MINUTES EDA 01.19.16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JANUARY 19, 2016 Chair Weidt called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm. PRESENT: Denaway, Gallivan, Houle, Klein, Petty, Puleo, Weidt. ABSENT: None. STAFF: Bryan Bear, City Administrator Rachel Juba, Planner Rachel Leitz, Community Development Assistant APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF DECEMBER 15, 2015 Klein made motion, Gallivan seconded, to approve minutes for the EDA meeting of December 15, 2015. All Ayes. Motion carried DISCUSSION ON 2016 GOALS Juba stated that at the December 15, 2015 meeting, the EDA had a discussion on their 2016 goals. Since the last meeting, Juba put together the ideas discussed into a 2016 goal sheet to review with the EDA. She asked if there were any more thoughts regarding the setting of the 2016 EDA goals. Commissioner Klein asked if staff could reach out to the University of Minnesota for future presentations to the EDA. Houle made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the 2016 EDA Goals. All Ayes. Motion carried. UPDATE ON WASHINGTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS Juba stated that in 2014, Washington County developed a strategic plan, which defined the County's role in economic development, established guiding policy principles, and identified specific strategies and goals. In 2015, the County Board determined the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to be the best organizational structure responsible for county -wide economic development activities. Through the County's continued economic development efforts, they would be hiring an economic development director and plan to draft legislation to amend the HRA existing enabling law to add economic development powers. There is an informational meeting at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 21, 2016 where the HRA will talk about this process and what the next steps will be. Juba stated that she was also contacted by Melissa Taphorn, Deputy Executive Director with the HRA, to come to the next City of Hugo EDA meeting to give more background on the County's economic development efforts. Weidt asked when the County is looking to hire the new economic development director. Juba stated that the position was budgeted for within the first quarter of 2016.