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V. REPORTS: A. EDRA 4 th Quarter 2009 Financial Statement: Community Development Director Hinzman presented the Financial Statement and Balance Sheet to the Commissioners for their review. B. Hudson Manufacturing The City is still awaiting response from Hudson representatives on our framework for potential purchase presented on February 3rd. City Administrator Osberg continues to make inquiries to determine the status. It appears the Hudson is looking for more from the City, though the City doesn't have much more to offer. For now the City continues to wait for Hudson to make decisions. The City notified that it was awarded a $250,000 grant from Dakota County CDA for potential purchase of Hudson. Our application received the highest score among those submitted. C. Bridge Updates The City received word that we have been awarded a $10,000 grant from DEED to assist with mitigating the impacts of the Highway #61 Bridge Replacement Project. These funds are meant to assist in clearly communicating the message that the Highway #61 Bridge will be open during construction, but for perhaps a few short periods of time. The decision on selecting the bridge contractor and type will likely take place in June or July. It appears that all three bridge design build contractors will be bidding on both the cable and arch bridge, and this may delay the decision. MnDOT still intends to begin construction by this Fall. New electrical lines have been installed around the staging site along Lock and Dam Road. Unneeded poles are scheduled to be removed at the end of March. D. Marketing Focus Group. Our first meeting was held with the focus group on March 10th at 7:30am. Kevin Hoeschen, Mark Vetvick, Leslie Neilson, Christian Schaffer, Norine Bishop, Barb Hollenbeck, and Karen Jung, all attended. At this first meeting the group identified: • What are current businesses doing for marketing? Websites, advertising in industry specific magazines (antique publications), Trying to get "bus tours" coordinated, in the process of creating a brochure that will be distributed to southern metro hotels, looking to do an art show and trying to raise money to put a mural on the Second Street side of Graphic Design's building, Partner with the Board of Tourism to place ads in various publications, booths at trade shows (including State Fair); and • What would local businesses like to do, but have not been able to do alone? Create and "all inclusive" business listing, regardless of buy -in /membership, some sort of "advertising" around the public dock, promote "shopping local" both to Hastings residents as well as visitors, "Word of Mouth" card campaign. Promote Hastings as "Dakota County's Downtown ", Businesses advertising other local businesses to customers — can they each set out sandwich boards advertising "lunch at .. " "find Hastings EDRA: 2/11/10 2