Economic Development Commission - Regular Meeting

Excellent. All right. Fantastic. Let's call to order the Economic Development Commission for the city of Alvette for January 26, 2026. It is 7:05 p.m. Miss Dowy, would you call the role? You know, I don't actually have that in front of me. Uh, let's see. Go ahead, Doug. I got him down. I got him down. Okay. On a roll call. Uh, Commissioner Donaldson here. Commissioner Moons here. Commissioner Zillinsky.

Commissioner Zillinsky. I'm sorry. Here. All right. I see his hand. Commissioner Patteruk, I am online and here. Okay. Miss Jacobs was out of town or commissioner Jacobs was out of town. Uh and if she does she she'll try to zoom in. Uh and there our council leazison Kate Pashan Helman is in attendance along with our senior planner Don Dodie and myself Carlos Tre the planning director. Okay Don.

Okay. Um so we're going to start um with with public comments as we normally do and that is where we uh well and tonight we are only live streaming and we do not have any attendees. All of the attendees are elevated as panelists. Should there have been people uh in attendance then they would have been able to make public comments up to three minutes. Uh, and since we don't have any attendees, we're just going to move right along to our minutes. You have links to uh four sets of minutes uh in the agenda. And uh if you if someone could um accept those minutes into the record,

I would make the motion to accept the minutes having read them previously to the meeting. Second that motion. I have a motion or I guess it's not a motion. Um an acceptance from uh Chairman Patternshock and a second from Commissioner Donaldson. Uh Carlos, you have the role. Yes. Okay. Uh Commissioner Donaldelson. Yes. Re Commissioner Moons? Yes. Commissioner Zalinski? and Commissioner Padshark. Yes.

And the acceptance of the minutes passes unanimously 40.

Um, Commissioner Zalinsky, I can hear your voice, but it is very muffled and quiet. Um and uh just for future notice um even though you um uh second or accept a motion then um it is not really a like you still have to vote in the roll call. Um and as far as reports that bumps up um kind of our time to shine um up to the front and I just realized that I still left all of that at the bottom of the presentation. Carlos, do you want to cover that later? The city report? Yeah. Yeah, we can get to those.

Our staff report, I mean. And then uh we don't have any commissioner reports uh this time unless anybody uh would like or has anything specific to say or not specific but if anybody has anything to say kind of prior to the meeting uh in the future I will hopefully be getting reports from um each of you as to um you know if you've accomplished any contacts with businesses is um and if you you know what those results were. Does that sound good? And

actually I have I have one um it's not with regards to that, but uh I I just um resent an email to Carlos. I don't know if you got it. I sent it earlier this afternoon with regards to a blurb that I wrote a while back with regards to something that might go in the olive vet life newsletter. Um just explaining what the um the EDC does because we've never had a column in there. Uh it just might be opportune that um because there's so many things happening and coming online right now. It'd be nice to um just to say that yes, some people within the community did have a look at all these things and they did did do uh due diligence on this.

Oh, that sounds good. Um I would love to take a look at that. Uh but Carlos will and I will talk about it tomorrow. But that's really in definitely in the spirit of what we're requesting and what we're trying to do as staff. So perfect chairman. So uh and uh city council leaison, would you like to go early or would you like to go late since I know that it's kind of a change up in the repertoire?

Um I guess it doesn't it doesn't much matter um to me one way or the other. I'm happy to to just kind of provide brief summary now. Um uh and just as a side, Rod, I think your idea about having a blurb on the EDC in the Alvette Life newsletter is a great one. I think it's good for the community in general to get a sense of what our commissions do, to know that we have commissions and what they do. I think that's a really helpful thing. Um and part of why I think the EDC one is going to be really helpful is there's a lot of chatter. I don't know if you see this stuff on Facebook. Um and more recently there there has been some chatter and concern over traffic at the Olive and um Dealman intersection and just traffic concerns on Olive in general where you know people are concerned about traffic and I think it's important for people to know that the decisions about economic development and business development in Alvette have been um thoughtful and strategic even though sometimes traffic is a result.

Not saying that that all needs to go in whatever report goes into all of it life, but just as an aside, um more focused on what the council is doing. We were going to have a retreat this past weekend um to look at goals and that obviously did not happen due to weather. So, that's going to be rescheduled. Um at the most recent council meeting, we did have an approval of the audit. We had a clean audit report which is always good and if you are interested in things of that nature you can reach out to Darren man for more information. Um and then coming up um at our meeting tomorrow, we have a presentation from Parks and Wreck for a potential reciprocal agreement with the city of Creve Corps. uh that would allow the residents of Creve Corps to use our Five Oaks facility at resident rates and would also allow our Alvette residents to use the Creve Core ice rink and golf course at CRE core resident rates. So I think

hair outstanding well done. You can give all those cud kudos to uh Beverly. Um but that will be I will do that. Yeah. Standing news. Wonderful. Exciting. Yes. So, and Commissioner Moons, if you feel so inclined to make public comment in favor of it tomorrow, you are certainly welcome to do so. Uh I cannot be there in person. Could I send a message to be read in my I will do that now. Yep. you can uh send that directly to uh Jennifer Conrad who's our city clerk. Um and she keeps that record for our meetings.

I will I don't know her or her email address, but I'm going to make it up. I bet it's Jay Conrad. You got it at oliveettemo.com.

Awesome. Congratulations. Um, and then the Carlos will probably give I'm guessing more of an in-depth report on this, but lot five for the hotel um is moving right along. And there are apparently 12,000 truckloads of dirt, top soil, fill, whatever you want to call it, that have to be moved off the site. So, that will be a behemoth um task. Uh but I'm sure that uh Carlos will give more information on the developments at the Olive Crossing development. So that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you.

Sorry, my dog is choosing right now to jump on me. Thank you so much, Council Member Helman. Uh Bashan Helman, sorry. And going I had a question actually. it I know it wasn't covered in the city council but it was the I think planning commission um I heard that there are there was discussion of the data center topic is that true that that came up at the planning commission and I guess I'm not so much wondering uh about an update although I'm very interested but whether any of

that topic will intersect with our work as the EDC and having a perspective on that proactively or whether we are just retroactive or reactive rather um or it's not our perview, it's the planning committee's perview. Any thoughts?

Yeah, I can go ahead and address that. the the commission is discussing uh what we call a tax amendment to our code. Right now uh data centers uh are considered um uh whether it's through through the term of warehousing or communications. It it our our terms are are somewhat old and pretty general. And what would happen is if there was a data center proposed and all of that it would be what we call permitted by right. meaning that if a location was found, uh all they would have to do is apply for building permits and get an occupancy certificate uh in there. Given some of the concerns and also some of the actions of some of our neighbors, uh the commission, their plan commission is talking about changing that and requiring what we call a special permit. What a special permit is is that it has to be um reviewed and acted on by the plan commission but then forwarded to the city council and then the city council has final say uh for that type of user. Uh the ordinance is kind of drafted and to mimic similar to what Creek just adopted a couple of months ago uh regarding data centers and it's it's not to prohibit them uh but it's just to add an additional layer of control. Uh there are some conditions at the commission place that need to be addressed in part of its review. Some of them has to do with energy usage, water usage, noise and then uh we do have a buffering requirement from residential properties. Um and the second component of your questions regarding the the economic development commission and such, I think that's something I mean in in the past it hasn't been a purview of the EDC. Not to say that it doesn't have to be uh and we probably need to improve our collaboration between the two the two groups uh in there and that's something we can work uh work on. Um it was kind of outlined

in our comprehensive plan and the ultimate that the final recommendation usually goes it's a land use issue usually goes to the commission. Uh now any land use issue has an economic impact too. Uh and that's something a discussion we can start having about about that uh whether you know uh you know how we would work or do a process in which uh you know the EDC can have some input on items going to the commission gets things a little complicated and it holds it kind of it elongates the process. So it'll be you know there's some positives and negatives to do something like that. Uh but it could be something we can put up for discussion uh at a later date. Uh and that might be something uh for our council liaison uh you know when uh you guys have the the retreat uh probably looking at some of the the commission uh EDC type of responsibilities and what type of activities you would want you know uh uh some input on and it's not unique. I mean I think um I know some of the process in precore where they have two separate committees and groups. Uh typically land use issues don't get involved with the EDC unless there's some type of a uh you know uh an incentives request or or or request from the council for the EDC to provide some input. Uh, and the way the process is kind of set up, kind of going longer than what it is, it's like the PCDC only reports to the council. ECDC, EDC only reports to the council. You know, they they it's generally not set up as a triangle. Not to say that it can't be, uh, but it's a discussion we'd have to have and kind of take a look at and how to make that most efficient.

