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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2015-01-07 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes January 7, 2015 The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 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, Brett Banfield, Skip Evans, Jeremy Magnuson, Marcus Perry, Bill Provenzano, and Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were City Councilmember Carl Gustafson, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Executive Director of Special Initiatives Dan Seal, and the President of the Galveston County Economic Alliance Bix Rathburn. Absent from the meeting were Tony Annan and Mark Conrad. Staff member present was Karen Capps. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 8:34 a.m. 2. Roll call was made. There was a quorum. 3. Approval of Minutes. Skip Evans made a motion to approve the December 3, 2014 meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Jeremy Magnuson and was unanimously approved by the committee. There was no action taken on the December 6, 2014 meeting minutes. Dr. Hilmar Zeissig requested the minutes be rewritten from the committee's perspective and participation. The rewritten minutes will be considered at the February 4 committee meeting. 4. Discussion and possible action regarding the December 6 retreat, Economic Development Policy, and Year of the Business. The committee remarked on the December 6 retreat with City Council, stating it was constructive and are pleased with the support from City Council. Karen Capps reported that as a result of the CEDC's hard work, the Economic Development Policy was approved by resolution at City Council's January 5 meeting. A copy of the resolution was provided to the committee. The committee is eager to begin working on implementing the newly approved economic development policy. The committee wants a procedure for requesting an economic impact study and CEDC input for any downzoning of commercially -zoned property to non-commercial use. The rezoning request for 108 W. Edgewood (New Hope Church) was discussed. Jeremy Magnuson made a motion to recommend that 1) City Council table the rezoning of 108 W. Edgewood Drive at their next meeting, 2) request the an economic impact study be provided by the applicant, and 3) that City Council consider whether the results of the impact study are aligned with the Economic Development Policy just approved. The motion was seconded by Dr. Hilmar Zeissig and it passed unanimously in the committee. At the January 5 City Council meeting, the Mayor also read a proclamation declaring 2015 as the Year of the Business. Bill Provenzano and Marcus Perry volunteered to meet with the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce's board to discuss partnerships and ideas to promote the year of the business and to also report on the economic development policy. Karen Capps reported that City Council also approved the municipal grant for Townes Square Center. Brett Banfield stated that the committee needs to prioritize the list of sales tax needs. Hilmar asked that staff provide each committee member a copy of the video of Russell Gallahan's sales tax presentation from the December City Council meeting. The committee was interested in the scope of the citizen bond group that was formed. Assistant City Manager Morad Kabiri entered the meeting and provided an overview of the formation and work of that group, and said the sales tax group could be very similar, however the scope might be more narrowly focused for uses. The committee also discussed with Morad their request for a procedure for CEDC's analysis/input on all commercial downzonings (rezoning requests from commercial to non-commercial uses). The committee plans to share information about the newly adopted ED Policy with other City committees/boards. 5. Reports: City Council Councilmember Gustafson said that he felt last year's joint retreats with City Council were very productive and encourages the CEDC to continue to seize the moment. Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Dan Seal reported that BAHEP has 38 active projects. Ellington should have their spaceport designation approval soon. BAHEP will make two legislative trips this year to Washington, D.C. in February and May. There are 80 new incoming freshmen to educate on NASA. Dan also reported that he is working with Bix on a countywide economic development plan. BAHEP will be honoring Bill Merrill with a quasar award acknowledging his work on this area's gulf coastal storm surge. Galveston County Economic Alliance Bix Rathburn said he is currently working nine projects. The county has asked that GCEA be the lead on developing a countywide economic development plan, and will be requesting a one -hour meeting with the CEDC in March for input. 6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.