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MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MARKETING COMMITTEE <br />HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL <br />MONDAY, MAY 15, 2006 <br />Members Present: Jim Barthel, Chris Carlson, Jerry Gumphrey, Gary Santwixe, Dan <br />Tveite and Mark Uxista <br />Members Absent: Dave Ehlers <br />Staff Present: Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich and <br />Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz <br />Introductions /Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan Background <br />Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz welcomed new <br />member Jerry Gumphrey as the City Council representative. Ms. Steinmetz <br />mentioned that Dave Ehlers of Metal Craft Machine and Engineering is also a newly <br />appointed member, serving as a business marketing representative, but was unable to <br />attend the meeting. <br />Ms. Steinmetz provided background information regarding the original Strategic <br />Industrial Marketing Plan and the 2002 update of the plan, which were facilitated by <br />Anita Duckox of Duckox and Associates. She added that the current plan provided <br />goals and strategies through the end of 2004, which prompted staff to generate a <br />Request Fox Proposals (RFP) fox the update of the plan, which would last through <br />2009. Catherine Mehelich added that the reason staff circulated the RFP was <br />because the EDA's 2006 budget includes a facilitated plan update and that staff had <br />limited time to dedicate to the plan update. <br />Ms. Steinmetz distributed two items to the Committee: an e-mail from Dave Ehlers <br />indicating his input regarding the Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan proposals and <br />staff's Proposal Analysis. <br />2. Consider Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan Update Proposals <br />The Committee discussed the general history of the plan and the similarities and <br />differences between a few years ago and now regarding the City's product offering <br />(land). Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich stated that the <br />Committee played a large role in the development of the EDA's Northstax Business <br />Park, which proved successful last year when three lots sold prior to the installation <br />of infrastructure. <br />The Committee also discussed the validity of completing a marketing plan when the <br />City appears to be short on industrial land to market again. Ms. Mehelich stated that <br />the plan update would provide the EDA recommendations fox identifying and <br />securing land that would be suitable locations fox the types of industry the <br />