HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2023-03-01 RegularCOMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 - 4:00 P.M.
SECOND FLOOR (CMO) CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm with the following members present:
CHAIR SUSAN ASIMAKIS
VICE CHAIRMAN BLAISE GUZZETTA
COMMITTEE MEMBER JUDY WIGGINS
COMMITTEE MEMBER PAULINE MOORE
COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDREA TRABANINO
COMMITTEE MEMBER DEREK BROWN
ASSITANT CITY MANAGER STEVEN RHEA
SECRETARY KRISTINA CUELLAR
ABSENT:
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUBREY HARBIN
COMMITTEE MEMBER KYLE WINNE
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
N/A
3. MINUTES
A Consider approving the minutes of the Community and Economic Development Committee
Regular Meeting, held on February 1, 2023.
Motion to approve: Brown
Second: Guzzetta
Vote: 6 to 0 — Minutes Approved
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A Discuss the Community and Economic Development Committee economic development and
business retention strategy.
Dan Seal with Bay Area Houston Partnership joined the group and shared his experience as a commercial
real estate broker. The committee suggested meeting with Dan a few times a year to stay updated on
"trends" in commercial real estate, which would be beneficial.
Asimakis led a group discussion on answers to questions asked by business owners during recent visits.
When asked why they chose Friendswood, a common theme among the business owners was that they
wanted to work where they lived - the "live here, work here" concept. The answers varied when the business
owners were asked how they would describe Friendswood to clients and peers. Wiggins shared her opinion
stating that if a business was engaged in the community, the feedback was positive, and if they were not, the
feedback was negative. When the business owners were asked what challenges they face, some answers
were finding and keeping employees, availability to space, growth, and traffic light sequencing.
5. REPORTS
A Receive the Staff Business Report.
Rhea reported that the February Community Development Building Report would be distributed via email to
the Committee.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:36 pm.