Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2009-06-03 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes June 3, 2009 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 8:00 a.m., in the second floor conference room of City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas, with the following members present: Vice Chair Brett Banfield, Mark Conrad, Donald "Skip" Evans, Kirk Lippert, Pauline Moore, Troy Waters, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, FISD Superintendent Trish Hanks, CCISD Coordinator of External Affairs Eva deCardenas, Planning and Zoning Commissioner David O'Farrell, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership representative Dan Seal, Galveston County Economic Alliance President Don Gartman, and Griffin Integrated Marketing representative Deanna Wilke. Staff member present was Karen Capps. Absent from the meeting were Cody Owen and Bill Provenzano. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:05 with a quorum present. 2. Roll Call. Roll call and new member, Mark Conrad, was introduced. 3. Approval of Minutes. Hilmar Zeissig made a motion to approve the May 4 and May 6, 2009 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Kirk Lippert and it passed unanimously in the committee. 4. Discussion and possible action ret!ardint! the hotel occupancy tax. Karen Capps announced that a new Sleep Inn and Suites is planning to construct a 60-room, 3-story hotel in the city. Prior to the hotel's grand opening, which could be in about six to 9 months, the City will need to adopt a hotel occupancy tax ordinance to establish the hotel occupancy tax rate that the city will charge. Karen Capps gave a presentation on the hotel occupancy tax that explained the various rates that are charged by the state, area counties, and cities. Friendswood can charge up to seven percent on sleeping rooms, the maximum allowed by the state. Other topics discussed were exemptions to the tax, how the tax is administered, and eligible uses of revenues. All expenditures must meet a two-part test to be considered as eligible uses - that directly enhances and promotes tourism and convention and hotel industry; AND must fit in one of the eight categories of eligible uses. These eight categories include: establish or enhance a convention center or visitor information center; pay administrative costs for registering convention delegates; pay for tourism -related advertising and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates to the city or its vicinity; fund art programs or facilities that will directly promote tourism and hotel and convention activity; fund historic restoration or preservation projects that will enhance tourism and hotel and convention activity; fund certain costs for holding sporting events that substantially increase local hotel activity; fund the enhancement or upgrading of existing sports facilities or sports fields for certain municipalities; and fund transportation systems for tourists. Karen Capps suggested that the CEDC invite Pam Summers of the Bay Area Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau to give a presentation on how the organization promotes and advertises tourism in the bay area. 5. Discussion and possible action, but not limited to the Community and Economic Development Committee's 2009-10 goals and action items. A. Retail/Restaurant Attraction Kirk Lippert reported that he attended the press conference held at Kroger's for the local option election. Kirk has been in contact with Friendswood resident John Zendt, President of the Galveston County Restaurant Association and a member of the Texas Restaurant Association, and current Director of Moody Gardens to discuss strategies on how to attract restaurants to the city. Rene Zamora, executive director of the Greater Houston Restaurants Association sent out to their membership the news article about the CEDC's goal to attract restaurants to the city. Ms. Zamora also offered to place an informational flyer in their monthly newsletter. B. Communications and Marketing The new Live Here Work Here billboard went up on May 6 on FM 2351 at Blackhawk. CEDC members mentioned that several people have mentioned seeing the billboard. Deanna also reported that the website was updated with information about the owner of Parkwood Animal Hospital. Karen Capps reported on google analytics statistics for the website. There were over 12,660 webpages viewed on the city's website for the month of May. Almost 1,900 of visitors landed on the services for businesses page. There were almost 150 pageviews for the Live Here Work Here page. C. Business Retention Visits There was no report. 6. Reports: A. Planning and Zoning David O'Farrell reported on the small wording change in the parking guidelines from "required" to "recommended" allows developers to self regulate instead of providing the necessary parking for their development which at times, can result in a parking shortage of up to thirty percent for some developments. He said that CEDC should be very concerned with this issue as it could affect the attraction of first tier businesses in the city. B. Liaisons Friendswood ISD Trish Hanks reported that the junior high and high school are under construction. During the summer, Westwood elementary will get a new porta cache for its entrance and Cline Elementary will get a new kitchen, restrooms, and mini auditorium. Superintendent Hanks also reported that a record number have signed up for community education this summer. She believes FISD will receive the Lone Star Cup award. She also believes all FISD campuses will be exemplary from the TAKS testing. Clear Creek ISD Eva deCardenas reported that new board member Charlie Pond was elected on May 9. The preliminary TAKS finds are that Clear Lake HS will be exemplary, Clear Brook will be recognized and all campuses will be wither exemplary or recognized, a major accomplishment for a large school district. Ms. deCardenas reported on several legislative bills including HB2646 that increased the per -student revenue for schools. CCISD named Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership their partner of the year. CCISD graduation will be held this Thursday and Friday. She encouraged members to attend the program "Inside CCISD" that interfaces with CCISD at a high level and is similar to a leadership class program. The session includes five, two-hour classes that will begin in August and end in December. A participant can attend as many classes as their time permits. Friendswood Chamber of Commerce Carol Jones reported on the success of the Fig Festival. She said it was a great day with more crafts this year, included about 200 classic cars, and estimated approximately 4,500 attendees. This year's Leadership Friendswood class will be graduating at Thursday's monthly membership luncheon. The legislative bill that exempts Chambers from ad valorem taxes passed the Senate. Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Dan Seal reported on the Citizens for Space Exploration trip to Washington, D.C. Councilmembers Mike Barker and Jim Hill were attendees at this year's trip. Last year, there were 147 travelers and this year there were 129 travelers from 29 different states to advocate the need and benefits of space exploration. The consortium visited 330 different members of the House and Senate. There were 341 member's offices visited, 95% of the freshman members were visited. Charlie Bolden will be named NASA Administrator who is a former astronaut. The new federal budget proposed $900 million increase for the NASA budget over the next two years which is a 5% increase. Also mentioned was that BAHEP is supporting efforts to construct the Ike Dike. Galveston County Economic Alliance Don Gartman gave a short overview of their services for new member Mark Conrad. He said that the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) gives 12 to 15 classes aimed to help small businesses. Mainland Testing Center of Texas City is being named Small Business of the Year by the SBDC. Don Gartman emphasized the importance of the Ike Dike and how it would protect the petrochemical industry in Galveston County which provides 25% of the nation's production of oil. C. Marketing The 2nd quarter e-newsletter has been drafted. The Live Here Work Here billboard will be placed as an ad preview on Movies in the Park which will begin on June 13. Griffin assisted with the press release regarding the EDA grant and distributed the release which resulted in several news media printing the release. D. City Staff Karen Capps reported on the EDA grant award. City Council approved the tax abatement policy by resolution on May 18. Prospect activity remains strong with interest from a medical facility, restaurant, and bank. Edgewood Business Park is considering green development and has been in touch with Jeff Mickler about LEED development. Ms. Capps said she forwarded the newly adopted tax abatement policy with green development provisions to the owner. 7. Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10:09 am.