04-24-24 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – MARCH 27, 2024 6 Community Development Director Jagoe stated there will be a discussion at the Council level as well but the role of the EDC is to let the City Council know what it feels the business community and residents need. She said the City Council is looking to the EDC to provide suggestions as an advisory committee and the Council will then provide feedback and guidance based on the EDC’s suggestions. Commissioner Bonine suggested a survey could provide next steps and better direction on what is needed next, the website or whatever it may be. He said it would be a waste of resources to move forward with anything specific until there is a better understanding if the action meets the needs of the business owners. He noted someone could meet with the businesses and hand them a survey versus waiting until next year, and the survey could also be emailed out. He wasn’t sure if waiting a year made sense and that maybe an approach should be agreed upon now. Commissioner Murchie stated he was interested in what Commissioner Brausen said earlier about having a meeting and that maybe the business community be invited to the EDC’s meeting in May. He said surveys can be tough because oftentimes only those that have an issue fill them out so you may miss the fact that half are actually content. He liked the idea of inviting the business community to a meeting and including a 3 or 4 question survey at that time. He felt waiting until next year would be challenging. He noted a meeting before 9 am seemed to work. Commissioner Bonine said there needs to be a clear understanding of the benefit to the businesses in order to get someone to take time away from their business. Commissioner Gronquist said people are more apt to fill out a survey than to come to a meeting for something they don’t know what it is about. She suggested a survey first and then a meeting second. Commissioner Brausen said he is not a big survey guy himself but if there was an afternoon meeting to gather, that would be good to see who comes. He said the EDC needs to figure out how to help the City Council, the businesses and the people of Arden Hills. Commissioner Gronquist stated attendance was low at these things, so that’s why she was hesitant. She noted people didn’t come to the State of the City nor to the meeting between Arden Hills and Shoreview businesses of which all businesses in Arden Hills and Shoreview were invited, and only 15 people attended. She said getting an email from the City would jump out at her and she would look at it as she doesn’t normally ever get an email from the City. She said that takes a minute to look at and do a survey, and then there could be follow-up later with an invitation to a meeting. Commissioner Bonine asked how many businesses there are in Arden Hills. Commissioner Murchie stated approximately 175 to 200. Commissioner Bonine said he thinks they need to take this show on the road because people aren’t going to show up and they’re not going to open the email. He said the EDC has done nothing to show the business community that they are here. He suggested taking the hour and a half that the EDC meets to go to the businesses in person for better impact. He said this way there would be firsthand documentation and the group would have a better understanding of the needs. He