HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/08/1997
NIIN JTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD
MEETING
APRIL 8, 1997
6:30 p.m.
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Present:
Board
Gary McClure, President
Mary Watts, Council Member
Dave Kovatch, Council Member
Sue Walden, Secretary
Ronnie Fischer, Treasurer
Rick Manser
Staff
Dennis Watson, Staff Liaison
Absent
Craig Sloan
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. McClure called the meeting to order at 6:42 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
3. UPDATE ON GOLF COURSE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS
Mr. McClure stated that he, Mr. Fischer, and Mr. Watson had met with Tim House of Matthews
Southwest two weeks ago to discuss the lease and some of the financial issues. Mr. McClure
stated that Mr. House was in the process of filling in some of the blanks on the lease and that the
same individuals would meet with him again in the next week or so. Mr. McClure stated that
some of the major issues that were addressed were the economics such as annual rent payments
and percentages of income. Discussion on this item followed. Mr. McClure stated that he would
update the Board on negotiations following the next meeting.
4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON SETTING GOALS FOR SALES
TAX ELECTION
The Board discussed the information packet provided by Mr. Watson ( A Guide Book for
Economic Development Sales Tax Elections). The members decided that they first needed to
form an ad hoc committee of individuals in the community to serve on it. The Board decided to
look more in depth at the report and to come back next week and be ready to identify the
positions that they feel would be applicable to this particular committee. Mr. Kovatch
volunteered to Chair the committee. Ms. Walden volunteered to run the phone bank. Mr.
McClure made the suggestion that the committee be in place by the first of May. Discussion
followed on how to call the election, by presenting it to City Council and having them call the
election or by obtaining enough signatures from voters to call the election by petition. The Board
decided to leave the final decision of how to call the election up to the committee. The Board
briefly discussed some of the uses of the sales tax. Ms. Walden and Mr. Kovatch stated that they
felt that the main things the citizens wanted was the diversification of the tax base and to bring in
the services that the city has always wanted but have been unable to attract. Further discussion on
this item followed.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Watson presented to the Board a proof of the draft of the economic development brochure
that he had completed. The only suggestion was from Mr. Kovatch to justify the paragraph on
the back panel. Mr. Watson stated that he had spoken to representatives from the Chamber about
advertising in the Dallas Visitor's Guide and the cost would be $820 per quarter, and this was a
quarterly publication. The Chamber wanted the City to share the cost of this advertisement. The
Board felt that we needed to get our name out, but this may not be the most cost effective way to
achieve this goal. The Board voted against advertising in the publication for the quoted price.
Ms. Watts discussed the prospect that she had been working with. Ms. Watts informed the Board
that the City had received a correspondence today from the prospect requesting to be on the April
21, 1997 City Council agenda. Ms. Watts stated that the prospect was requesting definitive
direction from the City: on who to negotiate with the EDC or Council, what land was available to
them, what is the length of a lease that the City would consider, etc. Ms. Watts informed the
Board that the prospect wanted to hold a meeting on April 22 to discuss any required action from
the City Council meeting on the previous day. Further discussion on this item followed.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. The next meeting is
7seduled for April 15, at 6:30 p.11~
L
Respectfully Submitted, Dennis won, Staff Liaison