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03-05-2014 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD REGULAR MEETING March 5, 2014 8: 00 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL Present Bliss Jamison Steve Harrell Oscar Zeller Jennifer Butera Jeff Berner Cecil Selman City Manager Tracey Barlow Tabitha Russell Excused Marcia Barnett Donna Snow Absent William Wetherell Also present were Planning and Zoning Board liaison Pat Card, Economic Development/Events Coordinator Janet Shira and Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice-President Samantha Bishop 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular meeting of February 5, 2014 Jeff Berner moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 5, 2014, second by Oscar Zeller. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-0. 1 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg March 5, 2014 4 . CITY AND OTHER REPORTS: A. City Manager Update City Manager Tracey Barlow informed the Board of the following actions from the March 3, 2014 City Council meeting: • Approval of the second reading for the annexation of property located at 2401 Swordfish Lane. • The second reading for the annexation of Fisherman' s Cove was continued to the April 7, 2014 City Council meeting. • Approval of the first reading for the Tax Abatement ordinance. • Approval of the agreement for permitting software. • Approval of the YMCA expansion. He also reminded the Board of the Joint CRA Workshop with City Council and the Planning and Zoning Board on March 12th at 6:30 p.m. He informed the Board that there would be a joint workshop with New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill on March 18th at 6: 00 p.m. Topics of discussion include CRA, the Indian River Lagoon and Rails to Trails. B. Economic Development/Events Coordinator Update Janet Shira presented a slide show on Community Redevelopment Agencies. C. Planning and Zoning Board Update Pat Card spoke in regards to the March 12th Planning and Zoning Board meeting. He talked about the Capital Improvements Program that is on the agenda for that meeting. 2 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg March 5, 2014 D. SEVCC Update Samantha Bishop spoke on the following: • The Space Florida Informational meeting that was held on February 11, 2014. • Mark Bernier will be hosting a live show on WNDB discussing the Shiloh Space Launch Facility. The show will be on March 25th from 5:15 and 7: 00 p.m. at the News Journal Center. • Chamber Challenge 5K Run • Chamber fundraiser luncheon on April 22nd at Sugar Mill Country Club. The guest speaker will be UCF' s Coach O' Leary. E. Volusia County Department of Economic Development None at this time. 5. CONTINUED BUSINESS: A. Ecotourism Sub-Committee Report Mr. Berner reported on the February 26th Ecotourism Sub-Committee meeting. He stated that they had an excellent discussion with Eric Lumbert, owner of Paddle Board New Smyrna Beach regarding the operation at Salty Paddle Outpost in Edgewater. There was discussion as to what could be done to make the area at the north end of Menard-May Park more user friendly. Mr. Lumbert would like to have a designated area for his customers that does not interfere with the rest of the public. There is also an issue with sandspurs in the grassy area. There was also discussion about signage. Additional topics of discussion included blue water trails, the process to move forward to have Edgewater designated as a Blue Water Trail Community and existing Volusia County Ecotourism programs. B. Review of Goal 1 (Expanding Business and Industry in Edgewater) , Section 5, Pages 40-46 of the EDB Organizational Manual. 1. 1.5 - Meet with existing "green" industry firms in the area to discuss opportunities to expand this industry in Edgewater; coordinate with Volusia County Environmental Management and LEED officials on industry growth opportunities and grant programs. The City continues to try 3 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg March 5, 2014 to attract this type of industry. The Edgewater Expo at Parktowne as well as a Rotary Club fundraiser were run off of solar energy. The proposed Dunkin Donuts that is currently under site plan review will be a LEED Certified building. The City does not currently have any incentive programs in place for Green Industries to locate here. This objective has to be addressed. 1. 1. 6 - Investigate use of "green" technologies and new design concepts in making housing more affordable and energy-efficient, and consider adopting land use policies and development regulations that allow and encourage use of these technologies and concepts in the City. Some has been done but it is really cost prohibitive at this point. Objective 1.2 Market Edgewater to New Business and Industry External marketing of Edgewater by direct mail, print media, and other means to site location consultants, corporations, and other business entities will be carried out primarily at county,regional, and state levels, all of which have much greater marketing expertise and resources than small municipalities. It is the responsibility of the City, however, (a) to ensure that county,regional, and state economic development allies are made and kept aware of Edgewater, (b) to respond to requests for information professionally and promptly, and (c) to be adequately prepared for visits by allies and prospects to the community. Actions to implement Objective 1 .2 include the following. 1.2 . 1 - Establish and staff the position of Economic Development Coordinator (Manager) with an experienced and interested professional to help organize and guide the City' s economic development program. Accomplished 1.2 .2 - Task the Economic Development Coordinator with responsibilities to (a) network with county, regional, and state allies (economic development agencies) and local chambers of commerce; (b) provide information to allies on a regular basis and answer requests for information; and (c) help organize and host community visits by allies and prospects.(ONGOING) 1.2 .3 - Develop an identifiable brand or theme for economic development in Edgewater that conveys the assets and direction of the City with respect to growth of business and 4 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg March 5, 2014 industry; consider sports/recreation industries and green technologies themes. Janet, Bliss and Councilman Emter met with Joy Colarusso from Daytona State College to discuss having a few of her students work with the City to come up with an identifiable theme/brand. 1.2 . 4 - Update the City of Edgewater website to include economic development as a primary subject. Information provided on the website should include this Strategic Plan, profile of local economic assets, request for information form, link to Envision Edgewater documents, and links to websites for the ParkTowne Industrial Center, Massey Ranch Airpark, and other business/industrial properties . Update the website quarterly. Janet, Bliss and Councilman Emter met with Joy Colarusso from Daytona State College to discuss having a few of her students work with the City to help promote our economic development initiatives through various social media. The City is now in the process of looking at website templates and setting up a new website. 1.2 .5 - Prepare an attractive economic development brochure containing a brief demographic/economic profile of the City, list of economic development targets, map showing major community assets, and contact information. New brochures need to be printed but time and money are the issues . 7. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBER REPORTS: None at this time. City Manager Barlow reminded the Board that the Edgewater Expo will be held next weekend. The business part of the Expo will be Saturday from 10 :00-4: 00 . If anyone is interested in helping with the joint booth the City has with the Chamber, he requested that they let Tabitha know. 8. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9: 05 a.m. Minutes submitted by: Tabitha Russell / Board Coordinator 5 Economic Dev. Bd. Regular Mtg March 5, 2014