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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – FEBRUARY 26, 2025 8 <br />Senior Planner Fransen wondered if it would be helpful to have some confirmed businesses. <br />Letting business owners know that there will be other businesses there, not just City Staff and <br />Commissioners. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist said she thinks that could help with attendance. Business owners are <br />busy so they want to feel that an event like this is valuable. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau said, as a Councilmember, she would be curious to know what the tax <br />percentages are doing to the smaller businesses. We have added a Franchise Fee. Everything is <br />getting more expensive plus inflation. She doesn’t love increasing taxes. She wants to know how <br />it’s impacting people. She would be willing to start the conversation to ask how things are going. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said it’s not just taxes, it’s insurance and everything else is skyrocketing. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau said it is the same for the City, taxes and insurance is up for employees. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen asked for direction on business visits. There are some businesses that <br />haven’t been visited. She asked if the group wanted to continue to reach out or does the <br />Commission feel comfortable that the results we already have driving the next steps. She asked if <br />the group wants to move forward with some of the strategies that have already been identified. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen noted the next scheduled meeting is in April. It is possible to add another <br />meeting. The fourth Wednesday in March is not going to work for many of the Commissioners. <br /> <br />Council Liaison Rousseau said the end of September would be a good time for the networking <br />event, if we move forward with that strategy. There will be planning involved. <br /> <br />Chair Murchie asked if it would make sense to build off of last year’s sub-committee to try to <br />plan and propose a business gathering. He thought we could continue the outreach but include this <br />upcoming event to explain we are trying to bring the business community together. We could even <br />have a survey that asks business owners to share what they would like to get out of a business <br />gathering. He thought we could continue the surveys but also “closing the loop” though some type <br />of event. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sorenson thought the invite could identify the event as a business forum. It’s a <br />good ice breaker to make a connection. <br /> <br />Commissioner Poelzer asked if there is a Rotary Club for Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sorenson confirmed there is an Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary. <br /> <br />Commissioner Daniels wondered if that is a good avenue for inviting Arden Hills businesses for <br />connections. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen said that is one idea. There is also an opportunity with the Twin Cities <br />North Chamber of Commerce that has a Business Council Meeting that is open to all. <br /> <br />Commissioner Poelzer said she will take a list of businesses that still need to be visited. She likes <br />the idea of saying the EDC is looking forward to facilitating a business gathering forum. She asked <br />what the forum is called.