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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GEDCO_06.25.2012Minutes of the Meeting of the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, June 25, 2012 The Georgetown Economic Development Corporation of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday, June 25, 2012. Members Present: John Marler, Tommy Gonzalez, Hugh Brown, Bill Sattler Members Absent Rachael Jonrowe Staff Present: Paul E. Brandenburg, General Manager, Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director, Shirley Rinn, Executive Assistant, Laurie Brewer, Deputy City Manager, Micki Rundell, Finance Manager, Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney, Jeff Moore (Via Conference Call) Regular Meeting Called to Order at 4:32 a.m. Item H was discussed at this time. H. Discussion and possible action regarding a request from the Georgetown Independent School District in an amount not to exceed $200,560 for an equipment grant for the Engineering Laboratories at Georgetown and Eastview High Schools (GISD)--Paul E. Brandenburg, General Manager Mark Thomas introduced Joe Dan Lee, GISD Superintendent, Daniel Weyant, GISD Engineering Instructor, and Mel Pendland, the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Thomas provided the board an overview of the history and culmination of this job training program at the high school. He also talked about a worldwide shortage of skilled workers in engineering fields, as well as in this community. He described the equipment that is being requested with this grant. He explained that the equipment willbe placed in two engineering labs, one of each located at each high school. He went over the job vacancy list that he presented to the board and told them of those jobs that are listed in this past year that 2,293 in this area were vacant. He indicated that the jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent, but the job applicants need to be skilled in the field This program will prepare highly skilled workers that can come out of high school, find a job and raise their families in Georgetown. Joe Dan Lee also provided additional information about the history of the program . He said when this was presented to GEDCO before; the school district just didn't have the funding to do it at the time. He told the board that initially these programs were only going to be at Georgetown High School, but when they started construction on Eastview High School they found that they were able to place labs at both schools. Dan Weyant told the Board about Project Lead the Way, and employers feelthat there is a lack of skills training with college graduates. They have book knowledge but no hands on experience. This program will provide the students the tools they need to be prepared for the job as soon as they graduate. He told the Board that this program gets not only Advanced Placement students, but also the kids that may not be focused or are lost and provides them an opportunity to be trained with a job skill. Dan provided an overview of his background in the engineering and math field and how he came to be an instructor in this area. Marler asked about a process to hire a successor if Dan leaves the program, as well as what can be done to increase math skills in the graduating students. There was discussion on what was being to address some of these concerns. Marler asked GISD to schedule a tour once school is back in session to see the Labs. A. Discussion and possible action regarding the Project Progress Report, including Airbom, Enflite, Radix BioSolutions, Lone Star Circle of Care, Grape Creek Winery, Georgetown Winery, and Difusion Technologies, Inc. -- Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director and Paul E. Brandenburg, General Manager. Mark Thomas provided the board an overview of the demolition of the Grape Creek Building. He also told the Board that Lone Star Circle of Care has completely filled the 2nd floor of their building, and that Radix is doing great B. Consideration and approval of the minutes for Georgetown Economic Development Corporation for the Regular Meeting held Monday, May 21, 2012—Rachael Jonrowe, Secretary Motion by Gonzalez, second by Marler to approve the minutes for Georgetown Economic Development Corporation for the Regular Meeting held Monday, May 21, 2012. (Approved 4-0)(Rachael Jonrowe Absent) C. Consideration of the May 31, 2012 Financial Reports--Micki Rundell, Finance Manager Rundell provided an overview of the variations with regard to sale tax. She also went over the amount of GEDCO funds that are available for projects. She told the Board that the next meeting we will have the Budget items to review and approve. She went on to discuss with the Board retail and growth of retail. She told the board that building materials make up a GEDCO Minutes/June 25, 2012 Page 2 of 5 large part of the sales tax collections. She also told them Wolf Ranch also produces a lot of sales tax revenues. There was more discussion regarding sales tax collections being pretty level and we won't see a substantial increase until something big happens in the community in one sector or another. Extensive discussion regarding where the majority of the City's sales tax comes from with regardto sectors. She told the Board that the City really won't see a spike in retail sales tax unless we bring in a big box type retail store. The Board had more discussion regarding sectors and the types of businesses that are locating in Georgetown and the impact of and amount of sales tax they will generate as the City continues to grow. There was additional discussion regarding the sales tax that the City gets when sales contracts and purchase orders are originated within the City limits Rundell also told the board that the State of Texas has the best of both worlds in that it benefits from all of the other states that pay sales tax at destination as well as with sales that are made in the state. Rundell told the Board that she will get the segmentation sales tax report from Chris Foster and provide it to the board next meeting. The Board indicated that it would like to see what the percentages equate to in dollars on the reports. They indicated that they would like to see a report every six months. D. Discussion and presentation of