Okay. To kind of answer this, I know it's pretty watered down, but it's it's different, you know,

what it's been in the past. Okay. As just a a quick reaction, that sounds like the planning commission is handling the front end, which to me makes a lot of sense to have a special review process. Um, so glad that's going, you know, in front of them, maybe in front of the council. And if they do institute that special permit, I think it would be, you know, I think it would be something that is uh appropriate to come to the EDC for the economic development review side and our perspective going alongside, you know, the other perspectives because I'm sure as we're all aware the the data center issues is is hot right now. It's volatile and it should be considered carefully uh from a couple angles. Um so just that yeah thanks for the update and I would advocate for you know our involvement if a a permit request comes in. Definitely. And we'll we'll have that discussion and we'll bring it up to uh to the commission. The commission will consider it at their next meeting which is next week uh which if it gets to council it probably won't be till early uh March uh in there and it may be something that the council may want to then like I said the way the process it has to go up before it can go to the other side. the council may say, you know, talking to the liaison now that, you know, at in that public hearing that they would like input from the economic development commission. Uh now that does hold it up about another month uh in there and I

think there's good discussions and input that uh this group can provide uh into that that kind of balances the land use perspective. Um the one thing I'll say is like we we kind of initiated this it was there's nothing pending or don't we don't have any applications uh and I don't foresee anything coming today so it's not under a timeline uh in there but it would be good to get it in place. So

were there any other questions? None for me. Thanks. No, good discussion. It's, you know, something we probably have to have a look at if it comes before us. Okay. All right.

All right. On to business communications plan. Uh we are uh making efforts uh to be more active with the CREF core oliveette chamber. uh attend events uh where city businesses will be in attendance. We were actually on Friday at the Rock and Roll Bingo. Uh and it was pretty fun. Uh Kate uh Kate saw a lot of the real me um there on display. So uh and there'll be pictures

and it was amazing. The real Dawn. Well, I tried to get some some free squares, but it was unsuccessful. I still had a really a lot of fun in the process.

Uh, our dining guide and walkability guide are out there. We had discussed doing a healthc care guide. Uh, that putting that guide together has um been a lot more challenging um in terms of readability since there are so many businesses that are at a single location. So, I looked at doing, you know, more of a combination of heat and um like it's it's points with numbers on them to show the quantity and then try to do, you know, some page two listing of the businesses. However, they're not all businesses that are looking for additional customers. You know what I'm saying? like uh there are homebased businesses and the kind you know things like that. So um that it's not in an end pass but I do I'm not sure that the information that we would be putting out there is you know 100% something that we need to put out there as a community. Uh it seemed like health communications you know service or not health communications sorry my bad health services uh you know it's it's good that we have so many uh in in town. Uh it's I think it's fantastic that we have a lot of nonprofits in town. Um, however, they kind of, you know, the nonprofits would actually almost be better to promote than the health care because our healthcare, we have a lot of therapists um, and things like that. Not all of them are accepting new clients. Not all of them are, you know, it's the homebased businesses that I worry about like the most. Uh, but and there's like

four of those on the list. So, um, it out of a list of of 20some, it's it's, you know, statistically significant. Uh if you guys have any uh if you guys would like me to push further on the health map um to uh I I tried to make it go, you know, in a little bit different direction of like a combined of a walkability witharmacies and um and like the parks uh type of a thing with the health on there. Um uh but like uh and and we can look at some some different samples uh you know if we do a work session at some point in time but for that for right now it's it's a little bit on hold. Uh the marketing brochure is underway for being uh updated. Uh we have a lot of opportunities. Um we and we want to have equal care for our existing businesses. U well not equal care, we want to have greater care for our existing businesses than we do chasing down new ones. uh economic development wise that is you know uh and a costbenefit analysis on our time tells us that we are you know better off investing in uh our own businesses and keeping them here and keeping them happy than we are pursuing you know um or I should say not uh pursuing new businesses is great but it is duplicative of a lot of our, you know, um, not sister but coordinating organizations like the St. Louis

Economic Development Partnership, the St. Louis Regional Chamber or, you know, um, and various organizations, uh, 39 North that are all, you know, actively out there, um, doing those site visits, doing that, you know, baby kissing, handshaking, uh, with the new businesses. Uh there it would be nice to have more of a um uh like more of a of a of a stake in what is presented by our economic development partners. Um and we could push for certified sites. Uh, but we don't really have any buildings that are um that are vacant or that have been vacant for a long time. And by long time, I mean like enough for an owner to want to sink in $200 to getting the site certified. So, uh, the 1220 North Price site I thought was a really good, um, you know, uh, really good site for that since it was such a big building and it had been unused for so long. But with Paddle and Pickle there and Door.com there, uh, we really don't have any large spaces that are needing to be marketed. Uh, and I'm sorry I sight selection used to be my specialty, so I'm dwelling a little bit further on that than I need to. Uh, there are lots of good things that we can do. Uh, surveys, we have the tools

to do surveys. Uh, and we have some questions. They're they're a little bit general, but like uh it is a way to address businesses if that's a way that we want to go about it. I know that we have kind of batted these things around. Um but uh we have expressed interest in doing a work session. We just haven't been able to have time for that considering the holidays. uh the and testimonials. Uh you it's a the surveys and and interviews, meetings with businesses. That's a great way to get testimonials. Uh you know, to ask them if they have something that they would like to say. Uh, I'm like I'm going to take it and I got permission from Kenenix Fong uh from uh Paris Baguette to use a quote from her from the recent coffee with the mayor uh where uh Paris the owners of Paris Baguette and uh Brass the Brass Tap talked about you know coming to Eloet and choosing Elovette and I'm definitely you know I'd like to use her quotes for what she said because she really said some very, you know, I I can't think of any quotes right now, of course, cuz I'm on the spot, but she really said some wonderful things. um on to what the communication approach from the business communications plan which I'm sure you guys all read very thoroughly but these you know are sections that are in there and what we're suggesting is to

u you know move on moving on with these task of identify and select businesses u Another and next few slides I've got specific businesses, our top employers and our top uh revenue generators in terms of uh their total business license fees paid. So that is um you know those are for merchants um and if they are a dual uh it is then their merchant and their service combined. So, uh, this is a it's really key to relationship building with our businesses. To be out there and have, even though we're a small community, to have boots on the ground is really significant. Uh, and to have it be, you know, a joint, um, you know, engagement with the businesses. So uh the recommendations from the business communications plan which were amended and I did not write down the year uh but they were rem um amended somewhat recently I want to say 2022 uh to include these four questions and uh what is the city doing well how's the city how has business been you know um what they will tell you you know that will usually usually get a lot of honest answers out of people because it show you know you're asking about them and not their perception of the city. Um and people are you know they'll sugarcoat things that when they're talk when you're asking for somebody's opinion of you don't say well you're you know you're this is too big and your that is

too small. you know, you you tend to say the nice things, but when you ask about how business is doing, they you know, will kind of dive into that story of what is going on with them in their lives and you can pull out those things that are related to all of that. So, and sometimes it won't be things that we can affect. That is something that we always have to keep in mind as we're addressing businesses is that they may have problems that we may not be able to do anything about. uh you know uh it could be the economy in some way their customer base uh we are a small part of it making sure that they are are happy and trying to address any way that we can improve you know things for them that is what we can do uh but it helps that as I had alluded to developing those testimonials um and you know it's It's all about branding, you know, driving that uh message of the city home uh and you know, having that unified open front. It, you know, it says a lot about our transparency and our openness uh to address the businesses directly. Uh but we can get these tattooed on us later. Um here are

