Minutes - Council Work Session - 02/15/2022 - Special

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works. He asked if anyone thinks they should take this off the table and continue business retention expansion efforts for retail are pretty well scoped out and will continue with those metrics as stated, unless there is a need to change those. They are realistic, comfortable growth but if they can exceed them they will but a lot of that is market dependent so they don’t control that. He asked for thoughts on economic development. Councilmember Musgrove asked about the wording that reads “stable base of local employers representing the largest opportunity for future growth of jobs and tax base.” She asked if that is a tax base for the City or the State. City Administrator Ulrich replied no, it is for the City and the other taxing jurisdictions, the County, School District that the taxes are collected at the County level. Councilmember Musgrove replied she was thinking of taxes on the products and sales tax but he is talking about property taxes. City Administrator Ulrich confirmed this. City Administrator Ulrich stated there are a couple of other tactics under Economic Development, to consider strategic infrastructure investments to prepare more shovel ready parcels. He stated they continuously do that part of the efforts in economic development, The Armstrong West retail and the extension of Third Street is under consideration at this point so that is the latest economic development effort. Riverdale Drive was also extended on the south side at Hwy 10, the project will be under construction next year so that will also develop some additional commercial lots along Hwy 10. There is a lot going on as far as infrastructure still. So Armstrong is the project that is actively being worked along as well as Riverdale Drive. They will continue to do that and open up new areas for development as the market demands. Councilmember Specht asked if there was anything specific that had to be done for the dome or is that more the key outcome when it is done. City Administrator Ulrich replied part of that is the Third Street construction but the dome for the Anoka-Ramsey Athletic Association, he didn’t know if there is anything specific that should be added in regard to that. Councilmember Woestehoff replied from a specific standpoint he thought it would be interesting point of discussion about digging a big hole and filling it so that the area in The COR is more shovel ready in terms of a build standpoint as well as the park. That he could see in there but he also didn’t know if that is a 2022 completion. He deferred to others for that. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated he thought the wording “consider strategic infrastructure investments to prepare more shovel ready parcels” has already got that covered. He stated that the EDA and Public Works Committee were also already asked by direction of the City Council on moving forward in getting fill for what is called the northwest quadrant so it is in play under the existing action. City Administrator Ulrich replied part of that might combine the completion of the water park feature. He thought they were on track there. He stated the other tactic under economic City Council Special Work Session / February 15, 2022 Page 22 of 31