10-19-2015 EDA HRA JOINT MINJoint Meeting of the Elk River
Economic Development Authority and
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, October 19, 2015
EDA Members Present: President Tveite, Commissioners Burandt, Dwyer,
Westgaard, Provo (4:55 p.m.), Olsen, and Wagner
HRA Members Present: Chair Wilson, Commissioners Chuba, Toth,
and Kuester (4:56 p.m.)
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Economic Development Director Amanda Othoudt,
Economic Development Specialist Colleen Eddy, City Clerk
Tina Allard, and Recording Secretary/Senior Administrative
Assistant Jennifer Johnson
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 4:45 p.m. by President Tveite.
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority was called to order at 4:45 p.m. by Chair Wilson.
2. Consider 10/19/2015 Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Dwyer
to approve the October 19, 2015, joint meeting agenda.
Motion carried 8-0.
3. Golden Shovel Presentation
Ms. Eddy presented the staff report. She introduced John Marshall with Golden
Shovel Agency. He presented a PowerPoint presentation, outlining the fully
customized site selection website design services his agency offered, an economic
development web portal through the current city website. The site would drive
website traffic directly to the opportunities available in Elk River, showcasing
program and initiative information on both the EDA and HRA to jointly promote
properties and programs. He explained the search engine optimization, monthly
analytics to improve the online economic development experience, and complete
customizing to each commission's needs.
Joint meeting of the Economic Development Authority
and Housing and Redevelopment Authority Minutes
October 19,2015
Page 2
Commissioner Toth asked staff to explain how they felt using a tool such as this
would benefit them. He expressed his concerns on how using a site layout such as
this would fully benefit the HRA.
Ms. Otboudt explained the desire and need for a website providing a one-stop
seemless shop on the web to a target audience, explained how these opportunities
overlap and can be laid out on the website, noting the current website doesn't
highlight HRA opportunities.
Mt. Marshall explained how the site is used to `drive' online traffic to the city,
providing detailed content to offer to newcomers. The web layout markets to those
interested by using portals and modules, generating interest and providing high detail
information to prospective interested parties. Golden Shovel will also provide
important monthly analytics to show who is showing interest in Elk River.
Councilmember Wagner asked questions about the analytics of the current website.
Ms. Allard explained the website analytics and the time required for staff to pull
together, download, and review.
Mr. Marshall indicated their company will provide detailed analytics for the city on a
monthly basis and this reporting is included in the monthly fee. He also noted the
unique position Elk River is in, in having an active HRA that works in conjuction
with the EDA. He referenced five websites Golden Shovel hosts that have the
similar type of situation and it's a sign of how well the city commissions work
together, which is very favorable to potential customers.
Councilmember Olsen asked what interested parties look for when researching
locationing their business.
Ms. Othoudt explained when companies are looking at coming into the city, they
look at what the community can offer for a workforce, such as available housing and
other resources.
Councilmember Wagner indicated her concerns regarding outreach to regional and
national companies but has heard from local businesses and having their needs met,
one need being a website that allows for Adobe PDF editable and fillable forms. She
said she can't see yet where doing such a big website changeover would be such a
benefit overall.
Ms. Allard explained the challenge of offering the public an Adobe PDF fillable
form, such as costs and legal requirments for obtaining signatures.
Mr. Marshall explained the Golden Shovel site would provide these tools, such as a
loan module, which would allow potential businesses the ability to log into the secure
site and fill out loan documents, or a survey module.
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Joint meeting of the Economic Development Authority
and Housing and Redevelopment Authority Minutes
October 19, 2015
Page 3
Councilmember Westgaard asked questions regarding the current website host and if
Golden Shovel could provide a benefit that our current site doesn't offer.
Ms. Allard stated a company such as Golden Shovel has options and tools geared
towards economic development that the current site doesn't offer. She stated
Golden Shovel would also provide more management tools to lessen staff's
workload but provide an overall greater benefit.
Councihnember Wagner stated the need to curate the best, most professional and
proper content for the new site and done so in a timely manner and wondered how
quickly the commissions will see a return on investment.
Mr. Marshall explained the content management process and how it would be
specifically geared towards Elk River, and if needed a complete rewriting of current
content as well as an ongoing monthly review and change of content. The initial
upfront content would be provided by staff but a fee would be charged if content
needed to be rewritten. He outlined the process for terminating the site's services
should they feel it's not cost-effective.
Ms. Othoudt indicated staff would be ready and able to curate the proper content for
the Golden Shovel site.
4. Adjournment
There being no further business, Chair Tveite adjourned the joint meeting of the Elk
River Economic Development Authority at 5:42 p.m.
There being no further business, Chair Wilson adjourned the joint of the Elk River
Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting at 5:42 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Johnson.
Dan Tveite, EDA President
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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