06-15-2015 EDA MIN•
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Members Present:
Members Absent:
Meeting of the Elk River
Economic Development Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, June 15, 2015
President Tveite, Commissioners Burandt, Dwyer, Westgaard, Provo,
Olsen, and Wagner
None
Staff Present: Economic Development Director Amanda Othoudt, Economic
Development Specialist Colleen Eddy, and City Clerk Tina Allard
I . Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Economic
Development Authority was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Tveite.
2. Consider 06/15/20 15 Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Olsen to
approve the June 15, 2015 agenda. Motion carried 7-0.
3. Consider Consent Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Dwyer
to approve the following consent agenda:
3.1 May 18, 2015, EDA Minutes.
3.2 Check register as outlined in the staff report.
3.3 Balance sheet as outlined in the staff report.
3.4 Revenue/ expenditure report as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 7-0.
4. Open Forum
No one appeared for Open Forum.
S. Public Hearings
There were no public hearing items scheduled for this agenda.
6.1 Marketing Update
Ms. Eddy presented the staff report.
Economic Development Authority Minutes
June 15, 2015
Page 2
Chair Tveite questioned the type of feedback staff received when making trade show
follow-up calls.
Ms. Eddy stated the calls are good for relationship building and talk was about
available lots and reinforcing the amenities and resources Elk River has to offer.
Commissioner Dwyer questioned if the two data centers currently located in Elk
River carried any weight with potential clients.
Ms. Eddy stated yes because they know the city has gone through the process of
building data centers and understands what they are all about; plus, she commented,
it is nice to have Elk River Municipal Utilities involved in the process to discuss their
electric reliability. She stated there is a lot of interest in the Sherburne County site.
6.2 Director Report
Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report.
The Authority took a break at 5:54 p.m. in order to go into worksession. They
reconvened at 6:00 p.m.
6.3 Strategic Plan Workshop
Due to time constraints, the commission members suggested bringing back ideas
about the strategies they would like to see implemented for the next regular meeting.
Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report.
President Tveite stated there should be more business retention and expansion visits.
Commissioner Olsen stated he would like to participate in business retention and
expansion visits in his ward.
Ms. Othoudt suggested changing the launch of a powerful website to updating the
site.
The Commission concurred.
Commissioner Westgaard stated he would like to see more craft or micro -breweries.
Ms. Othoudt suggested removing Rehabilitation and Redevelopment and the
Residential Strategies sections because they are Housing and Redevelopment
Authority functions.
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Economic Development Authority Minutes Page 3
June 15, 2015
There was discussion regarding partnerships with the River's Edge Downtown
Association and other civic groups such as Chamber Connections.
Commissioner Wagner noted there are many networking groups and staff should
make it a goal to attend one of each groups meetings once in a year.
Commissioner Dwyer stated the upkeep of community branding is a big job and he
would like the city and EDA to continue with the work of the program.
Commissioners were directed to pass on to staff any goals or actions steps they
would like to see in the strategic plan by this Friday so it can be discussed at the next
meeting.
It was noted the next meeting would begin at 5:00 p.m. in order to discuss budget.
7. Announcements
Ms. Othoudt stated the GATR ground breaking is scheduled this Wednesday at
10:00 am, along with a Sherco plant tour later in the day.
8. Adjournment
There being no further business, Chair Tveite adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River Economic Development Authority at 6:22 p.m.
Dan Tveite, EDA President
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Tina Allard, City Clerk
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