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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2010-04-07 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes April 7, 2010 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at 8:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas, with the following members present: Chair Brett Banfield, Vice Chair Skip Evans, Mark Conrad, Kirk Lippert, Cody Owen, Bill Provenzano, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were Friendswood ISD Media Specialist Joe Perez, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership representative Dan Seal, Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, and Planning and Zoning Commissioner David O'Farrell. Also in attendance were Friendswood residents Jackie Gibson, Nancy Drebmak, and Charles Prenderrgast and Ivee Sauls of the Friendswood Journal. Staff members present were Karen Capps, Roger Roecker, and Nick Haby. Absent from the meeting were Pauline Moore and Troy Waters. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:12 with a quorum present. 2. Roll Call. Roll call was made. 3. Approval of Minutes. Dr. Hilmar Zeissig made a motion to approve the March 3, 2010 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Kirk Lippert and it passed unanimously in the committee. 4. 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 on an opportunity to promote retail and restaurants in the city through hosting a Greater Houston Restaurant Association educational seminar at one of our local restaurants. The seminars are already scheduled through the end of this year. GHRA will provide more details about hosting an event. Karen Capps reported that she mailed a cover letter with the retail flyer to about 550 area brokers, developers, and prospects. She has already received a few responses from the mailing. B. Communications and Marketing -Live Here Work Here campaign Karen Capps reported that a new billboard should be up on FM 2351 within two weeks. She introduced Joe Perez, FISD's media specialist who discussed several opportunities to move forward the LHWH campaign. Joe offered to design a new billboard to have ready to submit once the current one is taken down. Joe also discussed filming a video testimony of the LHWH business that could be posted on LHWH website and embedded in the story included in the e-newsletter. Also discussed was a short community video that could be used to recruit families and businesses to the city. -Ad Hoc Communications Committee Vice Chair Skip Evans reported that he attended the ad hoc communications committee meeting that was held the previous week. There was discussion regarding utilizing electronic tools, group builder, and providing information on the City's AM radio station. C. Business Retention Visits Brett Banfield, Skip Evans, Dan Seal, and Karen Capps reported on visiting VARC Solutions. 5. Reports: Liaisons Planning and Zoning David O'Farrell reported that P&Z approved a plat for Boatwright Marine that doesn't include sidewalks. He emphasized that in the future, all plans should include sidewalks or it will have a detrimental effect on the visual appearance of the city. Friendswood Chamber of Commerce Carol Jones reported the Fig Fest/Car Show will be held on April 17 and she expects 200 car entries in the show. Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Dan Seal congratulated Friendswood on Birraporetti's opening in the city. Dan reported that overall, more companies are looking at the area to expand, particularly in the chemical sector which is ramping back up. There was a successful trip to Washington, D.C. to discuss NASA's funding. Mayor Smith attended along with 30 delegates that had over 70 meetings that included visits to the House and Appropriations committees. City Staff Karen Capps reported that Birraporetti's should open in a week. The Green Event Center should open in May and will be able to accommodate meetings and events for up to 250 persons. A two-story office building on FM 528 will be purchased and remodeled. She also reported that she submitted the City's economic development e-newsletter and retail recruitment flyer to the International Economic Development Council for their annual award contest. 6. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 am. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION The Community and Economic Development Committee convened into Executive Session in Accordance with the Texas Government Code, pursuant to Section 551.087 — Deliberation regarding economic Development Negotiations to review a business incentive application. The Executive Session adjourned at 9:55 am.