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Home My WebLink About05-16-2008 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting May 16, 2008 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Gary Meehlhause called the meeting to order at 7:34 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Chair Jason Helgemoe (arrived at 7:35 a.m.), Vice Chair Gary Meehlhause, Commissioners Greg Belting, Torri Johnson and Dan Larson Members Absent: Commissioners Jackie Entsminger and Jennifer Wagner Staff Present: Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Larson seconded the approval of the May 16, 2008 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 4 Ayes 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF EDC MINUTES: Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Belting seconded the approval of the April 18, 2008 EDC minutes. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes 0 Nays 5. SPECIAL BUSINESS A. Introduce Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce New President Tim Roche Ms. Steinmetz reiterated her staff report regarding the importance of maintaining and strengthening the City's relationship with its business community. Commission members introduced themselves to Mr. Roche and shared their role with the EDC. EDC Minutes May 16,2008 Page 2 of 5 Mr. Roche stated that he began work with the Chamber on April 14th. He hopes to be the EDC's Chamber liaison. He added that the Chamber would be more than happy to help and assist the City. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Continue Discussion Regarding 2008 Targeted Business List In April, the EDC reviewed a targeted business list that staff developed based on staff's memory, resident input and input from appointed and elected officials. The EDC asked staff to categorize the list (to be less specific) for review at today's meeting. The EDC reviewed the below "categorized" list: • Specialty Retail o Hardware store o Jewelry store o Florist • Big Box Retail o Grocery store • Professional Office o Medical or dental clinic o Optometrist office o Financial institutions • Sit-down Restaurants • Funeral Home Commissioners Johnson and Meehlhause agreed that"Sit-down Restaurants"could remain a category of its own and that "Professional Office" could be revised to read "Professional Office/Services" so that "Funeral Home" could be added under that category. Commissioner Johnson asked Chamber President Tim Roche if the Chamber categorizes its member businesses or targets certain businesses when trying to obtain new members. Mr. Roche said that these types of strategies may be developed in the future. The EDC will revisit the list in January of 2009. The EDC also prioritized their reasons for business recruitment. An increased and well- coordinated tax base is the EDC's#1 priority and sub-priorities to that are: a)create jobs b) provide goods/services that are not already offered in Mounds View and c) consider the patrons of the targeted business list (demographics). Chair Helgemoe concluded with a question: "What are the realistic chances that a"big box" retail store is going to locate in Mounds View because the only large site left for development in Mounds View is possibly the Saturn/MultiTech site?" Ms. Steinmetz answered the question by providing an example that Target's regional real estate person recently visited the site and told staff that even the smallest Target would not fit on the Saturn/MultiTech site due to the triangular shape of the lot. Chair Helgemoe then stated that we should determine what size"big box"stores could fit on the site, whether it's Office Max or another smaller "big box" store. Staff will request site location criteria from big box stores to determine which ones would fit on the site. EDC Minutes May 16,2008 Page 3 of 5 Chair Helgemoe and Commissioner Meehlhause reiterated the discussion from the Council/EDC's Redevelopment Roundtable held in April. Mounds View needs to take advantage of its development and redevelopment opportunities before Arden Hills'TCAAP site is developed. B. Review First Draft of Branding Services& Public Communications/Marketing Plan Request For Proposals (RFP) Ms. Steinmetz reminded the EDC of their recommendation last month that the EDA consider distribution a branding services and/or public communications/marketing plan RFP. She asked the EDC to consider a draft RFP, which would then be forwarded to the EDA on May 27th for consideration along with the EDC's recommendation. The RFP was written to include two phases because the EDC had discussed the need for the City to decide "who we are" and "who we want to be" (Phase 1-branding) prior to marketing ourselves (Phase 2-public communications/marketing plan). Commissioner Belting asked if the new road signs were part of this new branding effort, if