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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[05] Minutes CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Meeting Minutes—Wednesday April 24,2013 Present: Board Members Doug Danielson, Steve Frank, Larry Hosch (5:23 p.m.)and Gary Osberg. Absent: Dale Wick. Also present resident Michael McDonald, and EDA Director Cynthia Smith-Strack. Call to Order. Vice Chair Danielson called the April 24, 2013 meeting of the St. Joseph EDA to order at 5:00 p.m. Agenda. Vice Chair Danielson introduced the agenda. Motion by Frank second by Osberg to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 3-0. Public Comment. Michael McDonald opined the business listings on the website were a positive addition. Approval of Minutes. Vice Chair Danielson introduced the minutes from the March 27, 2013 regular EDA meeting. Changes relating to the times for departure of Board Member and meeting adjournment were noted. Said changes were from the six o'clock hour to the five o'clock hour. Motion by Osberg, Second Frank to approve the March 27, 2013 minutes with the requested changes. Motion carried 3-0. Accounts Payable and Monthly Report. Vice Chair Danielson introduced the agenda items and reviewed accounts payable from March 2013 in the amount of$2,728.28 (MDG contract and mileage) and the check register. Danielson also alluded to the financial reports included in the packet. Frank inquired as to whether or not any anomalies were included in the report. Strack noted audit numbers were anticipated for the May reports and she noted first half property taxes won't be credited until after June 1st Osberg alluded to funds available for marketing and noted he would follow up on that line of questioning when discussing EDA marketing materials. Strack noted$8,000 carried over from previous years after the EDA did not join the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership as it was being disbanded in favor of formation of the Greater St. Cloud Economic Development Corporation. Osberg inquired as to why the City/EDA is not involved with the Greater St. Cloud EDC. Frank noted the Council had made a decision to forego membership as part of the budgeting process. Osberg inquired as to when that decision could be reevaluated. Frank noted the annual budget process would begin shortly(in June). Motion by Frank, Seconded by Osberg to approve the accounts payable and financial reports as presented. Motion carried 3-0. Marketing Materials. Vice Chair Danielson introduced the agenda item. Strack noted she corresponded with Amanda Fiedler from the Becker EDA regarding materials included in an EDA folder. Ms. Fiedler noted: 1. Each folder costs approximately$2.08 to produce. 2. The Becker EDA had the folder itself printed by Sunray Printing.They ran 250 folders for a total cost of$43. April 24,2013 EDA Meeting Page 1 3 3. The Becker EDA had Papers Best print a total of 150 'Business Finance Guides'for a cost of $136.27. The guides were professionally designed. 4. The Sherburne County Citizen printed 4,000 of the'Area Guides/Inserts'that are included in the packet. The Area Guides cost about$1/booklet. The Newsleader has a similar publication that's distributed here at City Hall. A copy is included in your packet. 5. Sherburne County designed and paid for the printing of the'Tools for Business Success'flyer. 6. Becker EDA representatives hand out the folders during business visits, to site selectors, to realtors working with businesses, and to businesses looking or information about Becker. Strack also referenced materials included in the packet—a "where's Waldo"city map, a map produced by the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce, a community guide produced by The Newsleaders, and a brochure with inserts produced by the EDA several years ago. Strack noted the most often distributed literature was the 'Waldo' map. She noted Office staff referred to it as the 'Waldo' map because of the somewhat unique rendering. Stearns Electric funded the map printing several years ago. Osberg noted the Chamber of Commerce's involvement with the map. He offered to bring a request to update the map to the Chamber. He opined the map needed updating but thought the Chamber, not the EDA should drive the project. Danielson concurred the EDA should not alone be responsible for creating a folder similar to that used by Becker. He also indicated support for EDA representatives having something of a professional quality to hand deliver to contacts. Frank inquired as to whether or not Xcel Energy would join Stearns Electric in producing an updated map. After further discussion it was consensus of the EDA that Osberg would ask the Chamber to participate in a map update and that Strack would follow up with Xcel Energy and Stearns Electric regarding funding the project. Frank inquired as to whether or not the Board thought printed materials were 'old school' approach to information distribution. Strack alluded to a web link forwarded to EDA members earlier in the day. It was a subscription based business toolbox used by Sherburne and Isanti Counties. She noted the breadth and depth of information available on the site, how it appeared to be under the domain of the County, and the local links provided. Hosch noted access to information via the Internet is a primary marketing tool and potentially more important than print. Osberg opined a subscription to pursued immediately. Frank noted he would like additional information such as how many hits the subscription service had and other information that would indicate how often the information was used. Hosch noted he would like to review what other communities are currently doing as well. Strack to forward links from other sites and the Sherburne County site to EDA members for review prior to the May meeting. Business Development Report. Vice Chair Danielson introduced the agenda item. Strack noted: • Groundbreaking held for U.S. Army Reserve Center. • Great River Energy officially approved financing for biotech firm provided Small Business Association participates. • Website"find a business"page updated, now lists 115 local businesses(home occupations not listed as of this time). April 24, 2013 EDA Meeting Page 2 • Farmer's Market move to Downtown. Strack met with Xcel Energy Sr. Designer Rod Bemis to review various scenarios for access to electric. Minnesota Street is a leading possibility. • We discussed four specific locations: • New business interested in locating in an industrial zone is continuing to progress. Patience needed. • Council representatives and Township Officials met on April 16th regarding status of the Orderly Annexation Agreement and how it relates to annexing new CSAH 2 and turnback of the former CSAH 2 from the County to the City. The group has agreed to meet again in hopes of more clearly defining what may/may not be annexed. This is a time for Gateway/Walz to move forward as they indicated they would in November and petition for annexation. Board Member Announcements. None. Adjournment. Motion by Osberg, Seconded by Frank to adjourn the EDA meeting at 5:49 pm. Motion carried 4-0. April 24, 2013 EDA Meeting Page 3 5