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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2007-03-21 RegularCommunity and Economic Development Committee Minutes March 21, 2007 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 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, Jamie Ballard, Pauline Moore (left at 10 a.m.), Dr. Hilmar Zeissig, Jon Olansen, Ed Sebesta, and Claude McEwen. Also present were: Planning and Zoning Liaison Marcus Rives, BAHEP representative Janet Stoney, City Council Liaison Laura Ewing. Staff members present were Karen Capps, Bo McDaniel, and Nick Haby. Also present were Brett Nichols (left 8:35 a.m.) and Janis Lowe (arrival 8:25a.m.). Absent from the Meeting: Karin Massicott, Bill Provenzano, Kirk Lippert, Trish Hanks, Jim Reinhartsen, Don Gartman, Carol Jones, Griffin Marketing, and Michelle Cruz Arnold. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:10 a.m., with a quorum present. 2. Roll Call. Roll call was made. 3. Approval of Minutes. Claude McEwen moved to approve the February 7, 2007 minutes. The motion was seconded by Pauline Moore and passed unanimously by the committee. 4. Discussion and possible action regarding the following Action Item reports; including but not limited to: A. Discussion of renaming of Sub Committees to Action Items with point members It was discussed that the strategic planning, finance, and community outreach subcommittees have not met apart from the CEDC since their formation last year. Jamie Ballard made a motion and Hilmar Zeissig seconded that the subcommittees would be renamed to working groups with committee member coordinators. After a brief discussion, the motion passed unanimously. B. Strategic Planning Committee Goals: Obtain feedback from newly established businesses Feedback/reasons from businesses who did not locate in Friendswood Bill Provenzano was absent, but Karen Capps stated that he continues to interview local businesses. C. Community Outreach Action Items Goal: Business retention survey and visits Karin Massicott was absent. Karen Capps reported that she visited two local businesses during the last month. One business was visited by Pauline Moore and Karen Capps whose office headquarters is in Friendswood. The business will soon need to expand to provide larger administrative offices to service their two satellite locations. The other business that was visited is a regional office for a large national retailer. This business may explore the possibility of placing one of their retail stores in Friendswood. Hilmar Zeissig stated that he feels a non -government person needs to visit the local businesses. It would be a good opportunity for different committee members to meet with Friendswood businesses. Karen Capps clarified that Bill Provenzano's working group visits with businesses to get feedback from businesses that recently went through the development process in Friendswood. The purpose of the business retention visit is to establish contact with the president of the company, to learn information about the company which may include business expansion plans at some time in the future, and to provide information on how the City may be able to assist them. The visit also provides the business a contact person from the City who they can call for information or assistance. A discussion followed about changing the interview form. Janet Stoney stated that BAHEP's policy is to maintain the same form to promote more consistent data. Claude McEwen asked how Capps handles business concerns and issues. Karen Capps stated that she addresses their concerns which may be as simple as answering questions or she may take the issue to the appropriate city office. This data will be compiled for further review by the CEDC. Bo McDaniel stated that the goal is to find the root causes of problems and seek to find solutions. There is a basic question of whether or not to recruit quality businesses, which requires guidelines that support this, or allow any business to locate to Friendswood, which means that minimal guidelines are required. It is important to have input as to what would expedite the process for locating and staying in Friendswood, but businesses also need to understand that regulations are in place to provide for quality businesses. In addition, there are federally mandated policies for such concerns as full employment. Pauline Moore clarified that Bill Provenzano is meeting with newly opened businesses to conduct surveys. Bo McDaniel stated that as the city grows there may need to be an ombudsman to interface with businesses. Karen Capps stated that there is a staff person in the Community Development Department responsible for assisting businesses through the development process. At the present time, she also serves as the regulator. Jamie Ballard asked that the April meeting include a discussion of the steps involved in the