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MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER <br /> MARKETING COMMITTEE <br /> • HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM A <br /> TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2003 <br /> Members Present: Gary Santwire,Daryl Thompson, and Mark Urista <br /> Members Absent: Jim Barthel, Chris Carlson,Jim Simpson, and Dan Tveite <br /> Staff Present: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development <br /> Heidi Hall,Economic Development Assistant <br /> Others Present: Sid Inman, Ehlers &Associates <br /> Louise Kuester, EDA Representative <br /> 1. Marketing Strategy: Sid Inman, Ehlers &Associates <br /> Mr. Inman raised the following questions for discussion by the Committee: <br /> • Is the city willing to compete in the market for small to medium size light industrial users? <br /> • Is the city willing to provide incentives to compete (tax increment—tax abatement)? <br /> • If private landowners do not want to participate,is the city willing to move ahead without <br /> that support? <br /> • Is the city willing to use its assessment tools (429 bonds) to assist with infrastructure? <br /> • • If the city uses the land it currently owns, does it want to be the developer or try to find a <br /> master developer? <br /> • If the city uses the land it currently owns,will it be willing to sell it for a price less than the <br /> current costs? <br /> • Does the city want to use incentives (tax increment—tax abatement) to insure higher <br /> quality? <br /> Mr. Inman explained that a marketing strategy for industrial land development was prepared in <br /> response to the Committee's request at their last meeting. The strategy could be designed to allow <br /> Elk River to accomplish the following: <br /> • Compete in the marketplace <br /> • Be flexible to change as conditions warrant <br /> • Work with current landowners to put all land in the city on an even playing field <br /> • Allow landowners to choose to participate or not on an individual basis <br /> • Require users to prove the need (but for) for any incentives provided <br /> 2. Discussion <br /> Committee members stated they did not feel comfortable making a formal recommendation on a <br /> strategy without more members present. The Committee stated that they needed direction from the <br /> EDA before proceeding, although the Committee members agreed that the strategy should include <br /> • the following conditions: <br />