Don Don can you go back because this is a it's it's from the department heads. This is the the the engagement the city manager has had with us uh that and I'll go back to the liaison our liaison here. It it this is a council priority uh in there. I think this was going to be discussed at the uh at the retreat yesterday. Uh unfortunately because of weather it didn't happen. Um, but we've kind of been told that, you know, the consensus of the council is that they want us to engage with uh local businesses and, you know, at this point kind of ask these four questions. Uh, so what we're trying to get from the commission because uh the commission's kind of talked about this, the engagement plan, the communications plan started with the first three. Uh, Don noted the amendment like around 2022 where we added this fourth question. Uh so what we're looking for today is some kind of guidance of you know on these four questions you know is there anything that should be tweaked uh how best uh is it to go out and engage in these questions whether that's something the EDC wants to provide uh some assistance or they prefer staff or they prefer elected officials or uh you know or city manager or one of the chiefs to engage that. The goal here is um and I think some of the the thought process behind this is we lost one of our major employees, you know, over 850 people uh and we didn't we didn't know until they were they were ready to leave. And if we missed an opportunity uh to to been engaged with that business, would would there have been an opportunity uh to kind of respond or or see if there was any second thoughts of uh staying uh to the site? I think some of the belief is that if we start engaging with some of our businesses, asking these questions, it would help us uh get some

understanding and get better communication and uh and be prepared for the next time around. Hopefully, it wouldn't happen again. uh in there. Uh the first three questions, you know, were put back in uh 2018. The folk one was revised in 2022. We've talked about it here and there. Now, we're trying to ask the commission, how best do we do this? If it's something the commission thinks uh staff should take care of or or engage with or it should be elected officials, these should be the questions. And then whom should we ask? And Don's going to go through uh we we we pulled out like our top 10 employers and our top 10 merch merchants uh in there. Some of them overlap and if maybe those are the the businesses we should test first or if we should be looking at smaller merchants or smaller employers and or you know uh to ask these questions. But we're you know the goal here is you know are these questions in general good to ask? How best to ask these questions? meaning whom and thirdly uh to you know what businesses should we be asking or engaging with to start this off. Uh Don is there anything else or I'm going to go to our liaison you know from council because I I don't know if this was a consensus or uh or a majority or or or so uh uh to provide a little bit more guidance on on this.

Yeah. I mean, I think the conversation that C council has had mirrors in many ways the conversations that I've heard here on this commission as well. Um, the sense of, you know, recognizing how important it is to have the businesses that we have in Olivet. um and a recognition that we are very reliant upon the tax dollars that come from these businesses and we want to um in shoot sorry if I froze up there. Um we want to ensure that our businesses are happy um and wanting to stay um and so we need to devise a way of getting that information. Um, and this is me speaking as an individual council member, not speaking um as for for the entire council. But I think it's important generally speaking to understand how our businesses feel um businesses of all sizes and to kind of take a a multiaceted approach to getting that information. Whether it's, you know, taking the emails that we have and doing an initial blast of a very simple survey to everyone that we have for our businesses and then maybe taking a more in-depth look at those larger businesses um with more of a personal touch knowing that the um financial investment that we have and they have with the city of Ovette is larger um and demands a little bit more personalized attention. um but at the same time not neglecting our smaller businesses. Um so looking at ways that we can approach this through a wise use use of our resources and time but also really be clear about the information that we're trying to gather from our businesses as well. And I'm happy to answer questions if that wasn't clear.

I think it was completely clear. I don't think this is a heavy lift by any means. And the fact that we've been looking at those same four questions for I don't know four or five years without having a definitive answer is maybe an issue for us to look at each other. But at the same time, it doesn't mean we can't get it done in a very quick pace. So I think Donna, if you want to go to the next slide, we can look at who you want to target. I also believe that sending out a blast email with a very quick survey is not an or way of getting an initial read, at least the starting benchmark, and we could target some of those key partners. I also strongly believe that there's no way the city could have prevented a thousand person operation from leaving. I'm sure that had nothing to do with the city and it had everything to do with some other corporate decision tied to it. Um, that doesn't mean that we couldn't have known ahead of time. Uh but I think like the the example of what's happening with Emerson right now is the complete opposite. Here you have a a corporate partner who's like actively trying to engage with the city on many levels. Uh which is something that I don't think we've seen uh in many years from a major like corporate partner. So um I don't know that's my thought.

Nate, did you can you guys hear me? Can you hear me? Okay. Yep.

All right. So I say yes to all of that and I think everyone serves a role and I think we should probably think about how we we should I we can look at how you div up into two buckets but I I would think of it this way. I would take a three-pronged approach and I would say our most important businesses and relationships are the largest and that drive the most economic development. I think the city officials need to have vested interest in that game if you want to keep something like h if you could keep something as David was saying from happening like that. I think newer businesses into town that's where you have staff go and talk to them because a lot of their feedback and questions maybe about administrative things trying to understand the landscape and then I think you figure out what the other ones you want to target your long established your smaller retails and you let us go out as ambassadors where we can't do a lot of damage but maybe we can do some benefit and just have more like smaller conversations with them. So I may you may want to think of triificating them in buckets like that and I don't think that because I don't think there's one solution all of it. I think we need to different businesses have different needs at different times.

No, I really see what you're saying and I kind of like that. I'd like to give some more thought to that too. Um I I don't Yeah, I don't necessarily think that we, you know, want to send you guys out on your own type of a thing and you know just kind of push you out of the nest, right? But uh uh if you send David to the if you send David to the card shop, I mean I'll go there tomorrow morning. I'll go I'll go I will bear that cross. I will be there in the morning.

Right. So I think I mean I think there's businesses, you know, if I have to go to Fallon and have a drink and talk to them, like I I think there are ones that maybe it's I that's what we just have to be selective on who we target. Um, and there may be ones that we have better relationships with and we may be willing to have that. So, but that would be to me the lower end of it where we're just trying to find some micro trends that could bubble up into macro information. Right. Good note. Good note. Anybody else have any questions or comments? Yes, Rod. I mean,

just with regards to just with regards to communication between EDC and the city, um I've asked this before with regards to things like um uh coffee with mayor or or or what have you. I um see these things come through, but it'd be nice to get an email, and I've asked this before, I believe, a couple of meetings back saying, "Hey, it'd be great to see a representative from EDC if we have a new business like Paris Baguette coming in." Um, just to show, you know, show some support from the community rather than just from the city because we don't I don't look at ourselves as part of the city necessarily. we we're we're residents and business owners within the city. So, we're all kind of in the same boat. So, um ju just just a heads up invite whatever would be great to to see because u actually and the other thing is u um Commissioner Moon's mention that um the um u the Emerson people u are are bending over backwards trying to work with the city. I I'd like to know more about that. I I don't know anything about that. So, you know, little things like that would be be great to hear.

Um, and we do try to keep everybody up to date. Um, I know I missed my reminder email um last week, but um as far as the uh and I and I've kind of tried to stress this that you know communications don't go out through me and um like things like what David's talking about um I actually don't really have a like a a pulse on that. Um, so like signing up through the website. Um, and I've got actually a slide about that in a couple um in a little while that you know shows where you can sign up uh for when an uh an agenda is posted. You can get an email or you can get a text. Um, and that's kind of the best way to know about things that are going on. um because a lot of it has to do with parks and it doesn't go through uh planning at you know or economic development of course at all. So um just just putting that out there. Um I will be better about sending out some more regular emails. Uh however it really um it it cannot replace your personal attention. I I'm just I'm just looking at, you know, specific things that are do going on with businesses.

Okay. Um well, yeah, I guess the coffee with the mayor. Uh we will have a coffee with the mayor coming up um on uh April 8th. Oh, wait a second. Nope. We pushed that to the Julies. Is that correct, Carlos? that are the EDC meeting that we're going to have with businesses or with the business of the year. That would be my understanding on schedule.

Yes. Okay. Um so the coffee with the mayors are quarterly uh now and so um yes I think I missed an opportunity to share that with everybody about the coffee with the mayor. Uh but that's kind of why you know since not every event even if it involves businesses goes through us. Um I did miss that opportunity and that is

well there's other things too like for example there's been um u we were actually looking to get a tour of the um um the clover before it was before it was done. city council went and uh I think PCDC went and we talked about it, but we really didn't get our act together about getting us together on that. It just that there there are other opportunities I think that are being missed for EDC just because of communication. And it's not I'm not looking necessarily emails, um invites, that sort of thing, but um get ourselves out in the community would be a little bit better on behalf of the city in conjunction with the city. I gotcha. No, that's that's well noted for real. Uh yeah, because we could definitely, you know, try to be more a part of those openings. Um I think there's always a lot going on from a building standpoint um for us. And so maybe we're overlooking that opportunity. Um I say we clearly out overlooking that opportunity but it's something for consideration. Thank you.

