HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2006-09-06 RegularCommunity and Economic Development Committee
Minutes
September 6, 2006
The Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, September 6,
2006, at 8 a.m., in the second floor conference room of City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive,
Friendswood, Texas, with the following members present: Chair Deirdre Brown, Kirk Lippert,
Jamie Ballard, Karin Massicott, Pauline Moore, Jon Olansen, Bill Provenzano, Ed Sebesta, and
Hilmar Zeissig. Also present were Council Member Liaison Laura Ewing, CCISD External
Affairs Coordinator Michelle Arnold, Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol
Jones, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Jim Reinhartsen, and Jackie Hutto of
Griffin Integrated Marketing.
Staff members present were Karen Capps and Nick Haby.
Absent from the meeting were Kevin Holland, Trish Hanks, and Don Gartman.
1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:03 a.m., with a quorum present.
2. Approval of Minutes. Ed Sebesta made a motion to approve the August 2, 2006
meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Bill Provenzano and it passed
unanimously in the committee.
3. Discussion regarding commercial development in the city.
Karen Capps gave an overview, history, and status of various properties in the city
including West Ranch, the downtown area, the panhandle area located at FM 2351 and
Beamer Road, CDC properties located on FM 528, Whitcomb mixed -use master plan,
and the Manning property. Ms. Capps stated these properties are either currently zoned
commercial or have the potential for future commercial use. The committee discussed
issues confronting development of various tracts including the need for sewer service in
the panhandle area, Blackhawk Road extensions for the Whitcomb development and
panhandle area, Brittany Bay extension for the Manning tract, and possible Beamer Road
extension through the CDC properties.
4. Discussion and possible action regarding planning for a CEDC committee retreat to
establish 2006-07 committee goals.
November 2 and November 8 were suggested as possible dates to hold the retreat. A
tally was done to determine which members could attend each date. Deirdre Brown
made a motion to hold the CEDC retreat on November 8 at the offices of Bay Area
Houston Economic Partnership. The motion was seconded by Kirk Lippert and it passed
unanimously in the committee.
5. Discussion and possible action regarding formation of CEDC subcommittees.
Chair Deirdre Brown announced that she would like to form several subcommittees to
help carry -out various economic development goals. The new subcommittees consist of
city outreach and education, finance and funding, and strategic planning. She stated that
she would like Karin Massicott to head up city outreach and education, Kirk Lippert for
finance and funding, and Bill Provenzano on the subcommittee for strategic planning.
This subject will be discussed further at the October CEDC meeting.
6. Discussion and possible action regarding requesting a workshop with City Council.
The committee discussed the need for a workshop with City Council. It was suggested
that the joint workshop be held after the November retreat. Karen Capps stated she will
request the workshop for November 20 and report back to the committee once the date is
confirmed.
7. Reports.
Ed Sebesta and Deirdre Brown reported on Planning on Zoning meetings they had
attended during the last month. Ed referred to the minutes that were circulated to the
CEDC by staff as having succinct information discussed at the P&Z meeting he attended.
Chair Brown attended the second P&Z meeting and added there were a group of residents
in attendance that did not appear to understand the public comment section, and a
preliminary plat was approved despite their dissent.
Jim Reinhartsen reported on a regional wireless technology initiative by Bay Area
Houston Economic Partnership to build a local consortium that establishes Wi-Fi
throughout the bay area region. Jim stated that BAHEP will soon host a meeting with
city representatives regarding this effort to determine which cities are interested in
pursuing this further and will provide more information after the meeting is held.
Jackie Hutto of Griffin Integrated Marketing provided a marketing report. Marketing
items discussed were the new tradeshow display that was on display in the conference
room, an advertising insert on Friendswood in the Houston Business Journal, work being
done to prepare for the Annual Broker/Developer Day, a press release regarding Deirdre
Brown being elected as Chair, and the third quarter e-newsletter that was being drafted.
8. Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10: 02 a.m.