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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GEDCO_08.23.2011CITY COUNCIL MINUTES GRAPE CREEK VINEYARDS August 23, 2011 Policy Development/Review Workshop B Economic Development Workshop with Project Grape -- Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director Thomas reviewed a history of this project. He spoke about other efforts being made to bring companies to the downtown area. He said the other area economic development is interested in is to recruit tech companies and noted those tech companies are looking for a "fun factor" in the City. He said all of this led to the Georgetown Winery Initiative in that having a winery downtown could be another factor that would attract tech companies to the area. He said the vitality of the downtown area is something that companies look for when they are scouting the area. He said people look at Georgetown as a dry community. He spoke about the local option election and how it made Georgetown a "wet" city last November. He recognized Gene Richards, who the City hired for this issue, for securing funding for this project. He said Richards and his department developed a matrix for the companies they are wanting to look for and bring to Georgetown. He spoke about the site visits Grape Creek made in Georgetown and how they wanted to be located in the current visitors center building. He said, over the past six months, they spent time trying to prepare the visitors center for Grape Creek. He described what the proposed project would look like and the timeline being introduced. Thomas introduced Brian Heath with Grape Creek to the Council. Heath greeted the Council and said, when he heard about the opportunity to move to Georgetown, he jumped at the opportunity. He said they were testing the concept of a Main Street location for a winery. He said he talked to Hargrove and Thomas, both of whom have worked tirelessly on this project. He said Thomas is the most hardworking economic development director he has ever met. He showed Council pictures of the winery and how it will be different and the same in Georgetown. He said they want to take the best of what they know how to do and blend a little Starbucks into it. He noted he wants to create a business that brings in tourists as well as cements locals and encourages them to stay. He said they love the square and, once you get people here, they will love it. Heath spoke about the history of Grape Creek. He said they are purposefully not trying to grow too quickly and noted they are trying to pursue on site distribution. He said their tasting room is nestled on a hill. He showed Council a picture of that room. He said the room feeds into their theme, Tuscany in Texas. He showed Council an interior of the tasting room. He said they focus on making this, not only a Texas wine, but a quality wine. He said they send their wines to competitions outside of Texas as well. He noted they have won over 100 medals over the past two years. He showed Council a picture of their production center. He said they had to hand harvest one block of wines because the heat increased the maturity rate of the wines quickly. He showed Council a picture of their new tank room. He said they do cellar tours and he showed a picture of those cellars to the Council. He said they have looked into doing satellite offices and added they feel there is huge growth potential for wine in Texas. He said, in the Georgetown location, they will be able to leverage their market. He said their website tracker is pretty substantial as well as their email list of over 20,000 people. He added they will use this to market the Georgetown location even prior to the opening. He said they are wanting to create an experience driven environment and an urban winery concept. He noted they would design the space so that people would be exposed to it like a microbrewery. He spoke about the concept of wine on tap. He said he has already met with some other wineries who are interested in moving to Georgetown. He said part of his role is to also recruit two or three other wineries as well. He noted there is an opportunity to really start building on the idea of having a winery in Georgetown. All of the Council members expressed their thanks and excitement about the project coming to Georgetown. Mayor spoke about two items on the Legislative Agenda regarding this issue. August 23, 2011 Action from Executive Session Motion by Eason, second by Sattler to approve a Real Estate Contract with Judy Wolff Hindelang, et al pursuant to the terms discussed in tonight's Executive Session. Approved 7-0 Motion by Eason, second by Hellmann tolapprove and execute the economic development agreement for Project Grape on the terms discussed in tonight's Executive Session including certain economic development incentives and the Lease Purchase of certain retail space generally located at 7th Street and Main Street, Georgetown, Texas and the related real estate sales contract between the City and GEDCO. Approved 7-0 City Council Minutes Grape Creek Vineyards Page 1 of 2 August 23, 2011 Legislative Agenda T Forwarded from the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO) Consideration and possible action to approve an agreement between GEDCO and Grape Creek Vineyards and the related Real Estate Sales Contract between the City and GEDCO -- Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director Chapman said Item T was covered in the,,motion out of Executive Session. Thomas said they have Grape Creek Vineyards located in Fredericksburg who will be opening up an urban winery in the current visitors center building. He said the city has been working on this for almost eight months and are on the cusp of making this happen. Mayor said Council had an opportunity to speak with the developer of the project and Council was impressed with the project. January 24, 2012 Legislative Agenda AA Consideration and possible action to approve an Amendment to the Real Estate Sales Contract between the City and GEDCO related to the repair costs for the floor at the 101 W. 7th Street property-- Bridget Chapman, City Attorney Thomas said this is to amendment to the real estate contract for the Grape Creek winery project driven by an inspection made of the floor of the building. He said the City is going to convey the building to GEDCO, however, the floor is rotted through and needs to be replaced. He said this amendment will allow for those repair costs to be covered. Motion by Berryman, second by Gonzalez to approve the amendment. Approved 7-0 February 28, 2012 Legislative Agenda AA Forwarded from the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO): Consideration and possible action to approve the First Amended Agreement by and between GCV Enterprises, LLC dba Grape Creek Vineyards and the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO), the related Lease Agreement; and Promissory Note -- Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney and Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director Thomas said this item is to seek Council approval of an amended agreement between Grape Creek and GEDCO. He said this would push the agreement out 30 days. He said this 30 day adjustment is needed based on the inspection of the floor and the finding that it needs to be replaced. He said the target opening of the winery is now August 1, 2012. Motion by Berryman, second by Jonrowe to approve the amended agreement. Approved 7-0 City Council Minutes Grape Creek Vineyards Page 2 of 2