10-08-25 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – AUGUST 27, 2025 9 Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson said the fee is required. There is compliance and violations. Statute sets forth how much we have to charge. She noted that a restaurant that serves liquor will have a liquor license and a restaurant license. The City can determine what a general business license fee is but the liquor license fee has to meet the statutory minimum. A business can hold multiple licenses. Commissioner Poelzer would like to see something added to the form that explains who gets a business license and who needs a registration. That would make it more clear to the person filling out the form. She looked at the license types and she doesn’t think Arden Hills has some of the types on the list. She thought the term “bowling alley” should be replaced with “bowling center” to bring verbiage up to date. She asked if we have video sales and rentals. She thought we can insert shoe shops and hardware stores because we know we have those. She asked what Courtesy Benches are. Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson said they are the bus stop benches. Commissioner Poelzer said we haven’t seen increases since the current fees were established. She recommended establishing a process that states the fees will increase by a certain percentage after a specified time frame. She asked if a drive through is a business that has only a drive through and no interior seating. Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson said that is any restaurant that has a drive through component. Commissioner Poelzer asked if a bank who has a drive through would be included. Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Hanson said no because it’s not a restaurant. Commissioner Poelzer asked why the license fee is $315. Chair Murchie asked Staff what information or questions can the EDC provide surrounding this process. What will be most helpful? Commissioner Bonine said the EDC is involved because we were trying to gather information from businesses. We may be able to gather that information by capturing it on form. Making the process consistent for all businesses is the ultimate goal. City Administrator Jagoe said she is hearing the commissioners say that City Council should look at the fee structure. She doesn’t think the EDC needs to come up with the amounts. The commission has made it clear that you would like that to be more consistent for businesses. The Council will have the conversation regarding amounts and the timing/rate of increases. She asked if there are questions from the commission surrounding the process. She thought commissioners can submit ideas or questions to Staff. Commissioner Bonine said there is decent participation. He thinks clarity surrounding the process and compliance would be helpful. Commissioner Gronquist was surprised to learn that we can’t use it to increase revenue. She assumed that was the purpose of it. It’s confusing to her how the City calculates the administrative