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MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2015 <br />Weidt called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm. <br />PRESENT: Denaway, Gallivan, Houle, Klein, Puleo, and Weidt <br />ABSENT: Petty. <br />STAFF: Bryan Bear, City Administrator <br />Rachel Juba, Planner <br />Rachel Leitz, Community Development Intern <br />APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF MAY 19, 2015 <br />Houle made motion, Klein seconded, to approve minutes for the EDA meeting of May 19, 2015. <br />All Ayes. Motion carried. <br />UPDATE ON WASHINGTON COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS <br />Planner Juba reminded the EDA that last summer the Washington County Board approved an <br />economic development strategic plan. One of the goals was to review and update their existing <br />finance incentive policies to be more business friendly. Juba explained that the County has <br />provided cities with revisions to the policies. Juba described some of the larger changes within <br />the tax abatement policy and the TIF policy and stated that Washington County is looking for <br />comments on the revisions to the policies. City staff recommended the EDA provide staff with <br />comments to be forwarded to Washington County. <br />Houle asked why the policy won't include split or fractional parcels. <br />Juba stated that staff had the same question upon their review. She said that would be added as a <br />comment and ask for an explanation of their reasoning. <br />Denway stated that he was supportive of the changes and believed the abatement policy looked <br />to be well improved from the old version. <br />The EDA agreed that they would like to send a letter of support for the new changes and for <br />continued efforts from Washington County on this matter. <br />DISCUSSION ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY <br />Planner Juba explained that staff has completed the first round of e-mail blasts through LoopNet <br />and the City -owned property was sent to approximately 30 of the top brokers and developers. Juba <br />described that LoopNet allows the member to track who has looked at the listing and quite a few <br />people have viewed the property, but staff still have not received phone calls on it. Juba stated she <br />made contact with Restaurant Association of Minnesota and they said they would send the listing <br />out to anyone who could be interested in the property. Juba reminded the EDA of earlier <br />