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Business Retention & Development Committee <br />Meeting Minutes <br />February 3, 2014 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />RETAIL RECURITMENT STRATEGY: <br />Economic Development Director Aaron DeJong began a discussion related to holding a Retail <br />Broker roundtable to discuss what resources and information brokers feel the City could provide <br />to bring retail tenants to vacant space. DeJong provided a list of questions in the BRaD packet <br />and opened the discussion to the Committee by asking for other questions for the proposed <br />roundtable. <br /> Councilmember Jasiak: What would you like to see on our website? <br /> Commissioner Tienken: What are the 2 or 3 most important client needs? <br /> Commissioner Menaker would like a professionally designed downloadable brochure on <br />the website. <br /> Councilmember Jasiak asked if word of mouth, successful local businesses could bring <br />people in; “warm-calling.” <br /> Commissioner Reichenberg said the roundtable is an educational forum. The question to <br />be asked is what does the market say it needs? and respond to the answer. The decision <br />will have to be made to respond. Brokers will understand the trends and the City will <br />have to decide if it wants to fit the profile and align the City with what developers need. <br /> Mike Kranzdorf said the best use of DeJong’s time is to get to know the brokers who are <br />looking in this area. <br /> Commissioner Lathrop said to consider bringing destination businesses that we don’t <br />already have, for example a jeweler. What businesses would we like that we don’t <br />already have? <br /> Commissioner Angell stated that we need both “mom and pop” and large employers. <br /> Commissioner Menaker said a good strategy would be to get together with Superior and <br />market the McCaslin/US36 interchange with a revenue sharing agreement. <br /> DeJong will work with Commissioner Reichenberg on scheduling the roundtable. DeJong <br />would like to keep the meeting’s perspective focused on the main retail corridors of town. <br /> Commissioner Lathrop suggested using the last 15 minutes of the roundtable to develop <br />an action plan the attendees can have input on. <br /> Commissioner Menaker suggested two processes: <br /> Sell what is available today <br />o <br /> Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats <br />o <br /> Chair Dalton would like to develop a long term strategy, looking 10 years out. <br />RETENTION MEETINGS: <br />DeJong and Commissioner Menaker went to North Main Apartments. The apartments are <br />very popular; of the 92 units only 8 are vacant. There are not many families with children. <br />They have very nice amenities. Commissioner Menaker noted that it would be good to take <br />Planning Commission and City Council on a tour after full build out so they can see what they <br />really look like vs. what was on paper (the PUD). Commissioner Lathrop agreed with that <br />noting it looks much more dense than he expected. He also noted that the construction crew <br />has been very responsive in keeping the area clean. <br />3 <br /> <br />