03-08-1999 EDA MIN SPECIAL-WORKSESSION
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SPECIAL WORKSESSION MEETING OF THE
ELK RIVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1999
Members Present:
President Dwyer; Commissioners Bender. Thompson. and Motin.
Commissioner Klinzing arrived at 4:20. Commissioner Gongoll
arrived at 4:25.
Members Absent:
Commissioner Farber
Staff Present:
Paul Steinman. Director of Economic Development; Pat Klaers. City
Administrator; Bryan Adams. Utilities Manager; Joni Pearson.
Recording Secretary
Also Present:
Jim Brimeyer - The Brimeyer Group. Inc.
Duane Kropuenske. HRA Chair; Richard Hinkle. HRA Commissioner;
Larry Toth. HRA Commissioner. Stuart Wilson. HRA Commissioner
arrived at 4:20. John Dietz. City Council member arrived at 5:00.
1.
Introduction/Obiective
Facilitator Jim Brimeyer discussed with the group that through a review of the
Strategic Plan SWOT analysis (strengths. weaknesses. opportunities. and threats). it
is anticipated that staff and commission members should be able to determine
whether an update of the Strategic Plan is necessary at this time. He explained
that the four major issues of the Strategic Plan are as follows:
. Industrial Base
. Business Retention and Growth
. East Highway 10 Development/Redevelopment
. Downtown Redevelopment
Mr. Brimeyer indicated that the major objective is that a consensus be reached
by the HRA. EDA. and City Council members regarding these issues and their
priority ranking in the Strategic Plan.
2. Review Process of Comoletion of Strateaic Plan in 1996/1997
Mr. Brimeyer presented the group with the SWOT analysis completed for the
original Strategic Plan. In discussion regarding how the strengths and weaknesses
compare to today's analysis. it was determined that many of the weaknesses
defined in the Strategic Plan have now become strengths. It was discussed that
some of the original strengths (such as taxes) may be considered a weakness in
the near future.
In discussion of opportunities and threats comparisons. it was the consensus that
the original opportunities list has remained relatively the same. with the addition
of the Commuter Rail project. It was discussed that Met Council may be even
more of a threat today than when it was first indicated as such. and that added
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Special Worksession of the Economic
Development Authority Minutes
March 8, 1999
Page 2
to the list of threats should be: utility companies, personal property taxes, and
lack of available employees.
It was the consensus of the group that the issue of Industrial Base (attracting new
businesses to increase the city's industrial base) is still the # 1 priority in the Plan.
3. Review of Strateaic Plan Action Items
Director of Economic Development Paul Steinman provided a review of the 1998
Progress Report on action steps assigned from the Strategic Plan. The following
items were determined to be in need of review and/or change:
· Modify the TIF policy to allow maximum flexibility and to guide the city's
appropriate use of this tool - Need for review
· Modify the Micro Loan policy to allow maximum flexibility for use as an
incentive to encourage industrial business growth - Move up on priority list
· Initiate a "Business Incubator" program to support the location of high tech
and job intensive business growth within Elk River - To be an "ongoing" item
and form new action items to continue this plan
· Redevelop the East Highway 10 Corridor - Consensus was a need to update
this action item list, as the utility project has been ordered
· Downtown Redevelopment - Consensus was that this being a challenging
issue, efforts should be made to provide more communication of this project
by involving the City Council
4. Determine if an UpdatelModification of the Strateaic Plan is Necessarv
With respect to the information discussed and reviewed by the worksession
participants, it was the recommendation of facilitator Jim Brimeyer that the group
move forward and complete an update of the Strategic Plan. Jim suggested
that the group revisit issues such as road transportation/congestion, commuter
rail, and park and recreation issues when revising the plan.
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Joni Pearson
Recording Secretary