HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2013-04-03 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee
Meeting Minutes
April 3, 2013
The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, April
3, 2013, 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, Tony Annan,
Brett Banfield, Mark Conrad, Jeremy Magnuson, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were
Councilmember Pat McGinnis, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Executive Director of
Special Initiatives Dan Seal, Galveston County Economic Alliance President Don Gartman, and
CCISD Director of Communications, Elaina Polsen.
Absent from the meeting were Pauline Moore and Bill Provenzano.
Staff member present was Karen Capps.
Also present was Jeff Newpher of the Friendswood Journal.
1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Chair Skip Evans at 8:34 with a
quorum present.
2. Roll Call. Roll call was made.
3. Approval of Minutes.
Tony Annan made a motion to approve the March 6, 2013 meeting minutes. The motion
was seconded by Hilmar Zeissig and it passed unanimously in the committee.
4. Discussion and possible action, but not limited to the Community and Economic
Development Committee's strategic plan, goals, and action items.
Tony Annan gave a report on meetings with FM 528 landowners and/or their
representatives. He will continue meeting with FM 528 landowners during the next few
months. The committee reviewed the most recent land plan by DR Horton for development
along FM 528. The committee was satisfied with the commercial allocation of land by the
landowner. At next month's meeting, the committee requested information be presented
about what business incentives and tools that are available to the city.
5. Reports:
City Council
The committee discussed the report provided to City Council on April 1, 2013. The committee
vacancy was also briefly discussed.
Clear Creek ISD
Eva said she attended Legislative Day in Austin with the BAHEP. At last month's CEDC
meeting, Elaina Polsen presented information on the $367 bond election that will be held on May
11. There are two seats open on the CCISD Board of Trustees. The Board also recently voted on
a long-term compensation plan that consists of a 3% raise.
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
Dan Seal reported that Patrick Jankowski of the Greater Houston Partnership gave a recent
economic forecast stating that about 76,000 jobs could be added to the Houston region. Housing
inventory is down to a three-month supply, a real low which indicates we have entered a seller's
market. Dan shared information about the Houston Commercial Expo that was held on April 2.
Also reported was the Houston Regional Economic Development Alliance has discussed the
affordable healthcare act and is concerned how it will affect small businesses with fifty or less
employees.
City Staff
Karen Capps gave an update on the recent municipal grant application. A report on prospects was
also discussed. She also presented a new retail recruitment flyer that will replace the Friendswood
family that has been used for the past several years. Other marketing initiatives were discussed
including online and print ads.
6. Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 am.