07-29-2013 EDA MIN crYlkSpecial Workshop Meeting of the Elk River
River Economic Development Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday,July 29, 2013
Members Present: President Dwyer,Commissioners Westgaard,Provo,Tveite,Wilson and Motin
Members Absent: Commissioner Burandt
Staff Present: Economic Development Director Brian Beeman,Assistant Economic Development
Director Clay Wilfahrt;Finance Director Tim Simon
I. Call Meeting to Order
The workshop meeting of the EDA was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Dwyer.
2. Consider 07/29/2013 Agenda
The workshop agenda was approved.
3. Discuss 2014 EDA Budget Goals & Preliminary Budget
Brian Beeman reviewed the following:
• EDA tasks outlined in the City's 2013-2014 Goals adopted by the City Council
III • Economic Development Measures and Goals for 2014
Mr.Beeman noted that there is some overlap of HRA and EDA tasks in the 2013-2014 City goals.
He stated that the HRA has applied for a$1.2 million housing grant to take care of some rehab of
housing, also covers some commercial property.
Discussion by the EDA included the following items:
• Appropriateness of funding for marketing to attract hotel,banquet facility or fine dining.
• Appropriateness of financial support to Art Soup—consensus to
• Importance of BRE visits
• Expenditure for promotional/advertising products
• Funding of intern position
• Possibility of protecting city's interest when investing in employee education by means of
employment contract
• Appropriateness of branding expenditures proposed
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The following suggestions were offered:
1. Funds proposed to be invested in trying to attract a hotel,banquet facility or fine dining
could be better spent elsewhere, since these types of businesses will come when the
demographics are "right".
• 2. look at moving these sponsorships to an advertising line item and determine which requests
best qualify the goal of marketing the city and Powered by Nature
3. Funding of community gathering/events should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
4. Funds spent on billboard advertising could be better spent on web-based advertising or trade •
shows.
Mr.Beeman stated he will provide the EDA a breakdown of current sponsorships.
Commissioner Provo will provide staff with information from his business sales staff regarding
surveying potential clients for what they did to attract them and what they could do different.
5. Annual Initiative Foundation Budget Request for 2014
Brian Beeman reviewed the Initiative Foundation request for$2,500. Mr.Beeman explained that
Initiative Foundation is a non-profit organization that leverages McKnight Foundation funds. He
discussed benefits the city has received.
Chair Tveite suggested the intern spend some time on tracking the investment/benefit of
contributing to the Initiative Foundation.
It was the consensus of the Commission they would support a contribution of$2,500 to the
Initiative Foundation for 2014.
5. Internship Funds for Fall 2013
Mr.Beeman discussed the request for an Economic Development intern. The EDA is asked to
consider transferring$8,000 from the EDA Marketing budget to Personnel to cover the cost of an
intern at$12/hr. for 32 hours a week for 16 weeks (ending December 31st). •
Commissioner Motin asked if there were funds proposed in the 2014 budget for an intern. Mr.
Beeman stated yes, that$12,000 was requested for 2014.
Mr. Beeman stated this item will be brought to City Council tonight and then brought back to the
EDA at their next regular meeting for approval. He stated that he will provide a list of the
sponsorships and a resolution for approval of the budget at the August EDA meeting.
6. Adjournment
There being no further business, Chair Tveite adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Economic
Development Authority at 7:05 p.m.
Chair Dan Tveite
Tina Allard, k
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