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Special Meeting <br />June 7, 2005 <br /> <br /> <br />number of individuals approach him at the Plan Commission meeting saying that they <br />had heard that the City was planning to target their areas for economic development <br />and they were concerned that their homes might be taken to this end. Any discussion <br />of economic development will require us to look very closely at the concept of eminent <br />domain. He isn’t altogether sure whether we should have a committee or a person. He <br />agrees we need to know what we should be doing first, which he believes is what Mr. <br />Ollendorff was saying. We need to be careful not to spend too much time “dickering” <br />with each other. He said that the dickering we are doing right now is not very <br />productive. <br /> <br />Ms. Welsch agrees; she is trying to go through each recommendation from the working <br />group on what can be placed into the Plan. Number one regarding the economic <br />development professional will be delayed until later; she has no problem with that. Ms. <br />Welsch noted that the ABEP recommendation number two, which notes a marketing <br />campaign, is also mentioned in the Plan. ABEP recommendation number 3, concerning <br />‘economic development forums’ – she feels that we really do not need to get that <br />specific in the Plan. She would like to get a consensus on ABEP recommendations one, <br />three and four. One is what Mr. Ollendorff is suggesting that we discuss later. She has <br />no problem with that, she just didn’t know if in section E-2 of the Plan, number one, if <br />there was anyway we could phrase it to say that the Council or the City is looking for <br />some one or some mechanism, so we will have sufficient focus on the subject of <br />economic development. Right now, she doesn’t believe it is strong enough, but we can <br />wait on that. Number two about marketing campaigns is in the Plan. Number three is not <br />in the Plan, neither is number four. Ms. Brot felt that number three was covered in some <br />ways. Ms. Welsch felt that number three could actually be something that the economic <br />development organization becomes. Ms. Brot said that it was in the Plan when it is <br />talking about the local procurement; which was a topic of the Toolbox, but there is a <br />suggestion in there about having meetings and giving technical assistance – she <br />believes it is already in the Plan. Ms. Welsch missed that. Mr. Sharpe asked what was <br />meant by giving technical assistance. Ms. Welsch believes this means things, such as <br />how to set up a small business, where to go to for help, assistance with the zoning and <br />license process, etc. <br /> <br />Mr. Ollendorff asked Ms. Welsch if the goal here was to come up with a general idea of <br />what to recommend to the Plan Commission for inclusion in the Plan. Ms. Welsch said <br />yes; figuring out where we might agree and what we might recommend to the Plan <br />Commission. Mr. Ollendorff suggested that the Council should not get too hung up on <br />where changes should go in the Plan. Ms. Brot clarified that he is just suggesting that <br />the Council come up with a list of things. Mr. Ollendorff said yes. He suggested that it <br />would be appropriate for Council to take ABEP’s six action items and recommend them <br />in a much more general sense. For instance, number one; agree that the plan should <br />have a provision for resources necessary. Number two would be we should develop a <br />marketing campaign. There is no need to get into the specificity, because when you do, <br />Page 8 <br /> <br />