Right. That's all we need. Okay. Right. Thank you. So your question

Yeah. Your original questions were how do these questions look? Who should how should we ask and who should we ask? So, I don't know if we've answered those exactly, but as far as my perspective on the questions, I think they've looked fine. I'm sure they've they look good. I'm sure they've been talked over a lot. Um, I don't think I can see any added to them. They're, you know, open-ended enough. They're simple enough. Uh, you get to the pain points of a person. If a person has a painoint, they're going to raise it in, you know, three, two, three, or four. Uh they have multiple chances. Um, you know, what we can do better. Again, multiple chances. Uh, things to do differently, you know, however you want to ask the question, I think it's open-ended enough to be covered here. Um I also think number one is obviously important to make sure we don't uh lose sight of what people are getting value from. Um I don't know if there's anything like gauging their sentiment of engagement with the city or how like in the know they or or how comfortable they feel with you know their relationship with the city. I don't I feel like that gets a little too um

No, but I like that idea as a liy like scale like do you want to be you know more or less you know uh involved with the city. Does that make sense kind of or is that what you're thinking?

Yeah. And I I think if we do go that route, obviously we could go on a scale with a bunch of different iterations, but I think the the potency of these questions is how simple they are and open-ended they are if we want but if we want to take it a different way and we want it to just be a email option emailed survey then we we have more flexibility for the type of question. Um, I honestly think this is looks like a good list to me. The only thing I would add is something about, you know, if if anything is something about how um in tune with the city they feel or in the know with the city they feel, that type of thing. Um, but I I unless somebody else feels strongly I I probably wouldn't add that.

I I love quantitative uh analytics, so I love it. Um, I'm not sure if I'll get to keep it, but it is, you know, uh,

for someone to tell me on a scale of one to six or whatever, how much they want to interact with the city or how much they how well their communications they're receiving communications from the city. That is really key. I mean, like, I would love to know that. That's that's that would that would be great. Um but it's it's good to it's good to note and if we can make it through um there will be iterations um you know there'll be test um test surveys so we'll see how it goes. Uh as if you're if is it okay for me to move on to the next slide? Well, just one last thing. Just the other thing is just reporting. Having done some of these, um, these are softball questions and or soft questions. U, like you said, they're not analytical. Um, I feel it's easiest to just go up to someone, have a conversation with these questions in mind rather than filling out a clipboard, that sort of thing. That's just my way of doing it. But, um, it just for for your interest, you have to take the data and tabulate it somehow. So, um, just think about how to approach someone to get the responses and actually tabulate them, send them in. Whereas email, hey, that's you get it right away. Um, if if people are doing it face to face, there's a there's a level of scrutiny that you have to go through to produce it and send it in. So, sort of like Nate was describing, um, I would think that there's probably a scale of the type of businesses that a a survey would be appropriate for and and maybe we'll figure out a list of businesses that we can do more analytic, you know, with whereas yeah, these are more geared towards meeting questions,

things that we are talking about them with. it's not terribly analytic to just collect these open-ended questions on a survey. So, yeah, that's what these are geared towards and um if you know electronic survey will be a little bit different um and and hopefully we'll get some more analytic things out of there. Um, I'm curious just about timeline with this, just with the awareness that I feel like we've talked about doing a survey at just about every EDC meeting that I've attended um, since I've been elected back in April. And I I'm kind of getting to the point where I'm like, come on, let's do this.

Um, so I'm curious about timeline. Obviously, we want it to be thoughtful and we want to be sure that we are asking the questions to collect the data that we want to collect so that we can collect it in a way that is useful. Um, but I am wondering like can we have the draft survey ready for the next meeting? No, before I'd say before then let's do it over email. I no need to wait, right? to your point. I'm not um I would have to review the rules if we can do that by email.

No, there should be no problem to get a a draft done prior to the a week or two prior to that meeting, but the discussion has to take place during the meeting uh in there and we can you know you have the flexibility to establish your meeting dates. Typically, we select that for Monday. uh we've been doing every other month, but if we need to change that, as long as we can publish it a week in advance and again gets you something, you know, uh hope two weeks gives you plenty of time to read or or or mow through. uh but to have that discussion it'll have to take place in a uh in an open environment and it could be in a round table or online or or something like that uh in there and then you can always forward Don edits and she can take those in modify those and then resend them out too

because it seems like to me our from if I'm hearing the conversations from the commission correctly there's a sense of like let's at least get started on the survey and then the more in-depth and more personal things. Either those come out of the survey or those are in addition to the survey. But let's at least get this get this one going. Okay. Noted. I have a chat GBT survey written here that is questions and it's amazing. Um, okay. For me, measuring the effectiveness of a city and supporting its local businesses. Good. Good.

I'm h I I I support Kate's sort of uh feeling of let's just put it in the water. We could fix it next year if it doesn't work out perfectly. Let's just get some of this data back and let's start talking to people. Okay, sounds good to me. Sounds good. I' I've been personally am dying to do this. So, uh if uh you want to send me any suggestions uh by email, that'd be great. Yeah, I so

and same thing everybody suggestions whatever I'm just going to compile it but I will also have a you know a draft for you to look at weeks in advance. Okay. Uh, I thought we were bringing this up so we could start doing the survey and agree on the questions that are on on the screen or but we need to go another iteration to

I guess a finalization um because you've given suggestions for some more quantitative uh questions. So let me get it into the survey and um then you guys can review the draft. I thought there were and this is Carlos speaking that there was like a a three-prong approach to this again that uh some city officials can go ahead on with some of these general questions and start that engagement especially as we go uh to the next two slides on those lists uh in there. The second would be working on a you know u some type of uh survey uh in there that can be administered by staff and and and issued out. Now, we would welcome the the input or the assistance of the EDC to put that survey together and that's something we can get ready for our next meeting uh in there and then of course EDC members can uh go out and engage with some of the longer some of the businesses that have been here for quite some time and and you have personal relations with uh in there and just ask them questions in general uh in there. So we would have these these four questions uh to start engaging with some of the larger businesses, you know, putting together a survey that we could send out mass and there and then a more personalized touch by some of the EDC members to to talk with some of the long long term uh local businesses and just ask some uh general questions. Is that correct or

I think that's amazing. Let's do that triurcation plan and the survey layered in on top. Yeah.

Yeah. What what I understood, Nate, please correct me if I misconstrued your comments. We triate with the survey. We're using we're all getting out the survey but be the you know city leaders you know pay attention give a special touch delivering it you know could be over email however but them as messengers to the biggest folks then you know the staff to the new ones delivering it just the same survey and then us to you know the the other uh long-standing businesses Again, the same survey. It's the same survey. We're just dividing up the population between the three of us and getting it out. You know, I guess however you we see fit. But if I was doing it, it'd be, you know, email outreach and then follow up as needed, you know, with more personal touch.

I would just I just can we just look at the uh companies? So like Enterprise, right? Like if where would you even send this email survey to enterprise? Like who who is the person you want the answer from?

