This conference will now be recorded. All right. >> Okay. Let's call the meeting to order. Any additions or corrections to the agenda? >> There is not. Is >> there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> I'll second. All in favor?
>> I opposed. Pass. Meeting minutes from January 21st. Make a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the December 17 meeting
>> January 21st. >> January 21st. >> Am I a month off? >> You're right. >> January 21st meeting. We'll give you some great >> second. All in >> favor motions pass
>> financial monthly financial reports and accounts payable. I think you see on there you get the compensation checks for you all and that would be the only um difference any startup
has been started. Hey Dave, >> what is the compensation? So much a meeting or what? >> 15 bucks a meeting? >> You didn't know you got paid? >> Well, I knew.
>> It's the only reason I took the job. >> 50 cents a minute. whatever that calculates out. >> I will make a motion to approve the monthly financial report for January. All in favor or is there a second? >> All in favor?
>> I opposed. Motion's passed. No public hearings. We're on to old business part A. Tulip Tree Marketing. >> Yeah, Tree Marketing. So, as you remember, we're looking at uh marketing the city of Zimbro and trying to do
something different than Facebook. And one of the things we're looking at was Google. So, I don't think a lot of us understand Google ads. So, I contacted uh Tulip Tree and got the response uh right here. It says Google ads do not run individual ads on a fixed schedule
and are less predictable. So what they do is they supply Google with up to 15 short headlines, five long headlines, and five descriptions with up to 20 images and a video when available. Google then automatically tests and optimizes
different combinations of these assets serving as the strongest performing versions based on user behavior, clicks, and overall performance. So it's not really set when you would see this information on the internet or when you would see it. um they can create different ad sets
that are separate different top uh topics so they're not mixed up. Um you can see the price was fairly large for Google compared to Facebook but what we're trying to do is to get the city out of Zambroda and get it out so people
will see the city you know in different regions. Uh, so this is one way. If you have another way that you found would like to do, I more than happy to look into it for you. Um, we don't need to
say make a decision tonight on this by any means. Uh, but just to kind of keep it in your wheelhouse. Any questions on >> Okay. So, if I'm reading this right, Kurt, our budget for is $9,000. Our
promotional budget is $9,000. Correct. For this for this year. Yeah. >> And then to do three months worth of we're looking at $3,000. >> Correct.
It looks like a base management fee and then a Google performance max ads fee of $1,500 which would equal our $3,135. >> We don't really have an example. >> Well, I brought some last time there of the Google ads what they would look like
and we've all seen them depending on what you no matter what you look on the internet. Uh, but they would and like I said, Google puts them together. So, we would give them the information and they would Google put it together, but they
could show us an example of one kind of what it look like. >> Is the 595 for the Facebook? >> That's Facebook. Yes. >> So much that much a month. >> Yeah, that's right.
And those are a little bit easier to well they lay them out and then they put them out on Facebook. >> How much does Tulip charge us then? Do they charge us on top of our basically on top of our Google? Is that including
>> Yeah. So that's >> Google and Tulip Tree >> together. >> Yep. >> So you think the Facebook ads they don't go outside of >> No, because they're tied to our Facebook page with the city. So they're I mean
they may make them out but they're pretty much seen by people who look at city of Zimroa Facebook page more than likely. I got some on my Facebook but I have some Zimroda ties I think
>> to it. Um so yeah this would be a way to kind of it's just a different form of marketing. Yeah. Uh I was at a meeting on Friday amongst smaller communities and
they were asking questions about marketing like what have you done to market and they said well we we bought a billboard and we marketed on Facebook which is hard it's it's great but it's hard to measure how that's doing you know um and they were very interested in
the digital marketing that we were doing so it was very taken over very well from the other communities whether they'll do it or not I don't know if it's a different story because they weren't marketing at all. Most of them >> and Chil Tree said that they didn't have
I was thinking like there were other smaller communities like ours that were working in them, but really we're the first one that's kind of contacted and said, "Hey, can you help us?" >> Yep. >> Yep. I work with them in Orco. They're making a brand a city brand or
that's the only other thing that they've done with smaller communities. Okay, this might be a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway. There's no one that is currently on city staff that is paid to run our Facebook.
