Loading...
10-01-1998 VT N ♦� CITY OF EDGEWATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD REGULAR MEETING October 1, 1 998 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman John Moore called to order a regular meeting of the Economic Development Board at 6:03 p.m., Thursda October 1, 1998, in the conference room of Cit Hall. ROLL CALL: Members present were Chairman John Moore, John Browning, Thomas Alcorn, Theresa David, Lawrence Holler and Nora Al Also present were Jim McCra citizen and Liz McBride, Board Coordinator. Adelaide Carter, Daniel Lewis and Nanc Ridner were excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes for both the September 3,1998 regular meeting and September 10, 1998 special meeting were presented to the Board for approval. There being no corrections or changes, Mr. Alcorn moved to approve the minutes as presented, second b Mr. Holler. Motion CARRIED 6 - 0. CONTINUED BUSINESS: 1. Short Term Goals a. Review Annexation Areas Mr. Alcorn asked the Board Coordinator if the surve had been sent out. Ms. McBride stated she was still in the process of verif property owners. Mr. Alcorn was concerned about the cost because the Board had limited funds for the new fiscal y ear. Ms. McBride said there was mone available. Chairman Moore said the Board could alwa go before Council to re additional funds if there was a need. Ms. McBride showed a map of the stud area. Chairman Moore asked how man property owners would be included. Ms. McBride said ma about 500, and the surve would be sent to owners of developed property. Mr. Browning said he had a vacant lot in the targeted area and would like to have water. Mr. Alcorn asked about including vacant parcels in the surve Ms. McBride said the questions on the surve were applicable to developed property. Chairman Moore said when the Board starts developing its incentive package, they need to think about how to entice commercial property and residential, since the majorit of the area was residential. \.r Economic Development Board October 1, 1998 - Minutes Page -2- Continued. Business: Citizen Jim McCra was introduced. He said he lived in the stud area and was interested in what was going on. Mr. Holler asked Mr. McCra if he had an q uestions or concerns the EDB should address. Mr. McCra said he was going to start his own business and came to the meeting to observe. Chairman Moore said he was pleased with the areas the EDB selected for the surve He said he was concerned about the Count moving steadil at developing the old Prestress concrete site, and felt there ma be a problem annexing the site. Chairman Moore said it would be a "feather in Edgewater's cap" to annex this site, since he believed there were two different marine manufacturers alread interested in the site. Ms. McBride said she hoped to have the surve mailed out within the next two weeks. Chairman Moore reiterated that since the majorit of the area is residential, the EDB should be thinking about helping them when creating the incentive package. Mr. Holler asked what the Chairman would suggest. Chairman Moore said he intended to speak to Terr Wadsworth, Director of Environmental Services, and the Cit Manager to see what could be offered. Mr. Holler said the new fire station would be an advantage and hopefull the YMCA, if built. 2. Proclamation of Excellence Award a. Discuss Candidates Chairman Moore reviewed past recipients. Mr. Alcorn said he would like to nominate two people who had previousl been on the EDB and were ver instrumental in making things happen. He named Doris Masse and Scott Porta. Mr. Alcorn informed the Board, Doris and her son own approximatel 1,000 acres or so in the area. He said the developed Masse Air Park which was recentl paved. Mr. Alcorn said Mrs. Masse has been extremel involved in economic development, is in real estate, serves on a number of different economic development boards, is in the Business Women's Association, was president of the Board of Realtors, and gives her time and mone to a lot of different things. Chairman Moore said Mrs. Masse and Scott Porta had paid to put infrastructure on their property, so it could be developed. Mr. Alcorn stated Mr. Porta had bought ten acres, the old American Truss Compan where he constructed a marine repair shop. He said Mr. Porta had a 4,000 s ft. office building, 23,000 s ft. manufacturing plant, 10,000 and 12,000 sq. ft. buildings on the propert all of which he renovated. Mr. Alcorn said Porta Products does marine repairs and manufactures boats. He said Parts Unlimited manufactures all the seats for Sea Ra Boston Whaler and some from EdgeWater Boats. Mr. Alcorn said Mr. Porta is the onl one doing commercial development in the area, and is doing it on his own land. Mr. Browning said Mr. Porta's concept was to create a mini - marine industrial park. Economic Development Board October 1, 1998 - Minutes Page -3- Continued Business: Chairman Moore said so far, Mr. Porta has brought in industr which has helped himself and complemented existing industr in Edgewater. Chairman Moore felt Mr. Porta was deserving of the award. Mr. Alcorn moved to give a Proclamation of Excellence Award to Scott Porta, second b Mr. Browning. Motion CARRIED 6 -0. