Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-23 BEDC Minutes MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA 6:00 P.M., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23,2012 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairperson Jenkins. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Gary Kloncz, Commissioner David Hesley, Commissioner Mark Jenkins, Chairperson Jennifer Lewis, Commissioner Beth Ulrich, Commissioner Warren Wessel, Commissioner Present Present Present Absent Present Present Staff Michael Martin, Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Kloncz moved to approve the aqenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Hesley. Ayes - All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The June 23, 2011, BEDC Minutes are Tabled due to lack of commission members that are present to approve. Commissioner Ulrich moved to approve the BEDC minutes for September 22. 2011. as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Hesley. Ayes - Chairperson Jenkins, Commissioner's Hesley & Ulrich Abstention - Commissioner's Kloncz, & Wessel The motion passed. Commissioner Hesley moved to approve the BEDC minutes for January 26.2012. as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Wessel. Ayes - Chairperson Jenkins, Commissioner's Hesley, Kloncz & Wessel February 23, 2012 Business and Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Abstention - Commissioner Ulrich The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Capital Improvement Plan 2013 - 2017 i. Assistant City Manager, Public Works Director, Chuck Ahl gave the report on the Capital Improvement Plan. Commissioner Hesley moved to approve the Capital Improvement Plan for 2013 - 2017. Seconded by Commissioner Ulrich. Ayes - All The motion passed. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Continued Discussion of Commission Goals i. Assistant City Manager, Public Works Director, Chuck Ahl and Planner, Michael Martin presented the discussion. BEDC Action Plan 1) BEDC Role in Maplewood Business Community a. Education i. BEDC Meetings - Guest Speakers (recruited by Commissioners and staff) 1. Invite businesses to attend meeting in person 2. Share links to guest speaker video with businesses 3. If speaker brings materials, put link to materials on BEDC website ii. Small Business Resources Page on city website 1. Financial, Grant and Loan sources 2. Federal, State and Local resources 3. Federal, State and Local contacts 4. Area Business Associations 5. Property Finder b. Listening i. Encourage a "visitors presentations" participation at BEDC meetings for Maplewood business owners ii. Change retention tour from pre-call to drop in visits at Commissioners (and businesses) convenience. Staff will maintain and distribute a list of Maplewood businesses visited for Commissioner reference. 1. Focus on businesses near open space or in future development area 2. Consider businesses that have had some press attention, new products, just expanded, etc 3. Visit new businesses after they have been in Maplewood for 6 months or so. iii. Retention visits should include annual visits with Maplewood's top employers 1. Commissioner, staff and City Council representative present at each 2. Visit should be on employer's site. iv. Include Maplewood Business Open House (meet and mingle) at close of annual Maplewood Business event at the Maplewood Community Center. Strongly encourage Commission, staff and Council attendance. c. Advocacy February 23, 2012 Business and Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes 2 i. Commissioners represent Maplewood and Maplewood businesses on area business associations. Commissioners will give a short report at BEDC meetings concerning activities and issues discussed at association events/meetings. 1. Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce - Mark Jenkins, already a member 2. White Bear Avenue Business Association - OPEN 3. Oakdale Business and Professionals Association - OPEN 4. Others - OPEN ii. Represent Maplewood and its businesses interests when making recommendations to Maplewood City Council and Maplewood Area Economic Development Authority 2) How to promote BEDC's new role in the business community a. Create, print and distribute flyers describing BEDC meetings i. Flyers should include: 1. Include mission statement or short paragraph describing BEDC and what it can do for Maplewood businesses. 2. Include Commissioner's contact information for outreach 3. Include Mike Martin's contact info for staff representation and as contact point for business visit requests 4. Include City Council liaison's contact info 5. Include website address and short list of resources available on the site a. Can we get a shorter url for BEDC? (ci.maplewood.mn.us/business (or bed c)) ii. Flyers would be distributed 1. by mail to all registered Maplewood businesses 2. in a business welcome pack (yet to be developed) for all new business registrations in Maplewood. 3. by BEDC members at association events and at individual business visits. 4. Available at City hall b. Commissioners, staff and City Council promote BEDC meetings when meeting with Maplewood businesses c. Press release to Lillie News and Saint Paul Pioneer Press i. Cc'd to area business associations for inclusion in their newsletters d. One time BEDC article (summary of press release) in Maplewood Monthly 3) BEDC Role in Maplewood City Government a. Become knowledgeable about various business development tools available to Maplewood i. TIF Financing ii. Loan programs iii. Federal, State and local business development tools available to Maplewood b. Become familiar with open or vacant spaces for new and growing businesses c. Become familiar with the City's future development/redevelopment plans (Gladstone) d. Become familiar with the businesses in and around the vacant spaces as well as those in and around any proposed development e. Be willing to share your own unique business experiences with the Commission and the Council f. Attend or watch City Council meetings where BEDC advisories are considered 4) Recommendations a. Use "consultant" dollars towards promoting the BEDC. i. BEDC Commissioners should be the EDA's consultants ii. Dollars could be used for 1. design and printing costs of flyers, . 2. association membership costs with area business associations 3. towards an annual BE DC/Council/Business open house at the Community Center February 23, 2012 Business and Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes 3 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Chairperson Jenkins mentioned a new CEO at 3M in Maplewood. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. 2011 Annual BEDC Report i. Planner, Michael Martin gave the 2011 Annual BEDC Report Commissioner Hesley moved to approve the 2011 Annual BEDC Report. Seconded by Commissioner Wessel. Ayes - All The motion passed. b. Development Summary i. Planner, Michael Martin presented the report and answered questions of the commission. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Jenkins adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m. February 23, 2012 Business and Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes 4