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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDEC Minutes 2024-03-06 RegularCOMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, March 6, 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 KYLE WINNE COMMITTEE MEMBER PAULINE MOORE COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY BRANSON ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEVEN RHEA SECRETARY KRISTINA CUELLAR ABSENT: COMMITTEE MEMBER DERRICK BROWN COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDREA TRABANINO DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUBREY HARBIN 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS 3. MINUTES A Consider approving the minutes of the Community and Economic Development Committee Regular Meeting, held on February 7, 2024. Motion to approve: Moore Second: Gazzetta Vote: 5/0 - Minutes Approved 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS A Discuss the Community and Economic Development Committee economic development and business retention strategy. Asimakis announced that Derrick Brown will be stepping down as a committee member due to a new job position/relocation. Derek has been a major asset to CDEC, and we are thankful for all he has done. If anyone on the committee knows someone interested in volunteering, have them fill out an application; once applicants are reviewed by staff, the council liaison, and the CDEC Chair, interviews will be set up. The applicant would be serving for the remainder of Brown's term. Marcus Rives, a member of the Ad Hoc Parking Committee that Branson created to look into the city's parking, spoke about areas in the town with parking issues. After researching and discussing parking with other communities with the same dilemma, the parking committee recommends reducing parking requirements across the city for all uses. Doing so should create more green space, reduce concrete, and help with drainage issues. Every two years, the parking committee will review and adjust as needed. Another recommendation will be to promote alternative parking, provide incentives for limiting big parking lots, and redevelop large parking lots. Branson informed the group that the communities they spoke with either reduced or entirely removed parking requirements for their cities. Asimakis added that it was evident through other communities that part of the key to success with changes like this is robust communication. Diana Lopez, GIS Manager for the City of Friendswood, presented the site for the restaurant survey; the site will allow restaurant owners to fill out a study to add their business to the master restaurant list. The committee discussed the average price range list for the survey. Diana will create a QR code and send it to Rhea, who will distribute it to the committee members. Committee members will contact a few local businesses to test the survey site and provide feedback before launching the site publicly. Asimakis spoke about a game plan for Small Business Week, April 28th — May 4th; it is an excellent opportunity to recognize small businesses in Friendswood and partner with the Chamber of Commerce. Some ideas thrown out were issuing a Proclamation, hosting a kickoff gathering on Monday, having a topic -specific idea and encouraging businesses to promote themselves throughout the week, having behind - the -scenes tours, and finishing the business week with a closing gathering. To finalize plans for a small business week, the committee will host a workshop on March 25th at 4 PM, inviting The Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Downtown Friendswood Association, Friendswood Rotary Club, and Galveston County Small Business Development Center to join with preparations. 5. REPORTS A. Received Staff Business Report. Report for March will be given at the April meeting. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:24 pm.