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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2013-10-02 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes October 2, 2013 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, October 2, 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 Pauline Moore, Vice Chair Tony Annan, Brett Banfield, Mark Conrad, Skip Evans, Jeremy Magnuson, Marcus Perry, Bill Provenzano, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were Friendswood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Marcantel, Friendswood ISD Superintendent Trish Hanks, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Executive Director of Special Initiatives Dan Seal, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jim Gibson, and Galveston County Economic Alliance President Don Gartman. Absent from the meeting was City Council liaison, Carl Gustafson. Staff member present was Karen Capps. Also present were Friendswood Journal reporter Jeff Newpher and Friendswood resident James Gerland. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Chair Pauline Moore at 8:36 a.m. with a quorum present. 2. Roll Call. Roll call was made. 3. Approval of Minutes. A motion was made by Tony Annan to approve the September 4, 2013 meeting minutes with changes. The motion was seconded by Skip Evans 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. The committee reviewed and made changes to a draft report of the FM 528 Strategy in preparation for a joint work session with City Council. 5. Reports: Planning and Zoning P&Z Commissioner Jim Gibson reported on several zone change requests that were recently submitted to the City for consideration that include the Whitcomb property and also Village on the Park with plans for a two-story expansion. He also reported on a commercial plat along FM 2351. P&Z is almost finished with their work on updating the permitted use table. Friendswood Independent School District Superintendent Trish Hanks said they are six weeks into the school year and everything is running fine. Friendswood Chamber of Commerce Carol Marcantel reported that the Chamber is busy working on the golf tournament. The chamber just installed new board members. Halloween in the Park is scheduled for the last Sunday in October. Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Dan Seal reported that while the federal government is shut down, it affects approximately 3,100 federal civil servants in the area that have been furloughed. About 11,000 government contractors are still working. Dan stated that if the shutdown continues, it is possible that after ten to fourteen days, retail, restaurant, and other businesses could be affected in the bay area. BAHEP is working with Congress to hopefully get the Biggert-Waters legislation reformed and delayed for a year. BAHEP is hosting a membership appreciation golf tournament on October 28 at Bay Oaks Country Club. Galveston County Economic Alliance Don Gartman stated that he provided GCEA's annual report to Friendswood City Council at the September meeting and it was well received. Bucc-ee'ss scheduled grand opening was delayed until the second quarter of 2014. Carol Cobb, who headed up the Galveston County Small Business Development Center, recently retired and Bill Clement took her place. City Staff Karen Capps reported that 28 persons have signed up so far for the Broker event and 13 of them will participate in the Chamber's golf tournament and activities scheduled for the same afternoon. She also reported on discussions with UHCL's Professor of Economics, Dr. Jason Murasko, to update the 2007 city tax impact calculations. This will require analyzing what land is developed, undeveloped, exempt, residential, and commercial. 6. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.