2015.12.02 EDC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES New Brighton Economic Development Commission Regular Meeting — December 2, 2015 7:30 a.m. Members/Liaisons Present: Chair Paul Zisla, Commissioners, D.L. Beach, Kevin Peck, Al Potter, Mike Murlowski, Bruce Knight, Monica Garcia -Perez, Bob Benke and Councilmember Gina Bauman Members/Liaisons Absent: None Staff Present: Janice Gundlach- Assistant Director of Community Assets & Development/Planning Director, Craig Schlichting-Director of Community Assets & Development Also Present: Call to Order Chairperson Zisla called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Beach, seconded by Commissioner Potter, to approve the minutes from the November 4, 2015 meeting. Approved 8-0 Report from Council Liaison Councilmember Gina Bauman stated the Council held its Truth In Taxation hearing on December 1St She was pleased by the turnout at the meeting. She discussed the proposed increases that residents would see on both their property taxes and through franchise fees. While she supported investments in City infrastructure, she did not approve of the purchase of Jones Lake. Further discussion ensued regarding the proposed franchise fee increase. Business Retention & Expansion Recommendation to Council Gundlach reported that at the November 4th meeting, the EDC made a recommendation to City Council on a Business Retention & Expansion program. This recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council on January 12, 2016, in tandem with the year-end EDC presentation to be made by the chair. This arrangement allows the Council to more fully understand the EDC's process that ultimately culminated in the formal recommendation. A draft resolution regarding the EDC's recommendation is attached for review and will be presented to the Council as a separate business item. The resolution formalizes the process the EDC underwent throughout 2015. Items 1-4 in the sixth whereas clause of the draft resolution contain, verbatim, the staff recommendation from the November 4th meeting, which the Commission voted unanimously to forward on to Council. Item 5 of that same paragraph reflects the Commission's desire to work with Open to Business. A part of the EDC's recommendation included entering into a contract with Open to Business. A draft contract was reviewed in detail with the EDC. This contract is considered in draft form as the City Attorney is in the process of reviewing it and revisions may be made between now and the January 12th Council meeting. The major points of the contract include: • Costs for services are $12,500 annually • 3 -year contract • Termination criteria • Bi -annual reporting will occur by July 31 st and January 31 st • Scope of services are listed in Exhibit A • Small business loan program guidelines listed in Exhibit B