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2 <br />www.ci.lino-lakes.mn.us. EDAC can use this site to market the city. Some members <br />stated they would prefer going to the website if they wanted to read about a particular <br />topic, rather than a lot of e-mails. Ms. Schwartz suggested EDAC’s minutes could have <br />less detail. The amount of detail did not concern other members. Members agreed to try <br />e-mails of board and council minutes for a couple months and see how useful it was. <br /> <br />Ms. Divine suggested that as a liaison, Mr. Rafferty report back to Planning & Zoning <br />once or twice a year regarding issues that EDAC is discussing, and updat e EDAC on <br />P&Z items. <br /> <br />Ms. Divine distributed business surveys that were sent out in 1993 and suggested EDAC <br />consider whether it would be productive to do another survey. EDAC members could <br />follow up with visits to businesses. She passed around a summary of the city survey from <br />1996 for EDAC members to consider when discussing goals and priorities. This survey <br />shows what citizens wanted for commercial development. <br /> <br />Mr. Chase said the city needed to do something to provide affordable housing for retirees. <br />Ms. Carlson stated that the council is aware of inclusionary housing as an issue. Ms. <br />Divine said the subdivision and zoning ordinances that the city is in the process of <br />revising could provide more opportunities for affordable housing. Some members <br />suggested the citizen survey be sent out again. Ms. Carlson noted the city hired <br />consultants to do the 1996 telephone survey. Ms. Schwartz suggested a shorter version be <br />sent out with the newsletter. Mr. Chase suggested it be put on the next agenda. <br /> <br />EDAC Roles: Ms. Schwartz said EDAC should be the Economic Development <br />Authority rather than just an advisory committee. Ms. Divine said EDAC was changed <br />from a board to a committee in the mid-1990’s. Its role didn’t change, but it was to <br />distinguish it from city boards that had statutory responsibilities. EDAC was designed to <br />be a “think tank” that could include business people not living in the city. <br /> <br />Ms. Divine said an Economic Development Authority has powers to use city funds for <br />economic development. Mr. Chase said EDAC’s mission is to be a sounding board, not <br />hold the purse strings. Mr. Gorowsky stated the role is to agree with the mission <br />statement and then actively support it. If the mission statement needs to change, then that <br />needs to be dealt with first. <br /> <br />Mr. Juni said EDAC’s function is advisory. Staff could lead discussion, but then EDAC <br />responds with citizen and business input. It is helpful to have business owners, people <br />invested in development, and EDAC should periodically look at its mix of members. Ms. <br />Hansmann stated EDAC’s role is determined by the city council and they are the ones <br />that would have to change it. There may be other ways of operating and perhaps the <br />council wants to look at other ways. Ms. Schwartz questioned if the council was more <br />empowered to make economic development decisions than other cities of comparable <br />size, and suggested finding out what other cities do. Mr. Chase stated that EDAC was not <br />set up by the city council. It was a sounding board started by a volunteer. Council has had <br />more input over the years, including appointing members. Ms. Schwartz stated that an