>> Um, Miranda. >> Yeah. >> Our communication person, >> right? Yeah. So like >> this this 595 a month, you know, that's seven over 7,000 a year just for
Facebook. So >> we could maybe create ads inhouse and then just pay for the sponsored ads will be a lot larger, >> right?
>> Especially on the Facebook side. if we wanted to do more Google. I think >> the other thing that >> might be >> I'm not sure what's where it's at is the uh business leaders and broader business leader group and they're talking about
marketing too and uh whether they want to there seems to be some resistance to a chamber. Um but you know either way if they market you know how much more do we need to do
or do we help fund what they're doing? I think the Google ads would have a specific purpose and I'm not opposed to the Google ads, but I think as far as Facebook goes, just looking at the ads that they created for us,
I would put 100% faith in Miranda that she could also create that I mean there was a cover bridge fest, there was a enjoy our park, there was a hey, we've got a historic bridge, come on, we've got bike trip, you know, um
>> those will on the city site though, >> right? But now that we've seen some of the content that they've created for us, can we take that and >> do our own versus paying for the Facebook side of it? >> Sure.
So I could >> I think the key to Facebook is if you get people to follow you and then their f friends follow them pretty soon it's >> it's got a wider reach >> and we didn't necessarily pick up new followers
from the money that we paid last year. >> Yeah. >> Can we do that? I mean I >> you got to go back to the videos of Joan but you know like something like that where because like what we would always say is like hey you know share this
>> but then what what's a little trickier is that you got to you got to get those people's names that was a little trickier um but then you know we always put them in you know bucket and drew but I'm just say that then I mean we could when we did that you you could get a lot
of shares out there and maybe the shares would get us more people outside of are >> sharing. From what we found is if you include people in your Facebook posts, if you've got pictures of people and so forth, they get shared. Their friends
pick them up, you know, >> like Lindsay and mine, you know, like that >> like tagging people or just >> like tagging. Yeah, like tagging like Lindsay and John are covered part. >> I guess I'm I'm still a little uncertain of who we're trying to reach here. Are
we trying to reach businesses that want to bring possible business to town or are we just trying to reach for tourism? >> We're trying to get people to come to Zroa overall. Both business and tourists come to town and spend money visit.
>> I just wonder if we should be focused on trying to get businesses, attracting businesses that could possibly buy the land that we're trying to sell and and so forth. um restaurants and so forth.
you know, attracting people to town. >> I just don't know the the benefit of that just for a tourism point of view, >> money >> or or spay other business owner. I would love people to come to town. >> No, if they come to town to visit, they're not coming to town to buy a tree
from you. You know what I mean? >> They might buy a gift item out of my store. They might. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, it's word of mouth. Definitely. >> Yeah. >> Obviously, we're not going to mow their lawn if they're not from out of town, but >> it might it might shock.
>> We may have to push them out of the snow. >> But, you know what I mean? Is what what should be our focus as an EDA? The tourism? Is that the most important or is it trying to attract businesses to town?
>> Yeah, it's both. Yeah. iding different avenues like right now this would be a tourist market just figuring out how to market land we have for sale for businesses in town I don't know how to do that I
don't think Facebook is a way to do that I don't think Google ads are a way to do that I don't think billboards are a way to do that I I don't know how you track >> maybe Facebook marketplace or something like that you But we as a city only have
a couple of lots for sale. Correct. >> EA. >> And they're listed on the city state website with all other places. So if you go to land for sale in the state of Minnesota,
the ZRO's two lots are listed there. Now >> is that a Oh. Most EDAS I mean they purchase land and then they try to sell it to businesses. I mean or is that unique to us or >> No, I think um like I give you example
um Canon Falls uh bought land their EDA bought a chunk a large chunk of farmland and for specifically for residential because new houses hadn't been built in Can Falls for many many years. Uh, that's a very unique situation in smaller communities
to buy like a large chunk of land like that. Um, yeah, I would say as far as EDA's owning land, that's not common. That's from what I've seen. Yeah. >> Have we done anything to help market the
coffee mill, for example? We're not selling it though. Like they would market it. >> Well, I know they're trying to sell it, but have we done anything to try to help find somebody to buy it? >> No. Yeah. No, I don't I don't know if
there's a specific group of people or websites with restaurants for sale like Mark Facebook Marketplace or what. Yeah, but we can definitely put this on hold and
you know I can start working with Miranda and putting out some Facebook post for the city. Prefer that it's much cheaper that's for sure than what this is and that money >> I don't know is pretty expensive. >> No >> that money's not going anywhere.
