05-18-2020 EDA MIN1-1%\
ver
Virtual Meeting of the Elk River
Economic Development Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, May 18, 2020
(Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic)
Members Present: President Dan Tveite, Commissioners Garrett Christianson, Matt
Westgaard, Nate Ovall, Jennifer Wagner, Jeff Hartwig, and Charlie
Blesener
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Economic Development Director Amanda Othoudt, and Economic
Development Specialist Colleen Eddy
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 5:37 p.m. by President Tveite.
2. Roll Call
■ Dan Tveite
■ Garrett Christianson
■ Nate Ovall
■ Jennifer Wagner
■ Charlie Blesener
■ Matt Westgaard
■ Jeff Hartwig
3. Consider Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Ovall to
approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0.
4. Consider Consent Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Christianson and seconded by Commissioner
Wagner to approve the following consent agenda:
4.1 April 20 and 29, 2020, Minutes
4.2 Check register as outlined in the staff report.
4.3 Balance sheet as outlined in the staff report.
4.4 Revenue/expenditure report as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 7-0.
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May 18, 2020
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S. Open Forum
No one appeared for Open Forum.
6. Public Hearings
There were no public hearing items.
7.1 EDA Strategic Plan Update
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Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. She introduced Tom Leighton, Economic
Development Specialist, Senior Urban Planner from Stantec Consulting.
Mr. Leighton reviewed his background experience. He also reviewed the work plan
and the Authority's involvement in the plan as shown in his presentation.
Commissioner Blesener asked for more elaboration on Item 1.4 Focus Group
Sessions and Item 4.2 Business Community Workshop (Optional Task). He felt all
these audiences were important to the conversation and asked about the strategy to
engage people.
Mr. Leighton stated the focus group sessions are designed to get differing viewpoints
and would include audiences such as business owners and other groups He stated
Stantec has been developing alternative mechanisms for outreach due to COVID.
Commissioner Blesener asked if Stantec had a profile of the focus groups the
Authority should be considering.
Mr. Leighton stated it's a collaborative effort. He said the Authority should not
worry about these being statistically representative, but he would want to make sure
key perspectives are at the table and provided examples related to manufacturing and
downtown.
Ms. Othoudt provided examples of other groups such as the school district, the
downtown business association, chamber of commerce, industry, service -related
businesses, developers, realtors, and brokers.
Mr. Leighton stated the Business Community Workshop would require an additional
budget allocation if the Authority wished to pursue it. He discussed the SWOT
analysis related to Elk River.
The Authority asked for informational material prior to the next meeting.
7.2 COVID-10 Small Business Emergency Microloan Program
Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. She introduced city attorney Gina Fiorini.
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Commissioner Wagner questioned if you have to apply for the loan to get the
property tax relief and why there is an employee requirement.
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Ms. Othoudt stated one form was created for both programs as it was simpler to
administrate and the applicant could apply for either the loan and/or tax relief.
Ms. Fiorini stated this policy was modeled after other similar EDA policies noting
most want to target smaller businesses.
Chair Tveite stated he'd like to remove the employee requirement and have it applied
to the businesses forced to shut down due to the governor's order.
Commissioner Wagner concurred and would suggest the requirement that they have
to be in business for six months prior to shut down removed.
Commissioner Westgaard questioned if we are wanting to target or eliminate a
certain demographic of business and that was a reason for having some of these
requirements.
Ms. Fiorini stated the requirement were based on what is typical for other EDA's.
Commissioner Westgaard questioned if the requirement applies to a new business or
new ownership of an existing business, referencing the recent sale of Olde Main
Eatery.
Chair Tviete stated it is reasonable to say businesses had to be in operation prior to
the orders. He stated he would like to strike the employee requirement and keep that
a business had to be open prior the orders.
Commissioner Wagner concurred.
Commissioner Ovall felt having both programs lumped into one application is too
cumbersome for the property tax relief program, noting there are some requirements
that aren't needed for this program.
Ms. Othoudt stated separate applications can be drafted. She stated it would be
helpful to clarify how the Authority will be measuring the property taxes to be
forgiven. She questioned if it would be the May or October tax payment.
Comrissioner Blesener stated it should be for any taxes due in 2020.
Conunissioner Ovall stated is should be the lesser of their 2020 annual property tax
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due or $5,000.
Ms. Othoudt noted it could get a little tricky with leased properties, but the lease
agreements would have to be reviewed.
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Commissioner Wagner asked for clarification about the policy language regarding the
program being on a first come first serve basis and funding to be provided until the
funds are exhausted or the declaration is lifted, whichever comes first.
Ms. Fiorini stated it is the Authority's discretion on how they want to write the policy
and they could keep the program open longer.
Commissioner Wagner doesn't think the economic disparity ends when the
emergency declaration changes and suggested changing the language to December
31, 2020 or until the funds are exhausted.
Chair Tviete thanked staff for the quick turnaround on this item and catching the
spirit of the Authority's intent.
Moved by Commissioner Wagner and seconded by Commissioner Hartwig to
adopt Resolution 20-03 approving COVID-19 Small Business Emergency
Microloan Program with the following changes:
1. Eliminate number of employees' requirement.
2. Change date of being in business to prior to the governor's orders.
3. Striking city declared emergency from the timeframe.
Motion carried 7-0.
7.3 Director Report
Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report as outlined in the staff report.
Commissioner Wagner provided an update of the Together Elk River marketing
campaign.
8. Adjournment
There being no further business, President Tveite adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River Economic Development Authority at 6:29 p.m.
Minutes prepared by City Clerk Tina Allard
Dan Tveite, EDA President
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Tina Allard, City Clerk
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