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a list of the goals and were requested to review and prioritize them. As indicated in discussions at previous meetings, there are some goals that may not appear on the list that may be important for the EDC to consider. Some of those might include development of a chamber group for the City of Ramsey, ordinance review, small business fair, business visitation programs, continuation of Business Appreciation Day and Business EXPO and monument sign installation. Commissioner Vevea indicated that he felt the single most important goal that the EDC should complete during 1992 is to establish comprehensive economic development strategy directing and encouraging the development of the following opportunities: Small and medium sized businesses and support and expand existing businesses. Commissioner Vevea felt that this was very important because the business community pays six times the taxes that are incurred by residential properties and part of the "American Dream" is to go into business for yourself. He felt the City does not encourage business. Commissioner Vevea felt that the City should not be looking towards luring a large company, but should encourage development of small and medium sized businesses as this will be the area of greatest job production and the greatest growth in the near furore. The development of this strategy should also include what steps the small and medium sized businesses should go through in order to start a successful business. This would be very similar to a business incubator program that would allow for these businesses to grow and eventually become self-sufficient. Commissioner Fults indicated that along with this goal, the City also needs to work closely with the existing businesses in such important matters as site improvements and landscaping because these are high cost items for a business that is just starting up. The EDC must work to bring businesses into the community along with retaining the existing businesses. As an example, site improvements must be conclusive to normal maintenance such as snow removal. Chaim~an Wagner indicated that Ramsey has changed and the existing businesses must also change as the City continues to grow. To prevent development problems in the future, the City needs to work on a comprehensive strategy for business growth and development to remind those businesses that they do have to follow the City ordinances and that if all businesses do follow the ordinances, the City will continue to grow and will be a more lucrative place to establish a business. Commissioner Nelson stated that it is very important for the EDC when it establishes its strategy to also develop a strategy in which to make personal contact with each business in the City and businesses that may locate in the City in the future. She feels it is through personal contacts that the businesses continue to grow and grow into a trusting relationship with the City. Commissioner Nelson felt that this was very evident with the problems that she encountered when working on the 1991 Business EXPO Commissioner Kent agreed with Commissioner Nelson in the fact that businesses feel much more comfortable in dealing with the City if they have met face-to-face and have developed more of a personal and/or social relationship with those people. After further discussion of all the goals listed on the 1992 Goals List, the EDC came up with eight priority goals. They are as follows: 1 ) A full-time economic development and marketing person 2) Development of an Economic Development Authority 3) Development of a local arm of the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce for the City Economic Development Commission / December 4, 1991 Page 2 of 3