What about the Google ads? Is that something worth trying? >> I think it would be something more towards our busier season to push the market, our city more in our summer
months. So she starting in May, May, June, July or June, July, August or the wait the festival's in September, isn't it? >> Right. >> So July, August, Sep. >> Do they have to be three consecutive
months? >> I was thinking the same thing. >> Yeah. >> Well, then yeah. Well, >> be nice to split it up. Spread it out. Yeah, >> let me Yeah, let me ask her if we can do it over three separate months and we can select
our months. That'd be good. >> Yeah, just curious. I just might Is our campground full? >> Is it full? >> Like seasonal or how many? >> Yeah, seasonal. I think the seasonal ones are full. Um and then we were down a little bit last year. income was was
up. I think we were down for the number of campers. >> Um, you know, that just came in on the weekend, that type of thing. >> Yeah. Okay. Let me ask you. Yeah, that's good. >> Yeah, because that would be a little, you know, be a chunk of the the promotional budget, but it might be
worth it to get out farther and then at least, you know, if it made an impact, you can kind of try to try to quantify, >> right? I assume that we would get analytics from it. Correct. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Like they would be able to tell us
>> would they >> exactly how many? >> Yeah, for sure. >> Yeah. Let me ask you that and I'll bring that to March meeting because we're not interested in getting ready now anyway.
>> Any other discussion on If not, we will move on to system and stall. >> So, as you know, Annie's is up and running. Uh EDA voted to open a line of credit for her $25,000. Um
working with our city attorneys to draw up the documents, which is taking a while. a lean honor mobile home proof of meeting with the small business uh SBDC in Rochester and corly bank statements will be submitted to EDA uh
or part of the terms of the loan. So I've been working with Marcus Lang and Angie and Brian Hogan who's now obviously retired from the bank uh to make sure everything's going smoothly. But if you've been in there you've seen she's painted done a nice job. People
have very happy that she's continuing that business. So that's a very good thing. >> May date. >> I need to change the date of our EDA meeting from May 20th to May 13th if
that's a possibility. 20th is obviously a Wednesday. The 13th is also a Wednesday. Uh Miranda told me there's not a meeting in here. So that would be great. If we cannot do it, I could find another date. >> Anybody have any issues with that?
>> Should work for me, I guess. >> Need a motion in the second. >> Let's have a motion in the second. >> Motion that we switch our Mayday from the 20th to the 13th. >> I'll second. >> Yes. >> All in favor? >> And thank you. Um, part B is a daycare.
>> Yeah, should be one word, I guess. Uh, so many of you know that the old school is for sale, has been for sale for a while, but the price has just recently dropped and Brian and I had a meeting with a realer and I've had two separate meetings with
people who are very interested in that land now. I think it's going for $350,000 I believe at this point. originally was I think it was 550 or something. >> Yeah. The old schools. Um, one of them was Michael and Steve Cely and they
inquired about that school and they were start looking to start a daycare and I forward them information on how to get a license. Uh, DED does offer at this point right now grants to help start daycarees to get them started. So, if
one if they do purchase this and are interested in starting a daycare, I'll be working on that. Um, I had another meeting with a citizen last week who was in the same boat. It's like starting a daycare. It's great on paper to start a daycare, but I don't know if they realize what it
takes to start a daycare to get it all up to date. The building may need updating, but they'll cross that boundary when they come to it. Um, but yeah, if you hear of anything people interested in that building, uh, just let them know that it's it's become a
very hot piece of real estate as of late. Um, and so I just want the EDA to be aware of that. >> What all comes with it building and that whole >> that whole lot. Yeah. >> And and is that a corner lot?
