08-13-2007 EDA MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Economic Development Authority Minutes Page 3 August 13, 2007 C7ndate nn Strategic Industrial Marketing Activities- Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz provided an update on strategic marketing. Ms. Steinmetz indicated that staff will be bringing forward a restaurant mazketing plan for EDA input next month. Commissioner Farber questioned what steps to market restaurants have been taken up to this point. Ms. Steinmetz explained that staff followed the marketing plan as approved by the EDA which focuses on industrial and has not concentrated on commercial marketing since no plan has been approved by the EDA. Commissioner Farber indicated that this issue was first discussed in July 2006 and has been discussed at least twice since then. He questioned why staff did not proceed with beginning to market restaurants even though no official plan was in place. Ms. Steinmetz explained that it is important to have a strategy before beginning marketing as marketing is very expensive. Commissioner Fazber indicated that the direction for staff to begin marketing restaurants was very clear and he is disappointed that nothing has been done yet. Commissioner Motin concurred. He explained that restaurant marketing may not be part of the strategic industrial marketing plan and although marketing consultants have said it won't work without going through developers, the EDA provided staff with direction to begin doing so immediately. He acknowledged letters and cold calls may be a haphazazd mazketing approach but it may have planted the seed with some restaurants. He noted that he received an NCDA update indicating that Senators Coleman and Klobuchac have signed a letter of support for the Northstaz Corridor to begin earlier due to the bridge collapse. 8. Uodate on Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce Commissioner Tveite provided an update on the Downtown Redevelopment Task Force meeting. He indicated that the two stakeholders meetings held at Lions Park Center were very well attended. He stated that there appears to be two main concerns with the plan that came out at the meetings. He explained that the first is concern with the trail along the river and the second is keeping Main Street open as an access point. Ms. Mehelich indicated that public open house dates have tentatively been set foe September. She stated that the open houses will be an opportunity for people to view the proposal and provide feedback. She stated that in addition to these public open houses, staff will be presenting the proposal to various boards and commissions for their feedback. Commissioner Motin questioned if the plan will go to the various boards and commissions and then back to the Task Force prior to presentation to the public. Ms. Mehelich indicated that in order to avoid having different versions of the draft plan, the proposal was to receive all public input on the draft plan at once and present to the Council after the changes have been implemented by the Task Force.