development process. Karen Capps stated that as she sets up meetings with businesses, she will invite committee members to participate. A question was raised concerning using the municipal PEG channel to communicate with the public on economic development. Nick Haby stated that there are 8,000 local customers so that many households do not have access to this information. D. Finance Action Items Goal: Status on obtaining figures to help project build out numbers Vision 20/20 update to be conducted by a UHCL graduate class, at no cost to the city. Kirk Lippert was absent. Karen Capps, Bo McDaniel, and Roger Roecker met with UHCL. A graduate class is conducting the study. The City will provide UHCL with information that includes the property appraisal data from 1990 to present. Hilmar Zeissig suggested that the committee hear the suggestions from the students. The CEDC plans for the study include: • Updating the City's data • Define the terms for the update • Ask for funding for strategic plan Bo McDaniel explained the differences between a strategic plan and an economic development plan. In a strategic plan, it is recognized what is outside the control of the city and that limits possibilities. The comprehensive economic plan is adjusted. The strategic plan is the reality, including the impact of outside forces. An economic development plan determines what the market will bear and produce. The community's political nature will help determine what types of economic development will be accepted/needed. The economic development plan includes the ideal of what the community wants, but it may not be reality. Friendswood has a vision but needs a plan. The City never followed through with part two of Vision 2020. Jamie Ballard stated that the City needs to add specificity so that there is a mechanism used for approving/disapproving zoning. There was discussion over other economic issues relating to this topic. For instance, does Friendswood need to pursue a wireless city? Janet Stoney explained that BAHEP is pursuing a wireless initiative. Nick Haby shared that he found that WiFi would cost millions to blanket the City and might impact private competition. E. Down zoning of commercial properties and possible recommendations to City Council (Jamie Ballard) Karen Capps reviewed the zoning classifications for the city. Commercial Zoning I Industrial(panhandle area 2351,Beamer, Dixie Farm LI Light industrial towards Alvin BP Business park FM 528 towards I-45 and Alvin CSC Over 2 acres in size. Usually don't have limits and specifics in different cities. This is separate from OP. CSC now allows 100% office space use. Previousl , CSC was limited to 30% office. OBD Original business district is a mixture of all zones including LI. For instance, the old fig plant and Laurel area include LI in OBD. OBD is mainly on FM 518 from FM 2351 to Castlewood. The plan is to change OBD to the new Downtown District district. OP Office park has no commercial allowed. NC Neighborhood commercial allows some businesses, such as neighborhood retail, personal services such as banks, but not others, such as daycare. Residential Zoning SFR Single family residential MFR-L Low density, such as garden homes with a maximum of 6 homes MFR-M Medium density between 7 and 9 MFR-H High density with a maximum of 12 Special PUD Planned Unit Development The Falls is an example of a commercial mixed -use project. This requires a great deal of detailed plans in advance. There are residential PUDS such as gated communities and cluster homes. Jamie Ballard asked which zone generates more revenue. The answer given is that retail establishments that pay city sales taxes, property taxes on real and business personal property, and inventory taxes usually generate more city revenues; however, Industrial and Light Industrial development can have a large impact. Typically businesses don't require the same services from the city and school than a home. An issue is revenue streams vs. community benefit. Jamie stated that there are 12,000 acres in Friendswood. 84% are residential and 16% are commercial. See the handout: City of Friendswood Zoning Area Calculations. To meet the 2020 vision zoning calculation of an 80% residential and 20% commercial, it would necessitate 400 additional acres to go commercial. Emerging issues include redevelopment of downtown. Future issues for CEDC to address: 1. Review of issues in the comprehensive plans that are not currently addressed 2. Explanation of the downtown plan On 4E, no formal action was taken. Jamie Ballard pointed out that the mission of CEDC is to promote economic development which includes protecting the existing commercial zoning. 5. Reports: Due to the length of the meeting, no reports were given. They will be provided at the April CEDC meeting. 6. Adiournment. Ed Sebesta moved and Jon Olansen seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.