1993-12-15-PEDC - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION December 15, 1993 The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in the initial meeting on Wednesday, December 15, 1993, 2:35 P.M., City Hall, City Council Chambers, Paris, Texas. Chairman Philip R. Cecil called the meeting to order with the following board members present: Eric Clifford, Curtis Fendley, Leon Williams, Barney Bray, III. Also present were ex-officio board members, Richard Chamberlain (representing JoAnn Parkman), Bobby R. Walters, Michael E. Malone, City Manager, Judge Deane Loughmiller, and Gary Ownings (representing Gary Cunningham) and T. K. Haynes, City Attorney, as counsellor. Chairman Philip Cecil stated the first item on the agenda was the administering of the oath of office for the newly elected Board of Directors and Ex-Officio "Members" of the Paris Economic Development Corporation. Municipal Judge Tom Hunt, III, administered the oath of office of each of the newly elected Board of Directors and Ex-Officio "Members" present at this meeting. Chairman Cecil stated the next item was the presentation of the Paris Economic Development Corporation Resource Manual and introduced Sissy Day , of Day and Associates to make the presentation. Ms. Day said the book in front of each board members was the product they had been working on for the last couple months with the City Council and Staff. The Council wanted to give the Board a Resource Manual which would provide the resources needed to get started and define what the Council sees as the Board's responsibilities. All of the materials to be covered had been developed as a result of interviews with the Board, the Council, and with twenty-two community leaders. She stated the Council had voted and passed on all of the materials contained in the manual written by the consultants. Ms. Day stated that she and Mr. Pothoff were going to go through the book and would like for the board members to ask questions. She stated the first item in the book was the consultants report which reflects the specific scope of work given to them in October. She stated the comments they received in their interviews fell under the headings of communication, labor development, minority participation, leadership, vision, quality of life and education. Ms. Day stated the one top issue when relocating is the quality of education. Therefore, this is an issue which will always be coming to your attention. Joe Pothoff briefly covered some of the study conclusions from their interviews. He stated they had six or seven items they felt would need follow-up by the P.E.D.C. He stated the first being the strategic plan which gives the critical path of some of the things that need to be accomplished in the first year. He stated a good data base is essential to do an effective strategic plan, and a creative marketing plan should be encouraged. Mr. Pothoff stated business retention is a very efficient method to use the money and maximizing the effectiveness of the funds was very important. He stated the board may find there are certain projects that may solve more than one problem at a time and those should be given priority.