>> No. Well, yeah, I guess it is a big corner. >> Yeah, it's huge corner lot. Yeah. But the difference with that one and the coffee mill is the coffee mill was staying quiet for so long. They didn't ask for us to go out and look for they still have it. This one they did and so
this one would be a little bit more active in but if the coffee mill well we always put it out there if anybody comes asking but we talked about it in the Zel meeting too but that's kind of the difference in some of these we're trying to sell this business here or this land here and one of them reached out and
said hey you know let us know and help. Uh the other one wanted to stay quiet up until whenever it's not quiet anymore. So, >> has anybody got an estimate on what it's going to take to pay? >> See, I've offered
>> Yeah, I offered to get a feasibility report done. Well, I didn't offer because that grant has closed was from Compier and just kind of not a warning to those people who were interested, but I mean when we got that feasibility report done on on your old church, I
mean the amount of work that would have to go into it to get it up to date to say make it a community center was just it was just amazing to get bathrooms up to date, kitchens and so on. And if there's in this church or excuse me, in the school if there's asbestous that's
something else. So just kind of giving people a like, you know, you may have to do a lot of work in there. >> May have been taken care of. >> Yeah. >> I know someone who goes to church there. We were talking. >> Would they have to remove asbestous if
it's contained? >> Well, if it's a daycare, possibly. >> Possibly. >> Yeah. >> I don't know. But do they have to update upgrade the bathrooms to accessibility standards? All that stuff. I don't know. Um, you know, if it's not a change of
use. I know from the code standpoint, but I don't know from daycare rules standoint. >> So, we'll have to see. >> Hey, report. >> All right. Here's your report. >> Are you going to be singing or anything for this? No.
>> Hope not. Start at the end. lot of pictures. All right. Um, so 2025, what a year. Here's our agenda. What went through in 2025? We'll go pretty quick through
this. If you need to stop, please tell me. Here's our goals and our mission as the EDA of Ambro to promote coordinate the development expansion of special areas of economic activity including but not limited to industry, commerce, housing and tourism while maintaining a high quality of life in some fora area
residents. I think when you became a member of EPA it was pretty common sense to to you yourself. If you have questions on our goals, please let me know. Here's our membership. our vice
president succeeded uh in August of 2025 and left has now been taken over by Bob Holly is our vice president which I let him know via email last two weeks ago because he was absent or he volunteered >> another meeting >> whatever all told
>> so our executive board last year's our attendance we had one October 15th meeting with no quorum we've been very good at I have meetings like this in Oronokco and Hayfield and there regularly is no corn for us. I think
that was the first one in two and a half years where we didn't have a corn available. So that's very thank you for your time. Um as far as permits within the city, we have 13 commercial industrial permits. Uh building permits. I got that from
miles and you can see the number amount of money involved in that was over about half a million dollars. A couple of the more expensive projects was a Comcast edition valuation about $200,000 a Marathon the signs at Marathon $7,800
in DFA. U I've heard the rumor I don't know if it's true or not that Little Caesars is coming to Marathon. Has anyone >> They're excited about it though. That's a thing. >> Yeah, they were in and asking questions about it. That was a long time ago.
>> Yeah. So, it kind of popped up today. >> Is that Comcast edition? Is that done or is it started or where is that? >> Gosh, I'm trying to remember what that was even. >> I just got >> I think that was real must have been real early in the in the year.
