Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/18/1997 MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD MEETING MARCH 18, 1997 6:30 p.m. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS Present: Board Mary Watts, Council Member Dave Kovatch, Council Member Craig Sloan, Vice President Sue Walden Rick Manser Staff Dennis Watson, Staff Liaison Others Ray DeSouza, Ice Bound Entertainment Center Jerry Geyman, Eastchase Sportsclub Chris Geyman, Absent Gary McClure Ronnie Fischer 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Sloan called the meeting to order at 6:47 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL 3. PRESENTATION BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT ON EDC/CHAMBER RELATIONS AND FUTURE GOALS Jimmie McCormick, President of the Chamber of Commerce stated why he was interested in seeing The Colony grow and prosper as a city. Mr. McCormick stated that he received a great deal of self satisfaction from helping a community achieve its economic development goals. Mr. McCormick stated that he saw the role of the Chamber as representing current and future businesses in the community. He stated the goal of the Chamber was to see the number of jobs in the city increase, as well as the tax base expand. Mr. McCormick stated that he wanted the Chamber to take a more proactive role in bringing businesses to The Colony and help area businesses be more productive. Mr. McCormick stated that he saw the role of the EDC as: helping to give existing and future businesses direction and facilitating the process of bringing new businesses to the city. Mr. McCormick stated that the EDC and Chamber needed to be a strategic alliance and assist each other in different areas. Mr. McCormick stated that his goal was to have the Economic Development Director from the Chamber work closely with the EDC on different projects and achieve the common goal of helping The Colony prosper. Mr. McCormick stated that his vision was to see more people to driving to The Colony to come to work, than leave The Colony to go to work. Mr. McCormick did not think that this was an unrealistic goal and he thought that this was a reality that was in the not too distant future. Ms. Watts asked Mr. McCormick if he helped to bring a business to The Colony would he be willing to supply a letter of introduction to the Council stating that he had done so. Mr. McCormick stated that he would be agreeable to this. Mr. Watson asked Mr. McCormick how could the EDC work with the Chamber to become more involved in things such as ribbon cuttings and letting the existing businesses know we are out there. Mr. McCormick stated that he would work closely with the EDC and the City when working with a prospect and that he would request that the Ambassador for the Chamber inform the EDC of any future ribbon cuttings. Mr. Watson asked how could the Chamber assist the EDC in staging a possible sales tax election. Mr. McCormick stated that the Chamber would gather the support of area businesses and "Friends of the Chamber" in the community to ensure a successful election. He also stated that the Chamber would willing to be a part of the initial planning process and assist the Board in any way they could. Mr. Kovatch asked if the Chamber could assist the Board with some of the costs of staging an election such as the printing of pamphlets, flyers, and door hangings, etc. Mr. McCormick stated that the Chamber would look at alternatives and assist in any way they could. 4. PRESENTATION ON PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY IN THE COLONY Mr. Manser introduced Ray DeSouza, Jerry Geyman, and Chris Geyman. Mr. DeSouza gave a brief history of how he got started building hockey arenas and how he and Mr. Geyman came to be partners. Mr. DeSouza then turned the discussion over to Mr. Geyman. Mr. Geyman stated that he was proposing a sports theme park for The Colony. He stated that he had approached Walt Disney World and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys with his idea and both were very interested and both ended up copying his concept to some extent. Mr. Geyman presented a conceptual drawing that included a tennis facility, basketball courts, an Olympic pool, a golf course, baseball fields, softball fields, and a multi-purpose stadium. Mr. Geyman stated that he was looking at possibly locating on the 325 acre Netzer tract south of SH 121 and east of Plano Parkway. He stated that they were looking for some kind of relief on the land. Mr. stated that he had a great deal of financial backing with up to 120 investors, each capable of investing $1 million each. But he stated they did not want to invest $20-30 million up front for the price of the land. They may be willing to put up half of that amount. Ms. Watts asked if Mr. Geyman had to have frontage on SH 121. Mr. Geyman responded no. Mr. McCormick stated that Matthews Southwest may be interested in conducting some kind of joint venture on their land on Wynnewood Peninsula. Discussion on this topic followed. Mr. Geyman seemed very excited about this possibility. The Board decided that Ms. Watts and Mr. Kovatch would approach Matthews Southwest about the idea and if they were willing to listen, a luncheon would be set up for Friday of this week with all of the parties. Further discussion followed on this topic. 5. OTHER BUSINESS The Board discussed alternatives for what kind of assistance that could be provided for the sports theme park and multi-purpose stadium. Some of the suggestions included: I . Tax Abatements 2. Matching Grants 3. Matthews Southwest 4. Roll Back Tax 5. LISD 6. County Support Commissioner's Court Economic Development Director 7. Corporate Sponsorship (EDS, JC Penney, Frito-Lay, Fina, Dr. Pepper, etc.) There being no further businTt e meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. The next meeting is .scheduled for April 1, at 6:30 m R ectfully Submitted, Dennis Watson, Staff Liaison