ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Transcription

1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL There was a meeting of the Indian River County (IRC) Economic Development Council (EDC) on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room B1-501 of the County Administration Building B, th Street, Vero Beach, Florida. Note: You may hear an audio of the meeting and review the agenda and minutes on the IRC website - EDC Members Present Linda Schlitt-Gonzalez, Member-At-Large (Chairman) Jerry Weick, Town of Indian River Shores Scott Carson, Real Estate Appointee Doug Bournique, Local Industry Andrea Coy, City of Sebastian Beth Mitchell, Sebastian Chamber of Commerce Jan Pagano, Civic Organization James Kretsch, Member-At-Large Jay Kramer, City of Vero Beach Talmage Rogers, Jr., Citrus Industry Peter Robinson, Local Developer Harris Webber, Town of Orchid Glenda Matesic, Alternate for Workforce Solutions Penny Chandler, IR Chamber of Commerce (IRCOC) Scott Stradley, BCC Appointee EDC Members Absent Victor Hart, Gifford Community Keith Kite, Tourist Industry Susan Adams, City of Fellsmere Jeff Pegler, School Board William Penney, Banking Appointee Others Present Helene Caseltine, Alternate for the IRCOC David Hooper, Marine Bank Cathy McKenzie, AT&T Andrew Favata, Mann Research Center EDC/Approved 1 January 18, 2011

2 IRC Staff Peter D. O Bryan, Commissioner Liaison Sasan Rohani, Long Range Planning Chief Bill Schutt, Senior Economic Development Planner Terri Collins-Lister, Commissioner Assistant, District 4 Call to Order Chairman Schlitt-Gonzalez called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. She announced the new appointees to the EDC and introduced Mr. Harris Webber, Town of Orchid Appointee and stated Mr. Jeff Pegler was the new School Board appointee. Election of the 2011 Chairman of the EDC ON MOTION BY Councilmember Weick, SECONDED BY Mr. Kretsch, the members voted unanimously (15-0) to elect Mr. Carson as Chairman of the Economic Development Council for Election of the 2011 Vice-Chairman of the EDC ON MOTION BY Mr. Kretsch, SECONDED BY Ms. Schlitt-Gonzalez, the members voted unanimously (15-0) to elect Ms. Mitchell as Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development Council for Approval of the EDC Minutes of November 16, 2010 ON MOTION BY Councilmember Weick, SECONDED BY Mr. Carson, the members voted unanimously (15-0) to approve the meeting minutes of November 16, 2010 as presented. Mr. Andrew Favata, Vice President of Mann Research Center Presentation on Mann Research Center s Plans at Tradition and how it would affect Florida s Research Coast. Commissioner Liaison O Bryan introduced Mr. Andrew Favata, Vice President of Mann Research Center and mentioned he had recently given a presentation at a meeting of the Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments on Mann Research Center s Plans at Tradition. EDC/Approved 2 January 18, 2011

3 Mr. Favata reviewed the information in his PowerPoint Presentation on Mann Research Center s Plans at Tradition and how it would affect Florida s Research Coast, a copy of which is on file in the Commission Office. Mr. Favata discussed how Mann Research Center targeted their marketing niche of Life Sciences and Bio-Technology and applied their resources to attract these businesses with commercial land located on Interstate 95 for easy access with several interchanges called the Tradition Center of Innovation (TCI) Research Park also known as the City of Port St. Lucie s Job Corridor. He indicated the City of Port St. Lucie made a major investment of $53 million in land and road work, as well as 160 million in a bond to make the area shovel ready. He added the Developer was working closely with the city and county to create entitlement plans that included 18,000 homes and 7 million feet of commercial space of which the developer was working on doubling the commercial space to 13 million feet. Mr. Favata mentioned several research organization projects at the TCI Research Park: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute Florida, Mann Research Center and Martin Memorial Health Systems. Mr. Favata indicated a key factor in attracting prospective businesses was the infrastructure in place; whether it was property of the County/City or a privately owned company who was willing to partner, and an expedited permitting process. Mr. Favata discussed future plans for the TCI Research Park and reviewed several key factors in creating a pro-business environment. Create Bench to Bedside Research Laboratories Venture Capitalists or Investors Manufacturing or Clinical Product Patient Infrastructure in place Land owned by either County or City or privately owned company willing to partner. Work with Suppliers and Vendors of Top Employers Expedited Permit Processing Mr. Favata indicated IRC s best asset was the private and public leadership willing to work as a team to bring prospective businesses to the County. Mr. Favata mentioned Mann Research would be scheduling quarterly familiarization events starting in March 2011 with a focused targeted marketing EDC/Approved 3 January 18, 2011

4 approach to specific companies. EDC/Approved 4 January 18, 2011

5 Economic Development Report and Activities for November and December 2010 Ms. Caseltine highlighted on the Economic Development Report and Activities for November and December 2010, a copy of which is on file in the Commission. She indicated the Florida s Research Coast Group had met with Mr. Favata to discuss partnering with them on the familiarization tour. Ms. Caseltine mentioned a meeting with the CEO of Net Boss Technologies, Vice President of E-Mindful, Mayor Kramer, and Commissioner Liaison O Bryan to review the fiber optics availability in IRC. Other Matters Mr. Bournique brought up the environmental regulations in place that were making it difficult on businesses, as well as prohibiting businesses from wanting to do business in IRC. A discussion followed on the regulations in place by St. John s Water Management District (SJWMD) and the timeline for permits. Ms. Chandler felt it would be effective for the EDC or the BCC to submit a letter to SJWMD suggesting a review of their restrictive policies that prohibited good quality development and putting people to work. She summarized the letter should state the following: The Economic Development Council of Indian River County urges the St. John s Water Management District to relook at regulations that stifle growth and reconsider the regulations that are now in place. The Economic Development Council believes there are projects in Indian River County that would put people back to work and believe the St. John s Water Management District should consider pro-business approaches to their objectives and mission and join Florida s Business Community and put area residents back to work. Adjournment ON MOTION BY Mr. Robinson, SECONDED BY Ms. Chandler, the members voted unanimously (15-0) to send a letter to the St. John s Water Management District asking them to review regulations that stifle growth which are currently in place and consider pro-business approaches to their objectives and mission. EDC/Approved 5 January 18, 2011

6 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m. EDC/Approved 6 January 18, 2011