So I just want to understand that's why I'm saying a a company like that I think it's more a city official goes and has a conversation at but I haven't seen the list yet. So oh here we go. Thank you. like CVS pharmacy like is that going to be you like who are we going to send that to locally that's going to be speaking on behalf of CVS pharmacy or does does that make sense some of these other ones maybe yeah that makes sense but Walgreens I don't know thoughts I agree you're I mean those are those are Walgreens has 6,000 locations we're not gonna we're gonna get it we could talk to like the local manager But the success or failure of that store is not going to be a function of the city. Now, Crown Equipment, which is like, you know, a regional location, then that's their only location in the St. Louis region, like that is someone we want to talk to. Auto Beauty Specialist, those folks have one location here. Um, but I agree, CVS and Walgreens, there is going to be very little value. I think that comes from that dialogue. I suppose when I put the list together, I took the top 10 revenue and did not really put any thought into it being a suggestion. Um, I took the top 10. So, um, yes, I see I do see your point there with those, but we do have six others. Um, you know, if Shane Company, I don't know if that's actually a local company, um, but if you take CVS and Walgreens and chain company off of there, you know, we still have seven that are good suggestions

as far as and those are our top revenue generators. Um, and and obviously we can look at this list a lot of different ways. The full business list is on our website uh for the 2020 for 2025 and if you want so I just kind of came up with some shorter list based on the criteria I was given and um so these are the re top revenue generators. The next one are the top employers. Now um just as uh Carlos had said we have overlap and those are the underlined ones. Crown Equipment, The Gun Company, Lindare, uh they are larger companies even in the you know the scheme of things uh that you know they're not household names necessarily but they are larger organizations getting uh contacts. Uh we do have contacts from the business licenses. So we are able to see if their contacts are out of town or if they have a local person here that were able to reach out to. That may have been another or a good criteria. Um yeah, kind of awesome have more than 10 businesses with um 80 employees. So that was kind of the cut off. So there are actually 11 companies on this list. And Emerson, even though that that's a you know an international organization, we do have um local time or local contacts here. Um, same thing

with HGIS. Um, Honeywell, it would be great to have a better, uh, relationship with them. And that's um you know a very very large organization that undoubtedly has you know um some local seauite individuals that we would want to have better relationships with to

you know as you as you go through this list it's actually interesting to note when you consider Murphy company Honeywell um they are industrial companies which are located in an area with with growing retail And you know, they've been talked about with regards to how do they fit in from our standpoint, from the the city standpoint, from the residents standpoint. It'd be interesting to note how they fit, how they feel they fit in with potential directions of the not just the city, but the the general area. So my point in saying that is that all of a sudden the uh the survey becomes tailored to some of these larger companies. And I think to the point of the other commissioners, um, Zilinsky and Moons, when you have a large company like this, it is a conversation.

Yeah, we will look at that. Um, as far as, you know, contacts, do any of if any of these, you know, company names look like places that you have contacts? Nate, are you okay? I'm sorry, Commissioner. Yeah. Um,

so when Carlos started this, it was there was a conversation around one of the priorities and why this was here is because we didn't want to have another situation where a large or important employer leaves the city and we didn't do anything proactively. So, I think what we need and whether that whether the council wants us to do it or the council does it is we need to target the five to seven of these companies that it would hurt the most if they left our community and send a city official to go talk to them, have a conversation, and then if it goes well, we can like talk about all the priorities you're doing, how business is important, and then if you want to send them a follow-up email and get a survey in, that's fine, too. But I just think it's almost like if these people are if Shane company left all of that, that would hurt us, right?

Yeah. So, when was the last time a city official went and talked to the person who is over Shane Company, our local person at Shane Company? Yeah. I don't think a surve I mean, a survey is great. They're going to get a little bit information, but it's the relationship that we're trying to save. We're not We're at We're making it seem one-sided. We're trying to get something from them. What are we giving back to them? Sorry, that's why my hands are in my face. That was my frustration. Honestly, um I'm kind of loving this Zoom thing because I can really see you guys. Not me. My video doesn't work. I'm I'm hiding.

Yeah, I know. Anyway, um and in a way this is a conversation as far as you know what our top employers are. This um it it I'm I'm sorry it's not a little bit better but you know just note that they are larger companies. Um it it does uh and you know back to those you know large you know CVS it still would you know it still would hurt us. Uh talking with a local manager will not help us you know it would only you know and walking in there you know without having addressed them um or you know not just walking in would not be good because it would scare the employees. Uh so there there is a certain delicacy with what we're we're doing when we're addressing the companies and we'll try to be sensitive you know as we you know put these things out. Uh, Carlos, what do you need um to have discussed in order to to make this?

No, I I think we we can I I think going back to the those four questions with the officials uh but also getting that codified into some type of you know to a a survey form uh that that we can use. So again, uh there was a lot of insight in there in terms of looking at those businesses and which ones will be, you know, which ones would would provide the most input. We can narrow those down, have discussions with with uh uh with the city manager and the council about getting some of this initiated and started while we're working on on drafting this uh uh you know, a more detailed survey that can can get uh uh sent out uh in that process. I think too at the same time, you know, if you go to the diner over the weekend, I'm sure they've been bombarded with these four questions, but they're questions that you can always go ask members uh at any time uh in there. or if you have a a specific retailer uh that you know very well along our corridor, you know, the the hop in and just kind of ask and see what the response is uh uh in there while we're working on on on creating uh something we can do more electronically and and have a more of a a larger mass uh respond and and all that. And I think we we can get that drafted, you know, I'll give it to Don uh in there to codify something. and she'll she does a really good job. And I think um again, if we can set a specific time, make sure we get it out to you a week or two in advance uh and then uh and have that discussion at at our next meeting uh in there. And if we have an availability instead of just, you know, we were jumping from every other month, but if we have an availability to do this, you know, in February, that'd be great.

I have a follow-up question. Um, Commissioner Zinsky, so you had asked about, you know, we know the top, let's say we know the top five and we want to really target them with a personal um outreach. I'm happy to bring this up to the council and see if council members are willing to meet with individual businesses. I can say is only speaking only for myself. I think it would be great and I'd be happy to meet with businesses and I wouldn't want to be the only one in that meeting with a business. Um I would either want to have staff or I'd want to have commission member. Um I think having more than one person in there so that you have you know two sets of ears, two sets of eyes, two sets of brains picking up um context and and information I think is helpful. So I would be curious to hear from commission members if if this were a strategy we were to pursue if you would be willing and able to commit the time. Obviously, we do the scheduling and all the things needed um to meet with businesses either with a council person or with a staff member.

Definitely. That sounds like a lot of fun. Can we get coffee, too? I like coffee. You bet.

All right, perfect. So we we can go ahead and coordinate that list and then start scheduling you know kind of create how we would coordinate this and then reach out to our contacts uh for those businesses. So uh Don had them through all the licensing and then we have them through our permitting process. So, we know a lot of the property managers uh in there, but we can get that process going and set up how, you know, find out what dates would be available uh in there and then how the council wants to select or or or rotate or have just one point person.

Commissioner Donaldson, uh one moment. Um I want to welcome Commissioner Jacobs to uh the Zoom call. I'm actually sitting in a pizza parlor in Copper Mountain, but I stopped what I was doing to see all of you lovely people. Happy New Year, everyone. I'm going to be But I'm here. I swear I'm listening. You look like you've had some snow today. It's It's a story for another day, Don. Okay.

All right, Commissioner Donaldelson. Yeah, thanks. I mean, Councilwoman uh Kate and yourself or Carlos were already kind of going there, but I I agree. Let's get parallel tracking on the like list of people, not just the, you know, the top 10, seven, um, which I think it makes sense to make to meet with in person. definitely on board with that. But let's just go ahead and get our list, our larger list. And we we're not saying we have to um you know, send it out to everybody and definitely not meet with everybody, but let's be able to have the discussion of how do we go through the list and divide up, you know, how we're approaching each one. So we can, you know, if we're taking the triurcated approach, we figure out which three applies to which. uh we know, you know, we're tag teaming with a leader, the first 10 on the list. Um but let's go ahead and make that uh get that list going beyond the ones on the slide so we can discuss that next time as well.

