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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2006-04-05 RegularCommunity and Economic Development Committee Minutes April 5, 2006 The Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at 8 a.m. in the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 1100-A S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas, with the following members present: Chair Kirk Lippert, Deirdre Brown, Gary Harris, Rebecca Hillenburg, Pauline Moore, Bill Provenzano, and Hillmar Zeissig. Also present were the following committee liaisons: Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Jim Reinhartsen, Galveston County Economic Alliance President Don Gartman, and Council Member Laura Ewing. Also present were Bart Masiero of One Percent Realty and Gwen Griffin of Griffin Integrated Marketing. Staff members present were Karen Capps, Ron Cox, and Nick Haby. Absent from the meeting were Ed Sebesta, Brent Goswick, Kevin Holland, Trish Hanks, and Lynn Cummins. 1. Call to Order. Chair Lippert called the meeting to order at 8 am with a quorum present. 2. Approval of Minutes. Gary Harris made a motion to approve the March 8, 2006 meeting minutes. Deirdre Brown seconded the motion and it passed unanimously in the committee. 3. Discussion and possible action regarding 2005-2006 committee goals. New committee members Pauline Moore, Hillmar Zeissig, and Bill Provenzano were introduced. Chair Lippert reported on several meetings that he and Karen Capps attended including a San Joaquin HOA meeting and a meeting with Michael Moore, Director of the San Jacinto College Small Business Development Center in Pearland to discuss services that the SBDC offers to small businesses. Ms. Capps reported that she usually refers at least two new business start-ups weekly to the center. The committee reviewed their goals. Chair Lippert reported that he and Ms. Capps will attend the League City EDC meeting next week and invited other members to attend. The committee to review the City's current development process suggested it. Ms. Capps suggested that Diana Steelquist give a report on our current development process at the May meeting. Also discussed was the possibility of establishing a CEO roundtable some time in the future. Karen Capps stated that she and Friendswood Chamber President, Carol Jones are in the process of developing a business survey and will make joint visits to local businesses. The business visits will help provide information on the services available through the Chamber and City. The visits will also help provide a better understanding of the business and what products/services it offers. Most importantly, the visits can demonstrate an appreciation for the business and thereby help improve the overall business environment in the city. It was noted that CEDC volunteers could also help with these visits. The committee discussed the Brittany Bay meeting held on March 27. Some comments were offered regarding the meeting. Committee members remarked that it appeared some residents at the meeting thought the primary purpose for construction of Brittany Bay was for commercial development instead of for mobility. The committee clarified that roads are built for mobility improvement and that economic development would be a secondary benefit from construction of certain new roads. The CEDC became involved through the committee's participation in updating the Comprehensive Land Plan. The committee used the Major Thoroughfare Plan, and maps provided for making assumptions, analysis, and recommendations on future land use in the city. 4. Reports: Don Gartman of the Galveston County Economic Alliance (GCEA) reported on his continual business retention work with the petrochemical industries in Galveston County. He also stated that his office would be moving into the former Texas City -La Marque Chamber building. Once the GCEA moves, they will open a new Small Business Development Center there. The center is funded through a contract from the University of Houston. Jim Reinhartsen of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership reported on current activities including updating the economic partnership's five-year strategic plan. Mr. Reinhartsen also reported on the possible expansion of Lockheed Martin that would help NASA build the crew exploration vehicles that are needed to travel to the international space station. Gwen Griffin reported on marketing activities. Karen Capps reported on a medical clinic prospect for the Whitcomb property, and several developers she met with that have shown interest in various projects in the city. Updates were given on the Whitcomb property, West Ranch, and the status for new zoning for downtown. 5. Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.