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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-10 EDC Meeting Minutes Special Meeting 07-10-06 Minutes EDC Page 1 of 4 Right Where You Want to Be. MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF ANNA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION July 10, 2006 7:00 P.M. COMMUNITY ROOM, INDEPENDENT BANK, 101 S. POWELL PARKWAY, ANNA, TEXAS The Anna Economic Development Corporation met in special session at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 10, 2006, at the Community Room of the Independent Bank, 101 S. Powell Parkway, to consider the following items: 1. Call to Order and Establishment of Quorum. Mr. John Rattan, Vice-President of the Corporation, called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Members present included Mr. Robert Hamilton, Mr. Jeremy Hersom, and Mr. Rattan. A quorum was declared to be present. Other persons present included Mr. Billy Deragon, Mr. Alexander Hamilton, and Mr. Lee Lawrence, City Manager. Mr. Lawrence asked that the Board consider Item 7 – Staff reports at this time to allow a presentation by himself and Mr. Alex Hamilton. The Board agreed and Item 7 was considered at this point in the agenda. 2. 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). 07-10-06 Minutes EDC Page 2 of 4 The Board entered the executive session at 7:26. Return to open session. The Board closed the executive session at 7:44. 3. Discuss and take action on items discussed in Executive Session. No action was taken on items discussed in executive session. 4. Discuss and take action as desired regarding Health Care Management Network. Mr. Lawrence was recognized and requested that there be no action on this item. There was no further discussion or action on this item. 5. Discuss and take action as desired regarding participation in Atmos Energy natural gas line extension. Mr. Lawrence was recognized to note that the City was negotiating with property owners near the intersection of West White Street (FM 455) and South Central Expressway (US 75) for the extension of gas service to the area. The Atmos Energy gas line is currently located on West White Street at the entrance to West Crossing subdivision and is expected to be built to the corner of West White Street and CR 367 in the near future. The cost of extending the line from CR 367 to the west side of South Central Expressway is expected to be approximately $250,000. Mr. Lawrence stated that the City staff was recommending that the City pay for extending the line and allocate the cost as follows: City of Anna $100,000 Anna CDC $100,000 Anna EDC $ 50,000 The City will also pursue a reimbursement arrangement with Atmos Energy under which the City would be reimbursed when new non-residential users connected to the new line, with the reimbursement amount based on the amount of gas usage during the first year of service. The City staff will recommend to the city council that the EDC and CDC be reimbursed first, on a pro rata basis. (E.g., if the EDC contributed per the recommended amount and the City received a $15,000 reimbursement, the EDC would receive $5,000 or the $15,000 reimbursement and the CDC would receive $10,000.) 07-10-06 Minutes EDC Page 3 of 4 There was general agreement that this recommendation should be considered and Mr. Lawrence was directed to bring back a formal proposal at the next regular EDC meeting. 6. Discuss and take action regarding relationship with Anna Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Lawrence reported that a local chamber of commerce was being formed. Ms. Kimberley Luther was providing most of the original organization support and effort but initial meetings showed significant support for the effort. He stated that any ideas for cooperation between the Anna EDC and the new chamber would be appreciated. He also stated that he would invite one or more of the board members of the chamber to attend the August or September meeting of the EDC. No action was taken on this item. 7. Staff report(s). This item was considered prior to Item 2 – Executive Session. Mr. Lawrence was recognized and introduced Mr. Alex Hamilton to the Board. Mr. Hamilton stated that he was President of EXIM Corporation, an international venture capital firm with interests in Europe, the US, and particularly in China. He noted that he was interested in trying to secure Chinese investment funds for Anna. He said that “made in America” had a strong cachet in China and Chinese companies would be willing to establish operations in this country and export back to China as well as other areas, including Latin America. He said that local governmental officials and business leaders in Yantai, China, were interested in further exploring business investments in Anna. He stated that the way business is done in China requires official governmental approval, which in turn requires personal visits between Chinese and U.S. officials. A delegation from Anna would need to go to Yantai and meet with local officials and company owners and managers. The local Yantai interests would organize and host the conference. In return, the City of Anna and/or the Anna EDC would sponsor a conference here to which a Chinese delegation would be invited. Participants at the conference would fund the conference costs. 8. Consider approval of Minutes of meeting of May 4, 2006. Mr. Hamilton moved that the Minutes of the meeting of May 4, 2006, be approved. Mr. Hersom seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote: Aye 3 Nay 0 07-10-06 Minutes EDC Page 4 of 4 9. Adjourn. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. ____________________________________ John Rattan, Vice-President