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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2009-09-02 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes September 2, 2009 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, September 2, 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: Chair Brett Banfield, Vice Chair Skip Evans, Kirk Lippert, Pauline Moore, Bill Provenzano, and Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, CCISD representative Eva -Marie deCardenas, Friendswood Independent School District Superintendent Trish Hanks, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership representative Dan Seal, and Planning and Zoning Commission members David O'Farrell, Kevin Holland, and Jim Gibson. Staff member present was Karen Capps. Absent from the meeting were Mark Conrad, Cody Owen, and Troy Waters. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:06 with a quorum present. 2. Roll Call. Roll call was made. 3. Approval of Minutes. Bill Provenzano made a motion to approve the August 5, 2009 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Kirk Lippert and it passed unanimously in the committee. 4. Presentation by Dan Seal of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership regarding the Ike Dike and storm surge suppression. Dan Seal gave a presentation regarding a proposal to protect the bay area region from storm surge by constructing flood gates in Galveston, nicknamed the Ike Dike, which would be similar to the Rotterdam Flood Gates. The Rotterdam Gates have worked and also become a major tourist attraction in the Netherlands. Hurricane Ike was the third most destructive hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. on September 13, 2008 causing more than $32 billion dollars in damage, killing 102 people, with still 34 missing. The estimated cost of the Ike Dike is $2.15 billion. Just the Port of Houston alone has an estimated $117 billion of annual economic activity that could be in jeopardy from another storm surge, especially if it hits farther west which would push water up farther toward the port. Dan said that the Dutch Delta Works in Rotterdam took ten years to build after feasibility and environmental studies were done. 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 Karen Capps gave an update on the retail flyer that is in progress. Ms. Capps also reported that she will attend the ICSC Texas Deal making event in San Antonio in November. B. Communications and Marketing The committee reviewed and discussed seven logo designs proposed for the Live Here Work Here campaign. After discussion, Bill Provenzano made a motion to approve logo #3 with revisions. Hilmar Zeissig seconded the motion and it passed unanimously in the committee. Revisions will be made to the logo and resent to committee members for review. Karen Capps gave a report on the 71h Annual Broker and Developer Day. So far, about twenty persons have rsvpd, even though invitations haven't been mailed yet. Bob Mitchell of BAHEP and Bob Hodgin of UHCL are speakers for the event. C. Business Retention Visits No report. 6. Discussion and possible action regarding CEDC recommendations regarding establishing a hotel occupancy tax. The committee discussed establishing a city rate for the hotel tax and possible uses for the funds including possibly joining the Bay Area Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and to use the funds when enough funds accumulate for providing meeting space in the city. After discussion, Chair Banfield made a motion to recommend that City Council adopt a seven percent hotel occupancy tax rate for uses allowed by state law. The motion was seconded by Kirk Lippert. The motion carried 5-1, with Hilmar Zeissig opposed. 7. Reports: Liaisons Planning and Zoning David O'Farrell reported that commercial development seems to be picking up. Kevin Holland reported on the rezoning of Park Plaza and parking requirements that have been discussed in P&Z. FISD Trish Hanks gave an update on building construction and said they were busy with the beginning of the new school year. Clear Creek ISD Eva -Marie deCardenas reported on their leadership program called Inside CCISD. Karen Capps and Kirk Lippert are participants in the class of about 100 participants that covers topics about education, administration, and school finance. Chamber Carol Jones reported on their annual membership drive efforts to recruit 100 new members. She also announced that Bill Provenzano was elected the new 2010 Chairman. Upcoming events include the 12th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament and Halloween in the Park on Sunday, October 25. City Staff Karen Capps reported that she will be attending several conferences in the next month which will conflict with the October CEDC meeting, therefore, the committee's meeting in October will be held on the 14th. She also reported on commercial development activities planned in the city. 8. Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 am.