EDA-EDAAC Meeting Minutes 2002.01.22CITY OF OTSEGO
EDA/EDAAC MEETING
Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 6:00 P1bI
OTSEGO CITY HALL
1. Call Meeting to order:
EDA President Larry Fournier called the meeting to order at 6:04 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: Vern Heidner, Jerry
Struthers, Suzanne Ackerman and Virginia Wendel.
Planning Commission Chair Carl Swenson, Commission members: Steve Schuck, and
David Thompson.
EDA Advisory Committee Chair LeRoy Lindenfelser; Commission members: Rudy
Thibodeau, Steve Ackerman, and Vince Peterson.
Park and Recreation Commission members: Terry Long and Jim Gaikowski,
Heritage Preservation Commission Chair Joy Swenson; Commission members: Arlene
Holen, Freida Lobeck, Joan Nichols, Elaine Norin, and Sharon Carter.
Staff: City Administrator Mike Robertson; City Clerk Judy Hudson; City Planner Dan
Licht, and Dan Wilson,
2. Begin Economic Development Planning Process•
Mayor Fournier introduced Dan Wilson of Wilson Development Services. Dan Wilson
said his job was to help Otsego develop an Economic Development Plan. He said that if
the plan did not have support, it would sit on a shelf and not be worth doing.
Dan Wilson conducted a SWOT analyses, which consisted of the attendees listing the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the City.
STRENGTHS
Freeway Frontage
Mississippi River
Residential growth
Rural setting
Open space
Bedroom community
New Waste Water Treatment Plant
Location
History
Close to Metro Area
Growth
Outside Met Council
Pretty Landscape
Land values
asy access
E
Low crime
Riverwood Conference Center
Good School System
If Courses
Well managed growth
Friendly people
Ordinances &Reulati
g ons
Comprehensive Plan
CC Receptive to citizen concerns
Relatively low Tax rate
Not a Good Old Boy System
Close to outside retail
EDA EDAAC COMMISSION MEETING, January 22, 2002.
WEAKNESSES
Lack of Post Office
Identity
Large population without Businesses
No Police Dept. or Fire Dept.
No Community spirit
Lack of jobs
No Industrial base
Lack of Restaurants
Lack of Infrastructure
Growth (School crowding)
Lack of Senior Housing
Page 2
Lack of Newspaper
Hard to pronounce
Lack of interest in Otsego
No Teen Center
No Grocery Store
No Medical Clinic
No Hospital
River not Capitalized
Junk & Blight
OPPORTUNITIES
Residential Base
Home Prices
Land set aside for Industrial Parks
Freeway Frontage
Expand Parks (Regional & Lo.cal)
Large amount of Land
Willingness to support growth
Provide Sewer & Water to Freeway Areas
Increased Tax base equals an increase in services
Balance growth for homes
A lot of room for Commercial with good access
Creative Identity
Capitalize on River
More churches (Variety of Faiths)
Festival
Planned Recreation
Young People
Preserve old structures
Different types of development
101 turned into Freeway
Police Department & Fire Department
Improve Transportation
EDA EDAAC COMMISSION MEEING, January 22, 2002. Page 3
THREATS
State Legislature
Met Council
Economic Development of neighbors
Annexation
Lack of Vision
Crime & Drugs
Gangs
Economy
Fire Department Issues
Commuter Rail
Over growth
Agricultural community & Rural setting
MN/DOT
Increase in costs for services
Dan Wilson summarized by saying the attendees did not seem to oppose rapid growth and
this workshop did not turn into a gripe session. He was happy that no one was afraid of
people moving into Otsego. Mr. Wilson said retail is very challenging to develop. When
there is enough population, retail will come. Industry in a City tends to employ people
from surrounding communities. He liked the idea of a Community Festival for Otsego.
Mr. Wilson also pointed out that residents in bedroom communities have a tendency not
to get involved with community functions. He said many of the people moving here
don't want to be connected to the local community. Rudy Thibodeaux asked if it made
sense after the new State tax law changes to chase after major industrial firms. Dan
Wilson said no it didn't.
The next meeting was set for February 19, 2002, Tuesday. 6 PM. Mike Robertson said
agendas would be mailed out to everyone.
Minutes recorded by: Judy Hudson