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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDEC Minutes 2024-08-07 RegularCOMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7th, 2024 - 4:00 P.M. SECOND FLOOR (CMO) CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS MINUTES 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 ANDREA TRABANINO COMMITTEE MEMBER DENISE SPRUIELL ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEVEN RHEA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUBREY HARBIN SECRETARY KRISTINA CUELLAR ABSENT: COMMITTEE MEMBER JUDY WIGGINS COMMITTEE MEMBER KYLE WINNE COMMITTEE MEMBER PAULINE MOORE COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY BRANSON 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS none 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Discuss potential amendments to the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #1. Asimakis welcomed Denise Spruiell to CDEC; Asimakis also announced that Small Business Week for 2025 will be May 4 — 10th and that National Small Business Day is recognized on November 30, 2024, which would also be an excellent time to promote a "Save the Date" for 2025's Small Business Week, with the help of the city's social media platform. Harbin presented the potential amendments to the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #1, which originated in 2008 when CDEC created the `Old Business District'(OBD). When the Downtown District Zoning Designation was made, the zoned `OBD" properties were changed to `Downtown District' (DD). Any property in the Downtown District Boundary can change to Downtown District Zoning without questions. Friendswood, Downtown Economic Development Committee, can spend its dollars in the right of ways within the Downtown District Boundary. When the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) was created (area A), development- related fees for for -profit businesses zoned in DD were waived. The second amendment to NEZ included `area B,' which waived development -related fees for for -profit companies zoned in DD and incorporated the DD amenities: benches, lights, and sidewalks. With the change of times and amenities being met by most parcels, a shift in the NEZ is due. Gazzetta motioned to consolidate areas A & B and waive only the fees for Zone Changes, Plats, and Site Plans for Downtown District Zoning; Trabanino seconded, and the motion was approved 4/0. B. Discuss the Community and Economic Development Committee economic development and business retention strategy. The committee brainstormed the next step from the strategic plan with marketing on the frontline. The committee would like to have the city's Director of Communications and the GIS Manager at the next meeting to discuss ways to market/promote information using the city's social media platform. Another idea is internships, "keeping/growing" talent in Friendswood; the first step would be to promote why internships are beneficial and find out which businesses are willing to have interns. 4. REPORTS A. Receive the Staff Business Report. Report will be presented at the next meeting. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:27pm.