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<br />MINUTES <br />New Brighton Economic Development Commission <br />Regular Meeting – December 17, 2014 <br />7:30 a.m. <br /> <br />Members/Liaisons Present: Chair Paul Zisla, Commissioners, D.L. Beach, Al Potter, and Bob Benke <br />and Councilmember Paul Jacobsen <br /> <br />Members/Liaisons Absent: Commissioners Bruce Knight, Mike Murlowski, Kevin Peck, Monica <br />Garcia-Perez, and Linda Zelm <br /> <br />Staff Present: Janice Gundlach, Asst. Director of Community Assets & Development, Craig <br />Schlichting, Director of Community Assets & Development, and Dean Lotter-City Manager <br />Also Present: Council member Paul Jacobsen <br />Call to Order <br />Chairperson Zisla called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. <br /> <br />Approval of Minutes <br />Motion by Commissioner Beach, seconded by Commissioner Potter to approve the minutes from the <br />November 19, 2014 meeting. <br /> <br />Approved 4-0 <br /> <br />Report from Council Liaison <br />Councilmember Paul Jacobsen explained the Council approved the 2015 tax levy and budget at a recent <br />meeting. Discussion ensued regarding the City’s finances and local government aid. He reported the <br />Council would be holding a team building session on January 10, 2015. <br /> <br />Report from Staff on Community Development Reorganization <br />Lotter provided the EDC members with information on the Communi ty Development department’s <br />reorganization. He noted that Grant Wyffels and Grant Fernelius have been let go and Janice Gundlach <br />has been promoted, along with Craig Schlichting. He discussed how this restructuring would assist the <br />City in meeting its goals through economies of scale. He provided comment on how the EDC would be <br />impacted by the reorganization and explained that staff support would remain the same. It was noted <br />that Janice Gundlach would be the EDC’s main point of contact. Further discuss ion ensued regarding <br />the City’s staffing level and other consultants. <br /> <br />Chair Zisla found the reorganization to be aggressive and thanked staff for the report on this matter. He <br />questioned if the Council would be meeting with the EDC in the near future. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen hoped to have a joint Council/EDC meeting in early 2015. <br /> <br />Janice Gundlach discussed her hopes and visionunderstanding of the constraints for Block B within <br />NBE. <br /> <br />Lotter indicated Barb Goodwin may be a good person to bring in to further discuss this matter. He <br />provided comment on how the new Finance Director, Brenda Davitt was positively impacting the City. <br /> <br />Craig Schlichting introduced himself to the EDC and prov ided the group with a history of his work <br />experience. He then discussed the projects his department would be completing in 2015. <br />Not Approved <br /> <br />Formatted: Font: Times New Roman, Not