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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_EDAB_10.09.2000 Minutes of Economic Development Commission October 9, 2000 Page 1 of 4 Pages MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2000 Interim Chairman, Scott LaGrone, called the meeting to order at 5:30 o’clock p.m. in the Police Department Training Room located at 809 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, Georgetown, Texas The following voting members were present: F. Scott LaGrone, Jack Pittman, Will Moore, Gordon Baker, Ann Clarke Snell, Paula Boggs, David Hays, Bill Jones and Daniel Vasquez The following ad hoc members were present: Mark Dixon Also present were: Shirley J. Rinn, Deputy City Secretary and Cathy Riedel, Assistant City Attorney The following members were absent: Ken Evans, Johnny Lacy, David McLaughlin, Bill Connor, Tim Harris, and Clark Thurmond. Member Paula Boggs was sworn in by Rinn. Interim Chair LaGrone asked that each of the members have nametags at the next meeting and each of the members introduced themselves. Interim Chair LaGrone asked that the chair of the EDC be selected at the October 26, 2000 meeting. He told the Commission that he would not be able to attend that meeting and asked that a vice-chair be selected to handle the next meeting. Gordon Baker was appointed as vice-chair for that meeting. LaGrone said that although he would not be at the next meeting, he would place his name for consideration as the chair. A. Approval of Minutes from September 25, 2000 meeting. Motion by Jones, Second Baker to approve minutes of September 25, 2000. Approved (9-0) B. Notification of future meeting times and places for the Economic Development Commission through January 2001. The Commission felt that all of the meetings needed to be held in the same location so that no one would be confused as to the time and place of the meetings. It was decided that all of the meetings would be held at the Police Training Room C. Discussion and possible action on adoption of by-laws for operation of the Commission Minutes of Economic Development Commission October 9, 2000 Page 2 of 4 Pages Ann Snell provided everyone a copy of the proposed by-laws for the commission. She asked that everyone review the by-laws and let her know their suggested changes. There was a discussion regarding the term limits of each EDC member. There was also discussion regarding the mission of the EDC. Cathy Riedel, Assistant City Attorney told the commission that the legal department was in the process of drafting an ordinance for council approval regarding the creation of the Economic Development Commission. She said that the ordinance would probably answer a lot of the questions. The commission talked about the role of the Economic Development Commission. They felt that their role was to design a plan for economic development from which the council could derive policy, and then be presented to the city staff to perform the day to day economic development activities to implement the plan. There was further discussion that the commission should play an oversight role to see that the plan was being implemented as presented. There was also discussion regarding the need to insure that the industrial, tourism and business aspects of the plan were balanced. They talked about accountability to the citizens and the need to review the plan periodically based citizen input. It was also mentioned that there should possibly be two plans, a strategic plan, as well an operating plan in order to have a form of accountability from the Economic Development Director. There was discussion that the commission not only represented the business community, but the citizens as well and the need to have a real responsibility to look at equitable growth for the whole community. The commission talked about the frequency the Economic Director should report to the commission. It was reiterated the Economic Development Director would work for the City Manager and not the commission. However, the commission felt it was imperative that the Director attend every meeting and work with the commission, but not necessarily for the commission. The commission discussed the way the commission should receive input from the community. The issue of the meeting being open was discussed, as well as each member being able to bring back information from the community to the commission as a whole. Ann Snell was asked to draft a section in the by-laws that addresses the level of involvement the commission would like to have with the Economic Development Director. The commission also talked about Tom Moriarty, the consultant hired to look at economic development downtown. They thought that it would be a good idea and have him come and talk to the commission the next time he was in town. There was additional discussion regarding the Economic Development Strategic Plan Element of the Century Plan and the part it would play in developing an economic plan. There was a concern among a few members that the commission may be trying to “reinvent the wheel” and that it would be a good idea to review the Century Plan. Mark Dixon was asked to bring back a presentation regarding Minutes of Economic Development Commission October 9, 2000 Page 3 of 4 Pages the current plan in order to look at it and determine what, if anything needs to be amended in the current Century Plan. LaGrone said that he would like for the LCRA’s economic development group to meet with the commission and show them some of the things they have done for other cities. He said that he would like for them to meet with the commission on November 13, 2000. There was additional discussion regarding attendance and the need to let the Chairman know if you would not be able to attend the meetings for any reason. There was a concern expressed that all of the members needed to attend the meetings so that information from everyone could be used in the drafting of the by-laws and the economic plan. D. Discussion concerning memorandum from City Attorney outlining Commissioners’ responsibilities under the Texas Open Meetings Act and/or scheduling a date for a workshop with the City Attorney for the Ethics Seminar required by City Ordinance Assistant City Attorney, Cathy Riedel talked briefly about open meetings and recent interpretations from the Attorney General. Ann Snell also talked about issues surrounding open meetings. There was additional discussion regarding quorums. There was a discussion as to the process of presenting the Economic Development Commission’s recommendations to Council. There was additional discussion as to the importance of the Economic Development Director and the possible budgetary issues regarding the proposed salary for the Economic Director. E. Discussion and possible action on preparation of vision, mission, objectives and goals for Economic Development Commission. The Commission discussed whether or not the vision statement for the EDC should be for Georgetown as a whole, or strictly from an economic development standpoint for Georgetown. Some members expressed an opinion*didn’t know that the “vision” statement was not* all that important. Others felt that the vision statement should be a “reminder of what the vision of Georgetown” is. as corrected by Ann Clarke Snell There was more discussion regarding the need to obtain benchmarks from other cities in similar situations. The commission felt these benchmarks should come not only from cities in Texas, but also other around the nation facing similar growth issues. The commission wanted to know where Georgetown stood in comparison to other cities with regard to its tax base. The commission felt it was important to study these benchmarks in order to help determine the where Georgetown’s tax base needs to be. Minutes of Economic Development Commission October 9, 2000 Page 4 of 4 Pages The Commission again discussed the need to study the current Economic Development Strategic Plan Element of the Century Plan. There was discussion regarding the impact of Southwestern University, Dell Computers and Sun City on Georgetown and Williamson County. The commission talked about growth and how that growth will impact the types of services that will be needed for the City of Georgetown. There was additional discussion regarding how Williamson County is dealing with the growth in the area, as well as the need to bring new entities within the city limits to help the tax base. They also talked about annexation, affordable housing and the types of businesses Georgetown wants to recruit. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.