>> Okay. >> All right. Some of the grants we wrote, uh, the city was awarded a tier 2 grant this year for $85,000 and we're working with Habitat for Humanity on that one. Um, they wrote a grant for a new water fountain, which you wouldn't think is
that expensive, but it is. So, you'll see that in the spring. Uh, Jeff and the guys will install the new water fountain on the trail head, which will make that look real nice. >> You say a water fountain, your drinking fountain. >> Yeah, drinking fountain. Yeah. And a
bottle filler. It's exciting. >> Exciting. >> Yeah. uh Smith, we were awarding this paint the town grant of $1,000. So, we wrote this grant for uh flowers on me and they were going to
draw, excuse me, paint on the back of their store. Something happened in that was real pertinent to the owner's life. So, she did not get it done. So, don't go look at it because you'll be like, "Where is it?" Um
these are okay so this is this is our revolving loan that we had out the zero vet clinic was done before I got here 281 Maine was done before I got here uh we worked with Southeast Minnesota Associates that's the veterinarians who
bought the land as you come into Zimbro and then Rashid Kami who we helped him replace his hood restaurant and I'll talk about that in a second. Uh there are still roughly about $27,000
owed to the city in um interest on these loans and the loans are very popular and a very good thing for the city. And I say that because another community I work in don't have the ability of loan funds and it's it's kind of sad that they don't have that ability. So this is
great. Um, as a review, we spoke about this. $25,000 went to fund Ann or help Annie's uh with her new restaurant venture. Uh, we've spoken about it. Um, like I said, get a chance to get in there, please do.
She took the lights down that were awkwardly low. So, >> I didn't even notice what sitting down. >> You didn't go skipping through there. Yeah. because they were awkwardly
>> pretty low for me to notice. >> Uh new business recognition. Many of you know that Sticks and Stones opened on Main Street. Uh it's very vibrant business. They have a variety of things uh in that place. I have their plaque. I'm waiting for Annie's plaque to take
that out. And the reason why these plaques aren't always given in time because this restaurant is now not a restaurant anymore. >> So I've got >> Are they Are they gone? Yeah,
>> they've been gone for couple weeks using the hood. >> So that place I'm assuming will more than likely become because if you remember there was even a restaurant coming in there between the two. Um it was like a pink sign and
>> that was good food that >> well I don't I don't think they open. They just had the sign. >> So >> it's been it's been so many in the last >> Yeah. >> three four years. >> Hopefully I don't Well,
>> um, so some miscellaneous information. Obviously, this is information on on Zumbroa, but we worked with a newsrecord newspaper to produce a 2025 visitors guide. It's a 43page guide. I still send these out to explore Minnesota to the
visitor stops. Like down by Albert Lee, there's one out by Beaver Creek, Minnesota, there's one in St. cloud. They're all over periodically send boxes to them to get save some they they call we spent $5,000
for 500 pictures guys very familiar with them as a community as well. We also spent $5,400 for 6 months on Facebook advertising, um, advertisements, promoting tools, and saw I gave you all the examples that the
tulip tree gave us for Facebook advertisement. The EDA also from the request of the future Zable or Zabel, do we call Zable or Zel? >> Zable I Zable. Yeah. So Zable
formed and one of the things they needed would was a hotel study. The last hotel study done in the cities was 2017. So it was David. So we had three different businesses. We chose HBS to do the hotel
study for us. It was beneficial. See the quote here that scale hotel affiliation such as Best Western to a variety of ones or regional base such as Cobblestone. Our interviews with demand generators in the area indicated that a recognizable hotel affiliation would be
preferred for their travelers. It was very beneficial for the city of Zambroa because we can use this to sell to hotel brands that yes, it's been proven that hotel should do well in some
uh so rebound is using this uh when when they go out and kind of shop out hotels and stuff. So it's it's very beneficial for the city and I one hasn't even done for many years. and it is being pursued. >> Y
uh here's a list of some of the partners we partner with. I put rebound partners on there because we're doing quite a bit with them as far as the city. Um Zable uh one of the no new ones is Code North.
Co North I've been in contact with and I worked with them last month to write a second tier 2 grant. Co North is working with Rash Ranch. And the citizens of Rash Ranch now have the ability to buy a little chunk of land and what this uh
grant would do is help them uh hook up their with expenses such as hooking up water, electricity and so on. So I yeah I worked with them. Um and so we'll find out a couple weeks if we got that correct or not. The negative is because
we won it before we get a 10point deduction out of 100. So they were they knew that they were still very >> Dave Dave Berley. >> No it was uh two ladies.
