HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/98 EDC MINUTES
THE COLONY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
AUGUST 18, 1998
Present were: Gene Cone
John Gordon
Kate Jarvella
Randy Robinson
Also present: Mary Blair Watts, Mayor
Sue Walden, 4B Liaison
John Hill, City Attorney
Tony Johnston, Staff Liaison
Jenny Pace, EDC Intern/Recording Secretary
John Gordon called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Agenda item #1 - Approval of past meeting minutes - Randy Robinson wanted to clarify
his statement about changing the by-laws to accommodate a 4B liaison. He wanted to
make sure a member of 4B is appointed as liaison instead of leaving the position open for
appointment, and that 4B should be able to make the decision on who is appointed.
Kate Jarvella motioned to approve the minutes. Randy Robinson seconded. All Were in
favor and it passed.
Agenda item #2 - Progress Report - Mayor Watts discussed a lunch meeting held on
August 14 with a representative from Trammel Crow. Trammel Crow now has
information about The Colony in its database to give to anyone who comes to Trammel
Crow looking for a location. Kate Jarvella stated that the representative is moving one
step at a time, and that it was good that he got to know who The Colony is, but that it is
too preliminary to know anything yet.
Mayor Watts asked John Hill if the updates that the Board receives might be done in
executive session. John Hill stated that the Board may receive information (updates),
but they cannot be discussed and will not be reflected in the minutes. It will be a status
report and should be placed on the agenda for executive session. He also stated that
there will be a certified agenda on what happened in that closed session and will be kept
confidential.
John Gordon stated that he does not want to discuss the ranking of the directors because it
could become public and cause problems before the director is hired.
Agenda item #4 - Issues with City Attorney- John Gordon stated that the Board wanted
John Hill present to discuss the wording of by-laws to appoint a 4B liaison. The Board
had questions about how the by-laws needed to be worded.
John Hill stated that he will look into whether or not the by-laws needed to be amended
and how, and said that he will have a response to the Board by the next meeting on
September 8ta.
Agenda item #5 - New Business - Mayor Watts discussed tax abatements regarding
some newspaper articles the Board received. She stated that we need to keep tabs on
other communities and how they are utilizing different programs.
Mayor Watts asked the Board about a particular project and Gene Cone stated that it was
a good idea, but needed a little bit more substance. He stated that they sent the project a
letter requesting additional information.
Randy Robinson felt that it would be interesting to see how other cities use different
ways to structure their tax abatements.
Mayor Watts stated that if you want Council to agree on tax abatement, then the Board
needSto bring Council the numbers to justify it. She said that Council would be in
trouble if they did not provide assistance for a project that the citizens want, as well as
providing assistance for a project that will not be good for The Colony. Gene Cone
stated that 4A does not want to dish out incentives to a business without a concrete
business plan. Randy Robinson felt that this is where a director will help 4A.
John Gordon stated that' 4A/B received excellent candidates for the director's position,
and the majority of them expressed a tremendous opportunity for growth in The Colony.
Randy Robinson stated that the level of competition among candidates reinforced their
decision to want to work here.
Randy Robinson stated that the Council/4A/4B are not communicating properly and that
when a director comes on board they all need to sit down and reiterate that they are on the
same page. Kate Jarvella felt that 4A had to learn the hard way what Council expected
from them and that Council is looking for a director to pull the pieces together.
Sue Walden stated that she is glad there is going to be one director over both boards
because we are so fragmented right now.
John Gordon reminded the board about the September 18ta North Texas Conference.
Tony Johnston explained the circumstances surrounding the mud debt that the City has
endured. He stated that The Colony has dealt with this debt for the past twenty years, and
in the year 2007 it will finally be through. It has been dealt with the issuance of
water/sewer taxes, and citizen taxes. He also discussed how to shit~ the burden of the
debt fi-om the taxpaYers and to pay back some of what they have given.
Randy Robinson motioned to adjourn the meeting. Kate Jarvella seconded. All were in
favor and the meeting closed at 8:10 p.m.
Richard Seidler, President
Jenny Pace, Recording Secretary