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City of Bozeman
Economic Development Council (EDC)
Approved Meeting Minutes
June 17, 2010
10:30am- 12:00pm
Bozeman City Hall
Yellowstone Conference Room
Attending:
EDC - Gary Bloomer (Tech Ranch), Stuart Leidner(Prospera Business Network), Chris
Westlake (Midwest Welding and Machine), Daryl Schliem (Bozeman Area Chamber of
Commerce), Chris Mehl (Bozeman City Commission) and Heather Grenier for Tracy Menuez
(Human resource Development Council)
Absent:
Cheryl Ridgely (Bozeman Deaconess Hospital), Tracy Menuez (Human resource Development
Council), Eugene Graf(Graf Construction/Real Estate)
Staff:
City Manager Chris Kukulski
Public:
None
1. Call to Order— Chair Chris Westlake
Chair Westlake called the meeting to order at 10:30 am.
2. Approval of minutes from the May 20, 2010 EDC meeting
It was moved by Mr. Schliem, seconded by Mr. Leidner to approve the May 20, 2010 EDC
minutes as submitted.
The motion to approve the May 20, 2010 EDC minutes as submitted was unanimously passed 4 -
0.
3. Approval of minutes from June 3, 2010 EDC meeting
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It was moved by Mr. Schliem, seconded by Mr. Bloomer to approve the June 3, 2010 EDC
minutes as submitted.
The motion to approve the June 3, 2010 EDC minutes as submitted was unanimously passed 4 -
0.
4. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
5. Brief overview of EDC action and direction from the June 3, 2010 EDC meeting.
Chairman Westlake reviewed the key points from the June 3, 2010 EDC meeting including:
On June 3,the EDC reviewed No. 1 of Section VII of the EDP Goals and Strategies focusing on
the activities currently underway at the direction of both the Bozeman Area Chamber of
Commerce and Prospera Business Network. The EDC will work to identify thematic gaps in the
current work programs, if any, in order to make Commission recommendations on where the
City or other institutions can fill in those gaps.
Mr. Bloomer identified the"big three"that businesses look for in a community:
• Qualified employee base
• Loan resources
• Clear regulatory environment
It was suggested that these topics be discussed in the Chamber of Commerce's Business and
Industry Retention meetings scheduled to begin on June 21"with area businesses.
Commissioner Mehl identified the following six factors important for businesses:
• Market
• Workforce
• Regulations
• Infrastructure
• Capital
• Leadership (predictability)
For the"Parking lot":
Include "and college of technology"to 1 d. Goals and Strategies (see below):
1) Support the expansion and retention of existing businesses and economic clusters that will
continue to strengthen and diversify the economy and create higher paying jobs in Bozeman.
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d. Leverage MSU-Bozeman [and College of Technology] research, faculty, and
students to expand upon current opportunities and identify additional
opportunities for the long term economic diversity and vitality of Bozeman.
• Invite Mr. Bob Hietala Chief Operations Officer of the MSU-Great Falls College of
Technology to an upcoming EDC meeting
• Create a sheet or brochure of all ED related services for"one stop shopping" for
information and services in the area.
Chairman Westlake informed the EDC that the EDC Executive Committee recently met with
City staff to discuss a strategy for moving through the EDP Goals and Strategies sections of the
EDP. The EDC will address two at a time, move through as much as possible in the allotted time
and then summarize the direction and action at the end of each meeting.
6. Discussion of City of Bozeman Economic Development Plan Section VII
a. No. 2 a - e, Maintain and upgrade infrastructure to support the current and
future needs of business; and
Chairman Westlake opened the discussion. Mr. Kukulski identified water, sewer and roads,
along with certain associated public facilities and fire services that are squarely the responsibility
of the City of Bozeman. He also mentioned various facilities plans and other adopted plans
currently used by the city to guide those infrastructure improvements.
Impact fees were briefly discussed.
The discussion then quickly turned to the local communication infrastructure, the importance of
a communications infrastructure as an economic development tool and what role the local
government and private business should play in the improvement of the local communication
infrastructure in order to improve quality of life and attract and retain high tech businesses.
Industrial park development was briefly mentioned. Mandeville Farms has and will be again the
topic of discussion. A policy meeting will be scheduled this summer regarding Mandeville
Farms. A recommendation will likely be made to the Commission that the Mandeville Farms
preliminary plat be extended by one year when the expiration date approaches in April of 2011.
It was suggested that a tour of Gallatin Field be organized for the benefit of the EDC.
It was suggested that a tour of Tech Ranch be organized and a future EDC meeting be conducted
on-site at the Tech Ranch.
b. No. 3 a—c, Support education and workforce development initiatives to
provide Bozeman with the qualified workers to meet the needs of business.
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A"skills assessment" for this community could be co-organized perhaps with the assistance of
Mr. Bob Hietala Chief Operations Officer of the MSU-Great Falls College of Technology.
It was noted that Bozeman lacks a Housing Authority which may have ramifications on
workforce development initiatives in Bozeman.
It was suggested that the EDC receive, through their liaison, the meeting minutes and other
documents related to the Streamline bus system.
7. Next steps/agenda items for July 1, 2010 EDC meeting.
Mr. Westlake advised that the EDC would continue the discussion on Section VII of the EDP at
the next regularly scheduled meeting of the EDC, July 1, 2010.
FYI/Discussion
1. Possibility of conducting a business survey (Westlake)
2. Possibility of conducting a feasibility study related to the consolidation of economic
development services (Bloomer)
Adjourn.
Chair Westlake adjourned the meeting at 12:00 pm.
*NOTE - Full audio of all EDC meetings is available at:
http://www.bozeman.net/WebLink8/Browse aspx?startid=41508&row=1&dbid=0
"is Westlake, Chairman
ATTEST:
Brit Fontenot, Assis nt to the City Manager
PREPARED
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Brit Fontenot, Assistant to the City Manager
Approved on
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