quarterly Promotional Activity Report -Mark Thomas, Economic Development Thomas provided an overview of the marketing projects that he has participated in per the authorization of the GEDCO Board. He said that the Bisnow events have been very beneficial. He also told the Board that there is a National Data Center Conference in Washington that Bisnow has recommended that he attend if he can There was additional discussion regarding the City's current capacity to land a Data Center and whether the City could land one right now. Thomas told the Board that there is capacity to handle two more Data Centers at this time. E. Discussion and possible action regarding the approval of a Performance Agreement between GEDCO and Blackbird Enterprises, LLC in an amount not to exceed $87,000 for the creation of jobs related to the establishment and maintenance of a Regional Headquarters in Georgetown --Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director Board Member Bill Sattler recused himself from discussion regarding this item . Thomas provided an overview of the Agreement. He told them this Agreement provides for 29 jobs at $3,000 per job not to exceed a total grant of $87,000. All employees will be employed by Blackbird and the grant will be paid on the back end. Motion by Gonzalez, second by Brown to approve a Performance Agreement between GEDCO and Blackbird Enterprises, LLC in an amount not to exceed $87,000 for the creation of jobs related to the establishment and maintenance of a Regional Headquarters in Georgetown (Approved 3-0)(Jonrowe Absent)(Sattler Recused) GEDCO Minutes/June 25, 2012 Page 3 of 5 F. Discussion and possible action regarding the approval of a Peiformance Agreement and Personal Property Lease between GEDCO, the Texas Life Sciences Collaboration Center and DisperSol Technologies,. LLC in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for an equipment grant --Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director Sattler returned to the dais. Thomas provided an overview and recap of the project. He told the Board that the developer, the building owner, and the TLCC, are working diligently for the GMP space buildout. He told them all the details have not yet been worked out and agreed upon, but that he feels that they will get it all finalized soon. There was additional discussion regarding the purpose of the TLCC and the companies that are located in their facility. Thomas also told the Board that he informed DisperSol and TLCC that the equipment grant and the buildout of the TLCC space needed to be completely separate. The Board also discussed the need for a guaranty that DisperSol will stay in Georgetown and that if the space is approved that GEDCO would require a personal guaranty. The Board indicated that if the space is approved and built, then the grant should be approved. Motion by Gonzalez, second by Brown to postpone the discussion and action on this item untilmore issues are resolved. (Approved 4-0)(Jonrowe Absent) Board directed Thomas to do due diligence on finances if the buildout of the GMP space is not agreed upon. G. Consideration and possible action to approve the Third Amended Agreement by and between GCV Enterprises, LLC dba Grape Creek Vineyards and the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO) -- Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney and Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director Chapman went over the terms of the Agreement and the extended dates and deadlines to accommodate the buildout. She also told them that there will be a Fourth Amendment to memorialize the bids and the project deadlines, and that the delays occurred because of the due diligence to review and obtain construction bids on the project. Motion by Gonzalez, second by Brown to approve the Third Amended Agreement by and between GCV Enterprises, LLC dba Grape Creek Vineyards and the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO). (Approved 4-0)(Jonrowe Absent) H. Discussion and possible action regarding a request from the Georgetown Independent School District in an amount not to exceed $200,560 for an equipment grant for the Engineering Laboratories at Georgetown and Eastview High Schools (GISD)--Paul E. Brandenburg, General Manager Item H was discussed at the beginning of the meeting. GEDCO Minutes/June 25, 2012 Page 4 of 5 Recessed into Executive Session at 5:30 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Georgetown Economic Development Corporation will meet in closed executive session as allowed by Texas Open Meetings Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 551), as follows: I. Section 551.072. DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY Discussion and possible action to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property for purposes authorized by the Development Corporation Act which discussion in open session would have a detrimental effect on negotiations with third persons. J. Section 551.087. DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS. Deliberation regarding commercial or financial information that the corporation has received from a business prospect that the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City of Georgetown and with which the Corporation is conducting economic development negotiations; and/or deliberation regarding the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect that the Corporation seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City of Georgetown. -GISD Funding Request for Equipment Grant K. Section 551.071. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY Consultation with attorney regarding legal issues related to agenda items and other matters in which the duty of the attorney to the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas. Reconvened into Regular Session at 5:50 p.m. L. Action out of Executive Session Motion by Marler, second by Gonzalez to direct staff to develop an Agreement with GISD that meets the requirements under Section 501.105 of the Texas Local Government Code and bring the Agreement back to the Board for Consideration. (Approved 4-0)(Jonrowe Absent) Adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Attest: 71 r[ C�� o—t Rachael Jonrowe, C or e Secretary ohn Marler, President GEDCO Minutes/June 25, 2012 Page 5of5