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 17, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room A of the County Administration Building, th Street, Vero Beach, Florida. Present were members: Chairman James Kretsch, and Vice Chairman Linda Schlitt-Gonzales, Member-at-Large Appointees; Mayor John McCants, City of Fellsmere Appointee; Robert Tenbus, Tourist Industry Appointee; Doug Bournique, Local Industry Appointee; Talmage Rogers, Jr. (arrived at 4:24 p.m.), Citrus Industry Appointee; Peter Robinson (arrived at 4:22 pm.), Developer Appointee; Penny Chandler, Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Appointee; Ray Coniglio, Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce Appointee; Councilmember Lisanne Monier, City of Sebastian Appointee; Gary Sullivan, Civic Organization Appointee; Victor Hart, Sr. (arrived at 4:28 p.m.), Gifford Community Appointee; and William Penney, Banking Appointee. Absent were members: Kathryn Wilson, School Board Appointee; David Silverman, Real Estate Appointee; Councilmember Debra Fromang, City of Vero Beach Appointee; Deborah Mayfield, Board of County Commissioners Appointee; Deborah Segal, Member-at-Large Appointee; and Thomas S. Lowther, Non-voting Commissioner Liaison, (all excused). Also present were IRC staff: Sasan Rohani, Long-Range Planning Chief; Bill Schutt, Senior Economic Development Planner; and Darcy Vasilas, Staff Assistant IV. Others present: Helene Caseltine, Indian River Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Division Director; Eric (Rip) Wieler, Interested Citizen; and Ted Astolfi, Executive Director of the Business Development Board of Martin County. Chairman Kretsch stated since a quorum was not yet present, the election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman, along with approval of the minutes, would be addressed later in the meeting when a quorum was present. EDC/Approved 1 January 17, 2006

2 Presentation of Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan Ms. Helene Caseltine introduced Mr. Ted Astolfi, Executive Director of the Business Development Board of Martin County, and explained he was instrumental for developing the Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan, a copy of which is on file in the Commission Office. Mr. Astolfi related the economic development professionals of Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties had been collaborating since the mid 1990 s as the Treasure Coast Economic Development Coalition (TCEDC). Other regional organizations that supported economic development on the Treasure Coast included the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast, Indian River Community College, and the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. He advised the TCEDC had since changed its name to Florida s Research Coast Economic Development Coalition (FRCEDC). Mr. Astolfi explained the three entities comprising the FRCEDC were the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, and the Business Development Board of Martin County. He stated all three were designated by Enterprise Florida, Inc. as the primary economic development organizations in their respective counties, and the partners had a Memorandum of Understanding to work collaboratively, rather than competitively, in their economic diversification efforts within the tri-county region. The next step for the FRCEDC was to formalize the organization through the formation of an Internal Revenue Code 501 (c)(6) corporation with a Board composed of specific members of the Indian River Chamber of Commerce, the Business Development Board of Martin County, the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, and the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast. He added this step was currently in progress. Mr. Astolfi reported board members needed to be on the IRC 501(c)(6) document as well as a staff person to get them recognized as a region. He said they had a staff person, whose position was being funded through the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast, for the first two years, who would build a website and gather data on a regional basis to enable them to respond as a region. EDC/Approved 2 January 17, 2006

3 p.m. Mr. Robinson arrived at 4:22 p.m. and Mr. Rogers arrived at 4:24 Discussion was held regarding the funding and accountability of the FRCEDC. Mr. Astolfi reported currently the group was self-sustaining and there was no budget or funding for the regional effort, except for the sharing of expenses among the three agencies. He continued he asked to come before the EDC today to request their endorsement which was needed to help formalize the FRCEDC. Ms. Chandler interjected the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce had endorsed the FRCEDC. Mr. Hart arrived at 4:28 p.m. Mr. Bournique felt this group effort was a good idea to help keep people in the area instead of having to relocate in order to have the businesses they wanted. ON MOTION BY Mr. Bournique, SECONDED BY Mr. Robinson to support and provide an endorsement for the Florida s Research Coast Economic Development Coalition. Under discussion, Mr. Penney felt it was a good idea to form a coalition to enable more opportunities to be available for growth as a unit, as opposed to working individually. Mr. Bournique noted the citrus industry was in for some tough times and the citrus employees needed help finding alternative occupations. Councilmember Monier stated she had no problem endorsing the FRCEDC, but was concerned the name Research Coast was being used when she felt research was not the regional strength at this time. Ms. Chandler felt the learning facilities were available in the region to support the Research Coast title. Mr. Sullivan opined the EDC should become more proactive as a council to meet the challenge for positive change. EDC/Approved 3 January 17, 2006

