08-07-2023 JDA Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Frethem noted the JDA has not yet approved a budget. She recommended a budget be considered along with a community engagement process. She suggested the JDA be considerate about the goals noting a lot of work has been done on this project already over the past decade. It was her hope the JDA could build on this, while hearing and identifying the priorities from the public for this project. Commissioner Reinhardt commented on what a great job Commissioner Frethem does with her community engagement events and suggested she be a point person for future JDA events. Chair Wicklund suggested a JDA member from the City spearhead this because there might be different goals. Commissioner Fabel stated there was a lot of enthusiasm from the Arden Hills residents to get this project moving forward. He noted the difficulty was there was only one scenario for the public to consider for this project. He indicated the JDA could lay this scenario out for the public to consider. He was of the opinion the JDA needed to consider more scenarios for the project given how the environment has changed over the past five years. Commissioner Frethem recommended the JDA start with identifying values for the project and discussed how these values would drive the development scenarios. Chair Wicklund asked if it would make sense for the JDA Advisory Committee to meet with Ms. Swenson to talk about status type events and to clarify goals from Arden Hills and Ramsey County in order to move this project forward. Director Collins stated this was a nice segue into the Roadmap conversation that the JDA would be holding at this meeting. Commissioner Frethem questioned how media requests should be addressed. Ms. Swenson suggested this be a part of the process conversations. She explained the JDA would have to determine how staff would handle requests. Director Collins discussed how Ramsey County has managed proactive media comments in the past, noting Ms. Swenson would triage the statements. Commissioner Monson stated she could support this so long as all members of the JDA were looped in the process. Commissioner Fabel indicated this sounds like a nice idea, but he questioned how JDA members should handle a call from the press. Commissioner Reinhardt explained when she receives a call, she contacts the communication staff person along with the Chair of the Board and questions how to handle the matter. She reported with JDA matters, Ms. Swenson would then be able to triage the situation. She indicated she would not come out against the Board or the JDA once they have taken action.