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Welcome New Member - Nora Al Chairman Moore explained the process the EDB used to select members for Council approval. Ms. Al told the Board a little about her personal and professional life. She said the (her and her husband) have operated a printing business in Edgewater for about eight y ears. She asked if the E DB was also concentrating on the small businesses and not just the larger manufacturing companies. Chairman Moore said small businesses were the backbone of the Cit and the EDB was not overlooking them. Mr. Holler said it would be nice to grow like Da Ormond and the Flagler area who are getting some manufacturing companies coming in and offering more emplo Chairman Moore said we also need revenue creating jobs. He said one of the EDB goals was to tr and generate more revenue for our communit Ms. Al asked if Volusia Count was offering some t of tax break to companies who hire ten or more emplo Mr. Alcorn said as incentives for new businesses, Edgewater and New Sm Beach don't charge for the ad valorem taxes. He said Oak Hill has an Enterprise Zone, and i y ou hire people within that zone, y ou get State funds and y ou don't have to pa sales tax on materials. He said Volusia Count Business Development Corporation gets mone from the count to attract value -added jobs. Mr. Alcorn said those jobs are mostl manufacturing jobs, must pa at least $8.50 an hour and must offer benefits (health). He explained the Enterprise Fund. Mr. Alcorn stated Oak Hill didn't have an Economic Devel p ent Board, and the Cit of New P tY Sm is represented b the Southeast Volusia Count Chamber of Commerce. He said most other Economic Development Boards have their Cit Managers and/or Council members attend their meetings, listening to what is being said and informing the members what is going on. He said the Edgewater EDB doesn't have an present telling them what is going on in the Cit Mr. Holler said wh don't we ask. Mr. Alcorn said we (the Board) alread had. Ms. McBride stated that Lynne Plaskett, Planning Division Manager, has been in attendance at most meetings but was unable to attend this meeting. Mr. Holler said Ms. Plaskett had been ver helpful in man areas. He also stated the current Council wants the Cit to grow. Economic Development Board October 1, 1998 - Minutes Page -4- CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS: 1. Business Welcoming Committee Update Chairman Moore explained the function of the Committee. Mr. Alcorn discussed how Cit staff presented information to prospective business owners, and the need to be more helpful. Chairman Moore said there were changes being made. Ms. David asked who had been on the Welcoming Committee. Mr. Alcorn said the appointed committee had never activel gone out. Ms. Al asked if there was a welcome packet. Chairman Moore said the EDB h as an Edgewater brochure. The Board discussed what information the committee should give to the new businesses on their visits. Mr. Holler suggested the Chairman assign each Board member names of new businesses from the occupational license list each month to visit. He said the members could report on their visits at the next month's meeting. This wa he said, the visits could be made at the convenience of each member. Chairman Moore proposed to discontinue the Welcoming Committee and divide the new occupational license list amon the members. Mr. Holler moved that the members would report on their visits at the f ollowing month's meeting. Mr. Holler so moved on the entire motion, second by Ms. David. Motion CARRIED 6 -0. Mr. Holler said if a member finds that a business has a particular problem, it could be addressed as a group. It was discussed again what information should be handed out during the visits. Mr. Alcorn felt there should be a prospect team to bring businesses into the Cit He said going to shows was an excellent wa to network. He explained the process of bringing in businesses. The use of the Internet was discussed as a tool to entice businesses. Mr. Holler said the EDB should target large corporations around the country, e.g., GM, Ford, Chr because the have hundreds of subcontractors manufacturing for them. He said the EDB could ask what the corporation's growth plans were, if the would consider our area and what we (EDB) could do to help. Mr. Alcorn said this was the function of VCBDC. How to go about soliciting was discussed. Chairman Moore felt the Cit had to have something to market, an incentive program, and infrastructure in place to be successful in bring in businesses. Chairman Moore call a recess at 7:07 p.m. and resumed the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Now Nast Economic Development Board October 1, 1998 - Minutes Page -5- 2. EDB Web Page Update Chairman Moore asked if there was an update on the Web page. Ms. McBride said at the last special meeting, Mr. Crawford from Crawford Productions, Inc. gave a presentation on how he could create a Web site for the EDB. She said the Cit Manager had approved it, and Mr. Crawford was working on it. Mr. Alcorn said it was alread completed. Ms. McBride said Mr. Crawford also had registered the EDB domain name edgewaterfl.com. Links to the domain name were discussed and adding additional information. Chairman and Board Member Reports: Chairman Moore said discussion on an incentive program will be on the next month's agenda and the occupational license list. Mr. Holler felt the Council could use the EDB's help and recommendations on the YMCA. Chairman Moore said he had his own feelings on the subject and suggested Mr. Holler voice his feelings at a Council meeting. Mr. Holler felt the "Y" would be economicall beneficial to the Cit Chairman Moore believed this issue could be handled individuall and not as a Board. He said as a citizen he had voiced his opinion. Mr. Alcorn reported on a few new businesses he had brought into the area. The Board again discussed incentives. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion was made and approved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted b Elizabeth J. McBride, Board Coordinator Economic Development Board c: \edb \minutes \100198. reg