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Councilmember Peterson stated that the second issue he felt the EDC should look into is <br />this: he has heard that the businesses in the City of Elk River have become quite actively <br />involved in the D.A.R.E. Program. Maybe this would be a good project to talk about; <br />Ramsey's businesses may want to be more financially involved also. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beahen expounded on a couple of ideas that the City of Anoka has done <br />with regard to the D.A.R.E. Program. <br /> <br />Couneilmember Beyer felt that anything that could be done with businesses regarding <br />funding and on the promotional level would be good. <br /> <br />Councilmember Peterson suggested that the third issue he would like the EDC to discuss is <br />"how much commercial and industrial area do we want to have in the City of Ramsey". <br /> <br />Chairperson Wagner informed Council that the EDC has talked about that issue and they <br />are not certain there is a "correct" answer. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued pertaining to what, if any, impact the latest Charter amendment would <br />have on development. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman felt it will not have a great deal of impact. The City needs to <br />do a better "selling job". After today's ground breaking, we will be getting more <br />businesses. Maybe in five to ten years, we will need an expansion. Anoka and Coon <br />Rapids are running out of land. It would be nice to have some land set aside for industrial <br />reserve. We have taken on a lot of single family homes but they do not add much to the tax <br />base." He suggested something like 50/50 residential/commercial. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin announced he had a couple of issues for discussion. One issue is breakfast <br />meetings for existing businesses and prospects for the industrial parks. The second would <br />be that the Commission would have a list of parcels available; ones with immediately <br />available City services. That would allow them to do more marketing. The third item is a <br />"Main Street Program" He stated he would-like to see each retail area we have be similar in <br />appearance. <br /> <br />Chairperson Wagner suggested that this (appearance of facility) would be reviewed by the <br />Planning Commission as the EDC never sees the site plans. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin continued that we need to get frontage roads put in along Highway #10 and <br />to identify the corridors. He felt the EDC should start to work on that. <br /> <br />Chairperson Wagner felt that was also the Harming Commission's area. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer felt that should be initiated by City staff. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin stated his intent was not that the EDC should negotiate an agreement but to <br />just 16ok at it and how it will best serve the area. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder offered that the issue would be addressed soon. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer commented that this has been an issue all along. There are a lot of <br />businesses on Highway #10 where it's impossible to get easement for frontage. <br /> <br />Economic Development Commission/City Council/November 2, 1995 <br /> Page 4 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />