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05-07-1987 EDA MIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT FIRST NATIONAL BANK ELK RIVER MAY 7. 1987 . Members Present: Chairman Cliff Lundberg (7:15). Vice Chair Jeff Gongoll. Wade Turner. Larry Toth. Carol Mills (7:10). Chamber Representative Jackie Schuelein. Past Chairman Dick Gongoll Members Absent: Lloyd Brutlag. City Representative Pat Klaers Other Economic Development Commission Members Present: Elaine Anderson. Jerry Hagen (7:13) The meeting of the Economic Development Task Force Committee was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Vice Chairman Jeff Gongoll. Vice Chairman Gongoll gave a report on the meeting of the Elk River City Council at which three firms came in to introduce themselves and inform the City Council on what they have to offer as an Economic Development Consultant. Gongoll stated that Mike Mulrooney representing Business Development Service. Inc. was the consensus of the Council to act as Economic Development Consultant with his specialty being marketing. The basic purpose of this meeting was to brainstorm and come up with ideas on duties the Consultant should preform. The Economic Development Commission along with the Chamber of Commerce would like to see a clerical person hired for the Chamber and the duties of this position should also be discussed. . A main concern of the Committee short term basis because of the also raised. "Can we afford companies? " was finances. It was suggested minimal finances available. The to hire this firm for recruiting to look at a question was out of state The business retention surveys that have been done for Elk River were discussed. The Business Survey is expected to be updated some time between July and September. There are currently no plans to update the Labor Survey. The duties the Consultant would be asked to perform include looking at the current surveys and deciding whether or not they need to be modified and how best to use the results. Vice Chairman Gongoll went through a list of questions he had drawn up which he feels should be addressed by the Consultant. This list included questions such as: How do we fund expansion of the Industrial Park? What are available funding services? When should a Economic Development Coordinator position be established? Help in the development of an effective business retention program? How do we plan for future retention of existing businesses and provide for additional future businesses? What kind of budget do we need to establish an Economic Development Coordinator? . The question was then raised. "What are other cities providing?" Elk River's neighboring cities such as Becker and Monticello were then discussed. A number of positive items about Elk River were then pointed out such as railway transportation. location. and access to the metro area. . . . Page 2 Economic Development Task Force Committee Meeting May 7, 1987 Larry Toth then spoke on the existing businesses in Elk River. He stated that Elk River must promote business as well as industry and that a increased tax base must be established. Toth also commented on how the Planning Commission is handling businesses requesting to locate in Elk River. Jerry Hagen added the comment that Elk River needs people on the Planning Commission who do not have tunnel vision. Dick Gongo11 stated that Mike Mulrooney, acting as Economic Development Consultant, could help Elk River to decide how fast to get involved in an Economic Development Program and could also be a coordinator between the City and the Chamber. It was stated that the City and businesses do not necessarily mesh together and that there is a lack of communication. This gap may be closed with the help of Mulrooney. The taxes of Elk River were discussed as to why they are so high. Two basic reasons were given for these rates: 1. No valuation. 2. With the new construction, it adds value but also increases school taxes. Jackie Shue1ein spoke on the clerical pos1t10n the Chamber would like to establish. Jackie stated that such a person would be used to better channel the information available and do the clerical work so she can call on businesses to see what the Chamber can do for them. A suggestion was made to have the City shuffle one of their clerical workers between the City and Chamber. The suggestion was addressed by Chairman Lundberg who stated that he does not feel the City would want to share a Staff person and that in such a situation it has to be decided who is the controlling authority. Lundberg stated that some of Jackie IS work should be done by the City rather than sharing an employee. It was stated that the City could provide funds to help staff a clerical person since the Chamber budget is so low. Additional suggestions were then made for the duties of a consulting person: 1. Work on business retention program. 2. Do follow-up on prospective businesses looking at Elk River. 3. Research various funding service programs available. 4. Keep list of Economic Development data and development trends. 5. Act as liaison between City Council and Economic Development Commission. 6. Keep in touch with neighboring City Administrators. 7. Work on cost justification. It was stated that the Economic Development Commission will ask the consultant to teach them how to present themselves and Elk River to businesses looking at locating here. . . . Page 3 Economic Development Task Force Committee Meeting May 7, 1987 The duties of the clerical person were then discussed. 1. Prepare and disperse minutes of EDC meetings. 2. Update data--ca1ling various groups to get names of Chairpeop1e and contact people. 3. Conduct surveys, document results and decide how to disperse. 4. Possibly do follow-up work. 5. Compile results of housing survey, business retention survey and labor survey. 6. Do land survey including what is available, who owns, and how much it costs. 7. Make information easily accessible to distribute to possible buyers. It was stated that would be the school out of line to ask for one of the largest beneficiaries of system and it was questioned whether funding there. a person like this or not it would be Again discussion was held on hiring a person jointly with the City but it appeared that the Chamber would prefer a full-time employee. It was stated that the Chamber of Commerce is to make a list of duties which they would like to see a clerical person do, and this list along with the list from the Economic Development Commission will be presented to the City Council at their June 1st meeting. The overall Economic Development Program of the County was discussed. It was stated that this is not an updated document and is only compiled because it is a State requirement. Neighboring counties were also discussed and what types of Economic Development programs they have. /) Richard Gongoll then gave an update on the Data Card Corporation situation; a company who has been to Elk River to find out about possibly locating a branch plant here. Gongoll stated that some members of Elk River Associated Investors would be going to view the main plant on May 13, 1987. Data Card has stated that they will not make a final decision until about August or September. There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ~jV{~ Danille Mathison ~ Recording Secretary akh