02-25-26 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – JANUARY 28, 2026 9 Chair Murchie said he doesn’t think Commissioner Bonine is thinking process vs. communications. He’s thinking of it all as one. In reality, what is being presented is difficult to understand. It can be awesome to promote that 90-something percent of businesses participate. We should tell people we have one of the most comprehensive lists. Community Development Director Reilly said the form seems clear, to him. Chair Murchie thinks that’s why a conversation is being requested. We see there are differences and we don’t understand them. That puts the City in a negative light. When we have a bulk of businesses that don’t understand, we should try to provide clarity. Commissioner Poelzer said we were presented with the form at a meeting a few months ago. It combined licenses and registrations. The why is missing. If a massage business requires a license because they place hands on someone, that’s the reason why. She said the second page it says, “Would it be helpful to create any new handouts or documents to aid in understanding the process?” Commissioner Bonine said yes but we don’t know what forms or handouts we have, and we don’t understand what the process is. She thinks Commissioner Bonine was thinking we can’t learn about that at a regular EDC meeting, so he suggested a subcommittee. Community Development Director Reilly said he thinks everyone on the committee needs to be part of that conversation. Commissioner Poelzer said if a smaller group can gather the information, they can bring back information to help clarify the process and the why, as it pertains to EDC. Her guess is the “other” category captures most of them. Maybe we need more check boxes. Let the “other” businesses feel included. Incoming business will know they belong here. It helps people feel connected. Chair Murchie said the subcommittee can compile the questions that we have come up with during this process. That can outline the FAQ. We can explain why some groups pay and some don’t. Community Development Director Reilly said the website that includes information about business registrations has more complete information. If he were a new business, he would visit the city’s website, read the Comprehensive Plan and check out the registration/license page. The form only goes out when we learn there’s a new business. He understands the form creates a problem about the why. The website is very transparent about the why. Businesses that don’t require a city or state license don’t require a fee. He said it is unclear to him what the problem Commissioner Bonine wants to solve is. Chair Murchie said there are a couple of questions that have to be answered. Communication is one. People aren’t going to scour the website. But when business owners get together, they talk about how the signs and fees are not equitable. We are stuck in the weeds. If the reality is that 95% of Arden Hills businesses are complying, are we spending too much time on this sliver of unknown? Maybe the focus should be engaging the businesses we do know about. Senior Planner Fransen said the process is the process. It operates with or without the EDC. We have an engaged EDC that is looking to put together a work plan. Part of the work plan is a mission to connect the city to businesses. The EDC is that bridge. The city has a process of engaging with businesses through the collection of information about them. We have a successful process. How