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08-06-1998 0ovtc\ Y , CITY OF EDGEWATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD REGULAR MEETING Au 6, 1998 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman John Moore called to order a regular meeting of the Economic Development Board at 6:18 p.m., Thursda August 6, 1998, in the Communit Center. ROLL CALL: Members present were Chairman John Moore, John Browning, Thomas Alcorn, Adelaide Carter, and Theresa David. Also present were Councilman Gar Roberts Steve Dennis, Executive Director of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce Debbie Brazzell, Observer and Liz McBride, Board Coordinator. Daniel Lewis was excused. Nanc Ridner and Lawrence Holler were recorded absent. Gigi Bennington had previousl resigned. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes for Ma 7, 1998, were presented to the Board for approval. Mr. Alcorn moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded b Ms. Carter. Motion CARRIED 5 -0. Since it had been three months since the Board had a meeting, the Chairman reviewed the Ma 7, 1998 minutes. Chairman Moore informed the Board the budgets for Volusia Count Business Development Corporation (VCBDC) and the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce were no longer part of the EDB budget. He said the three emplo cap was removed in the B -2 district Councilman Roberts confirmed. The Chairman said there had been a motion authorizing Dan Lewis to obtain a domain name and set up a Web site for the EDB. He said the Board budgeted a setup fee, and up to $50 per month to maintain the Web site, which had not been done. The Chairman asked the Board Coordinator to check on this matter. Mr. Alcorn asked if the budgets for VCBDC and the Chamber were going to be picked up b the Cit or dropped altogether. Councilman Roberts said this was discussed during Council's initial budget hearings. After further review of the budget, Councilman Roberts felt Mr. Hooper probabl would find dditional funds and additional revenues that could handle the organizations' expenses. /. . Sae Economic Development Board Minutes - August 6, 1998 Page -2- CONTINUED BUSINESS: 1. Discuss Program of Work for 1998 -99 Chairman Moore referred to the Board's notes of June 4, 1998. With discussion of each item, he listed short term goals: 1) annexation (airport, prestress concrete propert area east /west of I -95, south to Oak Hill), 2) secure telecommunications infrastructure for area, 3) workshop with Beautification and Tree Board, 4) pre- approved building sites, 5) cultivate and nurture small existing businesses, 6) target specific businesses to attract to area, and 7) develop a package /incentive program. In reference to item 6, Mr. Alcorn paraphrased Gar Cunningham, speaker before the Economic Development Board in New Sm Beach, as sa to bring value added jobs into the communit He said the Cit needs to create jobs that will bring income from out of the area and leave the additional dollars here. Mr. Alcorn said the manufacturing and technical jobs do this t of thing. Chairman Moore felt the Board should definitel be working on this issue. Mr. Alcorn said the Cit should focus on its strengths, as the boat manufacturers. Refering to item 7, Councilman Roberts said the ke to an incentive program was dollars and cents. He rela a personal experience of savings on road impact fees when he constructed his building. He said the Cit has no control over road impact fees but does have control over local ad valorem tax and utilit impact fees. Councilman Roberts felt an incentive program for commercial construction should offer a certain percentage of discount on utilit impact fees for a specific number of y ears. Discussion continued on new medical facilities interested in building in Edgewater. Councilman Roberts suggested the EDB put together a proposal of fair breaks on tax and utilities to present to Council. Mr. Alcorn asked where the Cit stood on the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) project. Councilman Roberts believed the reimbursement agreement was set between FIND and the engineering compan and would be moving forward. Infrastructure and the railroad rights -of -wa were discussed. Councilman Roberts exampled a new medical facilit on US 1 which would have benefited from fee breaks. He said the contractor had to jack and bore under the highwa to bring water to his building which costs approximatel $30,000. Councilman Roberts said that figure didn't include water connection fees, utilities impact fees, etc, which were another $11- 12,000. He said other properties along the west side of the highwa can now benefit b t into that water line without pa the extreme cost. He felt something like the jack and bore shouldn't effect just one propert owner, there should be an e distribution. Economic Development Board Minutes - August 6, 1998 Page -3- Continued Business: Steve Dennis, Executive Director Chamber of Commerce, mentioned utilities impact fees. He said businesses should be evaluated on how much of an impact the actuall maize on the s and if the don't make an impact, the fees should be refunded. Mr. Dennis said the Utilities still would be receiving their monthl water and sewer charges. Mr. Dennis said utilities impact fees would be a good place to start. He said the ad valorem tax exemption issue is a little different because it is state mandated, and there were specific guidelines that a business would have to meet to q ualit y for the exemption. Mr. Dennis said the impact fee issues were started b the Chamber. He said the Board needed to make the Council see some benefits of an incentive program. Mr. Dennis said the EDB should target businesses that are economic growth generated, e.g., the medical field which is high wage. Mr. Dennis explained about creating a redevelopment district. He and Councilman Roberts agreed that US 1 would be a good place to start. Mr. Dennis said a good consultant would be needed and offered the name of an agenc he was familiar with. Chairman Moore read the three long term goals from the Board notes: 1) provide infrastructure for park on Airport Road and prestress concrete plant, 2) q ualit y of life, 3) expand non - residential tax base, reduce unemplo and increase pa scale. Ms. David felt the Board should add creating a redevelopment district for US 1. Mr. Dennis offered his assistance in creating the redevelopment district. Ms. David felt the Board should pick creating an incentive program as a priorit and present it to Council. Councilman Roberts suggested contacting Terr Wadsworth, Director of Utilities and L Plaskett, Planning Division Manager, for information on impact fees. Mr. Alcorn suggested looking at other Cities to see what the have done. Mr. Alcorn or Mr. Dennis were to contact VCARD or VCBDC for additional information. Mr. Alcorn moved to present to Council the EDB program of work for 1998/99. The items for EDB action were listed as: 1) annexation, 2) develop a package /incentive program, 3) secure telecommunications infrastructure, and 4) cultivate and nurture existing small businesses. The motion was seconded b Ms. Carter. Motion CARRIED 5 -0. NEW BUSINESS: None at this time. law '4401, Economic Development Board Minutes - August 6, 1998 Page -4- CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS: Ms. Carter informed the Board that on September 8, 1998, there will be a meeting in Port Orange concerning US 1 improvements. Ms. Carter reported the Beautification Committee met with representatives from the Volusia Count Camellia Societ Edgewater Cemeter and Robert Letter from Letter Memorial. She said the discussed plans to remove the white fence from the Edgewater Cemeter and plant memorial camellias. Ms. Carter showed two sketches. Chairman and. Board. Members Reports: Ms. Carter felt the EDB should still be visiting area businesses. Ms. Carter mentioned receiving a letter from Steak'n Shake informing her the were looking at perhaps opening a restaurant in the Edgewater area. Councilman Roberts suggested the EDB write a repl to the letter. He also suggested the Board ma want to write to other restaurant chains and other national companies. Mr. Dennis asked for a cop of the letter from Steak'n Shake, and offered Lis assistance in composing a repl letter. Chairman Moore announced the reappointment of John Browning. The Chairman asked the members if the had a chance, to stop b Brown's Book Store. He said he planned to nominate them for a Proclamation of Excellence Award. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion was made and approved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8: p.m. Minutes respectfull submitted b Elizabeth J. McBride, Board Coordinator Economic Development Board c:\edlArninutes\080698.min