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a. Explain how this position is key to achieving the strategic goals identified by the City Council. Strategic Goals — 2012 • RCNieW strategy for the sale of land in The COR Pursue change to Met Council policy regarding RALF lease revenue that it be shared with the City or the City gets to keep it ifthcrc is no plan to improve USIO or figure out a plan to convert those dollars to support funding Armstrong Interchange • Review Economic Development elTort for business recruitment, expansion, retention -assess value of efforts (evaluate smoke stack chasing and grow your own) • Review City facilitation efforts to help businesses grown —assistance with identifying lending, funding, help through the process of expanding or developing a new business • Facilitate review of costs of operating a business: example provide information about how to reduce assessed value of a propeny„ other operational expenses of businesses • Consider additional commercial nodes (167/47 and Armstrong/181) b. Can the duties be re -engineered or automated? Please explain. While there are technical skills necessary for the economic development function of the city, the art of establishing and building relationships with the business community is the most important component of economic development for the city. This position is a resource for the business community for retention„ expansion and bringing new businesses to the city. c. Can the duties be reassigned temporarily or permanently? Please explain. No d. Can the position remain unfilled temporarily or permanently? Please explain. No e. Can the position be filled internally Staff would recommend conducting a broad, external recruitment process to capture the public and private sector development experience the focus of this position as redefined. What is the impact (i.e., to residents, business owners, employees„ and/or operations) lithe position is not filled? The impact of not tiling this position is significant to the economic vitality of the City of Ramsey. It is imperative that the City continue to support the work oldie EDA to grow our industrial sector, expand our commercial offerings and attract office users. This has a direct relationship to our tax base and the ability to grow our future tax base which supports the general fund budget operations. g. Can the service provided be reduced, eliminated, or contracted out? Since the departure of the Economic Development & Marketing Manager left, existing staff has absorbed much of the work load as well as utilizing consultant Mike Mulroney for assistance with various EDA projects. It is staff's opinion that this is a key role for the City that has a direct relationship to the economic vitality of the City and our ability to grow tax base. While consultants help to meet the needs for project specific work, having a full-time Economic Development staff member in house is a