Economic Development Commission

CITY OF WOODBURY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES February 25, 2020 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a meeting of the Economic Development Commission was held at Woodbury City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road, on the 25th day of February 2020. CALL TO ORDER Chair Gina Kazmerski called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. ROLL CALL Upon roll call the following members of the EDC were present: Gina Kazmerski, Radhika Upadrashta, David Hoelzel, Pamela Morke, William Ludwig, Craig Johnson, Bill Routt and Joseph Ward, Emanuel Ekstrom and Eric Schurr. Absent: Kimberly Moore Also present: Anne Burt, Mayor; Janelle Schmitz, Acting Community Development Director; Karl Batalden, Community Development Coordinator, and Jamie Thoen, Community Development Administrative Assistant. OATH OF OFFICE Mayor Anne Burt administered the Oath of Office to the new and reappointed EDC members. ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Bill Routt moved to approve the minutes from the November 26, 2019 meeting. SECOND: William Ludwig VOTE: All in favor: All present Against: None ABSENT: Kimberly Moore ITEM 3: REVIEW DRAFT 2019 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT Janelle Schmitz welcomed the Commission and noted that one of the responsibilities of the Economic Development Commission is to deliver an Annual Report for the Community Development Department to the Council. She noted that the Commission had received an electronic version of the report last week, and that there were updated printed copies available to follow along at the meeting. She noted that the Annual Report includes information from the past year (2019) on development activity and planning efforts of the department, and given that this is the end of a decade, the report includes a look-back over the past ten years for many of the items covered in the Annual Report. She noted that the beginning of this decade started with the Great Recession, and it ended with very positive economic indicators. Commissioner Ekstrom asked who the primary audience for the Annual Report was. Ms. Schmitz responded that the Council is the primary audience, but given the positive nature of the data in the Annual Report it has sometimes been used as a marketing or promotional piece. She noted that staff gives Economic Development Commission February 25, 2020 Page 2 copies to each of businesses that we meet with throughout the year as part of the Business Outreach program. There was discussion as to whether the Annual Report should include more marketing or promotional messaging, as some other cities have done (i.e. distance from airport, accolades and awards, etc.) Staff noted that typically they use the data in the Annual Report to help create customized marketing or promotional materials for various business prospects, and add that type of promotional information in the customized pieces. Commissioner Upadrashta commented that in that regard the Annual Report is almost like an encyclopedia from which we can draw the needed information. As Ms. Schmitz reviewed the Annual Report, the Commission had the following comments:  Cover Page: Photos will need to updated and more clearly identifiable projects  Executive Summary: Add a bullet about current population and ranking (8th largest city). Add comment about housing diversity under the housing start bullet.  New Commercial Construction: The chart should be stacked (similar to housing mix chart).  Employment: The numbers shown are 2018 employment figures and staff will update accordingly as new figures are reported. It is likely that we will shorten the list to only those with over 200 employees. Commissioner Schurr suggested that we calculate the percentage of jobs that fall under these “major employers” as compared to the total number of jobs in our city. In other words, what is the breakdown between large and small employers in Woodbury? This will help tell the story of large and small employer mix. o Commissioner Schurr also asked about the percentage of residents that live and work in Woodbury and whether there is a goal that we are trying to reach in that regard. This speaks to both employment and the diversity of housing. o Karl Batalden responded that about 20 percent of residents live and work in Woodbury. We do not have a particular goal, especially being part of a large metropolitan region. Our proximity to major employment centers across the metro help attract residents to Woodbury. Our housing and economic development policies work together to ensure that residents have opportunities to work in Woodbury, and employees who work in Woodbury have opportunities to also live here.  New Businesses: Chair Kazmerski provided some updates to the new business list. Commissioner Hoelzel suggested moving the call out box regarding our unique chamber relationship (Mayor Burt and Karl Batalden serving on the board of directors) to the page with the ribbon cutting photos.  Trends in Residential Growth: Karl Batalden as discussed the city’s goal of having a 50-50 mix of attached and single family homes. He noted that this is unique for a suburb like Woodbury, but has been a long-standing goal in part to help ensure we have an adequate labor force for our businesses, many of which are in the service and retail sectors.  Comprehensive Plan/Benefits of Growth: The land use map is difficult to read, especially without a legend. Should there be a reference to the development potential for light industrial/warehouse/ distribution uses in the northeast part of the city? This would tie into the “Moving Forward” part of the overall theme of the Annual Report.  Economic Development Strategic Plan: How can we incorporate the “moving forward” part of our theme into this discussion. Commissioner Morke requested that we soften the language on regarding the use of TIF for the Valley Creek Road and Woodlane Drive redevelopment, so that audience knows this is not something we frequently use.  Demographics: Ms. Schmitz suggested that perhaps this could be moved toward the front of the Annual Report, since it has a lot of useful data that provides the context for some of the other pages. The Commission concurred.  Housing and Code Enforcement: There was discussion about the HRA’s loan program, and housing affordability in general. Karl Batalden noted that the city would be updating its Housing 2 Economic Development Commission February 25, 2020 Page 3 Action Plan this year, and that the EDC and Planning Commission would be play a role in that review.  Decade in Review: Commissioner Morke suggested that we use a different photo at the very end of the document that would better convey the theme of the report. Ms. Schmitz thanked the Commission for their thorough review of the Annual Report and their feedback. Their feedback will be incorporated into the next draft, which is scheduled to be reviewed by the Planning Commission on March 2. The City Council will receive the Annual Report, with Chair Kazmerski presenting, on March 18. Mayor Burt also thanked the Commission for their comments, noting that they help to make the end product better. ITEM 4: PROJECT UPDATES Janelle Schmitz provided a brief update on development projects, notably that the Key Inn (formerly the Red Roof Inn) is scheduled to be demolished this week. Other new commercial projects include Park Dental (CityPlace) and Fresh India grocery store (near Super Target). Mayor Burt also gave a brief update on the temporary water treatment facility, which is scheduled to go before the City Council for approval on February 26. ITEM 5: none NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the EDC is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. Ms. Schmitz reminded the Commission that the Business Celebration, which is a required EDC function, is scheduled for Thursday, May 7 at Central Park. ADJOURNMENT The meeting of the EDC adjourned at 9:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, __________________________________________ Karl Batalden, Community Development Coordinator Approved by the Woodbury Economic Development Commission on June 23, 2020 3