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<br />Member Strommen noted beyond marketing there may be a facilitation role the EDA can play <br />with Town Center. She asked if the EDA members have an interest in moving into <br />commercial/retail in addition to industrial development in the City. <br /> <br />Consensus of the EDA was that the EDA should be involved in both industrial and <br />commercial/retail development in the City. <br /> <br />Member Strommen indicated this topic should be discussed on a Council agenda as soon as <br />possible. A policy decision is needed from Council, and this group can then move forward to <br />discuss marketing and specifics. <br /> <br />Chairperson Riley suggested the BRA should consist of a different group of people other than <br />the Council. Member Strommen replied it has been the plan to transition the BRA from Council <br />to another body. <br /> <br />Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan suggested the EDA recommend the 2007 Work <br />Plan be forwarded to the Council with the addition of the following items: <br /> <br />Marketing <br />~ Ramsey Town Center marketing/coordination <br /> <br />Miscellaneous <br />~ Broaden focus to include commercial/retail development <br /> <br />Motion by Chairperson Riley, seconded by Member LeTourneau, to send a message to the City <br />Council and Administration that the EDA should take a more active role with commercial/retail <br />development, and should be involved in all economic development activity in the City. <br /> <br />Further discussion: Member Schindel asked if this motion will circumvent the initial reason for <br />a separation between the EDA and Town Center. Member LeTourneau replied the EDA's <br />involvement at that time was not an appropriate fit with the culture on deck. The culture has <br />changed enough that the EDA can now be more of a participant. Member Elvig noted in the past <br />there was a strong Town Center master planner; that person has passed away and this will now <br />drift. Member Schindel asked if the group of Town Center business owners is a formed group. <br />Member Letourneau replied the group does not really consist of anyone outside of Town Center. <br />He explained there were certain things the master developer was to do under the development <br />agreement. One of those things was monument signs, and that is not getting done. The focus of <br />this group has been to get back to the monument signs to draw attention to Town Center. <br />Member Elvig indicated there will be 20 x 18 signage located in front of Coborn's, and another <br />monument sign on the south end of Coborn's. There is some signage at the gateways being <br />discussed because of changes being proposed on Armstrong Boulevard. Economic Development <br />Consultant Mulrooney advised there is justification for the EDA to get involved from the <br />standpoint that the landscape has changed a lot. When Ramsey Town Center started out it was <br />primarily a private sector project with some City involvement in utilities and streets. That has all <br />changed. Now the City is not only a stakeholder in the sense that Town Center is in the <br />community and a stakeholder in the public improvements; the City is also a landowner in Town <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority/January 11, 2007 <br />Page 5 of 11 <br />