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Motion carded. Voting Yes: Acting Chairperson Elvig, Councilmember Jeffrey and Mayor <br />Gamec. Voting No: None. Absent: Chairperson Strommen. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Jeffrey, seconded by Mayor Gamec, to nominate Councilmember <br />Elvig as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Acting Chairperson Elvig, Councilmember Jeffrey and Mayor <br />Gamec. Voting No: None. Absent: Chairperson Strommen. <br /> <br />Case #1: Connexus Energy Billing <br /> <br />Moved in the agenda to follow Case No. 2. <br /> <br />Case #2: Consider Consulting Services with HSP & Associates <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman explained the City has used the services of HSP & Associates for <br />consulting and advisory services to the City in connection with its Chinese Sister City. Recently, <br />the City initiated discussion of a possibility of a Chinese anchor store in either the Ramsey Town <br />Center or the Ramsey Crossings commercial project. To continue the negotiations with the <br />Chinese firm, staff would recommend entering into a consulting agreement with HSP & <br />Associates to determine if a Chinese commercial retailer will locate in either of the commercial <br />centers of Ramsey. The funding source for the contract would be the Economic Development <br />Authority budget. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamee commented quite a bit of staff time would be involved in working with these <br />types of contacts and added that these individuals have experience in dealing with these types of <br />contacts. HSP & Associates would also be working with The Ramsey Foundation to solicit <br />businesses for support and funding for The Foundation, but that type of work would not be <br />included in this contract. This contract would relate to items the City utilizes HSP & Associates <br />for that promote economic development. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Elvig inquired if this consulting service would fiI1 a role that is normally <br />played by Economic Development Coordinator Scan Sullivan. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman replied this would be more of an Economic Development Consultant <br />role, such as work done by Consultant Michael Mulrooney. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey questioned if this contract would create a conflict of interest due to the <br />same individuals working under this consulting contract and with The Ramsey Foundation. He <br />noted the contract includes $150 per hour plus expenses. He questioned whether expenses could <br />include a trip to China. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman replied the proposal of HSP & Associates includes $150 per hour <br />plus expenses; however, he recommends a not-to-exceed contract of $5,000, with further <br />authorization required to go above the $5,000. <br /> <br />Finance Committee / February 14, 2006 <br /> Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />