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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/22/98 EDC MINUTES THE COLONY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION JULY 22, 1998 CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM President Richard Seidler called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Board Members present: Richard Seidler Gene Cone John Gordon Kate Jarvella Randy Robinson Also present were: Mayor Watts Lanny S. Lambert, City Manager Tony Johnston, Finance Director/Staff Liaison Vicki Briggs, 4B Board Member Sue Walden, 4B Board Member Susan King, 4B Board Member Jenny Pace, EDC Intern/Recording Secretary The Board discussed tentative dates to set up a workshop with TU Electric. The possible dates are September 15 or 29 around 7:00 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce. Richard Seidler asked Jenny Pace to contact Barry Anderson to set up the meeting. Because of the TU dates, the Board decided to change theft September meeting dates to September 8 and September 22. Approval of past meeting minutes. Randy Robinson motioned to approve the minutes. Kate Jarvella seconded. All were in favor and it was approved. Consideration and approval of 4A budget. Tony Johnston explained the budget and where the numbers came from. He discussed how the funds for the Director were allocated in September among such items as expenditures, start-up costs, telephone bills, etc. In October, he provided funds for two new staff people to be named by the Director. All of the costs will be parallel to the 4B Board. His goal is to get a budget passed that Council is comfortable with. Randy Robinson asked if it was necessary to have a full-time accountant because the Board will also be paying outside sources for economic impact studies. Tony Johnston answered that it depends on what kind of structure 4A wants, and there is some discussion as to what the accountant would handle. Extensive discussion was held on what responsibilities the accountant would have, how much that position would pay, and how the budget allocated funds for that position. John Gordon stated that he would like some indication from Council that they are ready to accept the budget. Lanny Lambert stated that nothing could be guaranteed except that right now they are looking at 3 essential bodies to run both Boards: Director and then the director deciding the job assignments and titles of the other two. Once a budget is approved, the Board can amend it later. Kate Jarvella asked if the Board would always have to go before Council to approve any changes. Tony Johnston explained that right now the Board needs to focus on getting a budget approved, and then hire a Director who will handle negotiations with the Council. He and Lanny Lambert both agreed that a Director couldn't be hired until a budget is approved. John Gordon motioned to approve the budget. Kate Jarvella seconded. All were in favor and it passed. Lanny Lambert stated that he and Tony Johnston will present the budget on August 3 and would like all the board members to be there. Discussion of Economic/Community Development Director Lanny Lambert stated that both Boards have agreed to share a Director, and that there will be a formal contract between the City and the Boards. He asked for it to be placed on the next agenda to approve it. Lanny Lambert stated that he asked 4B to appoint 3 representatives to sit on the interview panel, and proposed that 4B have three and 4A have two. Lanny stated that the reason for this is to avoid having to post the meetings. The 4A Board decided to also have three members, and they are Kate Jarvella, Randy Robinson, and John Gordon. John Gordon expressed the importance of the final decision, and asked for all of the board members to receive the resumes so that they could all review them and then submit their thoughts to the three representatives so that they all had a role in choosing the Director. Both boards agreed upon Tuesday, August 4th at 5:30 as the first meeting date between the two. This meeting will have to be posted. The boards agreed to rank the applicants and then begin interviewing the ones with the highest ranking. Lanny Lambert stated that the board should not interview more than five. He also discussed some potential candidates for the position that had contacted him. Discussion was held on how much time to allow the interviewees to arrive here, and how much time to allow for the actual interview. The board decided upon August 13th, 6:00 p.m. at City Hall for the preliminary interviewing, and August 17th, 6:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce for final interviewing. They proposed having a set of questions to ask in the interview as part of a "weeding out" process and to enable the interviews to take place in 30 minute increments. Rich Seidler stated that all 4A members should have their responses to the three on the interviewing panel by July 27. Discussion was held on the possibility of having Pam Nelson as the Director, however she was not interested and did not want to leave Parks & Rec. The 4B members stressed that it was important for the Director to understand what their goals were and what they wanted to do. Rich Seidler stated that the board needs to review the applications and select their top choices. They will fax them to Jenny Pace and she will distribute to the other board members. Sue Walden discussed her request to be elected ex oficio to the 4A Board and stated that 4B has elected her to represent them on 4A. She also stated that the 4A Bylaws need to be amended to accept an ex oficio. Sue Walden stated that the 4B Board asked her to talk to 4A about the JNC deal. They want to sell us 143 acres to be used for parkland. If the City went with this concept, it would be responsible for funding the infrastructure on Memorial Dr. There is debate between 4B and City Council because Council feels that The Colony already has enough parkland. Sue stated that they have received a lot of public input and that they are asking for more parks and facilities for their children. 4B would like to meet with 4A regarding this issue. Project Reports Mayor Watts stated that JNC Properties gave money to the Parks Dept. and that it is their responsibility to decide how to spend it. Don Goebel, Lanny Lambert, and Bill Sheveland will be meeting to discuss the issue. The 4B Board feels that that money was given to the city as parkland and that they have received many requests for more recreational facilities. They also want to meet with 4A to see how economic development will be affected. Richard Seidler asked the 4B members to let them know more later at~er their meetings, and then they could discuss it more. Richard Seidler reminded the board to turn in their compliance forms to Patti Hicks if they have not done so already. Mayor Watts discussed the September 18 Denton County Conference and stated that she would like to reserve a table with representatives from The Colony. Mayor Watts also discussed the possibility of a multi-sports complex being built on the Shula Netzer property. It includes hockey, soccer, football, track, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and a pool. The possibility of this facility being built on Wynnewood Peninsula was also discussed. This would draw people deeper into The Colony and would bring additional business to the stores and restaurants. This project would be in addition to the golf course being built there. Mayor Watts gave an update of all of the meetings she has had involving prospects, developers, and brokers and gave the highlights of each of those meetings. Mayor Watts stated that The Colony needs to participate with the County. She would like to give '~the presentation" to the County Commissioner because The Colony is the gateway to Denton County. She also wants to partner with the Mayor of Denton. Mayor Watts asked the 4A Board if they want to have the authority to release information regarding projects. Richard Seidler stated that 4A should go through the liaison to Council first. Randy Robinson stated that confidentiality could blow a whole project. Mayor Watts would like the President of the 4A Board to draft a cover letter to the incentive package. Randy Robinson stated that TEDC is a worthwhile organization to be a part of and passed out a handout for a one-day course on August 21. John Gordon stated that Sue Walden should be placed on the next agenda for consideration of ex oficio. The meeting ended at 9:40 p.m. Richard Seidler, President ATTEST: J~ Pace~/6rding Secretary