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<br /> <br />preliminary tax levy. He stated a land use permit was approved for Big Blue Box noting this <br />company would like to expand onto an adjacent property. He commented a special use pe rmit <br />was also approved for Zahl Petroleum. Lastly, he noted the City’s salt shed would be relocated <br />to make room for additional parking for the Midtown Village development. <br />VI. Business Items <br />A. Business Retention and Expansion Focus Discussion <br />Gozola stated at the August meeting, staff spoke to the Commission about how staffing at <br />the City has changed over the last 10 years, and informed the Commission that their <br />assistance would be required on the BR&E front for the City to be effective moving forward . <br />Staff reviewed a spreadsheet from Ramsey County on our largest employers, known main <br />contacts, number of employees in New Brighton, etc. Note that API is listed as having only <br />12 local employees, so we need to view the reliability of this data with a t ouch of <br />skepticism; however, it provides us with a fantastic starting point for conducting our own <br />research. Staff led the EDC through a review of this “Largest Employers” listing and led the <br />commission through an exercise to distribute these business amongst all commissioners. <br />Given a list of 40 businesses, a 9 person Commission, and one staff member, that’s four (4) <br />businesses per participant. Following assignments, staff will identify the data that could be <br />collected as part of this first-step effort. It was noted before mid-November, each <br />participant in this effort will need to contact their businesses, make a personal connection, <br />and ask for data as suggested by the Commission. Findings will be reported to staff once in <br />hand to be added to our local database of businesses. <br />Discussion included: <br /> It was suggested the City partner with the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce in <br />order to enhance relationships with local business owners. <br /> The Commission saw benefit in reaching out to local business owners. <br /> If businesses were contacted it was suggested specific questions be asked about how <br />the City could provide better communication or provide information to business <br />owners, and ask if the business was thinking about moving or expanding. <br /> It was recommended the City’s website have a dedicated page for businesses. <br /> A Commissioner suggested a letter, email and phone call be made to each local business <br />in New Brighton. <br /> Staff will work to update the local business list and will draft a letter in the coming <br />weeks for the Commission to review in November. <br />B. Monuments at Entry Points/Monument Design Recommendations <br />Gozola led a discussion on the various main entry points leading into the City worthy of <br />potential entry monumentation, and allowed the EDC to rank each entry point in a priority <br />order for future Council consideration. Staff gave a presentation on entry monument <br />features and styles, and requested feedback from the EDC on what the Commission would