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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_EDAB_03.15.2001 Economic Development Commission Minutes of March 15, 2001 Page 1 of 3 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2001 Chairman F. Scott LaGrone called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at Development Services, located at 904 S. Main Street, Georgetown, Texas. The following voting members were present: F. Scott LaGrone, Will Moore, Ken Evans, Daniel Vasquez, Paula Boggs, Gordon Baker and Johnny Lacy. Also present were: Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager and Debbie Charbonneau, Main Street Manager. Guest present were: Renee Hanson, Chairman of the Downtown Design Business Streering Committee and Virginia Stubbs, President of the Downtown Georgetown Association. The following members were absent: Tim Harris, Mark Dixon, Bill Connor, David McLaughlin, David Hays and Ann Clarke Snell. A. Approval of Minutes from February 15, 2001. Motion by Johnny Lacy, Second by Gordon Baker. Approved (7-0) B. Discussion and possible action regarding the Draft Economic Plan. Discussion was held but no action was taken. The commission members were handed a working draft of the Economic Development Commission vision and mission statements, objectives and goals. C. Reports from Working Groups. Small Commercial/Retail The first meeting took place on February 26, 2001 at noon at Southwestern University. Members present were: Will Moore (chair), Bill Jones, Ken Evans and Johnny Lacy. Numerous items were discussed; following is a summary of those the committee feels is most important: 1. Retention of small businesses is paramount. Those small retail shops that make Georgetown unique must be preserved, especially with the influx of Economic Development Commission Minutes of March 15, 2001 Page 2 of 3 “big box” establishment. The working group needs to examine methods by which small business owners can survive and proved service to those owners. 2. The committee agreed that a theme of “personal service” among existing businesses would provide customers with something they won’t find at large chains. 3. Recruiting of new business may be secondary but is important. a) How do we determine what new businesses are needed and how do we attract them? b) Surveys of large industry to find out what small business may support them. c) Surveys of existing business owners to find out what difficulties exist for new businesses in Georgetown. d) Surveys of residents to determine what small businesses are needed in Georgetown. The second meeting of the committee took place on March 12, 2001. The following members were present: Will Moore (chair), Bill Jones, Ken Evans, Johnny Lacy and Paula Boggs. Present as a guest of the committee was Don Parks, Professor of Business Administration at Southwestern University. Summary of the meeting as follows: 1. Mr. Parks spoke to what small business needs to come to Georgetown: workforce, transportation and growth. 2. The group discussed what makes small businesses successful: awareness, convenience, marketing; also how particular businesses in Georgetown have dealt with success and failure. 3. The group decided that there is information that the City may have that would help with their goals: a) How many people live in Georgetown that work elsewhere? b) What is the failure rate of small businesses in Georgetown? c) Are there common threads involved in failures? In successes? 4. The group needs, from the Economic Development Commission, a clear definition of small versus large commercial. Large Commercial/Industrial The committee was not present. Economic Development Commission Minutes of March 15, 2001 Page 3 of 3 Downtown Area and Tourism Gordon Baker, Chair, shared with the Commission reports that he had received from Downtown Georgetown Association and the Downtown Design Business Steering Committee. Gordon stated that the retailers in the downtown area feel that there is a tremendous need for a Director for the Convention & Visitors Bureau. D. Update on progress of scheduling visits with community groups and organizations, including neighborhood associations to promote citizen input to the economic plan. Scott LaGrone reported that he would be speaking to the following groups: Sun City March 16, 2001 Heart of Georgetown Association April 2, 2001 Sunrise Rotary April 19, 2001 Downtown Rotary April 20, 2001 Ken Evans will be setting up dates with other associations and Gordon Baker will be speaking to the Chamber of Commerce. E. Discussion and possible action regarding report to City Council on April 10, 2001 regarding Commission activities. Scott LaGrone asked Tom Yantis to place an item on the Council agenda for April 10, 2001 requesting that the 3 ad hoc members of the Economic Development Commission become full voting members. F. Report from Assistant City Manager regarding Economic Development issues, including the status of hiring a new Manager of Economic Growth and Planning. The job for the Manager of Economic Growth and Planning will close on Friday, March 16, 2001. There are a total of 17 applicants. There have been 54 applications for the Administrative Assistant for Economic Development Division. Tom stated that he will be working with Gordon Baker on the job description for the Convention Sales & Marketing Coordinator for the Convention & Visitors Bureau. G. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.