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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_EDAB_06.14.2001 Economic Development Commission Minutes of June 14, 2001 Page 1 of 1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2001 Chairman F. Scott LaGrone called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, located at 101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626. The following voting members were present: F. Scott LaGrone, Will Moore, Daniel Vasquez, Paula Boggs, Johnny Lacy, Ann Snell, Jack Pittman, Bill Jones, Gordon Baker, David Hays Kathryn Heidemann and David McLaughlin. The following non-voting members were present: Clark Thurmond. The following members were absent: Tim Harris, Bill Connor and Mark Dixon. The following City Council Members were present: Mayor MaryEllen Kersch, Clark Lyda, Ken Evans, Doug Smith, Jack Noble, Charles “Hoss” Burson, Sam Pfiester, and Llorente Navarette The following staff members were present were: Charlie Walker, Manager of Economic Growth & Planning, George Russell, City Manager, Sandra Lee, City Secretary, Debbie Charbonneau, Main Street Manager, Shirley J. Rinn, Deputy City Secretary, Cathy Riedel, Interim City Attorney The following guests were present: Ercel Brashear, Renee Hanson, Alan Lindsey, Virginia Stubbs JOINT WORKSHOP Regular Session – to be convened at 6:30 p.m. A. Report and discussion regarding the Economic Development Commission’s present purpose and charge with some historical insights. Paula Boggs presented a memo to the City Council regarding the Role of the Commission regarding Economic Development Issues for the City of Georgetown. Mayor Kersch told the Commission that she had asked each of the new members of the Council to put together some brief remarks for the Commission. Jack Noble asked to be brought up to date. Scott LaGrone gave a historical background of the Commission. He talked about the development of the draft Economic Plan and the creation of the working groups. LaGrone also told the Council that the Commission wants to be active participants in economic development and not just plan writers. Economic Development Commission Minutes of June 14, 2001 Page 2 of 2 Ann Snell discussed the process by which the draft economic plan was put together and Paula Boggs told the Council that the Commission’s work has been frustrated without an economic development director. Smith indicated that he thought the Commission would be the strategic planners for the long-term future of the community, and Noble indicated that he saw the Commission as a very active advisory board to the Council. Ken Evans expressed concern that the Commission has not been able to move forward. He also indicated that the comments in Paula Boggs’ memo seemed to fit his understanding of what the Commission is supposed to be doing. Mayor Kersch discussed the need to have better communications between the Council and the Commission. She also indicated that while the Economic Development Director is the liaison between the Commission and the Council that the sole responsibility for the communication link should not be placed on him. She said that the communication between the Commission and the Council needed to be better. Ann Snell talked about the need for a process by which economic development information comes to the Commission for review so that it could make recommendations to Council for its consideration. Lyda indicated that he thought that the Commission’s understanding of its the ultimate role is probably not any different that of the Council’s understanding. He indicated that that it was intended that the Economic Development Commission would be active along the same line of the Planning Commission. However, he indicated that prior to that taking place there would have to be clearly defined set of objectives, strategies and goals approved by the City Council, which had not yet occurred. Lyda went on to discuss the relationship between the Council, the Commission and the Economic Development Director. There was a general discussion regarding these relationships, the information flow between the Commission, the Council and the staff liaison, as well as the need for formal and informal forms of communication. There was additional discussion as to the reasons why a Councilmember was not named as a member of the Economic Development Commission. There was also further discussion regarding the relationship between the Commission and the Economic Development Director and the best way for the Commission to interface with the Economic Development Director. There was also discussion regarding the process by which the Economic Development Director would give guidance to the Commission on economic development issues, as well as his role with regard to the recommendations of the Economic Development Task Force. There was also discussion regarding the reasons why a Secretary was needed for Boards and Commissions. The Council talked to the Commission about problems that had occurred in the past with regard to staff interpretations of information to be given to Economic Development Commission Minutes of June 14, 2001 Page 3 of 3 Council and vice-versa. The Council stressed the need for direct communication between the Council and its Boards & Commissions. They also discussed the need to establish a process to move forward. Commission members indicated that the Commission very much wanted to be involved in the process regarding business prospects. Lyda then went on to talk about the recommendations of the Economic Development Task force. He went over each of the recommendations and told the Commission that while he was very appreciative of the work that had been done so far, he felt like the draft plan still needed to have strategies and policies in place before the Commission should review prospects and move toward hiring an IRR contractor. He indicated that standards needed to be in place prior to reviewing prospects. There was then a brief discussion regarding the current process by which prospects were currently being handled. The group also discussed the process by which the Planning & Zoning Commission makes recommendations to Council. They went on to talk about the need to have community buy-in regarding the process for economic development. Paula