Laserfiche WebLink
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – MARCH 27, 2024 3 <br />Chair Cupery said the way he read the vision was that overall, the City and the EDA are trying <br />to create that vision and then the specific role of the EDC is the mission. He asked if the EDC’s <br />role was to be the ones driving the support or are they more advising City Council. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen noted the statement is two-fold. She said the EDC facilitates interactive <br />development, whether that’s by supporting, marketing or connecting residents with the business <br />community through events or other marketing pieces and then also advising the City Council. She <br />noted a revision based on these comments would be brought back. <br /> <br />Chair Cupery asked if the comments brought forward align with the group. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist stated she thought the work plan was good. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen recommended a round robin and that each Commissioner identify a top <br />priority from Attachment B, which is the list of strategies and specifics that were provided. <br /> <br />Chair Cupery asked the Commissioners if there was anything to add or take away from the <br />business outreach and support section. <br /> <br />Commissioner Murchie said he’s interested in the business owners. What are the things that <br />would be most helpful for them in the next year as existing businesses. He asked what they see as <br />needs when they speak to their business peers in the city. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist said she went to the Arden Hills Shoreview Business Council meeting <br />and one thing the City of Shoreview brought up was a website that has all business information. <br />She said it would be helpful to have a page like this on the City’s website. She noted the State of <br />the City had a small turnout and being able to have a place to go to where she didn’t have to dig <br />for information would be helpful. She also said that for her, the first priority was an easy one and <br />having a business directory and links to the businesses would be helpful for residents. She noted <br />she met with the Chamber President when they shut down the Welcome Back to Lexington website <br />and asked if the website could run another year. She felt there was no organization regarding the <br />City’s businesses other than the list of businesses. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said he thinks that this is a good chance to modernize Arden Hills and <br />that it has always dependent on who is on the Council whether they are for business or against <br />business. He thinks this is a good opportunity to get in the middle and start working together like <br />they used to. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen asked if any strategies on the list jumped out for him. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said he senses they are going in the right direction. He said he’s not a big <br />person on a lot of writing rather he’s more of a let’s get this thing going and get it done kind of <br />person. He thinks this is a great group and they can get things done to advise the City Council. <br /> <br />Commissioner Murchie stated that to Commissioner Brausen’s point, the opportunity to <br />modernize, especially with some of the development that is happening, could be a nice way to <br />attract businesses. He asked Commissioner Gronquist to clarify her vision for a webpage, noting <br />there were a number of things that it could include such as a newsletter, things that are coming up, <br />the State of the City, and a calendar. He asked if she felt it was to be a central repository of sorts.