I can see the spreadsheet in my head. Great. It sounds good. Great. And if we if it we can get a draft going on a shared document in advance as well, even better. Yes, absolutely. Transparency. I didn't even know triificate was a word. I thought it made it up, but I guess it is a word. So,

I was just I've already I've already sent a message to people on my team. I'm like, "This guy used triercate in a meeting. It's amazing. Scrabble lovers unite or rejoice I should say. Anyway, all right. So, we are ready to move on. Yes. Okay. Done it to death. So, our five-year economic development plan. Um, we've actually kind of already discussed quite a bit of this. uh it is on our agenda. But you know expanding that uh expanding our reach you know uh getting out there uh getting that uh you know feedback from the businesses whether uh you know we're doing not necessarily just if they're doing we're doing a good job but how they're doing. um and market ourselves and our brand our what our message is. So let's see and position ourselves for economic growth. These are goals that are that were written in the economic development plan five-year economic development plan. The third goal um the establish local incentive policies and programs that has that was done in the catalyst strategy and comp plan. um new finance mechanisms are really uh are on the list. As far we need to make sure though that um if you know if

we go towards drafting or when we go towards drafting our next five-year plan that we align these predating goals with the new objectives of the comprehensive plan of 2024. So um which is still you know three very basic statements uh they came with these and there are a lot. So, I

Don, if if you go back just a quick second to kind of go uh over the the the five-year plan and the the the the three goals that were kind of uh in there because as as we talk about reddrafting this plan, you know, the what I'm kind of curious on is like, you know, whether these goals, which will probably evolve, but you know, whether they would specifically change or not. So, goal one was to expand businesses and industry and all of that. Uh goal two uh in the next slide is is to position all of that for economic growth and goal goal three uh was to invest in the future of all of that and and they're pretty broad general goals in there. These objectives kind of supplement that when we went through we uh our comprehensive plan we held off on updating the five-year economic development plan. just the title. But now if you go to, you know, the our our comprehensive plan update, you know, what we heard uh from the community in that plan was to attract and retain, you know, desired businesses, to grow the tax base that supports our schools and quality public services, and to increase the diversity of all of its workforce. So the, you know, objectives of attract and retain and grow the tax base are pretty much reflected in those three original goals. you know, the the third objective here that isn't it I don't find it that it it's it specific at least in the five-year plan is to increase the diversity of the of the workforce. And that might be something again as as the commission looks into updating the five-year plan. uh you know that that would be something we would have to kind of uh you know encourage to to to to some type to integrate it in into the plan whether it's its own goal itself or it becomes one of the the the objectives of us to to start to look at uh in

there. Uh there are other actions gon's going to go through those but I just wanted to kind of highlight that you know because I think those three original goals are well reflected in those first two objectives on on this slide. Uh but the third one was something new that was that was brought in. It wasn't part of our old comprehensive plan uh and it wasn't part of the five-year uh plan uh uh discussions. So

uh and so none of the like the four questions uh we don't have any thought behind how to quantify or talk to the businesses about increasing the diversity of all events workforce. So, if you have any suggestions of though of, you know, what questions we could ask to either, you know, um in an open-ended or quantifiable way, uh get to that type of a thing. Um we don't have a um like a business census where they report every business license is supposed to report their number of employees. uh but we don't have a breakdown uh and we don't request a breakdown of their employees by you know any kind of identifying factors and that may not or that may or may not be something that businesses are interested in uh sharing with us. It can be something that, you know, if we collect, you know, how are we going to use that information? But, um, it's just I'm just kind of spewing thoughts as it's very open-ended how to, um, you know, not attack, but to address that diversity in Alvette's workforce uh, question or or goal. But it it is you know it's important and it's important to connect our businesses with our workforce and try to you know also build that kind of a uh you know an engagement and an interaction so that we are you know become a a source uh for them for their

workforce. Um the Oh, I'm sorry. Was there any questions? I have a question. Yes, sir. So, given today's politically charged environment, is the council still supportive of that as a goal within the comprehensive campaign that they would like the EDC to still continue on the it has not been amended formally. So, I would say that it is um still a standing goal. It is part of our comprehensive plan. The council adopted the comprehensive plan in 2024 and the comprehensive plan still stands. Thank you.

Thank you for asking. No.

So there are 18 I believe 18 or 19 potential community actions that are listed and um this is not the best place to read them all. Uh this is in our comprehensive plan. I would I would insist that you go to the comprehensive plan to read these more thoroughly. Um as there's a lot to think about. Um it is uh for the suggestions uh this can these will help you know it helps guide just like the the goal but uh you know and that third goal that hasn't been you know thought of already right um this is where our potential community actions may lie and if there are no questions I'm going to oh that's the end of my uh my discussion of the five-year plan. Carlos, did you want me to stay on that or do you want to move on to the next?

Yeah, you know, get I'd like to get some input on on on the commission on how best to kind of work forward towards, you know, that five-year plan. You know, I again I look at it if you go back on, you know, the the the way the plan was kind of written, the these things are are are constantly I I feel that they're constantly in in place. You know, the uh the the the expand businesses and industry, position the city for growth, and uh and I forgot the the other one about marketing the city. I don't invest in the future that that that we are going to and we may I mean but that we're we're we're going to check these off and that that this goal was done like they're they're continuous goals to work towards and forward to. Uh now you know the devil's in the details and maybe it's in the objectives of looking at re reassessing those objectives on how to get those those goals done more efficiently. um in there on behalf of the city. A lot of the things we've kind of created or have have established uh the process, those were kind of highlighted in red uh in there. But, you know, the problem came in is that we kind of called this the 5-year economic development plan and we put a publish date of 2018 and we're getting close to 10, you know, 10 years of how do how do we go back and get this uh uh you know position where it it you know it it it's it's still an active process

and I don't think that we've abandoned the activity of the 5year year plan at any point. Um, we did have, you know, quite a bit less staff at one point in time and now that we are fully staffed, this is a this is the time to move on it. But it's certainly not that it wasn't always constantly in motion and in effect. I really like the the sound of invest in the future of all of it and a lot of positioning for economic growth. I also see that as a marketing, you know, a call to better marketing. So,

are there any questions? Any thoughts? I guess I'm confused as to I mean, I I've seen the the goals before, you know, read over the five-year plan in the past. I'm confused as to what you're looking for uh from us. Do you want us to take action on something? uh react to something here.

It was my understanding from the EDC that we wanted to update the 5-year plan. Uh and there and when I look at it again, I I see a lot of these those three goals will probably stay consistent in that uh whether we should focus on the individual objectives or create action steps, revise action steps for those objectives. uh and they're just looking for guidance on I I think the direction from the commission was, you know, the we need to update the five-year plan. Some of it I kind of think it's because it was called a five-year plan that was adopted, you know, seven years ago. So, it's like, you know, what you know, was it supposed to be a continual plan, which I think it was, or you know, now that we're past the 5 years, do we have to rehaul it or just reaffirm that we're still working towards those goals or do we, you know, do a whole new plan?

Well, isn't that the purpose of the workshop? we get together and revise the plan. Uh and that that was the intent of what we were getting towards this this meeting. But uh we also had, you know, some directives of of getting those questions that we talked about earlier. Uh a format set for that. We agreed to all get together for like a workshop and sit down and just refresh the plan. Yeah. But if not, I'll make a motion that we do that if we can reschedule that whatever that meeting we're supposed to have this past weekend. Just if someone could pick a weekend where it's not going to snow, that would be helpful. I second the motion. Like we got a workshop coming. Exciting.

Okay. I also think the uh you know input we get from the community in this effort of meeting with folks surveying folks will it should really feed into this. Um, so maybe it's a two-part. We can do everything we can now take a first pass. After we get some fresh input, we come back and see what you know that you know as we synthesize that where it fits in and and updates the plan.

Okay. Can I offer a suggestion to just um for me as I'm looking through this packet um that and I will be honest I'm not sure exactly when I received this the Oh, it's not going to show up on the screen. No, it's not going to show up. Um anyway, this final report on the five-year economic development plan, it breaks it down into the goals, the objection, the objectives rather, the actions, tasks, success measurements, resources needed, and then at the end there of each column where all of the different objectives are broken down into actions and tasks. There's a timeline and effort. I would really love to see kind of a listing of what has happened that has like what's already been done to fulfill each individual action and task. Um because I as I look through this through the this plan and look through these goals, I think knowing what has been done will help us know what is yet to be done. um but also will hopefully help uh the commission as a whole prioritize which of these actions are the ones that we really want to focus on. Um and uh yeah, so having having a sense of what has actually happened because almost all of these on the timeline and effort say ongoing and then some of them have specific things but they're they're fairly general like newsletter department reports like if there's some real concrete kind of metrics, measurements um and I I know some of that is just going to be determined uh based on what staff feels like meets that meets those actions and tasks and that's fine, but just to have some real concrete measurable items would be helpful.

