10-09-2002 - WorkshopCITY OF EDGEWATER
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD
WORKSHOP
October 9, 2002
4:00 P.m.
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Thomas Alcorn called to order a workshop for the Economic Development Board at 4: 00 p.m.,
Wednesday, October 9, 2002, in the Community Center.
ROLL CALL
Roll was not taken but members present were Chairman Thomas Alcorn, Douglas McGinnis, Thomas
McKinley, Nora Aly and Joe Martin. Adelaide Carter, Christopher Balmer, and Michael Wilson were
excused. Also present were City Manager Ken Hooper, Assistant City Manager Elizabeth McBride, Mayor
Donald Schmidt, Councilman James Brown, Councilwoman Harriet Rhodes, Councilwoman Judy Lichter
and Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Dennis.
SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP:
Chairman Thomas Alcorn opened the meeting with a description of the purpose of the workshops and the
Boards role within the City of Edgewater. The Board's ideal is to develop a Program of Work, which will
enable the city to attract businesses that will purchase properties, create good paying jobs, and create a tax
base, and to do this without overtaxing the areas resources.
Joe Martin presented some objectives for the workshop including the need to determine what types of
businesses and industries should be targeted, particularly for the ParkTowne Industrial Center. He stated
that it was important for the Board to develop a Program that will show what the goals are, how the goals
will be achieved, set a time frame to achieve these goals, develop a tool to measure the results and to
determine an estimate of costs for the Program of Work.
There was much discussion concerning the lack of skilled workers in the area and how to best address this
issue. However, the consensus was that if the industries come, the employees and/or training for them will
follow.
Mr. Hooper asked the Board to look at developing more specific criteria for types of industry and business
for each area of the ParkTowne Industrial Center, and to consider what types of incentives the City may
want to offer businesses that will bring in higher wage jobs and other things that will benefit the City.
Amongst the possible incentives could be low interest payments, tax incentives, and possible reduced
pricing on property. There was much discussion on how these incentives should be addressed and who
should be able to qualify for them. One area of determination should be that the business would create jobs
with an average wage that exceeds the average county wage by at least 25 %.
The Board was tasked with looking at the following items to be brought before the next workshop:
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• A listing of targeted industries.
• Looking at what types of incentives the city can offer and criteria for these incentives.
The Board was asked to look at industries in the area and find what kind of labor force and wages are in
existence and what is needed and to determine what types of industries the area can support. Steve Dennis
was asked to contact Rick Michael, Director of Volusia County Economic Development, and ask him to
prepare a presentation at the next workshop, which will include a discussion of wages, incentives, and area
resources, including outlying areas such as the Cape Canaveral area.
Mr. Hooper also asked the Board to be thinking about ways to address redevelopment of the
Hibiscus /Guava Drive area and to possible address that at a November workshop.
The next workshop is scheduled for October 23, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. in the Community Center.
ADJOURNMENT
The workshop was adjourned at 5:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Pat Drosten, Board Coordinator
Economic Development Board
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