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<br />Gundlach reviewed the 2015 EDC Work Plan in detail with the members present. <br /> <br />City Code, Chapter 2, Division 3, Economic Development Commission <br />Gundlach reviewed City Code, Chapter 2, Division 3 with the EDC. <br /> <br />Presentation by Staff & EDC Chair Zisla – Topics Beyond New Brighton Exchange <br />Chair Zisla presented a slideshow to the EDC and City Council members present addressing the four <br />main concerns of the EDC at this time. He explained that housing, business retention, physical <br />redevelopment and placemaking initiatives should remain important to the City. <br /> <br />Chair Zisla noted that he had a great discussion with Commissioner Knight regarding limited resources <br />and the role of the EDC. He did not feel that he was in the position to get to the specifics of the <br />proposed programs, but rather to create guidelines for the Council. <br /> <br />Commissioner Zelm did not see why the EDC would consider housing as one of its main concerns, but <br />rather should be addressed by the HRA. She believed housing should only be considered by the EDC in <br />mixed-use developments. <br /> <br />Mayor Jacobsen believed that housing was a worthwhile initiative for the EDC and suggested the group <br />set its own priorities. He noted the group could take a very general look at housing and the other <br />priorities and provide the Council with recommendations. It was his opinion that economic <br />development meant different things to different people and he valued the opinions of the EDC with <br />respect to the four priorities. <br /> <br />Chair Zisla questioned if the EDC was also acting as the HRA, informally. City Manager Lotter <br />discussed this situation further and noted there was no formal HRA group. He explained there were a <br />lot of programs available for the City to participate in depending on the City’s goals and objectives. <br /> <br />Chair Zisla inquired when staff and Council wanted to see the EDC address the four objectives. <br />Gundlach anticipated that this work would be completed in 2015. <br /> <br />Commissioner Zelm asked if the City had data collected regarding property values. Gundlach discussed <br />the information staff had gathered to date regarding land and building market values. She reported that <br />staff’s intention was never to purchase an area for demo to provide new housing. <br /> <br />Commissioner Potter stated the EDC’s current goal was to make New Brighton a better City to live and <br />work. He understood that the group would now also be addressing the four priorities with respect to this <br />goal. <br /> <br />Chair Zisla explained that the Council was interested in having the EDC prioritize these four priorities. <br /> <br />Mayor Jacobsen noted that the population of New Brighton was aging and the elderly wanted to age in <br />place. This would impact the housing population and the City had to consider how to bring in new, <br />young families. <br /> <br />The EDC stated it would be valuable to have information from a local realtor and Pulte Homes on who <br />was buying homes in New Brighton. Gundlach stated she had the 2010 census information available <br />and could also speak to Pulte Homes regarding their buyers. <br /> <br />Councilmember Bauman believed there was a positive cycle where investment in commercial led to new <br />home buyers, which led to investment in the housing stock, which led to increased use of parks, etc. It