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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – JULY 23, 2025 6 <br />the road construction, the Rice Creek Commons and the Fire Department can be cut out and allow <br />time to expand on the other topics/presenters. <br /> <br />Commissioner Daniels asked what topics will generate the most participation? <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen tried to narrow down the agenda, based on discussion. Her thought was <br />an welcome and introduction, a Sheriff Department report, City Council update and then structured <br />conversation time. It would be good to have a facilitated discussion with an established goal. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist said she takes a lot of courses through the Small Business Association <br />(SBA). It might be worth reaching out to them to find out what their most popular subjects are. <br />Their courses are focused on small business. The people who will attend this event will be the <br />small businesses. She will reach out to them, if the commission thinks that would be of interest, if <br />not for this meeting, for a future event. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said there is an SBA company in Arden Hills. Their offices are on Pine <br />Tree Drive. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen thought that would be a great connection to make for future events. She <br />said in looking at this agenda, we have structured 20-minutes for the Sheriff, 20-minutes for City <br />Council. She asked if we want to reach out to SBA for this agenda, or maybe we keep it a little <br />loose. We give 10-20 minutes to each speaker and folks can be in and out in under an hour. That <br />may be a good structure for this initial event. She asked if there is anything else that should be <br />added. <br /> <br />Chair Murchie thinks it should be an hour or less. He thinks there should be two major <br />conversations, maybe one’s crime and the other is the City Council. There could be facilitated <br />conversations at the tables at the end. That could be when we share Arden Hills specific <br />information regarding the grants, Bethel and code updates. Then we can ask attendees if these <br />updates are helpful and ask what else they would like to discuss at future events. Would it be <br />beneficial to have the final five minutes of the Sheriff’s update be Q&A? <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen doesn’t think there will be any issues with the Sheriff filling his time. <br /> <br />City Administrator Jagoe summarized what has been decided. She asked what kind of feedback <br />the commission is hoping to get from the survey questions. She said there can be an EDC member <br />at each table and will facilitate a discussion incorporating those questions and gather information <br />about what businesses want from the EDC. <br /> <br />The commissioners agreed with that strategy. <br /> <br />Chair Murchie said that’s how he hoped it would go. There could be 30-40 minutes of program <br />and then have the tables positioned so the EDC can ask the questions and that will inform the <br />workplan for next year. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist said her intention was to make the survey short and sweet. It should <br />only take minutes to answer and submit the questions. She said we could ask attendees to take a <br />couple of minutes to complete the survey and then have a discussion. <br /> <br />Chair Murchie likes that she included the question asking if they would like to attend more events.