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EDC Minutes January 20, 2017 Page 3 of 5 leaving the residency requirement out is to allow for discretionary authority by the EDC to allow for quality Business Representatives. Helgemoe asked if the Commission could table the decision until staff has a chance to talk to Commissioner Rieland. Helgemoe asked if the EDC could email each other so that they would know what to do. Beeman informed the Commission that this is not allowed, as it would be a violation of the open meeting law. Instead, staff would need to contact Commissioner Rieland. Beeman suggested the EDC table the decision until staff has a chance to talk to Rieland. That way the EDC will know her opinion and have a better idea in order to make a decision. Commissioner Freichels suggested the EDC make a motion at the current meeting so that the appointment is not delayed. Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Stevenson seconded the recommendation to the EDA that both applicants be considered for appointment to the EDC contingent and dependent upon one of the EDC Commissioners resigning. If one of the Commissioners doesn’t resign, then the recommendation will be rescinded and revisited at the February EDC meeting. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 6. REPORTS OF STAFF Crossroad Pointe Redevelopment Project Business Development Coordinator, Brian Beeman provided the Commission with an update on the Crossroad Pointe redevelopment site. Beeman informed the Commission that construction activities has slowed through the winter and will pick up again once the weather turns nicer in the spring. Beeman said he was in contact with Ramsey County on the regional trail opening and they informed him that the trail was closed due to a safety issue. They are working on fixing the issue and couldn’t offer a specific timeline for a trail opening. Business Retention & Expansion Visit (BR&E) Updates Next Beeman updated the Commission on the business retention and expansion efforts. Beeman informed the Commission that most of the near 150 businesses have been visited. The remaining businesses have wished not to participate. Beeman said this is their choice and he can respect that. For the second year in a row, the City has received an award for the City’s BR&E program from the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce. Beeman plans to revisit about a half dozen businesses in 2017 in between the newsletter and website upgrade projects. Beeman said he always tries to give EDC Commissioners an option to attend. Website Update Beeman informed the Commission that the City has approved moving forward with the company REVIZE for the new website. It will be a year process and the City is establishing their internal web committee to help in the design phase which addressed the color, theme, branding, pictures, etc. It is important to get the design phase right