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RHRA Meeting Minutes – Monday, May 25, 2016 Page 5 1 Ms. King noted that was a challenge, and would be critical pieces of the 2 discussion, and at the direction of the REDA, offered to address that further 3 based on how other municipalities handled it (e.g. City of Oakdale). 4 5 Regarding shovel-ready sites, Member Willmus asked if other local 6 government units (LGU) had control of some of the sites referenced in Ms. 7 King’s presentation. 8 9 Ms. King responded that that was not consistent in the metropolitan area as 10 much as it was in greater Minnesota. As an example, Ms. King cited the 11 Ryan Companies, a private party, and their receipt of shovel-ready 12 designation through the Department of Education and Economic 13 Development (DEED); and involvement by some utilities in steeping up 14 and paying costs for the certification process. Ms. King noted that this 15 motivated developers when cost-sharing was available. 16 17 Business retention and expansion 18 President Roe asked what type of referral was intended, and if that included 19 the city’s business retention to-date. 20 21 Ms. King responded that it could involve a group of business owners 22 meeting frequently with city staff. Ms. King suggested that this was a 23 determination for the REDA and staff to determine who those stakeholders 24 should be to meet with to discuss opportunities and challenges for 25 Roseville’s business community. Ms. King advised that bankers, real 26 estate brokers, certified public accountants, and lawyers all had the pulse of 27 a community; and as part of the process also built their ownership of the 28 community, enhancing community engagement beyond residential. 29 30 As an example, Ms. King shared information from the City of Vadnais 31 Height’s Economic Development Coorporation and how their organization 32 worked with various activities; and also referenced that of the City of 33 Shoreview having an Economic Development Authority and Economic 34 Development Commission, each having specific responsibilities for long- 35 term evolution of the communities. 36 37 Marketing and image 38 Member Willmus questioned where the Chambers of Commerce fit in to 39 marketing and image. 40 41 Ms. King stated she considered them a partner in many aspects, especially 42 a key partner in business retention efforts, as evidenced by group activities 43 in Roseville with the business council and providing opportunities to 44 engage at least one Chamber serving the area in those business retention 45 efforts. Since Roseville doesn’t have its own Chamber, Ms. King