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Draft EDC Minutes February 20,2009 Page 2 of 3 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Discuss Potential Business Registration Program Ms. Steinmetz reminded the EDC that they discussed this item last summer as it related to business retention and how the City should have one, master business database rather than multiple databases among different City departments. Ms. Steinmetz said that Building Official Kathi Osmonson is the lead City staff person for this project and that Ms. Osmonson presented ideas for the program to the City Council on January 5, 2009. Ms. Steinmetz's concern with the program relates to a potential fee. Businesses should not be charged a fee to register with the City, according to Steinmetz. The Chamber's Economic Advancement Committee discussed the program at their January meeting and Ms. Steinmetz provided the EDC with their input. One of the ideas from the Chamber Committee was to only charge a fee if the business did not provide the information. Commissioner Belting stated that there is a clear distinction between filling out a business registration form with current contract information and a fire inspection. He said that some of the other cities' business registration programs seem to blend registrations with fire inspections. He said that the EDC should discuss whether the program should be"blended" or whether we should keep the two items separate. He asked if there is a fee for fire inspections and Ms. Steinmetz said that she does not believe there is a fee. • Commissioners Heigemoe,Wagner and Larson said that we should not impose a fee for the registration program. Commissioner Larson added that we should keep registrations separate from building inspections but that the information could be combined. Chamber President Tim Roche said,that the Chamber's concern is that businesses could be charged unexpected fees due to the program because a building may pass an initial inspection but not pass the registration inspection. He also said that there needs to balance between the staff hours involved in creating the program versus the staff hours the program will save due to an efficient program. Chair Meehlhause agreed with the EDC's comments and said he preferred Maplewood's program but does not agree with a fee. The EDC agreed that there is a definite need for the City to have updated business contact information. Motion/Second: Commissioner Wagner moved and Commissioner Helgemoe seconded the motion recommending that the City Council consider the following: • The program should be an annual, voluntary registration (businesses should not be forced to provide the information; and, • If a business chooses not to register, after the second year of not providing the information, the business would be charged a penalty fee not to exceed $50; and, •