05-16-07 EDC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ ~ILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MAY 16, 2007; 7:30 AM CITY HALL -- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 Chair Kunkel called the meeting to order at 7 :31 a.m. Attendees: Chair Bruce Kunkel, Nancy Kneeland, Dale Beane, Chris Ashbach, Rob Davidson, Ray McGraw, Jim Paulet, Mayor Harpstead, Community Development Director Karen Barton. Absent: Ed Werner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 25.2007 The minutes from the April 25 meeting were approved as corrected. REVIEW OF EDC PLAN Chair Kunkel explained that currently we have two versions of the EDC plan - one the Mayor revised and the one developed by Desco - and asked the group how they wanted to proceed with fmalize the EDC plan. Jim asked if we accepting both versions of the document and editing them both. Chair Kunkel said one ofthe ideas could be to work with both documents; or, if the group so chose, they could accept or reject one of the versions and move forward with the accepted version. The Mayor reminded the group that it is their objective to bring a document to a Council Worksession. Ray expressed his concerns with the current EDC plan and that it didn't fit into the needs of the City. He indicated the group did not have to go with all of Desco's recommendations. He also expressed what he thought were the City's main three issues at hand: curb appeal, redevelopment, and the location ofthe current City Hall. Chair Kunkel acknowledged Ray's passion and concerns and expressed that he thought the Mayor is trying to develop a plan to allow the City to move forward and gather momentum. The Mayor asked if the three items Ray expressed concern about are in the Desco version of the EDC plan. Ray acknowledged that they were in the Desco plan. Nancy asked if she could make a motion to proceed on the Mayor's amended plan being we have already progressed beyond the Desco plan already. She indicated it is her desire to work on one plan. Dale Beane seconded the motion. Chris said he thought there wasn't enough substantial difference between the Desco plan or the Mayor's version to lose anything by working on one versus the other. The Mayor indicated the timing of the plan is important due to the budget cycle.