HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDEC Minutes 2024-10-02 RegularCOMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND 2024 - 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 DENISE SPRUIELL
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEVEN RHEA
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUBREY HARBIN
SECRETARY KRISTINA CUELLAR
ABSENT:
COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDREA TRABANINO
COMMITTEE MEMBER KYLE WINNE
COMMITTEE MEMBER PAULINE MOORE
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY BRANSON
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
none
3. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Discuss and take possible action on amendments to the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone
#1.
Harbin presented the finalized update to the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #1 which will
change to only waving permit fees for Zone Changes, Plats, and Site Plans for Downtown
District Zoning and to consolidate areas A & B. Gazzetta made a motion to recommend
updates to the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone #1 to City Council, Second by Wiggins,
motion approved 4/0.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
B. Discuss the Community and Economic Development Committee economic development and
business retention strategy.
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A
Asimakis welcomed guests Amy Reed and Ruchi Gupta with the Small Business Development
Center and thanked them for attending. The committee discussed planning ideas for next
year's Small Business Week, May 4 — 10, 2025. Deciding on a rough outline of having a Kick -
Off Event, Keynote Speaker, Panel Discussion, and Networking. The committee will share
ideas for who the keynote speaker could be. Asimakis went over the internship idea that was
brought up at the last meeting, giving college students opportunities to shadow and gain
experience through an internship program. Winnie would be willing to work on applications for
students/businesses. Denise helped create a list of business categories and companies that
may want to participate. Wiggins and Asimakis met with Susan Kirkpatrick with the
Friendswood High School CTE department. Kirkpatrick gave contact information to her
contacts at Clear Creek ISD, College of Mainland, and San Jacinto College. Kirkpatrick also
offered for the committee to market the internship program at Friendswood High School during
lunch for seniors. Ideally, the goal would be to launch the "Future Work" project in January and
match students/businesses in April/May.
Diana Lopez, Geographical Information Services (GIS) Manager, gave an update on the
restaurant survey that allows owners to be added to the master restaurant list. Glenda
Faulkner, Director of Communications, and Katy Harris, Multimedia Communications
Specialist, joined the meeting to discuss ideas for promoting the Restaurant Survey through
the city's social media. It was decided that the launch date would be the first of the year, with
Katy and Glenda working on the branding.
REPORTS
A. Receive the Staff Business Report.
Harbin presented the business report for August and September 2024.
Certificates of Occupancy Issued:
Pinch a Penny
Al- Qalam Institute
1520 S Friendswood Dr. Ste 100
2300 Old Rd Ste 100
CLS Health/Thomas Pain Consultants 111 E Edgewood Dr
CKS Health 119 E Edgewood Dr
Allied Fire Protection LP
Fire Station #2
Twenty20 Ministries
1311 W Parkwood Ave
2601 W Parkwood Ave
211 E Parkwood Ave Ste 100
Temporary Certificates of Occupancy Issued:
Challenge Elite Sports 14150 Beamer Rd
Performing Arts Center at FHS
Athletics addition at FHS
Choir and Band Renovation at FHS
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:27pm.
702 Greenbriar Dr
702 Greenbriar Dr
702 Greenbriar Dr