2016.03.02 EDC Packet Combined - Laserfiche WebLink

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Indicators" of Tax Base Growth and Blight Reduction under the Economic Development priority, questioning whether these were good indicators of the economic wellbeing of the City. Since the Council was aware of the work the EDC underwent in 2015, they asked staff for a quick summary of what the EDC has been working on. Staff explained the Commission identified the following four general categories of economic development: • Physical Redevelopment • Business Retention & Expansion • Housing Programs • Sense of Place Gundlach indicated the Council was impressed with the depth of thought in these four categories, and recommended the Commission examine the Economic Development strategic priority and mold the four categories identified by the EDC into Key Performance Indicators of the Economic Development priority. Based on Council discussion, and in an effort to assist in this process, staff edited this section of the Strategic Performance Report, including the four categories of economic development identified by the EDC. Additionally, staff inserted already established goals in the areas of Physical Redevelopment and Business Retention & Expansion, based on existing projects within New Brighton Exchange and the most recent BR&E recommendation the Council accepted on January 12th. The task before the EDC is to craft a recommendation to the City Council, amending the Economic Development priority to reflect the four policy categories previously identified by the EDC. To help the Commission get started, staff offers the following additional thoughts: • It's important to remember the intent with crafting Key Performance Indicators is for them to be measurable so as to gauge whether or not certain goals within the priority are being met. • Since the EDC hasn't really discussed Housing Programs or Sense of Place, it's ok that these Key Performance Indicators are not fully refined. However, it would be helpful to describe the EDC's intentions in these categories and if timelines can be identified for completing tasks. Gundlach requested the EDC have a discussion on this topic and provide staff with feedback. Commissioner Benke questioned how the City currently managed code enforcement issues. Gundlach discussed the process with which staff followed to address code enforcement or blight concerns in the community. Chair Zisla asked how the City compared to neighboring communities regarding blight and property values. Gundlach reviewed a map of the City and explained overall the City's single-family housing stock was doing well and was increasing in value. Through further investigation staff found that duplexes and multi -family housing values were declining. Chair Zisla discussed the value of updating the property value information over time. Commissioner Beach asked how Open to Business would be marketed to the public. Gundlach indicated she had provided the City Council with a brief one-page marketing plan. This plan included marketing Open to Business on the City's website, an article in the spring newsletter, and Rob Smolund would be having office hours at the Community Center once a month. She indicated the City has a fairly comprehensive business mailing list at this time and staff could complete a targeted mailing. She commented another option would be to interview Rob Smolund for the local newspaper. Chair Zisla explained the Council was interested in the structure of the contract with Open to Business. He reported the contract does not have an automatic renewal. Rather it had a one-year term with three different renewal options.