Minutes - Council Work Session - 03/24/2015

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stated the last time the Council discussed the Strategic Plan, the Council was clear it wanted to use a market -based approach and the question of Councilmember Riley is if that is at all costs. City Administrator Ulrich stated it focuses efforts on larger -scale retail and industrial users as opposed to smaller -sized tenants. Councilmember Williams stated she would not advocate removing a tactic related to attracting businesses as it is an important part of Asst. City Administrator /Economic Development Manager Brama's effort, which is a time - consuming effort, so she thinks those efforts need to be channeled through the Strategic Plan. The Council agreed with the suggestion of City Administrator Ulrich to revise Tactic 2 as follows: "To seek to secure major market -ready major retailers and additional industrial users." City Administrator Ulrich read Tactic 3 relating to attaining State of Minnesota Shovel -Ready Status for the future business park. The Council offered no suggested changes to Tactic 3. City Administrator Ulrich reviewed the next Strategic Initiative to Develop and Plan for Key Infrastructure Improvements, estimated costs for those improvements, and explained the intent of Tactics 4 and 5. The Council offered no suggested changes to Tactics 4 and 5. City Administrator Ulrich read Strategic Initiative to Leverage Outside Funding Sources and revised Tactic 6 indicating "Evaluate staffing deployment and process improvement for grant administration." He stated staff will refine the wording of this tactic. Mayor Strommen stated she struggles with the organization of the Strategic Initiatives, noting it goes from broad -based initiatives to almost project- specific initiatives. She suggested that if TIF management is addressed, it should then go to the highest TIF priority. Mayor Strommen stated the Plan's organization does not feel like a cohesive strategy and instead picked out what is on the horizon rather than what the City wants on the horizon. In addition, it does not address financial stability as grants sometimes only pay some up -front costs leaving the City responsible for the rest of the costs including overhead and maintenance. City Administrator Ulrich noted that the Strategic Initiative to Implement the Highway 10 Study is probably the number one economic factor and is currently within the Connected Communities initiative. The Council reviewed Tactics 7 to 11. Mayor Strommen stated her question is whether this is about management of TIF or putting infrastructure in place to aid with economic development. The Council discussed how the Strategic Plan can be better organized to create a more cohesive document and clearer direction. Councilmember LeTourneau stated the Public Works building will also increase efficiencies, which will add value back to the community. City Council Work Session / March 24, 2015 Page 3 of 9