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<br /> <br /> <br />REQUEST FOR COMMISSION CONSIDERATION <br /> <br />ITEM DESCRIPTION: Business Retention and Expansion Follow Up <br />DEPARTMENT HEAD’S APPROVAL: <br />CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: <br />No comments to supplement this report ___ Comments attached ___ <br /> <br />Recommendations:  Review staff’s proposed draft letter to businesses, and offer suggested <br />updates & changes <br /> Provide direction to staff on the desired way to proceed once the letter <br />and business lists are both finalized. <br /> <br />History:  In 2015, the EDC spent significant time discussing Business Retention & <br />Expansion (BR&E) efforts, and ultimately recommended contracting with <br />Open to Business (OTB) as our main push in this regard. While OTB has <br />been successful in helping entrepreneurs and small businesses, it has <br />become recognized that better outreach and better data on our largest <br />employers will also be vital for the City to succeed in the BR&E arena. <br /> On 10/2/19, the EDC brainstormed ways to proceed, and directed staff to <br />prepare a mailing for business outreach, and to complete internal research <br />of local businesses. <br /> <br />Summary:  Attached to this report is the requested draft letter to be used to kick off <br />the outreach campaign. The letter is being presented to the Commission <br />as requested for review, editing, and approval. <br /> Using utility billing data, City Admin staff prepared what looked like a great <br />listing of business in the City, but it was unfortunately found to be deficient <br />upon further examination. The problem is that companies located in a <br />complex are not represented. For example, the Spectacle Shoppe and <br />Adagio’s Pizza pay rent to Inspire Properties, so only Inspire Properties <br />shows up via utility billing. <br /> Before the meeting on 11/6, staff will attempt to cross-reference the utility <br />billing business list with other City Data sources to fill the gaps in the data <br />set. If successful, we will present the finalized list to the EDC at the 11/6 <br />meeting. <br />Agenda Section: VI <br />Item: 1 <br />Report Date: 10/31/19 <br /> Commission Meeting Date: 11/06/19