HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-06-07 EDC Minutes09-06-07 EDC Minutes.doc 1 09-06-07
Right Where You Want to Be.
MINUTES OF
REGULAR MEETING
OF ANNA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 6:30 P.M.
ANNA CITY HALL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
111 N. POWELL PKWY., ANNA, TEXAS
The Economic Development Corporation of the City of Anna conducted its
regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 6, 2007, at the Anna City
Hall Administration Building, 111 N. Powell Parkway, to consider the following
items:
1. Call to Order and Establishment of Quorum.
President, Richard Pennington called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
Members present were Richard Pennington, Jeremy Hersom,
Alexander Hamilton and Lonnie Friesen. Dr. Charles Vance and Billy
Deragon (Council liaison) was absent. Jeremy Hersom left at 7:04 p.m.
2. Citizen comment.
None
3. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding a business presentation by
“Force Performance.”
Robert Young did not show.
4. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding a reward for the college
student that provides the Anna EDC with a detailed Economic
Report/Study on the City of Anna for the next 5, 10, 20, 25 years,
etc.
Alexander Hamilton stated that Dr. Charles Vance is talking to the
school that he teaches at to work on these different studies. Mr.
Hamilton would like to recognize the winner in some way like a
certificate or plaque, money, etc. Alexander Hamilton made the motion
on those departments that EDC awards a plaque and/or certificate that
recognizes the individual per department that presents their report.
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EDC would revisit this in the future. Jeremy Hersom seconded the
motion. Motion passes.
5. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding website for the EDC provided
by Alexander Hamilton and expenses thereof.
Alexander Hamilton stated that expenses had already been approved
for this item. Alexander Hamilton made the motion to table. Lonnie
Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
6. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding a summit hosted by the EDC
that will include the City of Anna Council, Boards and
Commissions for October 13, 2007.
Richard Pennington would like to advertise this summit big time. The
event is open to the City. Alexander Hamilton stated that we need to
find out what direction Anna wants to go in to promote it. Members
discussed getting the Summit announced on the water bills. Jeremy
Hersom made the motion to see if can advertise the Economic Summit
on the water bills. Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion
passes.
7. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding Rail access on the EDC land.
Richard Pennington stated that he had researched having rail access
to the EDC land. Members discussed different land close the rail and
possible business uses. Molly Young spoke against the EDC land
being zoned Industrial and tried to steer Members into other directions
for Industrial zoning. Members discussed previous action taken to
annex and zone their property. Alexander Hamilton made the motion to
table. Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
8. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding initiating communication with
the owners of the rail company.
DART is the owner and Rail America is the operator. Members
discussed moving forward with communications with owners of the rail
to get a feel for their intentions and to look at properties all along the
rail not just theirs. Member Lonnie Friesen made the motion to start
communications with the rail service and that 2 board members be
present if done in person. Member Alexander Hamilton seconded the
motion. Motion passes.
9. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding initiating communication with
the individual/company that will pay for the “J”.
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Member Alexander Hamilton made the motion to start communications
with the rail service and that 2 board members be present if done in
person. Member Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
For clarification purposes requested by Council Member Crist the “J” is
the spur that comes off the rail line to business parks, etc.
10. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding who will pay the impact fee if
any for the “J”.
Member Richard Pennington stated that he had not found where fees
would apply. Member Alexander Hamilton made the motion to table the
item. Member Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
11. Discussion regarding “new Exemption of “Goods in Transit” –
Local Option Tax. For EDC to research and make a
recommendation to City Council.
Member Richard Pennington stated the Anna ISD was not going to
recommend doing the Local Option Tax. Member discussed Free
Trade Zone areas. Members will research and this item will be on their
next agenda as an action item.
12. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding purchasing promotional items
such as lapel pins, Informational CD about the City, key to the
City, brochures, model board, etc.
Members discussed CD’s are pending waiting for student input.
Business cards, lapel pins and cuff link sets have been purchased. The
other items are pending waiting on budget discussions. Members
want to know the status of the maps ordered from Anna Chamber of
Commerce. Alexander Hamilton made the motion to table. Lonnie
Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
13. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget.
Members discussed the budget, line item by line item for the next fiscal
year. Alexander Hamilton made the motion to approve and submit the
budget to Council for approval. Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion.
Motion passes.
14. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding a budget for the Mayor or his
designee and a member of the EDC to cover expenses for travel,
meals, etc. to visit potential business/investors or convention
and/or trade show and/or conferences.
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Lonnie Friesen made the motion that the budget for New Business
Development in the Budget in the amount of $18,000.00 be approved.
Alexander Hamilton seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Alexander Hamilton made the motion to go into closed session at 8:54
p.m. Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
15. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Under terms of Chapter 551 of Texas
Government Code the board may enter into CLOSED SESSION or
Executive Session to deliberate regarding commercial or financial
information that the governmental body has received from a
business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate,
stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and
with which the governmental body is conducting economic
development negotiations or to deliberate the purchase, exchange,
lease or value of real property because such deliberations in an open
meeting would have a detrimental effect on the board’s position in
negotiations with third persons (Government Code, Chapters
551.072, 551.087).
Return to open session.
Alexander Hamilton made the motion to return to Open session at 9:15
p.m. Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
16. Discuss and take action as desired on items discussed in Executive
Session.
Alex Hamilton made the motion to explore getting the EDC property
mowed and other possibilities on other properties. Lonnie Friesen
seconded the motion. Motion passes.
17. Staff report(s).
None
18. Consider/Discuss/Action to choose at least one member to attend
the Economic Sales Tax Seminar September 25, 2007.
Alexander Hamilton made the motion for Lonnie Friesen to take the place
of Robert Hamilton. Lonnie Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
19. Consider approval of Minutes of meeting of August 6, 2007.
Alexander Hamilton made the motion to approve the minutes. Lonnie
Friesen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
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20. Consider approval of financial report and payment of bills.
None
21. Discussion/Action regarding future agenda items.
Price quotes for getting property mowed; contact Anna Chamber of
Commerce to give a presentation on their vision on the direction of the
City; status of the draft maps ordered.
22. Adjourn.
Lonnie Friesen made the motion to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. Alexander
Hamilton seconded the motion. Motion passes.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
___________________________ __________________________
Natha Wilkison, City Secretary President, Richard Pennington