06-25-25 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – APRIL 23, 2025 2 Chair Murchie said there are some outreach activities in the coming months. There has been discussion of a breakfast with business owners in the community. There has been some outreach by the PTRC to collect donations for prizes for the Summer Park Passport program. He wondered if EDC could build into those outreach opportunities. He thought the breakfast invite could mention the survey. Commissioner Bonine said any level of participation will be good. He ran into issues where the businesses were manufacturing or other non-public facing. He also found the landlords were disconnected from the City. He found that people were either not interested in participating or he couldn’t get in touch with anyone. For those industrial/manufacturing businesses, his impression is that Arden Hills is where they operate their business. They aren’t interested in being a part of the community. Commissioner Daniels said they discussed this type of outreach at the Shoreview meeting last week. They are sunsetting these efforts because they are having a hard time connecting with businesses or the businesses aren’t interested or excited to greet them. When they do connect, they aren’t getting the data points they are seeking. Chair Murchie explained the Summer Park Passport program is being facilitated by the PTRC through the Recreation Programs. He thinks any businesses donating the prizes for that program are most likely interested in engaging the community. Similarly, if the EDC holds the business breakfast, the people who show up want to be a part of this conversation. He thinks it would be interesting to learn why those manufacturers chose Arden Hills. However, the focus should shift to the businesses who are connected to the community. He suggested sunsetting the outreach to focus specifically on the businesses that are engaging. Commissioner Poelzer said she had good experiences with the in-person outreach. She has reframed it to ask business owners to share their insights. The EDC is tasked with advising and informing Councilmembers. She said recommendations to Council need to be based on something. She said most of the businesses liked the QR Code. She is not done with the businesses she has been assigned and she would like to continue. She told respondents about the brunch and said they can be contacted by sharing their email. She thought it was interesting how much negative reaction she heard. Memories are long. She shared some samples of the feedback she received. Commissioner Bonine doesn’t see any problem with keeping the survey open. He learned there is not a smooth licensing process. Some businesses are confused why some have to pay a license fee while others are a registration with no fee. He wondered if the license renewal could include some of the basic information the EDC is looking for. Then they could be included with the networking, if they choose to be. He isn’t sure how the license fees were determined but he thinks it needs to be overhauled. It seems unfair and arbitrary. He thinks it would be a better use of their effort if the form could be revised. He understands this is a bigger conversation that needs to be had at a later date. He is looking at how EDC can be most efficient and consistent. Council Liaison Rousseau said she has struggled to understand the license fees. She thinks that is a good point. She thinks if it is allowed to gather that information on the form, she is open to that. City Administrator Jagoe thinks it will be helpful if, at the next meeting, the Commissioners can see the results we have collected. Commissioners should look to the Work Plan to determine what topics the Commission wants to focus on. Business Licenses could be one of those discussions.