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EDC Minutes October 24, 2003 Page 3 and/or other commercial users. Backman discussed the Paron meeting with Mr. McDonald and he had a positive meeting with family members on October 23rd. 4. DEED Development Conference—October 8-10, 2003: Backman attended the Annual Minnesota Development Conference at the Radisson South in Bloomington. A major focus this year was on the state biosciences effort. Gov. Pawlenty and Robert Elde (U. of MN) made presentations. Backman toured Cargill’s Biotechnology Development (R&D) Center in Navare (near Wayzata), MN. 5. Mounds View Community Center—Banquet Center: An inventory of the Banquet Center equipment was conducted by Public Works staff. Backman spent time over the past month reviewing overhead costs at the MVCC. After looking at space use and other factors with the City’s Finance Director, the allocations were changed as follows: YMCA was reduced from 59% to 51%, Creative Kids was unchanged at 19%, Banquet Center was increased from 11% to 19%, and the former Community Education area was unchanged at 11%. This impacts the 2004 budget and a potential agreement for new Banquet Center management. The City Council as already authorized (on 9/22/03) Kurt Ulrich to negotiate a buyout of the Banquet Center’s current management. Discussions continue between the City Administrator and Dabney Bradley, ETC, regarding a settlement or buyout of the existing catering contract. ETC may signoff on the settlement as early as tonight. The City has been losing about $3,000 a month under the current contract. Backman’s goal is that the City recovers all overhead costs at the Banquet Center, and sets aside additional monies for capital improvements. Field stated that a commercial rule of thumb is that setaside should be 25% above the overhead costs. Backman will keep that in mind. 6. New Planning Assistant: Kristin Prososki has been hired as the City’s new Planning Assistant and started work this week. She previously worked as a Planning Intern for the City of Chanhassen. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Review of Potential Questions for Mounds View Community Survey: A majority on the City Council would like to move forward with a community survey. Backman noted that in 1988 the City of Mounds View contracted with Decision Resources to perform a community survey (Sec. 6 was Development and Growth). Belting expressed amount of time needed to complete the last survey (23 minutes). Johnson asked if it would be cheaper if economic development was not part of the survey. Backman responded that 50 questions would probably be asked regardless. Belting stated that the last survey was “a joke”, had questions of limited value, and was too long. Field concurred. Johnson felt that better information would come from town meetings. Helgemoe expressed the view that it might be cheaper to mail out surveys than for a telephone survey. He also felt the maybe the purpose of the survey was to rank city services and staff. Belting moved that the EDC recommends that no community survey be done at this time; and if one is done by the City, that it be more limited in scope and duration (5 minutes to complete, not 23 minutes), and that the cost to the City not exceed $2,000.” This was approved unanimously. B. Amending the TIF Plan to Identify Parcels for Potential Acquisition: Due to time constraints, the Commission decided to consider this matter at a later meeting.