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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.26.11 Council, Chamber, Farmington Business Association Minutes Council! Farmington Business Association! Chamber Workshop Minutes September 26, 2011 Mayor Larson called the workshop to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Larson, Bartholomay, Fogarty, May Absent: Donnelly Also Present: David McKnight, City Administrator; Tina Hansmeier, Economic Development Specialist; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Ruthe Batulis, DCR Chamber; Clyde Rath, Farmington Business Association; Jerri Jolly MOTION by Fogarty, second by May to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. The GROW Farmington initiative has waned down to a few participants. The purpose of GROW Farmington was to bring the City and the FBA together. Mr. Rath gave a summary of the beginning of GROW. The GROW group developed a list of activities to be done, but now someone needs to manage that and determine who will do what. Ms. Batulis outlined what the DCR is involved in. Mr. Rath had a vision of the FBA to be like a local Chamber and manage activities such as ribbon cuttings. The City has been very prompt with ribbon cuttings, and having Council and business owners attend to welcome a new business is a nice touch. Most businesses are members of the DCR and the FBA. The DCR is less retail businesses and the majority ofthe FBA is retail. Mr. Rath attended a Heritage Preservation Commission meeting where they discussed way fmding signs which was one of the GROW initiatives. A heritage preservation grant may be able to fund this project. The HPC would also like to see a 20-year vision for the downtown. Mr. Rath proposed forming a Community Leadership Steering Committee. This would include two members from the City, two from the school district, an FBA member, and a DCR Chamber member. The flower areas on 3rd Street and Elm need to be maintained by someone and there are several dead trees around town. We need to begin planning and funding for these projects. In 2011, the FBA raised $4900 for the flower pots. A social will be held on December 6, to distribute Certificates of Appreciation for this project and do a recap of GROW Farmington. Ms. Batulis explained the Steering Committee would be a leadership group for those who actually do the work on various GROW projects. Mayor Larson asked if this committee would be redundant to what we are already doing. Ms. Batulis agreed it would be some of the same people, but the Steering Committee could take the place ofthe Economic Growth Committee, but different by being a community initiative and not a business initiative. The EGC could be brought back once the economy improves. Councilmember May had a concern with the amount of work placed on staff. We are not in a position to add any staff. Ms. Batulis explained the EGC is not a function for stafT. Councilmember May noted as far as this committee, we already have an EDA, so now we are adding another layer. Whenever the City is on a committee, it is another meeting and then there 10 Council FBA Workshop Minutes September 26, 2011 Page 2 are the initiatives that come out of that meeting. It is not that there isn't support, but the hardest thing is to make an idea happen, and will that fall on the City. Mr. Rath felt it would not fall on the City, but there are too many players involved on a citywide basis and it takes a lot of coordination between staff and businesses to get things done. Staffhas to be involved from an experience level. Councilmember Fogarty agreed that GROW Farmington did end up with the City doing a lot ofthe items. She agreed with the coordination piece, but also had a concern with the GROW items. Ms. Jolley noted GROW Farmington started from the social event. People were personally invited and that made them come. The challenge is to keep that momentum going. Eventually people dwindled and we lost that. People need a personal invitation to the GROW meetings because their input is important. Mayor Larson noted the flower pots, way fmding signs, and community calendar are good things that came from GROW Farmington. Mr. Rath would like to start by putting a steering committee together. Councilmember Fogarty felt it was key to identify the things that work and help. Ms. Batulis felt this does not have to be a monthly task force. A leadership group can start out with things that are doable. Bringing new leaders together can extend to two or three activities and make calls to form the groups to carry out the tasks. Mr. Rath noted if an activity requires a lot of City time, it is up to the committee to decide if it is worth it. Councilmember Fogarty asked what type of activities does the City or school district do that help businesses. Mr. Rath stated the FBA is not in the event business. They have Dazzle Days, Car Show and Block Party, and the Easter Carnival. The FBA wants to partner with others on events such as what tournaments are coming to town, or any special events that would affect businesses so they would be open. Mr. Rath stated part of the sales tax money goes towards festivals. The FBA cannot apply for it because they are a 501c6, not a 501c3 or 501c4. The FBA should be going after every grant they can, but they are not set up for it. Ms. Batulis noted someone has to write the grants and that is not easy. Council agreed to start the Steering Committee to keep GROW Farmington going. Membership will include: City - Councilmember Bartholomay, City Administrator David McKnight School- A School Board member, Superintendent Jay Haugen FBA - Clyde Rath DCR - Ruthe Batulis MOTION by Fogarty, second by May to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant 11