Boggs told the group that both her memo and the task force recommendations presume a very close relationship between the Commission and the Economic Development Director and that several of the tasks could not be accomplished without that relationship. The group went on to discuss the need for checks and balances so that the overall authority of the Council is not compromised by the relationship between the Commission and the Economic Development Director. There was discussion regarding the possible need of Council to give a set of clear directives to the Commission and the need to continue periodic meetings and reports between the Council and the Commission regarding the Commission’s activities. The group went on to discuss the community vision, strategic planning, and policy benchmarking for the Economic Development Plan. They talked about the need to look at the plan and draft some policies and procedures to put the plan in place. The Commission members indicated that they needed a “blueprint” and use that as a starting point. The group went on to discuss the need to write the policies before the next step can take place. They discussed the need to have the Economic Development Director and our consultant, TIP Strategies write the policies. The group talked about the need to trust one another and to communicate on a regular basis through the agenda process, joint workshops and regular reports to Council. The Commission members also told Council that it would like to be involved in any meetings that involve discussions regarding the City’s approval process and any discussions regarding review of the Rivery Project. The Commission members also requested a copy of the traffic study done for the Rivery project. They also wanted to find out why TIP Strategies used the economic model it used for the economic impact study it prepared for the Rivery Project. Economic Development Commission Minutes of June 14, 2001 Page 4 of 4 Mayor told the EDC that the liaison is to notify all members of a board when an item of interest is on the agenda. Council Workshop adjourned at 8:10 p.m. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION A. Introduction of Charlie Walker, Manager of Economic Growth and Planning and report regarding issues related to economic development Charlie Walker was introduced as the new Manager of Economic Growth and Planning. Charlie gave the Commission an example of an economic model and gave a brief explanation of the handout. B. Introduction of Amelia Sondgeroth, Director of Development Services. Amelia Sondgeroth was unable to attend the meeting. Scott indicated that he would like to meet with her and talk about the changes that she is making in the development process. C. Reports from Working Groups 1. small commercial/retail Moore told the Commission that his group is not going to not going to submit any changes to the economic plan. 2. large commercial/Industrial Mr. Connor did not attend the meeting. However, this working group did not meet this past month. 3. downtown area and tourism. Baker told the Commission that the group was working with Charlie Walker to develop a framework in which to work with the downtown groups. D. Approval of Minutes from May 16, 2001 and May 17, 2001 Motion by McLaughlin 2nd by Johnny Lacy to approve the minutes of May 16, 2001. as amended. (Approved 12-0) Motion by McLaughlin, 2nd by Johnny Lacy to approve the minutes of May 17, 2001, as amended (Approved 12-0) E. Appointment of Kathy Heidemann/ to Working Group. Economic Development Commission Minutes of June 14, 2001 Page 5 of 5 Kathy indicated that she would like to be on the large commercial industrial working group. David McLaughlin will be on the small/retail commercial working group. F. Discussion and possible action regarding the Draft Economic Plan. The Commission discussed the need for TIP Strategies and Charlie Walker to work together on a presentation regarding putting together policies and procedures for the economic draft plan Paula told the Commission that her understanding is that Charlie and TIP are to take the Objectives and Goals and put together Policies and Procedures and then bring them back to the EDC for approval. They also discussed whether or not the Council needs to approve the draft plan prior drafting the policies and procedures, or if it needed to be presented all together. There was also discussion regarding economic models, specifically the Conroe Plan and benchmarking policies. The discussed whether or not a city needed to have certain criteria in place prior to looking at businesses. The Commission talked about whether or not any changes need to be made to the draft Economic Plan and determined that they would finalize the plan at the next meeting. Pittman also wanted to be sure that the changes to the draft plan proposed by the large/commercial group were included for discussion prior to a vote to approve the economic plan. Charlie Walker indicated his concern that policies and procedures were going to be put in place for an economic plan that hasn’t been approved by Council. The understanding of the Commission was that the Council wants them to go ahead and draft the policies and procedures. Kathy Heidemann expressed her concern about joint service areas and whether or not they are addressed in the plan. There was some discussion that this question might be premature and that at this time the Commission needs to focus on its “marching orders” from the Council. Most Commission members indicated that the Council had directed them to have the consultant assist Charlie Walker in drafting policies and procedures for the economic development plan. Heidemann indicated that she thought the Council asked the Commission to use their better judgment as to whether or not the consultant should do it. Motion by Ann Snell, 2nd by McLaughlin to have Boggs draft a directive, as the Commission understands it to send to the Council for its approval on the next agenda. (Approved 11-0 – Boggs Abstained) G. Discussion regarding critical needs assessment for the next fiscal year. Economic Development Commission Minutes of June 14, 2001 Page 6 of 6 Deferred. H. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m. Approved : ______________________ Secretary of the Economic Development Commission