07-26-25 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – JUNE 25, 2025 4 Senior Planner Fransen clarified that the ranking was done by EDC members, not respondents of the survey. It was to determine work plan strategies and what follow up was needed and which steps to focus on next. Chair Murchie added the rankings were based on what the businesses would like us to do to support them. We all thought the meeting with the businesses would be a key part with helping to identify what businesses want. Commissioner Poelzer asked what we learned from the survey. Senior Planner Fransen said attachment D in the packet contains that information. Commissioner Bonine said there wasn’t a lot to go off of from the survey. Chair Murchie said 70-80 percent of the people we did make contact with said they would like to attend an event. City Administrator Jagoe said she is hearing that the survey maybe didn’t give us the results we were hoping for. She said the event is the next opportunity to still collect those data points that will go into the work plan. Once this event takes place, she would want the commission to come back to the work plan and start to outline what steps were taken and what strategies were used. She thinks it’s important to get back to the Council and outline what the work plan will be going forward. Commissioner Bonine asked when the business licenses are processed. City Administrator Jagoe said the fee schedule discussion will be in November. We’ll adopt the fee schedule in December. We will get to the discussion on the licensing piece, but she thinks the work plan will drive the initiatives. Commissioner Bonine asked if the business licensing conversation is a part of the work plan. He thinks that is a precursor to anything else we want to do, with the exception of the business brunch event. He doesn’t know how the EDC will have clarity on their purpose, unless direction comes directly from the City Council. He thinks it makes sense to do the business outreach through the licensing process. City Administrator Jagoe said the topic of business licensing will be a part of a later agenda item, tonight. There may be some updates to the form. That is something that can be taken on at the Staff level. There are a lot of conversation points that can come out of the discussion. We can look at the fee structure. What do we charge? Do we charge every business? She thinks the EDC should get direction from City Council. The EDC should be presenting something that explains what the priorities are and outline why. Commissioner Bonine said it seems to him there are three steps to take. First is the event. It will be a good way to let businesses know we’re here. Second step would be to get input on the information gathering process. Third, once we have the information, we can structure how communications will go out to the businesses to try to gain more information. He thinks the event will keep the momentum going that will get us to fall. He thinks the form itself should be revised/updated by Staff and the Council based on what other cities do. He thinks simplifying and clarifying the process will drive up participation. That will give us more access to the businesses.