake.com / www.cityofpriorlake.com
4. New Business
a. Phase II Technology Village Business Plan
McCabe: reviewed the Draft Phase II Technology Village Business Plan.
Board Members: discussed alternate office locations, anticipated rental rate subsidies and the
proposed budget. Members recommended the business plan compare program participant costs
who are located in the City Hall Technology Village location to those proposed to be located in private
office buildings. Members asked for additional detail on the proposed budget and additional funding
dedicated to marketing, education, social events and funding for potential internship opportunities.
Board Members: provided direction to make changes to the draft Phase II Technology Village
Business Plan and asked that the business plan be sent to board members for review prior to being
presented to the EDA.
b. Discuss Equity Investment Recapture Schedule
Rogness: proposed alternate rental and equity investment reimbursement options for board
discussion, including the possibility of making the first year of the lease agreement a “trial” year
whereby the program participant would have the option of leaving the program after the first year and
would only be required to repay the deferred rent, not the equity investment portion as is currently
required.
Rech: suggested the board table discussion of alternate reimbursement options until the full board is
present.
5. Staff Update
a. Notice of Terms Ending October 31, 2013
Rogness: informed the board that members Rech and Pauna have their term ending on October 31,
2013 and both members are encouraged to re-apply for a position on the board.
Board Members: also discussed establishing a new meeting date because member Pauna is no
longer able to attend the regularly scheduled Thursday meetings. Board members in attendance felt
a Wednesday meeting date would work. Staff will confirm a Wednesday meeting date will work with
all board members before the meeting date is changed.
b. Board Member Ideas/Recommendations
Rogness: informed the board that he was contacted by a technology company, through the Prior Lake
Chamber, who may be interested in becoming a program participant. Mr. Rogness stated he does
not yet have any information about the company but has followed up with the business and is
attempting to schedule a meeting to discuss the Technology Village.
Rogness: stated OMG North America is reviewing lease terms and discussed a proposed
amendment related to repayment of rent and equity investment after the first year of the lease term in
the event the City or OMG North America decided not to renew the lease agreement.
MOTION BY JADER and SECOND BY RECH to direct Mr. Rogness to amend the proposed lease
agreement to require OMG North America to repay the deferred rent only, not a reimbursement of the
City’s equity investment, in the event OMG determines not to renew the lease after the first year and
relocates outside of the City of Prior Lake.
c. Technology Village Fall Fest & Lobby Sign/Banner
Rogness: informed the board that a new Technology Village banner is installed in the lobby and will
be used at the Chamber of Commerce Fall Fest on September 16, 2013. Two program participants
and City staff will attend the Fall Fest to provide information related to the program participant
businesses and Technology Village.
6. Adjourn
MOTION BY JADER and SECOND BY FRANK to adjourn the meeting. Motion adopted unanimously;
meeting adjourned at 5:23 p.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe