Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS EDA MEETING — November 23, 2020 2 <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla stated that historically the EDA <br />reviews and approves the Economic Development Commission (EDC) work plan. He said that <br />earlier in the year, the City Council reviewed and approved the EDC's 2020 work plan, which <br />was included in the packet as Attachment A. <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla indicated that the work plan was not <br />implemented in 2020 due to COVID-19. He stated that staff planned to hold the next EDC <br />meeting in December and would discuss the work plan with its members at that time, with a <br />formal work plan to be presented at the first meeting in February 2021. <br />Mayor Pro Tem/EDA Commissioner Holden asked if any of the Commissioners had questions <br />regarding the proposed work plan. <br />EDA Commissioner Scott asked about Tier 1 and the Ramsey County Means Business <br />webpage, and if there is a slide deck or a URL. <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla stated there was not a slide deck but <br />rather a URL. He noted that Ramsey County launched the program page in early 2020 and that <br />each city has its own webpage. He explained that the pages are generic but there is the <br />opportunity for cities to update to its current standards for marketing materials. He indicated that <br />the EDC could review the page and suggest updates. He noted that this was a good resource for <br />businesses wishing to relocate to Ramsey County and specifically Arden Hills. <br />EDA Commissioner Scott asked if this page could be found on the main Ramsey County <br />website. <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla provided the website location as <br />Ramseycountymeansbusiness.com. He said that users can find the various city's profiles under <br />the Communities tab. <br />EDA Commissioner McClung stated that the EDC reviewed information on the website earlier <br />in the year and that nothing had changed since. He noted that COVID-19 has kept the group <br />from doing much in 2020, but they would get up and running early in 2021. <br />EDA Commissioner Holmes agreed the work plan looked good. She noted the EDC could begin <br />working on the City's page on the Ramsey County site, especially while meeting remotely, and <br />that the other items could wait. <br />EDA Commissioner Holden asked what the City would be doing to retain the businesses that <br />are located in Arden Hills already. She acknowledged that money was available through the <br />CARES Act, but wondered what else the City could be doing to help. She said there was a recent <br />article from the Twin Cities North Chamber that had some nice ideas for helping businesses. <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla said that Number 3 in Tier 2 of the <br />work plan could be bumped up to Number 2 under Tier 1 so that a survey to assess how <br />businesses were doing could be conducted sooner rather than later. He noted no businesses had <br />