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Mounds View EDA May 26, 2009 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br /> <br />suggestions from the schools. 87 <br /> 88 <br />The EDA agreed the matter should be opened to the public for their input, discussed methods of 89 <br />obtaining suggestions, and whether a contest should be organized and a prize given for the 90 <br />winning tagline. It was agreed that suggestions would be solicited from the public, schools, 91 <br />DECA Program, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and during Festival in the Park. 92 <br /> 93 <br />Vice President Stigney stated he does not support an organized contest because then a “winner” 94 <br />of the submitted names is created. However, he does support asking for suggestions and does not 95 <br />object to awarding a citation or prize for the winning tagline. 96 <br /> 97 <br />Majority consensus was reached that a contest would be considered and the matter will be further 98 <br />discussed at a future workshop meeting. 99 <br /> 100 <br />Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated staff will present a Marketing Plan and 101 <br />reminded the EDA that Falcon Heights had received some inappropriate tagline ideas when 102 <br />soliciting public suggestions. However, they did receive two good taglines for consideration. 103 <br /> 104 <br />B. Discuss Business Improvement Partnership Loan Program. 105 <br /> 106 <br />Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated this item was discussed at the last meeting 107 <br />when a dentist asked whether the EDA would consider waiving the criteria to allow for a start up 108 <br />business to receive a Business Improvement Partnership Loan. The EDA talked about 109 <br />reevaluating the loan program criteria, which has been in place for about 14 years. She advised 110 <br />of past low-interest loans that had been granted and noted a summary of this program is 111 <br />contained in the Mounds View tool box. She also noted that city staff has not been aggressively 112 <br />promoted at the direction of the Council. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz 113 <br />recommended the EDA authorize the program to be promoted and that if interest has not 114 <br />increased within a year, the EDA reevaluate the program so that it better fits the needs of 115 <br />businesses and the City. 116 <br /> 117 <br />Commissioner Gunn questioned why the loan program had not been promoted since the City 118 <br />wants to attract businesses. 119 <br /> 120 <br />Commissioner Mueller explained the EDA felt there was a need to look at other programs to 121 <br />attract business without resorting to TIF as the number one resource. In addition, the EDA 122 <br />wanted the City to be at least an equal partner with the developer and not be subject to the 123 <br />developer’s demands. 124 <br /> 125 <br />Vice President Stigney stated the tool box gathered all program information into one document 126 <br />and identified that TIF would not be used as the first tool. Rather than the developer seeing what 127 <br />they can get from Mounds View, the City could work with the developer to direct them to other 128