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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2004-03-03 RegularCommunity and Economic Development Committee Minutes March 3, 2004 The Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at 8 a.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas with the following members present: Chair Gregory Crinion, Tony Banfield, Kevin Candee, Maurice Estlinbaum, James Gerland, Brent Goswick, Gary Harris, Andy Massicott and Zekie McVeigh. Also present were the following liaisons: Council Member Tracy Goza, Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, and Planning and Zoning Chair Bob Bertrand. Staff members present were Karen Capps, Ron Cox, and Mike Hodge. Also present was Gwen Griffin of Griffin Integrated Marketing. Absent from the meeting were Trish Hanks, Mike Kuhrt, and Jim Reinhartsen. Call to Order. Chair Crinion called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. with a quorum present. 2. Approval of Minutes. Kevin Candee made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 4, 2004, with an amendment to paragraph 3. Gary Harris seconded the motion and it passed unanimously in the committee. 3. Discussion and possible action regarding regional detention in the city. Chair Crinion stated that one of the CEDC members asked for the committee to discuss the topic of providing regional detention in the city. The committee would like to study whether regional detention for Main Street and/or other economic development projects could be accommodated on the buyout properties or possibly somewhere else in the city. Committee members commented that to provide detention on small lots like those along Main Street proved to be difficult and challenging for developers. Providing for regional detention in the city could help facilitate Main Street redevelopment and small commercial projects. Mike Hodge reported that the Drainage District has a plan for regional detention. Mike explained there are different drainage areas in downtown with some areas draining to Mary's Creek. He also reported that a FEMA audit would be conducted later during the month. Currently, the City owns all of the buyout properties. The buyout properties cannot be conveyed over to the Drainage District until the audit is complete. Gary Harris said the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District's regional detention plan is pending approval. He added that there are provisions and criteria in the regional detention plan to help make smaller commercial and residential lots developable by allowing those properties to buy into regional offsite detention. Gary said that he would provide the committee a copy of the conceptual plan for regional detention of the buyout properties. The committee viewed the video that was made of a 100-year flooding event and how the watershed would be affected. 4. Reports: A. Marketing Gwen Griffin of Griffin Integrated Marketing reported on economic development marketing initiatives. Gwen reported she has been working on the first email newsletter that will be delivered to Houston area real estate agents and developers in early April. Other economic development marketing efforts include several press releases about Main Street and new commercial development, editorials from community leaders, a summary sheet explaining the municipal grant program, and a citizen awareness piece will be placed on homes as a door tag. B. Joint meeting regarding conceptual plans of Whitcomb and panhandle properties It was reported that a joint meeting would be held on March 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Council Chambers with City Council, Planning and Zoning, CEDC, and Main Street committees to hear presentations of conceptual plans of the Whitcomb and panhandle properties and what assistance may be needed in order to proceed with those development plans. Committee members were encouraged to attend. C. CDC Rezoning Karen Capps reported that in order to move forward with a city -initiated rezoning of the CDC property, a legal description or metes and bounds is needed. This information usually can be found on the original deed. Ms. Capps reported that CDC's local representatives do not have copies of the original deed. In order to get this information, a new survey may be needed. The cost for a new survey would be about $2,500. Chair Crinion said that he would work with Jim Gerland regarding the title search for the original deed. D. Prospects Karen Capps reported that she is still working with the broker for the Crafts, Etc. building and there are currently three prospects who are interested in the building. She also reported that the West properties are under contract by a developer, so an announcement should soon be made. 5. Adiournment. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07 a.m.