Okay,

100%. Um and I I would agree that my hypothesis that is that there's a lot of meat left on the bone of this plan um which is by design, ongoing actions, etc. But, uh, I would also say that, um, you know, uh, we know there's a lot of great great work that's been done by the staff. Um, but you all are probably in the place to best articulate that like what has been been done um, and give us be able to help us understand where we're at with those items. So, yeah, that'd be really helpful. Okay. Commissioner Zalinsi, are you okay? Okay. Should Should we all be praying right now? Okay. Uh any further questions or suggestions, comments, complaints?

Donna, as we talked to about the five-year uh not kind of tied to to this, but can you go over the uh uh business of the year uh schedule?

Ah, yes. Um I don't have a slide for this but the business of the year schedule um is pretty simple. Um we are going to be releasing uh it has been a phenomenal success I've got to say. Uh it has um you know really gotten people excited. Uh and we've seen you know uh this year will be very interesting because we'll get to see the difference between our first year, second and third. Right. We have we had a lot more voters uh this year. Um o over twice as many voters this year as we had last year. Um so if it gets even bigger this year, we'll know we're doing something right. Uh and I do hope that that is how it goes. But uh we are going to put that survey out on February 2nd. Uh and then they will have all the way up until uh right before our next schedule meeting for March. Uh which is that I'm so sorry. Let me see here. Everything is slow. So is on the 30th. So we're going to cut off the survey. Um I can't remember what we decided on, but if it's probably going to be the 23rd. Um and then we're going to decide those uh recipients on uh our meeting on the 30th and then um we'll be able to notify the businesses on May. Now, originally they'd be notified in April because we get their consent to get the awards uh manufactured.

Correct. Okay.

Well, okay. Uh yes, after uh in April because it will have to be after our meeting. So uh but the actual uh creep cororeet chamber lunchon where they will be honored is in May and then we will have a um a a coffee with the mayor in July I believe. Um kind of lost I don't have that note actually but I will send that out to everybody and as many people that can attend as possible. I would appreciate it. I do know it's a morning thing and not doesn't always work for everybody. Um, and truly if I were uh a lot of times the mayor will be flexible on what time the coffee with the mayor is held because sometimes the businesses are only open at night. So it kind of depends. Uh we expected to change it for last year but we did keep it as coffee with the mayor. So, uh it will be um it will be a good time to celebrate our businesses. Any questions, suggestions, comments, points?

The the key thing would be again, we appreciate any, you know, outreach you guys can do to get people to to to vote on there. I'm not sure how many voted last year. Uh and yeah, like 187.

Yeah. Which was far more from our from when we initiated that. Uh so again, we're just trying to get the word out uh in there. The the dates are kind of set because we have to meet the the the May presentation for the chamber and have enough time to of course, you know, personalize the the trophies and and and things of that nature. So that's why uh the the date of March 30th is set for the commission to uh be presented the the the results and then also for the commission to select the the third award winner which is a commissioner's award. So commission members to start thinking of you know businesses at uh uh using that have been active with the community uh there and have that discussion.

Good. Yeah. Commissioner's Choice Award. And is there anything ahead of that uh March 30th meeting um regard that commissioners would like to see on the businesses uh as far as um you know like if there's any information that I can provide sorry that I can provide ahead of the meeting um in in order to give you more information, a more informed decision just off the top of your heads. Okay. Well, if you think of anything, you are more than welcome to email me that suggestion. Um, last year we chose a nonprofit. I prepared a couple, you know, names, ones that had been active with the, you know, with the city and community that, you know, might have been good suggestions. So, I might put together a little list like that again. And if we don't use it, don't use it. No big deal. So, um if uh let's see on from here uh any other question, suggestions or or comments. All right. Are we ready to move on to the next agenda item? Carlos?

Yes. Okay. Now I'm frozen. Okay. doing the distressed and underperforming properties or were were we not going to really uh

I'll be glad to answer any uh questions from the commission. We kind of put this list together to kind of make ourselves accountable to give you updates on specific properties uh kind of like identified in the 5-year plan uh in there, not to the full extent, but to give you, you know, like we we know properties are for sale or they're they're been vacant or vacant. Uh starting there on the the right hand side, you know, uh QuickRip has bought several properties uh in that area. The city owns some rightway. Uh there's also a private street and there, you know, based on our comprehensive plan, there are complexities in them trying to to do that. They would need a resoning. The city's pretty well set uh and it's not the best and highest use uh in there. Uh and we haven't seen any formal applications submitted. We know that they own property. Uh that's about it. And then we've been on on them to do some general touchup and clean up on on the property grounds being that they're they're landlords uh just like in the community. So uh I'll be glad to answer any specific questions. If not, I'll continue on uh and they're uh as we go uh towards the um ABC trading. Uh again, they they are closing. Uh it is the intent. They they've had discussions with various uh purchasers uh in there, but it it's it's a it's a unique building and uh a building that has minimal parking. There was some interest in terms of trying to make an assembly use out of that. Uh that doesn't work. There's just not enough parking for assembly type of uses, which is I think uh you know based on our plan a good thing. We're trying to find a retailer or service provider that would take occupancy in that space. Um uh and there uh and I think the you know the the

latest sign has been uh updated to say super reduction in price. I think uh on there I saw that uh a couple of days ago. uh we talk to the realtor or I keep you know contacts with the realtor just kind of inquiring who's looking at the site uh um and there you know they had interest from a liquor store which right behind it is the YW.CA CA and uh ENADA which is now pro ed or ED ed pro uh which deals with alcoholism and there and told them that that's probably not the best bet and something like that would require a special permit and it wouldn't be you know you know it wouldn't be something that they think that would be you know uh you know just you know while it is a use it's not the best and highest use for that location could happen somewhere health, but given the proximity to some of the existing users, probably not in the city's best interest. Uh, the next one, Don,

the problem with that is it like commercial property right now is really in the tank. Yeah, it's got great furniture and stuff, but it's it's an odd building.

Yes, that's probably one of the biggest hiccups on there. I've been talking with the owners of Enchanted Bride. They're looking to retrofit that building. uh they they they have there's something about the the the building deco that they really like and they want to keep uh in there and they're they're they're taking a look at what they can do now in keeping that building which is it is a nice building but it needs some major structural uh improvements. Um, you know, keeping the building gives them more flexibility than if they were tear to tear down that building and rebuild, they wouldn't be able to use that placement and would have issues with their parking and such. So, that might be one of the, you know, the things of why they're trying to use the the the the existing structure as is. They are looking for a retailer um to continue uh on that site, not the same type. And then as you head further west, uh you can see what we call it used to be the old hanger prosthetics. Uh they vacated that site and we, you know, we again know the realtor uh in there. They haven't had any uh nobody's approached us in terms of uh looking into the site, but we know we we've had some issues with the property grounds, especially on the far northern end uh with this property. We also know that the property next door where Sorama uh is at uh has a new purchaser. Uh and two or the at least two of the three tenants that were there are gone. Uh and I think the other one is on a month-to-month lease. Uh so we're keeping eyes trying to, you know, find out what we can and and and see where we can try to at least get get some input or or discussions on the properties uh in there. Most of these are are private uh and most of these probably wouldn't come to the commission uh in there unless they were looking for some type of in

incentives. At this point, nobody's asked or made any inquiries. We're just, you know, they're good locations and there's interest in in trying to retrofit those uh in their, you know, on on their own. So, and we would, you know, encourage them to do so. So, be glad to answer any questions or there's any other content that you'd like us to provide with them. We we'll do so.

All right. Not hearing any election of officers. We have everybody here. So, we can finally do this. So, um we our current chairman is um Ronnie Patterchuk. Our current vice chairman is Nate Zinsky. And I did have um David Moons down as secretary. So, uh sorry that it's not noted on here. Uh but we will need to have a um volunteer from the crowd or or a nomination

for what? For what role? For uh chairman, vice chairman, and secretary. Oh, I would like to nominate Rod Rodney O. Pattershock for chair. I didn't pay him off either. No one else wants this.

Has that been seconded? I'm in for that. Mute. Commissioner Moon says motion for or nominee. I tell you what, I if no one else wants to do it, I'll do it. Let's put it that way. There you go. Congratulations. That much. That's not Well, thank you, Mr. Secretary. There's a lot to be said for institutional memory, Rod. Right. Right.

