MINUTES
WORKSHOP
WATAUGA CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL COUNCIL
CHAMBERS,
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2005
6:45 P.M.
Notice is hereby given that the City Council and City
Staff of the City of
Purpose of said workshop is to
discuss economic development issues within the City of
The City Council and staff of the
City of
Henry J. Jeffries Mayor
Jerry Adams Mayor Pro Tem
Ernest P. Koontz Council Member
Richard Helmick Council Member
Mike Steele Council Member
Lee W. Griffin Council Member
and
Kerry Lacy City Manager
Janina Jewell Finance Director
Kathleen
Wedell
with
Council Member Pete Beierschmitt, Council Member Seth Thomas and City Secretary Nancy Meadows absent. City Attorney Mark Daniel was not required to attend this workshop.
Mayor Jeffries called the workshop to order at 6:45 p.m. and read the workshop notice.
At the request of Mayor Jeffries, City Manager Kerry Lacy introduced Mr. Marty Weider of GSBS Batenhorst.
Mr. Weider used a Power Point presentation regarding economic development and explained to those present the purpose for economic development, the roles played by various entities regarding economic development including revitalization, redevelopment and new development.
Mayor Jeffries then called for questions from the Council.
Mr. Weider answered questions.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams questioned what part and how much involvement GSBS Batenhorst would have if the City were to enter into an agreement with them for economic development.
Mr. Weider indicated that they would be doing a good portion of the work and not leave it up to the Council to do.
Mayor Pro Tem
Mr. Weider indicated that Azle, White Settlement, and Richland Hills all have an agreement with GSBS Batenhorst where it indicates which cities would be in competition with each other, and that could be incorporated into their agreement.
Council Member Griffin asked Mr. Weider if there was a policy direction in place in case of a conflict in representation.
Mr. Weider indicated there is no written policy, however, he would contact the City Manager’s of all cities that a company might be interested in to let them know about any potential contacts.
Council Member Steele stated that he has received a letter from the owners of the vacant Winn Dixie building, which indicated to him that it is difficult to attract high profile businesses to an area which is not a high profile area. He wanted to know how GSBS would market areas such as these.
Mr. Weider indicated that you would have to look around the area and analyze the adjoining area. He said you would have to think about bringing in business that hasn’t been thought about before. He indicated in that analysis you would need to include average household income, average population, and values of housing in the area.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams asked Mr. Weider what the company could specifically do for Watauga and what would be charged for that service.
Mr. Weider indicated he has prepared a preliminary proposal with no specific amount, but could bring that information back to the Council if they were interested.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams indicated that Watauga was almost built out and there was not much land to develop and that the city needs to concentrate on redevelopment.
Mr. Weider indicated that he could present the information to Council in a cafeteria style plan, that would give them benchmarks in which to measure performance.
Council Member Koontz asked Mr. Weider if GSBS would find the developers, then bring them to the City so details could be worked out as far as tax abatements or other types of incentives.
Mr. Weider indicated that was what they would do.
Council Member Griffin stated that from the presentation, GSBS has good ideas and expertise. He feels that as a Council, the members must be able to justify to the taxpayers how their dollars are being spent and wanted to know what type of criteria would be used to show that justification.
Mr. Weider indicated that currently in Richland Hills, they prepare quarterly presentations for the Council and that there is a 30 day cancellation notice in their contract, so if either the Council or GSBS is not satisfied with performance, the contract may be cancelled.
Council Member Steele asked Mr. Lacy his opinion on the need for Economic Development.
Mr. Lacy indicated that dollars needed to be spent on continued revitalization.
With there being no further discussion, Mayor Jeffries closed the workshop at 7:45 p.m.
APPROVED: this ________ day of March 2005.
SIGNED: this ________ day of March 2005.
APPROVED:
____________________
Henry J. Jeffries, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Nancy J. Meadows, City Secretary