Laserfiche WebLink
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – OCTOBER 25, 2023 6 <br />Senior Planner Fransen said they would continue dialogue around the sign code at future <br />meetings. Next steps would be to consolidate the feedback and review the meeting minutes. Staff <br />will draft a summary to share at a future meeting. They would talk about free standing signage <br />next. <br />Discussion ensued regarding how requests for sign flexibility are evaluated and reviewed. <br /> <br />C. Economic Development Commission Work Plan <br /> <br />Not discussed. <br /> <br />5. COMMENTS AND REPORTS <br /> <br />A. Report from the City Council <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau said if they’d like to have more meetings during the first quarter of <br />next year they could meet once a month. She stated the State of the City was moved to February <br />10. There will be an open house regarding Rice Creek Commons on November 1. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau reported the City Council approved an ordinance creating a pathway <br />for businesses that currently have liquor licenses or tobacco licenses to sell low potency cannabis <br />products with a Conditional Use Permit, high potency is on a moratorium while the Office of <br />Cannabis Management is being set up by the State. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau said the Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau issued a grant to the <br />City that must be spent on marketing activities to draw in visitors from outside the city. This year’s <br />grant was for $15,000 and was divided 50/50 between Ribfest and Bethel University’s <br />homecoming. The Council met as the Economic Development Authority; she discussed with the <br />EDA ideas for exploring opportunities for the Pace sight, Arby’s, Big O Tire, and the unnamed <br />grocery store. She also told the EDA she would like to come up with a plan to encourage local and <br />family businesses to move into Rice Creek Commons and would like for them to consider <br />offsetting rent for those businesses. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau stated the Council is trying to set up a retreat where they would discuss <br />vision setting in the first quarter of next year, but if it doesn’t happen she will be requesting it be <br />talked about at a work session. She would like to take any large projects that the Committees or <br />Commission have and discuss resource allocation for them. <br /> <br />B. Economic Development Commission Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />6. ADJOURNMENT <br /> <br />The meeting adjourned at 9:02 a.m. <br />