Are there any other nominations? Rod will be or Mr. Commissioner Patter will run unopposed and so he has won it. Uh the chairman um for the next term is Rodney Patter. Well, I tell you what, Nate Nate and David, do you want to do you want to continue on with your your positions? Um, I'm probably going to bounce on July 31st. I mean, it looks like I've been here 13 years. That seems like a long time. I want to give someone else the opportunity to do this. So, okay,

I will remove my name for any I will motion make a motion for David Moons to be the vice chair because I think he would be a worthy successor if I would I would second that motion. I would second that motion. Oh, that is You are quite a guy. You are really a gem. You're going to be missation. Yeah. Bifurcate your lip for that one.

All right. We have a motion um for from Commissioner Zalinski and a second by Commissioner Jacobs. So, for Commissioner Moons to serve as your vice chairman, any any nays? Feels like it's a done deal. Then it's a done deal. All right. And for secretary, do we have any nominations? I would like to nominate Commissioner Donaldson for secretary. I second that. That sounds good. I was going to nominate myself, but she didn't.

Well, perfect. Congratulations, Secretary Donaldson. I also think that we should start the process for looking at back fills. This is not a voting measure, but we should put our feelers out. Uh Nate is going to be rolling off. Uh I also have been now on the commission for eight years and I probably are going to look at rolling off at some point in the in the upcoming future. So we should have discussions with uh members of the community to see if anyone wants to take on uh this responsibility.

Okie dokie. Well, I hope we keep you uh Commissioner Moons uh until 2027. I will fulfill my obligation till 2027 for sure. Thank you. Well, congratulations new officers. Um, welcome. Meet the new bus. Same as the old.

Um, speaking of election, are we moving on to u I guess elections? I guess if there's any new business, other business. Um, speaking of elections, I understand there is an election coming up and um, uh, has how many places are open, how many incumbents are running, and how many new people are on the slate? There are two uh, uh, council seats that are up uh, this year. Uh, the current uh, holders are uh, Mike Solomonov and uh, Maxine Wild.

Mhm. Uh I believe uh three people have signed up to to to run uh or had submitted the paperwork for running. Uh and that includes Mr. Solomonov uh Mr. um Bill Hansen who is a member of the city's park and recreation commission and uh Rob Durgel who's a member of the city's planning and community design commission. Uh, and there I believe those those are the only three. So, Maxine Maxine Wheel is decided not to run. I don't believe your paperwork was submitted.

Okay. And that was due in December. Am I correct? Correct. Yes. Rock the vote come April. Um and this was I had alluded to earlier about the calendars um to look um and to encourage you to look on the calendars. Although um I will be more on the lookout for you know business that should be brought to the commission that you are not necessarily business but events that you should be made aware of.

Much appreciated. Uh, as far as there there was very little on the event calendar um for the next few months. Uh, but we do have um a craft and vendor fair in February, Valentine's Day. Uh, oh, and I'm sorry, that date on the March meeting, that was supposed to be a three, not a two. So, that's the 30th, not the 20th. And, um, oops. Uh, the coffee with the mayor. The next one is in April. And Don, two quick things. I mean, it would it be okay again if if we look at the a possible commission date uh towards the end of February.

Yeah. And there we'll send out the in there. Uh I know Don has some pre prescheduled time off. I believe that's the beginning of March. Uh so I don't want to interfere. Yeah. Our normal meeting date. Um or maybe it won't. I don't think it would affect that normal meeting date. So, the last uh Monday of February um is going to be the 23rd if we continue like on a Monday on a Monday. So, the 23rd um does that work for everybody or should I we send out a poll poll or can we decide now? Works for me right now.

Works for me. It works for me right now too. All right. So caliber uh our goal will be by the 13th they have some some sort of draft framework of of the survey and then some of the other approaches that were discussed uh in there for the commission to to view. Uh in addition to that, we'll uh have an update to the uh uh to the accomplishments that that uh uh the leaison was talking about regarding the uh the economic development plan. I think we got two weeks we can get that put together. Definitely. Okay. And I'm good for the 23rd. Okay. Okay.

And then the second thing with there any questions regarding any any uh we didn't give uh the the staff reports but uh we do have a public hearing before the council tomorrow uh for uh Mercy Health Systems. They just call themselves Mercy uh to open a uh what they call an ambulatory pharmacy at 9321 Olive Boulevard. Uh that's that's the that that big uh building next to in Telgraded. If you're familiar with Olive, it's the north west corner of Olive and Dealman. Uh that's the one I was afraid about a data center. It's a 108 square foot building used to be occupied by US Bank. They had a kind of a back office call center there. Uh one at their peak over 350 employees um uh in there. Uh Mercy is looking to you know re retrofit that building, open up what they call like a centralized ambulatory pharmacy and uh have you know you know they'll start off with about I think 140 employees and then build up onward from there. I think it's a good user, a good fit um in for that site and it it saves a you know you know that property is zoned industrial and keeps it industrial uh which keeps our you know our good balance of both retail industrial and residential uh in there but that is before the council tomorrow for a public hearing uh in that again our council leazison talked about the what we call lot six which is a hotel uh in there we should see some activity uh on that site this week and we've been trying to push to get building plans submitted uh for you know to to get construction going uh on that site as best we can. Um between the hotel and what you see in the brass tap and Paris baguette there is an empty lot we call lot five that was going to be the office

building structure. Uh I think you know the they had amended the conceptual plan to because they were having issues and trying to uh anchor some type of office user in that and then uh they were allowed to consider doing two standalone restaurants instead. And I think that is the the pursuit that they're they're they're going to uh to take a look at. Um and they're so the apartment complex behind Chevys that's nearing completion. Uh they anticipate occupancy by March uh coming up. It's a really nice site. They did a nice job. Uh great public improvements. the sidewalk along Alice. Um in there the cooperation with the the the Great Rivers Greenway which will go through uh between the Chevys and and the CVS side and then kind of cut across their entrance. Um and and uh I'll stop there. I know it's kind of late, but if there's any other sites or questions you have, I'll be glad to answer or with our neighbors too.

Just one quick one. Are there any um announced opening dates of Paris Baguette and Brass Tap? They're looking at uh possible like public ribbon cutting openings by March. Uh hoping that they can open sometime by midFebruary or soft softly open. Uh uh and that and I hate to bleer the the time, but it was interesting that that we had a good discussion that the the one of their hardest one of their the biggest obstacles right now is finding people to work. uh and they're they're having a tough time. Uh the Paris Baguette has to invest on several uh individuals that they send out of state to become the these master bakers and and and all that. And uh and then they also have to fill up, you know, the position. I think she has got like 40 55 positions uh that that that restaurant will have and and it's uh it's been very difficult finding people. And you can see the explosion of, you know, you know, on the other side of uh of the interstate, you know, that, you know, that's it. There's a lot of jobs out there, but there's not a lot of people uh that want to take, you know, or or take up uh those positions.

Yeah. I noticed that um the Deerbergs at the end of 170 on Eager Road, they have a sign up that they are having a job fair for the University City location. So, so I hopefully that answers what you were you were asking in terms of the the opening dates. Um, and there and then there's a a Verizon store and um and Smoothie Cake and Tropical Smoothie. Yeah. And I would get the two tropical, right? And then um we're looking about the same time frame to have that those completed opening about March. They're about there. They're smaller spaces. They should be pretty well intact.

Okay, good. Hey, one thing, uh, driving home Friday, you know, everybody's preparing for the storm. I I thought the Audi's was over parked. Oh my gosh. I mean, there were par cars parked all over that site uh in there, even in the drive aisle. It was kind of amazing. A good thing to see. I mean, they must have had a really busy night uh in there. And of course we, you know, given the weather conditions that we're having it, but uh talk about a really active place, uh Friday night. Yeah, we we have a client who's actually living at Clover and u went to went to Aldi's and said, "Yeah, they they had a a really good run on their stock." So, anything else or

right with that? Um, anything else? Uh, I if I I would suggest this language for the adjournment to know the time and Okay. Fantastic. Okay. Um, it is 8:58 and I do declare. Do you want to take a vote now if you want to do Robert's words? I move we close. How about that? Okay. All right. Let's do that. We're done. Bye everyone. Thank you all. Bye everyone. Thank you all very much for your time and have a good night. Yeah. Thank you.