HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.c. Request by Dakota Future for funding for Intelligent Community InitiativeAGENDA ITEM: Request by Dakota Future for funding for
Intelligent Community Initiative
AGENDA SECTION:
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PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator
AGENDA NO. q.c
ATTACHMENTS: Letter from LaDonna Boyd, Dakota
Future Chair
APPROVED BY:
AN
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve participation in the Intelligent Community
Initiative of Dakota Future and provide $500 for matching funds.
9 ROSEMOUNT
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Regular Meeting June 2, 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ISSUE
Dakota Future is requesting $500 from each Dakota County community to help provide funds for an
Intelligent Community Initiative.
BACKGROUND
Dakota Future is a countywide organization that focuses on economic development issues. Their
membership and funding has been generally private, although two public officials including Mayor Droste
serve on their Board. They are proposing an Intelligent Community Initiative in which participating
communities benchmark themselves with 30 other communities around the globe in five key areas:
broadband, knowledge workers, business and government innovation, digital inclusion, and marketing.
Dakota Future is requesting $500 from each community which would provide matching funds for both
private contributions and grant funds.
In order to p rovide funds to a private organization, the Council must identify a public purpose for the
expenditure. In this case, the information we receive from participating in the process should provide the
City with useful information and direction on how to improve its competitive position for economic
development Because this expenditure is related to economic development, it is proposed to use
encumbered funds provided in the past by Dakota Electric for economic development purposes for this
expenditure. As such, there is no impact on current or future property tax dollars.
The City should also presume that its name will be used in publicity regarding this initiative. Any future
phases of thii project requiring funding would need additional City Council approval.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the council approve a motion to authorize the City to participate in the Intelligent
Community ICnitiative and provide $500 for matching funds for the project.
Date: February 15, 2009
To: Dakota County Mayors and City Councils
From: LaDonna Boyd
Dakota Future Chair
DAKOTA
FUTURE J
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RE: Dakota Future Annual Report and our Intelligent Community Initiative
The Dakota Future Board of Directors is pleased to present our 2008 Annual Report. We
hope that you will take the time to review the report and consider increasing your
community's engagement in our countywide economic development efforts.
We are excited to announce our newly adopted goal: To be recognized globally as a Top
Seven Intelligent Community within three years. The Intelligent Community Forum
annually recognizes communities for their forward looking economic development
efforts based on broadband, knowledge workers, business and government innovation,
digital inclusion and marketing.
Our work on this initiative has already begun. This year, we completed a countywide
telecommunications inventory and assessment. Broadband technology is one of five
pillars of Intelligent Community. Recently, we received a grant from the MN Department
of Employment and Economic Development to partner with the MN IT Workforce
Collaborative on supporting IT knowledge workers, another pillar of Intelligent
Communities.
How realistic is our goal of Top Seven? Our next step, benchmarking our current
standing, will let us know. To take this step, we are raising funds to have the Intelligent
Community Forum (ICF) compare us to 30 other communities around the globe based on
the information that we submit. Our plan is to have this benchmarking completed and
reviewed in May at a countywide event led by ICF staff.
The Dakota County CDA has committed up to $5,000 as a challenge grant to be matched
by other public entities in Dakota County. If each community would provide a
contribution of $250 to $500 dollars, we can reach our funding goal and move forward on
this project. In our four years of operation, this is our first formal request for funding
from our city stakeholders. Adding impact, private sector dollars will match public sector
contributions.
What will be the outcome of this benchmarking project? The benchmarking process will:
Document our shared Intelligent Community assets, both large and small
Inform our board and the entire Dakota County community as to our competitive
status
Uncover new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
Provide documentation for planning and grant writing for our colleges, non profit
organizations and communities.
PO Box 240874 Apple Valley, MN 55124 -0874
651- 491 -2551 www.dakotafuture.com bill @dakotafuture.com
P. 2
What will your community receive for its contribution?
Membership in Dakota Future
For a $500 contribution, four (4) registrations to our Intelligent Community
Workshop (tentatively scheduled for May). Communities contributing $250 will
receive two (2) complimentary registrations.
Bound copies of the benchmarking report for your city and local school district(s).
An on -site presentation of the benchmarking results to an organization of your
choice (economic development commission, chamber of commerce, city council,
etc.).
We would be pleased to provide you with additional information informally, or through a
presentation to your council or your economic development committee. Rosemount
Mayor Bill Droste and Eagan Community Development Director Jon Hohenstein also
serve on our board. As board members, we would be happy to talk further about the
Intelligent Community Initiative or more generally about Dakota Future. Bill Coleman,
Executive Director, is also available to discuss this request. Our contact information is
below.
Thank you for your consideration.
LaDonna Boyd lboyd @dakotaelectric.com 651- 463 -6232
Bill Droste mavor@ci.rosemount.mn.us 651- 423 -1944
Jon Hohenstein iohenstein@a,cityofeagan.com 651- 675 -5653
Bill Coleman bill @dakotafuture.com 651- 491 -2551
PO Box 240874 Apple Valley, MN 55124 -0874
651- 491 -2551 www.dakotafuture.com bill @dakotafuture.com