He >> on our board >> is he? Okay. So yeah 2025 very simple daycare facility and a restaurant what I'm asking you as an EDA come back at our next meeting which is in March
you have a goal fantastic if you would like to discuss goals at that time fantastic as well we'll discuss those but something to think of for 2026 uh goal that you may have thank you for your for 2025
looking forward to a strong 2026. You are the best. So, and I want to point out that the best is capitalized. So, so that's big time. Like I said, if you want a copy of this, let me know. I kind
of use it because I'll get uh I use a uh excuse me, PowerPoint like this because I'll have other communities ask what you mean. So this kind of sums it up for you. You want to print a copy, I can definitely do that as well.
Any questions there? Nothing further on the on the 2025 report. We'll move on to our reports, which is an update on KB apartments. >> Yeah, actually this is just got done this week. was a public hearing, I believe. Yeah, it was held on February
10th. Uh because yeah, it just got done. >> So, the sale and reszone was approved uh by the planning and zoning committee. I think it goes to city council. >> Yeah. Yeah. There'll be a whole bunch of stuff on the city council agenda. Um
including this, basically just have to reszone this little chunk to match the PD. Um and then uh Keller Barton will have to do a property volume one. Um but the sale was already approved by council. It's just
the reszone. Now uh there will be a a uh ordinance on the agenda to memorialize the the initial reason of the rest of it. We were in between u city attorneys at the time. Uh Mike Flity was not up to
speed in all this. Matt was gone. There should have been an ordinance done to memorialize what council approved. They approved the reasonzoning on a motion, but it wasn't memorialized. So, asking council to do that. Also, there will be the developers agreement will be on the
uh the council agenda. Um it includes language for those 17 spots in the alley. um I can't remember the exact wording of it, but it basically says that it will not be uh private parking. It'll always be available on
the first come, first serve uh to the public. Uh something like that wording that was worked through uh by the city attorney as well. And that's recorded with the property, so it goes with the property. That was one of the big questions we had um moving through this
whole process. And I promised it would be in there. It's in there. So, and then uh gosh, I think that's it on the Have you pursued anything with uh using the library for parking in the meantime while it's being constructed? >> No, what we did was put on there that
they Well, they can't park on Main Street for sure. Um and then when they built the first building, um you know, they were filling up all the spots in front of the businesses. Um so, they've had experience with that. They will not be doing that. Um I can't remember what the wording of the parking is. uh during
construction in the I think it says public lots is what it says. Of course, not the alley because it won't be open. It'll be all fenced in. >> Isn't the library able to be used? >> It could be. It could be. Yep. Yep. Um on Tuesdays, it's packed. Library is
jam-packed Tuesday mornings for story hours. Um so, I mean, we were just looking at the other day. We had a executive team meeting and that parking lot was was full. It's amazing how many people they get. So, uh, but I think it it talks about public lots. Um, you know, the one across is not usually full
over by the goose and then the one uh down behind Roxan and back that way is >> there's usually a few spots. So, we'll work with them um as they go. Um, and it's panelized construction and not going to be a whole bunch of uh people
there uh pounding nails and building walls. all those walls are going to come in in sections and then just craned up there. So, there won't be I don't think there'll be the volume of um people working there that there was even on the other building.
>> I would expect it to be pretty similar, but I don't know. >> There won't be a whole bunch of framers like there was in the other building. You know, they had tons and tons of framers framing the walls and everything, but that's they're all going to be panelized and basically connect them connected to the floor, connect
them together. It's going to be built pretty quickly. >> They don't have an expected start date yet, though. >> Not yet. Nope. We need to get past this final. This is kind of all of it. All the final stuff at once.
And then they have to do their due diligence on combining the lots, which is just that's pretty easy for them through the county. And then um oh, I know what else is on there. The approval of the site plans is on there. Um that
was done by city staff, you know, Jeff uh public works, Bill Ingramman, Scott Haniki, WHS Miles was involved. Um and there's always some conditions to go along with that. So that's on the the agenda, too. It's pretty much the the
Miles Rob show at the Bridge View Apartments for the council meeting. There's nothing come No. No. No.