HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/28/99 EDC MINUTES
THE COLONY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
JULY 28, 1999
Present: President John Gordon
Treasurer A1 Garcia
Secretary Delaina Hammock
Member Lois LeBlanc
Ex-officio Member Sue Walden
Staff: Gene Ramsey
Cindi Lane
Guest: Jerry Conner, Economic Development Services
Item 1.0. Call to Order: President Gordon called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and
led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 1.2. Staff Reports: Gene Ramsey covered the financial reports, the sales tax
statistics, the July tax allocation summary, and payment updates for the gas line
and water line. Mr. Ramsey also discussed disbursement procedures, financial
listing of administrative expenses, TEDC Legislative Session Summary,
Galveston notes, Smart Jobs, Draft Bylaws and TEDCSTA seminar updates.
Item 1.3. Board President's Comments: President Gordon encouraged all board
members to spread the news of the 4A Board vacancy and that if someone was
interested in serving on the board, he or she would need to get a board application
from the city secretary or at the reception desk. President Gordon also expressed
his gratitude in the hiring of Economic Development Services as a consultant for
the board and that he has received several positive comments and feedback from
friends and colleagues about Economic Development Services.
Item 1.4. Citizen Input: There was no citizen input.
Item 1.5: Advisory Board member comments: Ex-officio member Sue Walden
informed the board that the 4B Board also has an opening for a board member.
She also stated that the 4B Board held a work session to discuss the timeline for
Brinkley Sargent to complete the Turco survey and to discuss the 1999-2000
administrative budget.
Item 2.1. Consideration of approval of the minutes of the board meeting held June
16, 1999: A motion was made by Secretary Delaina Hammock to accept the
minutes of the board meeting held June 16, 1999. Member Lois LeBlanc
seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes.
Item 2.2. Discussion of Southwestern Bell grant application: Mr. Ramsey notified the
board of the application for a $5,000 grant fxom Southwestern Bell Telephone for
updated signage for the Paige Road and FM 423 entrances to The Colony. He
added that he should receive notification by September 15, 1999.
Item 2.3. EDS study status report: Economic Development Services president, Jerry
Conner, addressed the board on the progress made so far. Mr. Conner said that he
is still interviewing our civic leaders, but is already working on marketing
concepts for The Colony. He said that his tentative conclusions include:
1) The Colony needs an image
2) Promote its extraordinary location
3) Recruit economic prospects to offset residential tax burden
4) EDS will create a top of the line community profile (fact book)
5) Staff needs to accumulate local data
6) EDS will create a brochure for mailings and tradeshows
7) EDS will suggest a competitive advantage theme to compete with surrounding
cities.
8) EDS will make suggestions about The Colony's incentive policies
9) EDS will recommend that The Colony launches a public relations campaign
10) EDS will suggest for the need to develop ad slicks to give to developers
11) EDS will make recommendations regarding enhancement of the website
12) EDS will suggest the need to develop ED video presentation.
13) First priority is for creation for printed materials for. The Colony. ~
14) Advertising expenses will be critical
Mr. Conner recommended a telephone survey of 10-15 mile radius of the Colony at a cost
of $7,500 to 10,000 range to find out what the perception oflhe Colony is l~om other
areas. He also recommended a labor survey to determine skill level of The Colony
residents and commute distance to jobs. He stated that this survey would cost
approximately $14,000 to complete. There was discussion of focusing the surveys on
developers who would bring prospects to The Colony.
Item 2.4.Discussion of Denton Co. EDC booth with The Chamber of Commerce on
September 2~a: The Board was in agreement that The Colony booth needs an
activity such as a putting green, Scotsman in costume or bagpiper, the Tribute
sword on display etc. to attract attention. Mr. Ramsey is to follow up with Tim
House and Lucy Billingsley to see what kind of picturesque background posters
or pictures the board might be able to use and what materials the board could get
to set up a putting green.
EDC Minutes, July 28, 1999, Page 2 of 4
Item 2.5. Discussion of Council Liaison: There was discussion of the Council liaison
and it was agreed that the Council will address it, if it chooses to do so.
Item 2.6. Discussion of Allies Day: There was discussion of the June 30th committee
meeting and the timeline for getting council approval to move ahead with an
Allies Day event. A motion was made by Delaina Hammock to authorize Mr.
Ramsey to plan the Allies Day event and to ask the council for up to $7,000 for a
golf tournament at Stewart Peninsula Golf Course. The motion was seconded by
A1 Garcia and carried with all ayes.
Item 2.7. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the appointment of a
negotiation team regarding prospect: President Gordon appointed a negotiation
team ofMr. Garcia, Mr. Ramsey and himself to negotiate with a prospect and
make recommendations at the next meeting.
Item 2.8. Discussion of Budget Suites payment of $20,000 and $8,431.95 water line
payment: Mr. Ramsey informed the board that the $20,000 payment to Budget
Suites is pending on the final certificate of occupancy. As of this date, it has not
been issued. Mr. Ramsey also pointed out that the gas line payment was overpaid
by $4,326.80. The first installment of the water line payment was thus reduced by
the same amount, which is the reason for the $8,431.95 payment. The payment for
the water line for the month of August will be in the amount of $12,758.75.
Item 2.9. Discussion of board vacancy: There was discussion of the resignation of Dr.
Richard Seidler from the board and that the council is accepting applications at
this time for a replacement board member.
Item 2.10. Discussion of North Texas Conference on September 17th: Mr. Ramsey
made the board aware that Representative Burt Solomans will speak at the North
Texas Conference held at Texas Woman's University. All 4A and 4B board
members were sent invitations this week.
Item 2.11. Discussion of Gene Ramsey attending the EDI Conference August 8-15:
Mr. Ramsey informed the board that he will attend the Economic Development
Institute conference in Norman, Oklahoma from August 8-15.
Item 2.12. Discussion of Gene Ramsey attending the TEDC Annual Conference
September 14-17 and conflict with September 4A Board meeting: This is a
moot issue because it does not conflict with the 4A Board meeting in September.
Item 2.13. Discussion of Legislative Session Summary: There have been indications of
legislators' preparing dra~s of major revisions for the economic sales tax statute.
EDC Minutes, July 28, 1999, Page 3 of 4
Mr. Ramsey made reference to SB 1851, which provides and exception to the
Public Information Act relative to governmental bodies and meetings with
prospects. They are now allowed to meet in executive session to avoid disclosing
a trade secret or other information, which could cause substantial competitive
harm.
Item 2.14. Discussion of proposed 1999-2000 Budget: Mr. Ramsey stated that the draft
budget for 1999-2000 would be for $85,489 with an additional request for $3,500
for enhancements of a lap top computer and an aerial color map of the city. The
total is less than $89,000. He would mail details to the board members in advance
of the August meeting at which time he would submit it and the city
administrative contract for approval.
Item 2.15. Concerns of the Board: Lois LeBlanc requested Mr. Ramsey to fred out
when the Police Department will resume the use of the Council Chambers on
Wednesday nights in order to avoid a conflict of schedules. President Gordon
stated that he would like to review the goals from the TXU presentation and to put
this item on the agenda next month so that the board can measure the progress of
obtaining those goals.
Item 2.11. Future agenda items: Other than the above mentioned future agenda items, none were mentioned at this time.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjoumed~ at
9:20 p.m.
Cindi Lane J~ ~flrdon
Executive Secretary Pr~ l~nt ~'~
EDC Minutes, July 28, 1999, Page 4 of 4