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Memo Hopkins Business & Civic Association . " ,. cITY OF HOPKINS MEMORANDUM DATE: February 10, 1993 TO: Honorable ~nd city Council FROM: Tom HarmeniAg,c~mmunity Development Director SUBJECT: HOPKINS BUSINESS AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION --------------------------------------- I. Purpose of Discussion The purpose of this item is to provide the City Council with information relative to a new business organization called the Hopkins Business and civic Association (HBCA) . This new organization represents a merger of Hopkins Community . Promotions and the Hopkins Business Council. staff desires direction as to how the Council feels about this new business organization, how the City might interrelate with it, and possible City funding towards the organization. Mark Senn will be attending the City Council meeting to provide information regarding the Hopkins Business and civic Association. Staff is recommending the City Council authorize staff to work with the Hopkins Business and civic Association to establish a formal link. II. Background Several months ago HCP learned from the Jaycees that it was their intention to withdraw funding from HCP in 1993. It was also the Jaycees intention to take over production of Mainstreet Days and Heritage Days. This general concept appeared to be greeted with open arms by the HCP Board and a number of its members. A decision was then made by HCP, after discussion at a Board meeting and a general membership meeting, that HCP would not oppose this concept so long as the Jaycees continued to provide $10,000 in funding to HCP . and that HCP be allowed to have input into these events. HCP then began the process of discussing with the Jaycees, City, and Business Council the purpose of HCP and its mission. What became apparent was that. there were a lot of parallels between HCP and the Business Council. Many active ~ . Honorable Mayor and city council It February 10, 1993 Page 2 members realized they were attending HCP and Business Council meetings and addressing many of the same issues. From this discussion developed a number of alternatives in terms of reorganization. What was finally decided upon and recommended to the HCPand Business Council. membership was a merger of HCP and the Business Council. This new organization was proposed to be called the Hopkins Business and civic Association. Attached isa draft of a possible organizational chart .for this organization. One critical element rel~tive to this new organization pertained to staffing. TO address this issue, it has been proposed that the Twinwest Chamber provide for staff suppo:r;t. In this case the HBCA would contract with.the TwinWest Chamber for specific staff services. This concept would then allow HBCA to tap into the many resources of the TwinWest Chamber. From a funding perspective, the HBCA is proposing that it be financed through memberships ($100 per member), as well as funding from the Jaycees ($10,000) and hopefully the City . ($10,000). In the long run it appears to be the goal of the organization to become self sufficient. Thus far the HCP membership and Hopkins Business Council membership have agreed to the proposed merger. In addition, the Twinwest Chamber of Commerce has agreed to provide staffing services to the new business organization. III. City Relationship with HBCA The city of Hopkins has had a healthy and productive relationship over the last few years with the Hopkins Business Council and Hopkins Community Promotions. From what staff has learned about the possible formation of the Hopkins Business and civic Association, staff feels this relationship can continue and perhaps be enhanced. To the extent that the HBCA can help the City accomplish its goals in economic development, staff would be in a position of recommending that the Council consider providing financial assistance to HBCA. possible examples of the .City's relationship with HBCA includes: A. General Activities/Relationship Between HBCA and City . 0 Discussions regarding matters of mutual interest of the city and business community. '. Honorable Mayor and City Council " February 10, 1993 Page 3 0 Ability for the City to receive feedback regarding policies, programs, projects, or other initiatives which relate or would be of interest to the business community. 0 Ability for the city to work with the business community to enhance/improve the relationship with the residential community. B. Specific Activities/Relationship Between HBCA and City 0 Assistance by the HBCA to implement certain aspects of the strategic Plan for Economic Development. Specific examples in the strategic Plan which the HBCA could hopefully undertake or be involved in include: - Business retention and recruitment activities including but not limited to: * Undertake a business retention and . expansion survey process to identify needs of existing businesses. * Insure that existing training opportunities are accessible for employees of local businesses through marketing and general development of these programs. Facilitate partnerships between local businesses and institutions which provide these training opportunities. * Work with the City and local banks, Department of Trade and Economic Development, and SBA to increase awareness of existing programs which support business expansion. * Work with the City to expand the leasing guide program which provides realtors and prospective retailers a list of available properties in the retail core, to include commercial/industrial properties in other sections of the city. . * Administer other business recruitment and retention programs including the Business to Business Incentive Program, Realtor Incentive Program and other . . , Honorable Mayor and city Council " February 10, 1993 Page 4 activities which are currently being undertaken by the Marketing Committee of the Business Council. - Work with the City of Hopkins, neighborhoods and schools to foster communication and cooperation betwe~n these organizations. This would involve the HBCA having a representative on a Neighborhood Advisory Board. - Become involved in the planned improvements to County Road 3. This would include assisting the City and organizing business and industry along this corridor as a part of planning for this improvement and involving itself in the overall planning for the project. - continue to promote Mainstreet Hopkins through various activities including trade . shows, festivals and other special events and promotional activities. C. General Observations Other comments which staff would make regarding the HBCA include: 0 It appears important that the makeup of this organization should represent the entire business community in Hopkins and not one specific retail area. It is staff's feeling that if HBCA should actually represent the Hopkins business community, greater credibility and productivity will result. 0 It is staff's feeling that it is not critical for the HBCA to have specific office space in Hopkins. However, it does appear appropriate for them to have some kind of community answer line established where information can be received by interested parties. Please note that the City's new phone system does have the capability of accommodating a community answer line, provided HBCA would administer and manage this line on a day to day basis. - 0 It appears HBCA would be an excellent resource to , provide a focus to the needs of the Hopkins business community. staff would encourage the HBCA to involve itself in activities whibh improve Honorable Mayor and city council ,. Fel:>ruary 10, 1993 Page 5 the viability of all businesses in Hopkins. These activities could include training and seminars in various sUbjects which are tailored to the specific needs of businesses in Hopkins. IV. Recommendations As stated previously, staff is in support of the concept of reorganizing the Hopkins Business Council/Hopkins Community Promotions into a single organization. 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