we were jumping ahead of ourselves or if he missed something. Ms. Steinmetz stated that the EDC's input regarding the design of the road signs was provided to the Council prior to the Council's final decision. She believes that the signs are temporary. Ms. Steinmetz then provided a history of the EDC's discussions since January regarding public communications and marketing. Chair Helgemoe stated that if the City wants to recruit larger corporations, then the City's image becomes much more important. Commissioner Belting added that certain marketing materials should take priority over others. More focus should be given to the City newsletter, which goes out to thousands of people. Chair Helgemoe asked Chamber President Tim Roche for his thoughts on the discussion. Mr. Roche stated that he feels branding is very important. Chair Helgemoe added that the Chamber's new brand (as of a few years ago) brought the Chamber to a new and higher level. Mr. Roche agreed. 7. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS Chair Helgemoe advertised the Chamber's golf event. Chamber President Tim Roche mentioned that Ms. Steinmetz and representatives from the Cities of Columbia Heights and Fridley provided fifteen-minute Economic Development updates on their communities at the Chamber's April Business Essentials Luncheon. At the June 19th luncheon, representatives from the Cities of Arden Hills, Shoreview and New Brighton will provide their own Economic Development updates. Commissioner Meehlhause congratulated the Irondale Boys Track team for winning the North Suburban conference meet yesterday. Chair Helgemoe congratulated Commissioner Belting again on his new Mounds View City Center Suites building. EDC Minutes May 16,2008 Page 4 of 5 Commissioner Belting reminded the group that business retention is just as important as business recruitment. He mentioned that the EDC should cooperate with the City and Chamber to do "thank yous" and perhaps send out informational packets to businesses when the City rebrands itself. We should also ask the businesses if the City is meeting their needs. He added that most often the"face"of the City(in a business's eyes) is when the fire marshal shows up or when the water bill arrives. He feels that putting a different twist on the "City's face" is a good idea. Chair Helgemoe mentioned that EDC members could also visit with businesses. Chair Helgemoe mentioned that Totino's grand opening was held a week ago and that it's nice to see staff and appointed and elected officials attend those type of events. 8. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Housing Resources Update Ms. Steinmetz displayed the City's "Housing Resources" Webpage on the screen and summarized the types of outreach being completed through the Website and the City newsletter, Mounds View Matters. Commissioner Larson asked if we could more prominently display the Housing Replacement Program on the Website. Commissioner Belting left at this time. Chair Helgemoe urged residents to contact their lender immediately if they are having trouble making their house payments. B. Premium Stop Redevelopment Area Update Ms. Steinmetz provided the EDC with updates on three properties located within the Premium Stop Redevelopment area. 1. Robert's Sports Bar is now under new ownership. Since they do not have a final Certificate of Occupancy from the City, a grand opening date it is still unknown. 2. The coin operated car wash, which was damaged by a fire, will be reopening but a date has not been set at this time. 3. Staff has received its first inquiry regarding the price of the EDA-owned former Premium Stop parcel. The EDA's Preliminary Development Agreement with Master Development has now expired, so staff will be marketing the site from now on. The EDA would like the site to be marketed as a "bundled" redevelopment area rather than a stand-alone site. The EDA will accept offers for the site but will not set a base price. C. Arden Hills TCAAP Project Update Ms. Steinmetz displayed the City of Arden Hills'Website on the screen and showed the EDA where to find TCAAP information. Commissioner Johnson mentioned that she was very impressed with how the City of Arden Hills has developed the TCAAP page of their Website. EDC Minutes May 16,2008 Page 5 of 5 Chair Helgemoe mentioned that we don't want to lose businesses to the TCAAP site, so we better be proactive with business retention. Ms. Steinmetz showed the EDC how Mounds View's sites are promoted on the Mounds View Website. Chair Helgemoe said that it's critical to have a direct link to "Development Opportunities"from our home page. 9. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Chair Helgemoe adjourned the meeting 9:05 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Heidi Steinmetz Economic Development Specialist