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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2011-01-05 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes January 5, 2011 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at 8:30 a.m., in the second -floor conference room of City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas, with the following members present: Chair Skip Evans, Vice Chair Pauline Moore, Brett Banfield, Mark Conrad, Jeremy Magnuson, Bill Provenzano, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Executive Director of Special Projects Dan Seal, Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Jones, and Clear Creek ISD's External Affairs Coordinator Eva deCardenas. Also present was Jeff Newpher of the Friendswood Journal. Staff member present was Karen Capps. Absent from the meeting were Kirk Lippert and Cody Owen. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 with a quorum present. 2. Roll Call. Roll call was made. 3. Approval of Minutes. Brett Banfield made a motion to approve the December 8, 2010 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Bill Provenzano and it passed unanimously in the committee. 4. Discussion and possible action, but not limited to the Community and Economic Development Committee's 2010-11 goals and action items. The committee discussed attending an HOA meeting that will be held on January 29. The committee requested an agenda of the meeting and a copy of the invitational letter. Hilmar Zeissig noted that the HOA list is outdated and made a motion that the HOA list needs to be updated. The motion was seconded by Jeremy Magnuson and the motion carried in the committee. Dr. Zeissig said the correct HOA information is readily available at the County's offices. Karen Capps reported that the Greater Houston Restaurant Association (GHRA) educational outlet meeting that will be hosted by the City may turn out to be a luncheon rather than a reception which should draw more attendees. The date is tentatively set for August. The LHWH billboard was removed at the end of December. April would be the best time for a new billboard to be designed and displayed. 5. Reports: Liaisons Clear Creek ISD Eva deCardenas said that an advisory committee, Citizens Finance Committee, was formed to review and make recommendations about the forecasted $27 million budget deficit the district will be facing over the next five years. The committee consists of about twenty to thirty volunteers. Friendswood Chamber of Commerce Carol Jones reported the new Chamber board will be sworn in at the annual gala event which will be held on Saturday, January 22 at the Green Event Center. Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Dan Seal reported that BAHEP is working on a legislative agenda for the State legislative trip this year. The Texas Enterprise Fund will sunset this year and it will be important to ensure funding continues. Dan also reported on activity at Ellington Field stating that just a few years ago, the region was worried about Ellington being BRACed (Base Realignment and Closure) but by 2012 there will be up to 6,000 troops stationed there primarily to fly Predator Drones in the war. Dan also reported on an International Economic Development Council team that is arriving next week to meet with HGAC, BAHEP, and city representatives to support and develop a strategy on how to better deal with issues like natural disasters or an economic downturn of the region. City Staff Karen Capps reported that the State of the City will be held on Thursday March 3 at the Green event Center. Several buildings that have been vacant for months just sold and prospect activity has increased. It was also reported that she will meet with a marketing representative in the next week to discuss CEDC's goals and other marketing strategies. The City will discuss the multi -year financial plan on Monday, January 24. Karen said she will attend the International Economic Development Council Leadership Conference on January 23-25. Two municipal grant applications should be submitted soon. 7. Discussion and possible action regarding the City's business target market list. The committee reviewed the business target list. Chair Evans asked the committee to review the target market list prior to the next meeting and be ready to report what should remain on the list or be removed. 8. Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 am.