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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 then indicated that he felt that the single most important goal that the EDC could complete during 1992 would be Goal #24 as listed under the EDC and Economic Development Authorities Proposed Goals for 1992. This goal states "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 feels that the City prevents and does not encourage people to go into business and that the City does not do anything to encourage businesses to develop. Commissioner Vevea also 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 future. The development of this strategy should also include what steps the small and medium sized businesses should go through or have to go through in order to start a successful business, very similar to a business incubator program that may 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 snow removal, site improvements and landscaping because these are high cost items for a business that is just starting up and the EDC must work to bring businesses into the community along with retaining the existing businesses. Chairman Wagner indicated that Ramsey has changed and the existing businesses must also change as the City continues to grow and that to prevent problems in the future when the City is developing, a comprehensive strategy for business growth and development it needs to remind those businesses that they do have to follow the City ordinances and that if all businesses do follow the ordinances, then in fact 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, that it 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, because 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 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 before and have developed more of a personal or social relationship with those people. After further discussion of all the goals listed on the I992 Goals List, the EDC came up with eight priority goals. They are as follows: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) A full-time economic development and marketing person Development of an Economic Development Authority Development of a local arm of the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce for the City Attainment of an individual Z~ Code for the City Inventory of property and buildings currently available in the City Economic Development Commission / December 4, 1991 Page 2 of 3