HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDC Minutes 2016-03-02 RegularFriendswood Community and Economic Development Committee
Meeting Minutes
March 2, 2016
The Friendswood Community and Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, March
2, 2016 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,
Bill Provenzano, Mark Conrad, Skip Evans, Gary Kay, Jeremy Magnuson, Bill Provenzano, and
Dr. Hilmar Zeissig. Liaisons present were Planning and Zoning Commissioner Craig Lovell, Bix
Rathburn of Galveston County, and Barbara Cutsinger, Marketing Manager for Bay Area Houston
Economic Partnership.
Staff member present was Karen Capps.
Absent from the meeting was Marcus Perry.
1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Chair Pauline Moore at 8:37 a.m.
2. Roll call was made. There was a quorum.
3. Approval of Minutes.
Skip Evans made a motion to approve the February 3, 2016 meeting minutes. The motion was
seconded by Bill Provenzano and it passed unanimously in the committee.
4. Discussion and possible action regarding:
a. Economic Development Policy Action Items
Karen Capps provided a new development report and reviewed this information with the
committee. Mark Conrad suggested that specific information be added regarding what assistance
was provided to each business from the ED Coordinator/CEDC.
b. Status of recommended changes to the permitted use table
Skip and Gary attended the most recent P&Z meeting to convey CEDC's position on the proposed
changes to the permitted use table. Also, Chair Pauline Moore sent the CEDC's recommendation
on this subject to the City Manager, Mayor, and City Council. Gary and Skip will attend the City
Council meeting on Monday, March 7 on behalf of the CEDC to read the recommendation to City
Council so it will be recorded into the City Council's meeting minutes. City Council may take
action on this item the same night.
c. Status of proposed ordinance regarding requiring a specific use permit for single -use large
retail establishments
The committee reviewed a document that was prepared for P&Z entitled "Large Retail
Development Study" and a map of possible commercial areas in the city over 10 acres in size
where a large retail establishment could possibly locate. P&Z Commissioner Lovell relayed
information regarding criterion that are not addressed in existing City ordinances. He stated that
P&Z is still reviewing this item so it may be several months before the commission is ready to
move forward with any recommendation.
5. Reports:
Committee Members
Brett Banfield invited everyone to attend the first TexFest Music Festival in Friendswood this
Saturday, March 5, from 2 to 9 pm at the Captain's Corner Shopping Center. There will be live
music, food trucks, Pappa's BBQ, and a VIP tent.
Staff
Karen Capps reminded the committee of the Mayor's State of the City to be held at the Green
Event Center tomorrow, March 3. She also reported that she is working on a possible state grant
for a road in the city. She also gave an update on several prospect inquiries and business
prospects that are moving forward.
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
Barbara Cutsinger reported that the Governor's Office has recently sent several new business
leads that are looking in Texas. BAHEP will host the annual State of the Economy luncheon at
Lakewood Yacht Club with keynote speaker, Dr. Bill Gilmer, Director of the Institute for
Regional forecasting at the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business.
Galveston County
Bix Rathbum spoke about planning a transportation summit. He is also working on a Galveston
County Day, possibly in March 2017 and a legislative tour in September. He is helping the City
of Hitchcock meet with the Port of Houston to discuss available land in Hitchcock for port cargo
business expansion projects.
6. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:08 a.m.