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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2022-06-01 RegularCITY OF FRIENDSWOOD COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 - 4:00 PM Minutes MINUTES OF A FRIENDSWOOD SPECIAL MEETING HELD IN THE 2ND FLOOR (CMO) CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS. STATE OF TEXAS CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS 1. CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WAS CALLED TO ORDER ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022, AT 4:04 PM AT 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM; CHAIR JENNIFER WHITLEY COMMITTEE MEMBER SUSAN ASIMAKIS COMMITTEE MEMBER BLAISE GUZZETTA COMMITTEE MEMBER DEREK BROWN DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUBREY HARBIN ABSENT: COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDREA TRABANINO COMMITTEE MEMBER JUDY WIGGINS COMMITTEE MEMBER PAULINE MOORE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEVEN RHEA 2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC None 3. Approval of Minutes A. Consider approving the April 6, 2022, April 27, 2022 and May 4, 2022 Community and Economic Development Committee meeting minutes. Derek Brown motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Blaise Guzzetta. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Discussion and Possible Actions A. Consider participating in Lemonade Day. Whitley questioned the Board Members about the idea of CDEC participating in next years Lemonade Day, either as a mentor or sponsor. Branson asked who organizes the event. Brown answered that the Chamber of Commerce organizes Lemonade Day. The group discussed the history and purpose of Lemonade Day. Asimakis stated that she did not think Lemonade Day fit with CDEC's strategic plan. Branson stated that the group may want to team up with the makerspace and offer sponsorships to entrepreneur's trying to start up new businesses. Asimakis stated that the makerspace idea aligns better with CDEC's strategic plan. Asimakis added it may be good to find out when the planning occurs so CEDC can inform businesses. B. Consider hosting a cohort meeting to include local community and civic groups. Whitley thanked Marc Perry from the Planning and Zoning Commission for attending. Whitley questioned the group as to which organizations CEDC wanted to have a meeting or liaise with. She added she did not think the July 4t" Steering Committee was a target candidate. She then asked the group what they thought of Keep Friendswood Beautiful (KFB). She said KFB's purpose is not necessarily for economic development, but they do encourage businesses to maintain and beautify their properties. Whitley added she wanted a group that would focus on the entire City and not just the downtown area. The Board members discussed which committees/organizations would be best to meet with to improve economic development and meet CDEC's mission element. Harbin suggested to have initial meetings with Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation (FDEDC), Friendswood of Downtown Friendswood Association (FDFA) and the Chamber of Commerce. Asimakis stated that FDEDC, FDFA and the Chamber of Commerce were good core groups to start with and other groups could be added after the initial meeting. Branson suggested having a workshop format for a freer discussion. Whitley questioned who would lead the workshop. Branson stated that summertime is not a good time for a workshop and suggested it be in the fall and to reach out to Ron Cox to facilitate. Asimakis stated Ron would get CEDC further down the road and would be a good choice. Asimakis asked how the group would get the information to FDEDC, FDFA and The Chamber of Commerce. Branson stated showing up to public comments for each group would work to get the information out. Guzzetta questioned if they are missing the side streets by focusing on downtown. Whitley stated that the core groups are FDFA, FDEDC, and the Chamber of Commerce. Phase two would include Keep Friendswood Beautiful and the Planning & Zoning Commission. C. Discuss the Community and Economic Development Committee Strategic Plan. Whitley explained to the group how the elements were rearranged per the direction from the last meeting and asked if the group wanted to approach the strategic plan as the items were ranked. Guzzetta stated going after the businesses was a great first step and questioned how to find businesses to attract to Friendswood. Asimakis explained that understanding the existing businesses would be extremely helpful. She said research is needed to identify where, as a group, the next type of businesses are needed. Whitley discussed the "leakage" report Steven Rhea sent out. Asimakis said the group should think about where the jobs are, if they are going to attract people to live and work here, and where would they be working; additionally, we should consider what our business, professional, and financial services look like. She added she is not saying to eliminate retail, but having high paying businesses in the city allows retail to follow. Asimakis made a motion to approve the Strategic Plan, seconded by Guzzetta. The motion passed unanimously. 5. Reports Harbin reported that 6 new commercial permits and 4 new Certificates of Occupancy were issued in the month of May. 6. ADJOURMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:07pm.