4 THE MOTION WAS CALLED and passed with a unanimous vote of (13-0). Ms. Caseltine noted this presentation would be going before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) at their February 7, 2006 meeting, and to the Indian River County School Board on February 14, ON MOTION BY Mr. Bournique, SECONDED BY Mr. Robinson, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to request the Florida s Research Coast Economic Development Coalition encourage Scripps of the Treasure Coast to move its facility north into the Research Coast. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman Ms. Chandler thanked Mr. Kretsch for his service to the EDC as Chairman. Approval of Minutes ON MOTION BY Ms. Chandler, SECONDED BY Mr. Robinsion, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to elect Mr. Penney as Chairman of the Economic Development Council for ON MOTION BY Mr. Coniglio, SECONDED BY Mr. Bournique, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to elect Mr. Robinson as Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development Council for ON MOTION BY Ms. Chandler, SECONDED BY Mr. Hart, the members voted unanimously (13-0) to approve the August 16, 2005 and the October 18, 2005 minutes as submitted. EDC/Approved 4 January 17, 2006

5 Presentation of Economic Development Incentive Programs in Florida Ms. Caseltine distributed a copy of the local incentives in Florida, which is on file in the Commission Office. Discussion was held on those incentives. Mr. Rogers left the meeting at 5:00 p.m. Update from the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Ms. Caseltine presented each member with a copy of the new Enterprise Zone brochures, a copy of which is on file in the Commission Office. She reported she had met with developers from Tennessee who were looking at property near Oslo Road and Interstate-95 to build an industrial park. Ms. Caseltine related human resources representatives from CVS Pharmacies would be working with the Workforce Development Board and the One Stop Career Center for assistance with hiring employees for their new warehouse facility. She added CVS Pharmacies was targeting for a grand opening by June, 2006, and anticipated having 200 to 300 people employed within one year. Ms. Chandler stated there was one opening left on the Economic Development Tour on Thursday, January 19, She noted the focus of the tour would be on the citrus industry. Ms. Chandler reported she was working with a hotel chain on a new hotel to be located within the County. Members Matters Mr. Ray Coniglio introduced himself and noted he was recently appointed to the EDC as the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce representative. He mentioned he also promoted the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, which begins Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Kretsch wanted to readdress the issues facing the citrus industry. Discussion ensued regarding changes made in the impact fees and concurrency issues. EDC/Approved 5 January 17, 2006

6 Mr. Bournique left the meeting at 5:05 p.m. and Mayor McCants left at 5:10 p.m. Ms. Chandler related a study was requested from the Workforce Development Board which dealt with career ladders for the citrus industry workers. She detailed the purpose of the study was to determine the skill sets which could be used in another career when they could no longer work in citrus. Mr. Penney requested tabling this item until the next meeting when the concurrency issue, which was causing problems for builders, and the issues facing the citrus industry could be discussed at length. Mr. Rohani recommended the EDC members attend the Professional Services Advisory Committee (PSAC) meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 12:15 p.m. He continued the PSAC would be addressing the codifying of the pending Concurrency and Impact Fee Ordinance and would send their decision to the Planning & Zoning Commission, and then on to the BCC. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding reverting to the previous Capital Improvement Plan which called for the widening of 27 th and 43 rd Avenues. ON MOTION BY Mr. Kretsch, SECONDED BY Mr. Coniglio, the members voted unanimously (10-0) to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that they revert to the previous Capital Improvement Plan which included the widening of 27 th and 43 rd Avenues. Ms. Chandler made a recommendation for Mr. Robinson to relay the motion to the PSAC at their meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 19, Discussion ensued regarding methods to notify the BCC of the EDC recommendation. Other Matters EDC/Approved 6 January 17, 2006

7 Discussion was held regarding the Verizon tower item rejected at the January 12, 2006 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. ON MOTION BY Mr. Kretsch, SECONDED BY Mr. Coniglio, the members voted (9-1) to urge the Planning & Zoning Commission to approve the Verizon tower being presented at the January 26, 2006 meeting. Mr. Tenbus opposed. Mr. Tenbus opposed the tower because, as a pilot, he felt it was dangerous. Ms. Chandler asked to place on the next agenda a request for the EDC s affirmation of any industrial area. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:32 p.m. EDC/Approved 7 January 17, 2006