Loading...
02-05-2014 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD REGULAR MEETING February 5, 2014 8: 00 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL Present Bliss Jamison Marcia Barnett Steve Harrell Oscar Zeller Jennifer Butera William Wetherell Jeff Berner Cecil Selman Donna Snow City Manager Tracey Barlow Tabitha Russell Excused Also present were Planning and Zoning Board members Pat Card and Bob McIntosh, Economic Development/Events Coordinator Janet Shira, Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice-President Samantha Bishop, Volusia County Economic Development Business Manager/Project Development Director Pedro Leon and Councilman Gene Emter 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular meeting of January 8, 2014 William Wetherell moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, 2014, second by Cecil Selman. MOTION CARRIED 9-0-0. 1 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg February 5, 2014 4 . CITY AND OTHER REPORTS: A. City Manager Update City Manager Tracey Barlow informed the Board of the upcoming meetings and events which included: • Spaceport Informational Meeting at High School at 5: 00 p.m. on February 11th • The Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn on February 18tH • The joint workshop between City Council, Planning and Zoning Board and Economic Development Board for refinement of the draft CRA Plan. • February 3rd City Council meeting • March 3rd City Council meeting B. Economic Development/Events Coordinator Update Janet Shira spoke on the following: • Orange City' s CRA goes before the County for approval on March 13 th • The agreement for a Retail Recruitment Consultant was approved by City Council on February 3 rd C. Planning and Zoning Board Update Pat Card spoke on the following: • The variance request going before the Planning and Zoning Board on February 12tH D. SEVCC Update Samantha Bishop spoke on the following: • Home Show Business Expo • SEVCC Membership Drive 2 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg February 5, 2014 • Openings on the Board of Directors • Spaceport Meeting on February 11th E. Volusia County Department of Economic Development Pedro Leon spoke on the following: • Grant Prep workshop at the UCF Business Incubator on February 7 th • Q4 breakfast on February 7th • The restructuring of the Volusia County Economic Development website 5. CONTINUED BUSINESS: A. Ecotourism Sub-Committee Report Mr. Berner reported on the first Ecotourism Sub-Committee meeting held on January 22, 2014 and the topics of discussion, which included: • The lack of wayfinding that is in place for the current fishing, camping and boating. • Salty Paddle Outpost opportunities • Contacting the local campgrounds on Mission Road and suggest that they direct north bound campers in their literature to exit I-95 at SR 442 and travel SR 442 to Mission Road. • Placing informational brochures for Edgewater at both the Merritt Island and Canaveral National Seashore' s Visitors Centers. • Blue Route paddling trails • The next meeting will be held February 26, 2014 6. NEW BUSINESS: A. Proposed Action Item for Goal 1, Objective 1 .2 . : 1.2 . 7 - Develop a specific plan to guide the City in it' s efforts to recruit the targeted industries and related businesses as identified in Objective 1. 1. 1 . 1 . 1 Compile up-to-date lists of existing firms and their employment levels in the Edgewater area that best represent these business and industry clusters as a basis for (a) designing and implementing marketing 3 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg February 5, 2014 initiatives to attract new firms in these clusters and (b) carrying out business outreach activities aimed at retaining existing firms . This has not yet been done. City Manager Barlow stated that a list of City business tax receipts can be printed and used for business outreach opportunities. 1. 1.2 Provide copies of this Strategic Plan, highlighting these target clusters, plus information on existing industries to county, regional, and state economic development allies, including the Volusia County Department of Economic Development, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Enterprise Florida, and other agencies and organizations that promote and facilitate economic development in the region. Yes, this has been accomplished. 1 . 1 .3 Meet with major boat manufacturers in the Edgewater area, including Boston Whaler, Brunswick, R. J. Dougherty, and Edgewater Power Boats, to discuss the outlook for the industry, opportunities to attract suppliers of equipment and parts used by these manufacturers to Edgewater, and actions the City and others need to take to ensure the long term maintenance and growth of the industry in Edgewater. City Manager Barlow stated that this has been done on an informal basis . Ms . Butera spoke in regards to the boating industry. Mr. Harrell stated that we need to focus on business retention. 1 . 1 . 4 Meet with representatives of the Restoration DRI to discuss opportunities to attract and grow businesses in Edgewater related to the proposed use of energy- efficient and environmentally-friendly "green" technologies in developing and operating the Restoration community. City Manager Barlow spoke in regards to the promising direction by the financial company that holds the Restoration property. He also spoke in regards to Farmton. 7 . CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBER REPORTS: 4 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg February 5, 2014 Donna Snow spoke in regards to the Chamber Ribbon Cutting for the barber college opening at Daytona State University. It will be at 10 : 00 on February 12th. She also stated the Chamber is having a kickoff event for their membership referral drive . Marcia Barnett spoke in regards to the Expo which will take place March 14, 15 and 16th. 8. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9: 08 a.m. Minutes submitted by: Tabitha Russell / Board Coordinator 5 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg February 5, 2014