Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 11/14/2013

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Staff is working with prospect Echo now; and has made development proposal. Additionally, Staff has provided options for expansion at their existing Ramsey location; along with lease options. The prospect is reviewing opportunities outside of Ramsey as well. (3) Business Retention & Expansion Program Due to workload levels, Staff has not conducted proactive business retention and expansion visits since January. Staff anticipates time to be available to conduct business visits either when an Economic Development Manager is hired (November 18). Events, admin tasks, leases, responding to prospects, 167/47 and the old municipal center and the future business park projects are taking priority. NOTE: staff has conducted 4-6 'reactive' business visits since January. Update In reaction to information received from the 2012 EDA Business Retention and Expansion Visits —the Ramsey Police Department will be visiting all Ramsey Businesses over the next two months. The purpose of visits is: (A) network/touch-base/meet and (B) conduct preliminary safety checks of Ramsey businesses — which will include providing information/suggestions on common business concerns/issues. (4) Economic Development Manager Position Update The City Council will consider hiring the City's new economic development manager on Tuesday November 18, 2013. Staff will provide an update at the November EDA meeting. (5) 167/47 Commercial Node Update Please reference the EDA agenda (this is a separate case). (6) Future Business Park Background Historically, the City of Ramsey has remained competitive in economic development recruitment and expansion opportunities. Unfortunately, the City of Ramsey has recently run low on an inventory of available land for business recruitment (new businesses) and expansion (existing business). Therefore, the City of Ramsey is currently not in a strong position to compete for economic development prospects. The Ramsey City Council and EDA have recognized the state of the City's economic development position and have identified finding a solution a priority. For the past three months the EDA has discussed potential future business park locations. The EDA reviewed six major sites. As a result, the EDA provided staff with direction to pursue the Al Pearson Site (north) as the primary future business park for the City. Said action included a public input process and a feasibility study (to begin the process). Update The City will be holding a public input session on December 12, 6:00 p.m. at the Ramsey Municipal Center regarding a potential future landuse change (i.e. allowing for a business park) on the Al Pearson property.