HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-15EN HILLS
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
APRIL 1,2015 8:00 AM
CITY HALL-- 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96
SUMMARY OF MEETING—NO QUORUM
Present: Chair Steve Heikkila and Commissioners Kyle Blassen and Ed von Holtum.
Also Present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Community Development Director Jill
Hutmacher;Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; Jonathan Weinhagen, Vice
President, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce; and Council Liaison Robert
Woodburn.
Meeting opened at 8:00 a.m.
Chair Heikkila stated that there was an absence of a quorum of EDC Commissioners. He noted
that not motions or voting would occur until a quorum was recognized.
1. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS
A. Business Retention and Expansion
Jonathan Weinhagen, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC), provided a brief
overview of the tasks completed so far for the Business Retention and Expansion(BRE)program
and what the next steps would be.
Mr. Weinhagen provided the Commissioners with a list of businesses that would be prioritized
for volunteer visits. He noted that the program will focus on companies within projected high
growth industry sectors, such as construction, educational and health services, and professional
and business services. He added that landmark businesses that have been in the City for an
extended period of time will also be prioritized.
Mr. Weinhagen requested feedback from the Commissioners on landmark businesses that
should be included on the priority visit list.
Commissioner Von Holtum suggested that Frattallone's Ace Hardware and Flaherty's Arden
Bowl be included on the list.
Chair Heikkila noted that Now Bike and Fitness is an important business in the community.
EDC Minutes
April 1, 2015
Page 2 of 3
Community Development Director Hutmacher recommended that large employers within the
community be included on the priority visit list. She suggested that Boston Scientific, Land
O'Lakes, Delkor, Hood Packaging, Pace Industries, International Paper, and Venture Solutions
be added.
Mr. Weinhagen noted that as part of the BRE program, SPACC would also be reaching out to
commercial property owners in the City and commercial real estate brokers working in the area.
Commissioner Blassen suggested Lindey's Steak House as another landmark business.
Mr. Weinhagen commented that the goal would be to visit between 30 and 40 of the businesses
identified on the priority visit list.
Community Development Director Hutmacher noted that the Economic Development
Authority would be reviewing the proposed interview survey, the priority visit list, and the list of
BRE volunteers at their meeting on April 27, 2015. She requested that the Commissioners
provide feedback on the draft interview survey.
Mr. Weinhagen reviewed the draft interview survey with the Commissioners. He noted that the
final report on the BRE program will aggregate the information collected through the survey to
protect proprietary information. He added that it would be helpful to create a packet with City
contact information that could be sent to businesses as a follow-up after the interview.
Chair Heikkila suggested that a question regarding transportation to local businesses should be
added to the survey.
B. Open Meeting Law
Community Development Director Hutmacher reviewed the Minnesota open meeting law and
discussed its applicability to meetings and communication among EDC Commissioners. She
requested that the Commissioners contact staff if they had any questions regarding the open
meeting law.
C. Oaths of Office
Community Development Director Hutmacher administered the oath of office for
Commissioner Von Holtum and Commissioner Blassen.
2. UPDATES
A. TCAAP (Rice Creek Commons) Update
EDC Minutes
April 1, 2015
Page 3 of 3
Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that Kimley-Horn has completed the
first part of the Fit Test and that the results would be presented to the City Council at a special
work session on March 30, 2015. The second part of the Fit Test is tentatively scheduled to be
presented to the City Council at a special work session on April 13. She provided an overview on
what was being completed by Kimley-Horn as part of the Fit Test study.
Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that the Energy Integration Resiliency
Framework (EIRF) will be presented to the Joint Development Authority at their meeting on
Monday, April 6, 2015.
Me ing clo ed at 9:30 a.m.
Steve Heikkila, Chair Jill FXtmacher
CotAmunity Development Director