07-31-24 EDC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – JULY 31, 2024 4 website address could be linked in the email. Commissioner Gronquist said if the commissioners are notified when a business completes that’s when a follow up contact thanking them would be appropriate. Senior Planner Fransen agreed stating it’s important to gather the requested information but more important is making that connection with businesses. Chair Cupery asked if the commissioners are encouraged to complete the form on site at the time of the visit on a laptop or tablet. Commissioner Gronquist thought that commissioners will have their individual style. Senior Planner Fransen said the intent of having the printed questions is so the commissioner can complete it during the visit and the enter the data to the website later. Commissioner Bonine thought the survey will take 3-5 minutes and could take longer if the commissioner is trying to connect with technology. He thinks it might be more successful if the answers were jotted down and entered into the system later. Commissioner Williams agreed adding that a screen can create a barrier that will result in less of a connection with the business owner. Commissioner Bonine stated when leaving the card, encouraging them to complete it within a couple of weeks might help generate early participation. Commissioner Williams asked if contact information should be forwarded to staff so they will have it in the event that they don’t complete the survey. He sees value in collecting that information. He wondered if commissioners should enter that information to the website, leaving other fields blank. Senior Planner Fransen thought entering blank documents just to collect contact information could interfere with interpreting the data. She agrees there is value there and how to maintain that information should be a topic for discussion. A motion was made by Commissioner Bonine and seconded by Commissioner Williams to accept the drafted business visit procedures document. The motion was approved unanimously. Senior Planner Fransen shared graphics outlining the six regions for businesses and noted how many addresses are in each region based on the county data. The information may not be up to date. Staff may have information on certain new businesses. Commissioner Williams believed the commissioners should identify new businesses that aren’t on the list. Senior Planner Fransen agreed. She noted the six regions vary from 38 businesses on the high end and 20 on the low end. There could be some reconfiguring or perhaps the commissioners should start with the larger regions and watch progression and then reevaluate and shift with staff helping, if needed. Commissioner Bonine thinks the regions make sense and if someone got done early they could help out in another region until the task is complete. Commissioner Williams wondered who should be targeted at the larger corporations. Commissioner Gronquist thought Human Resources would be a good option. Senior Planner Fransen offered the company website could help you determine who that person may be. Commissioner Williams asked if staff has established relationships with the corporations. Community Development Director Jagoe confirmed, in some cases, staff does have business relationships with those corporations and would be willing to reach out to those contacts to request who would be the best person for commissioners to contact so the commissioners are still making those connections. Commissioner Williams thought if the city already has a relationship with someone within the corporation, they are most likely going to be the one to complete the survey. Commissioner Bonine stated the point of this task is for commissioners to engage with the