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EDC Minutes December 20, 2002 Page 2 C. TCN Chamber of Commerce Update: During the past month Backman participated in the various meetings, including the Gaming Oversight Committee (11/20/02), the Board of the Directors Meeting and the Membership Gaming Meeting on 11/22/02. The TCN Chamber sponsored a Multi-Chamber Expo at the Mermaid on November 21st. Metro North and St. Paul Chambers also participated in the event. Over 60 businesses had booths and food was provided at no cost by the Mermaid. On December 11th he attended the Public Policy Task Force meeting in Fridley. The focus continued to be action items related to state transportation funding. Letters will be sent to the new gubernatorial administration (Pawlenty). A legislative forum will be held focusing on north Metro transportation needs in January 2003. D. Report of Staff: 1. Activity Report: Backman distributed the Business Beat information that will shortly appear in the Mounds View Matters. Backman noted that he visited 24 businesses during late November and the first part of December. Additionally, he met with or had discussions with developers seven times. Backman also distributed to members an 11/25/02 article that appears in the Minnesota Real Estate Journal. It focused on various projects in Mounds View, including the Colonial Craft relocation, Hwy 10 Business Center, the NHHI residential facility (M.V. Gables), the Mermaid & SYSCO expansions. Submitted a business expansion report to DTED this past Tuesday (show latest news article). On the 18th Backman submitted a drawdown or disbursement request to DTED for the Edgewood Regional Pond for the Mermaid project. Assuming everything is processed okay, the City of Mounds View should get a check for $104,736 early next week. This would drawdown all remaining funds in the state grant. What remain for the pond project are to drawdown Ramsey Co. & Rice Creek W.D. matching funds, probably in January 2003. Belting also noted that after the last EDC meeting, members toured the new Blooming Prairie Natural Foods warehouse and discussed the business with its General Manager, Steve Lumsden. 2. I-35W Corridor Coalition Insert in Twin Cities Business Monthly: On Monday of this week Backman was interviewed by Vicki Stavig from T.C. Business Monthly re development in Mounds View this year. This is the 24-page insert that the Coalition is undertaking for publication in Spring 2003. This is the project where Backman obtained three sponsors— Metro North CVB, The Mermaid, and Wells Fargo Bank. 3. Rob Carlson Builders Activities—Hwy 10 Business Center: The former Perkins building was demolished beginning on November 19th. The pouring of the footings is taking a bit longer than expected due to Fabcon’s structural plans taking longer to be finalized. The City has already approved the necessary permits. The developer anticipates that footings will be laid in the latter part of December. 4. Planbook for Split-Level/Entry Homes: Backman added this item to the agenda. A website (www.split-level.com) has been added for Planbook #2 with the intent to seek input from people that own Split-Level homes. The website was designed to ascertain answers to specific questions about these types of housed. Robert Gerloff, the architect developing the Planbook, will use the information that is received for compiling design solutions to problems or upgrades. Backman distributed to members a postcard regarding the recently established website. 5. Developer Activities—Amoco Site Prospect: During November Backman was informed by Tony Strauss, the broker representing the former Amoco site, that there was a potential