Minutes - Council Work Session - 05/29/2012

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Councilmember Backous stated this position to me is wide open. We need someone in this position to be there when the phone rings. I like the EDA there but do not know if we have the continuity there. He stated he would rather we be proactive. Councilmember Strommen stated we need an answer if they have someone calling to be proactive. She expressed concern about not having any economic development staff. Councilmember McGlone stated he likes switching to reactive. He added when he reads the duties, he sees responds to phone calls — and he feels there were lackluster results. He suggested EDA can give other staff work to do. Mayor Ramsey agreed with Councilmember McGlone. Councilmember Elvig stated that we spent a lot more getting people into this place. He stated he believes in marketing, marketing, and marketing. You will not get anything just standing there — we need marketing and then finishing, etc. You have to have a closer — you have to have a proactive person making the calls, Councilmember Strommen stated if it isn't good for the rest of the City, why do we have to have it here in The COR. Mayor Ramsey stated we need to make this COR work because of all the money we've spent. Councilmember Strommen stated we have to have the whole City work. Councilmember Backous stated it's a numbers game; you make 100 calls, you close two deals. Councilmember McGlone stated he agrees. He said it's not coming to you at your kitchen table. Trying to revive millions of dollars — trying to revive 167 Avenue — we have a train station coming — that will help — and added that he does support this area more than any other area in the City. Councilmember Tossey stated we had a Deputy City Administrator and Landform and we hired an Economic Development Manager and he was not in favor of it. He stated he will not vote for that Development Manager when it's re -upped in March. Maybe we need to look at that. It does not mean it was right. Maybe we should have someone work all these facets. There are other businesses here that could come to the City. We cannot keep handing it off to Mr. Ulrich. We need to look at some type of position. Mayor Ramsey stated last time there were four of us who said we would not raise our taxes and you said we needed to fix roads. If we hire a marketing manager then who are we going to cut? Councilmember Tossey stated he would say who we will cut in March. Mayor Ramsey suggested laying off someone would put $100,000 into play. City Council Work Session / May 29, 2012 Page 7 of 12