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Economic Development Authority Minutes <br />September 10, 2007 <br />Page 3 <br />President Gongoll concurred. He believes that we have an opportunity to deal with local <br />developers and that everyone would come out ahead if the city could work with the adjacent <br />property owners to get their ideas on what they would like to see on this property. <br />Commissioner Klinzing agreed. She explained that it is imperative to settle who will own and <br />control the property. She expressed concern on what the plans of the adjacent property <br />owners may be and stated the city should take steps soon to ensure the adjacent owners are <br />aware of what the city is envisioning in this area. <br />Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich indicated that staff received a call <br />from a company looking for approximately 30 acres to house a campus style office building <br />for approximately 200 employees. Ms. Mehelich asked the EDA for direction on whether or <br />not they would consider the Gateway area a suitable site to propose to the company. <br />Commissioner Dwyer stated that staff should schedule a site visit with the prospect and put <br />a proposal together. President Gongoll and Commissioner Klinzing concurred. <br />Commissioner Morin indicated that he is not opposed to the idea but would like to reserve <br />space for retail, commercial, and industrial. <br />Commissioner Farber would like to get die input of the adjacent property owners on their <br />ideas for the property. He stated that a paxmership between the adjacent property owners <br />and the city must be established prior to making any promises to the prospective company. <br />Commissioner Motin questioned if the city should consider a moratorium for this area to <br />prevent an application from being submitted prior to an agreement being established with <br />the adjoining property owners. Mr. Barnhart noted that a moratorium is at the discretion of <br />the Council. <br />Mr. Barnhart also noted that one of the property owners did say he would sell if the city had <br />a project in mind. He stated that staff will take the comments of the EDA and continue <br />discussions with the adjacent property owners and report back to the EDA. <br />Commissioner Farber indicated that in this case a moratorium should not be considered as it <br />would make potential users go away. <br />6. Di Re taurant Recruitment <br />Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz presented her staff report. <br />Ms. Steinmetz stated that staff understands that the EDA wishes to attract more restaurants <br />to Elk River and marketing is one component of restaurant recruitment. She stated that <br />restaurants locate within communities based off certain market supported criteria and <br />reviewed Houlihan's criteria as an example. <br />Ms. Steinmetz explained that if the EDA wishes to focus on the marketing component of <br />restaurant ercmitment, it is important that a restaurant marketing strategy is developed to <br />ensure marketing funds and efforts are effectively uNized rather than on a "shotgun" <br />approach. She reviewed key discussion points as outlined in her staff report. <br />Commissioner Morn stated that staff has not taken any steps to contact restaurants. He <br />indicated that he does not want staff to spend too much time on marketing restaurants but <br />he would like to see continual discussions with developers regarding restaurants and possibly <br />