Economic Development Committee delays business outreach survey to coordinate with master plan data

Paula (Economic Development staff) summarized a proposed 32‑question business outreach survey intended to gather resident and business input on topics such as signage, drive‑throughs and preferred industries.

Committee members raised concerns about duplication with a recent master plan survey that collected about 800 resident responses. Several members asked staff to review existing master plan results and to tailor the new survey to avoid repetition while adding more detailed business‑focused questions.

After discussion, Cliff moved and Jim seconded a motion to delay approval of the outreach survey for one month. The motion directed staff (Paula and Joe) to meet, merge their findings from the master plan survey, and return with a revised survey tailored both to in‑Wildwood businesses and to potential outside businesses the city wishes to recruit. The committee voted and carried the motion.

Staff explained the intended timeline: publish and push the survey over the summer, close responses in mid‑September, consolidate results before a September 23 Economic Development Committee meeting and present findings at a future business forum. The committee requested staff incorporate business‑only questions to better align demand data with potential commercial prospects.

No vote occurred on the survey content itself at this meeting; the committee instead approved the delay and the staff review so the final instrument will be more selective and less duplicative of recent master plan outreach.