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<br />Member LeTourneau explained a group of Ramsey Town Center landowners, business owners <br />and interested parties have been meeting to discuss the direction of construction, retail and <br />businesses in Town Center. This group is trying to pick up the ball and move it forward from a <br />marketing standpoint. There is some property in Town Center with liens against it, and some <br />issues associated with the original developer. It appears that there will be some things that will <br />slow down a little for a number of months. The fear of business owners and people involved is <br />that Town Center will crumble or not have the attention it needs, and that the profile needs to be <br />raised. <br /> <br />Member Elvig suggested this topic be a regular agenda item, and that the EDA become a bigger <br />component of what will happen in Town Center. He stated Town Center is the biggest project in <br />the community, and is the biggest economic boom the community will see. <br /> <br />Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan noted the EDA has not focused on Ramsey Town <br />Center in the past because they were told it was not something the EDA was to be involved in. <br /> <br />Member Strommen noted the EDA has been very involved in the industrial side of development <br />versus commercial/retail. The HRA took the lead on Ramsey Crossings. She would like to see <br />the EDA be able to take more of a role in commercial/retail projects, but that is a Council <br />decision. She indicated there is a need for the Council to hold a work session to discuss the line <br />between the functions of the HRA and the EDA. <br /> <br />Member Elvig stated he agrees there is a group of business in Ramsey Town Center that should <br />collaborate to sponsor and endorse the area. The next question is whether the City should step in <br />to help market the area. He requested input from the members as to whether this is something <br />the EDA should participate in. <br /> <br />Member Schindel requested information regarding the relationship between the EDA and the <br />BRA. Member Strommen explained the BRA was originally formed to address housing. The <br />BRA participated with the TIF and redevelopment of the Ramsey Crossings project under the <br />redevelopment functions of the HRA. She stressed that the Council needs to set a policy <br />regarding the functions of the BRA and the EDA. <br /> <br />Member Schindel indicated his understanding was that the HRA was to address the needs and <br />concerns of redevelopment in the City with regards to housing. He questioned if the BRA is <br />now involved in the functions of the EDA. <br /> <br />Member Elvig pointed out there is a mixed message; the EDA was the mechanism for <br />redevelopment in the Town Center area. He stated he would like to take the opinion of this <br />group and move it up to the Council level. He noted the EDA has not done a marketing piece for <br />some time regarding industrial type development. He suggested the EDA send out a new image <br />and develop a marketing piece that touches on the aspects of industrial development and <br />commercial/retail development including Town Center. <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority/January 11,2007 <br />Page 4 of 11 <br />