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Agenda_2020_9_8_Meeting(231) (1)AGENDA  CHANHASSEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020, 7:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD A.WORK SESSION B.CALL TO ORDER C.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Approve Economic Development Commission Minutes dated August 17, 2020 D.OLD BUSINESS 1.Review of PowerPoint Presentation for Joint Work Session with the City Council E.NEW BUSINESS 1.Discussion of Communications Goal with Local Businesses F.ADJOURNMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Subject Approve Economic Development Commission Minutes dated August 17, 2020 Section APPROVAL OF MINUTES Item No: C.1. Prepared By Nann Opheim, City Recorder File No:  ATTACHMENTS: Economic Development Commission Summary Minutes dated August 17, 2020 CHANHASSEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 17, 2020 Chairman Sanford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Sanford, Kathleen Donovan, James Ebeling, and Adam Schaefer MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Stamy STAFF PRESENT: Greg Sticha, Finance Director; Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; and Jake Foster, Assistant City Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Donovan moved, Ebeling seconded to approve the Minutes of the Economic Development Commission meeting dated July 14, 2020 as presented. UPDATE ON CARES ACT FUNDING GRANT FOR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. Greg Sticha provided an update on how the CARES Act funding grant program will work with local small businesses. Kate Aanenson discussed how the grant program for local small businesses will function in conjunction with Carver County CDA who will oversee the program with Next Stages who will administer the program. She reviewed what businesses are eligible as small businesses and how funds will be dispersed. Chairman Sanford asked for clarification on eligible uses for grant funds. Kate Aanenson continued with discussion of which cities are partnering with Carver County CDA in this program. Greg Sticha explained how the marketing plan will work and asked that commission members spread the word to small businesses as funds have to be distributed by November 15, 2020. Chairman Sanford asked if this includes non- profit businesses. Kate Aanenson explained there’s a separate program available for non-profits and apologized for the confusion on information sent out to commission members. Commissioner Ebeling asked how COVID-19 has affected development in the city. Kate Aanenson explained that both housing and office industrial are being developed, and provided an update on the status of the Avienda project. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Subject Review of PowerPoint Presentation for Joint Work Session with the City Council Section OLD BUSINESS Item No: D.1. Prepared By Greg Sticha, Finance Director File No:  BACKGROUND We will take our final review of the PowerPoint to be discussed with the City Council during the joint meeting on September 14.  ATTACHMENTS: City Council Joint Meeting PowerPoint OUR 2020 GOALS •Create a Business Subsidy program using either a levy, abatement, TIF or other financing mechanism to help offset costs of barrier of entry. (2020) •Look for ways the EDC can encourage local businesses to communicate more frequently and effectively with other local businesses, city staff, elected officials, commissions, and other local business organizations including the SW Chamber and Buy Chanhassen. (2020) •Have staff prepare a feedback survey for developers and potential business owners at the various points of contact with city staff. This would include the planning department after a developer has completed a development process and the building department after a business has gone through an improvement project. (2020/2021) •Encourage the City Council to improve signage in and near the downtown which will assist with walkability/connectivity of the downtown, in particular over highway 5. (2021) •Improve the relationships with our Chanhassen businesses and our local educational institutions in order to market job opportunities to support the creation of local jobs in the City. (2021) Items We Think The City Council Should Consider •The EDC would be strongly supportive of the building of a public facility that encompasses large gathering spaces in a multi-use facility that brings increased traffic and visitors to the City of Chanhassen. The facility could host local business meetings, small conferences, and resident gathering events. •The EDC strongly supports a local lodging tax for the creation and financial support of a Visitors/Convention Bureau. •The EDC believes there is a high need for affordable housing to assist our local businesses. The lack of affordable housing makes it difficult for small businesses to draw on local employees for its operations. The EDC strongly encourages the City Council to consider offering assistance for an affordable housing TIF district project. OUR FIRST GOAL OF 2020: Business Subsidy Programs For Consideration •The EDC believes the City Council should consider the creation of a levy to potentially support some Business Subsidy Programs. Examples could include: An emergency assistance grant award program (similar to the one created using CARES funds) and/or a low interest micro loan program. Benefits of such a program would include: ✓Increase the city tax base ✓Retain small businesses and assist with keeping a variety types of businesses ✓Attract new businesses which will also offer residents more choices and competitive prices ✓Allow small businesses to maintain jobs and creation of new jobs ✓Builds trust and partnerships with local small businesses ✓Shows commitment elected officials, appointed commissions and residents have to small businesses in Chanhassen ✓Attain a competitive advantage versus other communities in the area ✓Ability to improve local business perception in our marketplace OUR SECOND GOAL OF 2020: Look for ways to communicate and engage more effectively with other local businesses, city staff, elected officials, commissions, and other local business organizations including the SW Chamber and Buy Chanhassen •The EDC believes it is important to continue communicating with our local businesses •Look to leverage partnerships with SW Chamber & Buy Chanhassen in order to engage local businesses •Having a more efficient way of communicating would allow the City and the EDC to: ✓Communicate information in critical times ✓Allow for surveying and asking how the city can help ✓Sharing relevant program information ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Subject Discussion of Communications Goal with Local Businesses Section NEW BUSINESS Item No: E.1. Prepared By Greg Sticha, Finance Director File No:  DISCUSSION We will be further discussing the various options on how to better communicate with our local businesses and allow for our local businesses to communicate with each other. Bring your thoughtful ideas on how we might accomplish this.