1-28-26 EDC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – JANUARY 28, 2026 8 for EDC to discuss. We aren’t saying there is anything wrong with the process, but the city is saying we want to understand what the businesses are thinking. Right now, we’re hearing feedback from business owners that there is a gap. This is the kind of topic EDC is designed for. Maybe we can come to the next meeting and bring our thoughts. How do we answer the questions from the businesses, who are confused about why the fees are different? That’s where there may be some gaps. Community Development Director Reilly said he is hearing that the process works for what it works for, but the EDC membership doesn’t have a complete understanding of what it is for. Commissioner Bonine said Staff are the gatekeepers of the city. It has been said we have one of the best resources to know who is operating in the city. If we want to communicate with business owners, leveraging that will be key. We have a process in place that feels broken to the business owners. It’s not broken for the City’s purposes. If EDC is being asked to piggyback off of that information and combine our efforts, he doesn’t understand why those clarifying discussions are being blocked. Community Development Director Reilly said he’s saying the SOP of sending out the registration and collecting the information is not in the EDC purview and it’s not up for debate. Commissioner Bonine left at 8:50. Community Development Director Reilly said the internal process is not up for debate, until Council directs us to do so. He agrees we need to have transparency about who and what we’re collecting information for. Chair Murchie said the business community said there is a gap. The business community continues to say they don’t understand the “why.” People have joined this commission to help with that process, and it hasn’t gone the direction they wanted. A barrier is created. Businesses have said they don’t understand the process. They aren’t filling out the form because they don’t know what to do. EDC is trying to help the city. We need to figure out how we continue to build the bridge. He thinks this is something we need to talk about. No one is looking to step on City processes. Community Development Director Reilly said he isn’t sure everyone agrees that there is a lack of transparent communication. The city web page about businesses could be more helpful. Communication concerns and changing established city processes are different conversations. Chair Murchie said he thinks Commissioner Bonine was explaining that he can’t tell what will help us get more businesses to complete the process if we don’t understand the process ourselves. There isn’t clarity about why. One of the ways to get to the why is to better understand the process. He said the EDC isn’t telling Staff what to do, we’re saying the process is confusing to businesses. Senior Planner Fransen said the City Staff manage the process. EDC is interested in gathering business information to connect the city and businesses. The EDC wants to be the bridge between the city and the business community. The EDC is trying to understand how to be a voice for businesses. If businesses engage with the city, we need to make sure we share resources. EDC can be that bridge. The intent of this conversation is to find out where the gap is. EDC can help with connection and information gathering. Is there an opportunity to say the business resources page