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RHRA Meeting <br />Minutes – Monday, August 29, 2016 <br />Page 19 <br /> <br />Member Laliberte concurred, stating she would be looking to the next REDA <br />or City Council discussion on day-to-day operations moving forward and ways <br />to do more with current resources. <br /> <br />Member Etten agreed with Member McGehee that consultants were the best <br />way to proceed for now until priorities and processes could be laid out for <br />2017 focus. Member Etten opined this would be a good way for staff and the <br />community to inform that process as part of the comprehensive plan update; <br />while outside consultants could provide assistance on other priorities to move <br />them forward. Member Etten stated he would love to talk about the acquisition <br />fund, but didn’t think there was sufficient REDA support for it at this time; and <br />therefore could support reducing the revolving loan fund, creating a smaller <br />levy and fund transfer. <br /> <br />President Roe agreed with the limited experience of the REDA at this first <br />budget cycle, and opined it allowed the REDA to work things out as it <br />proceeded forward as funding was allocated and policies put in place as <br />experience grew. However, President Roe stated while he was supportive of <br />funding a multi-family acquisition program in the future, he was not willing to <br />do so at this point, nor to add an additional $200,000 to the levy to support it. <br />President Roe spoke in support of the motion, acknowledging priorities but not <br />moving all the way toward staffing until the REDA has a better understanding. <br /> <br />Ayes: <br />McGehee, Willmus, Roe, Laliberte, and Etten <br />Nays: <br />None. <br />Motion carried. <br />Recess <br />President Roe recessed the meeting at approximately 6:13 p.m., and reconvened at <br />approximately 6:20 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />d.Adopt Business Visitation Program <br />Jeanne Kelsey, Community Development Department summarized priorities <br />established by the REDA for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017 as detailed <br />in the staff report. Ms. Kelsey noted one of those priorities had been to devise <br />and implement a business visitation program; and introduced Community <br />Development Department Intern Angela Riffe to report on that initiative she <br />had conducted. <br /> <br />Ms. Riffe reviewed data from her research and findings as addressed in the <br />staff report, concluding with staff’s recommendation for partnering with the <br />Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s visitation program, “Grow Minnesota!” <br /> <br />Discussion included visitation types, focus for 2017 prioritization and budget <br />implications; no requirement for a business to become a member of the <br />Chamber of Commerce, with services provided for non-member businesses as <br />well; staff capacity for visits and whether to target visits to businesses in the <br /> <br />