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10/18/2016 MINUTESPARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MONTHLY MEETING Board Members Present: Richard Manning, Chairman John Brockman, Vice -Chair Don Wilson, Secretary/Treasurer Ray Banks Ex- Officio Members Present: John Godwin, City Manager Legal Counsel: Stephanie Harris, City Attorney Call to Order. Paris City Council Chambers 107 East Kaufinan St. Paris, Texas 75460 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 4:00 O'CLOCK P.M. MINUTES Staff Present: Michael Paris, Executive Director Paula Brownfield, Administrative Assistant Chris Stout, Office Assistant Guest(s) Present: Anna Rae Gwarjanski, The Paris News Colton Sanders, Paris Free Press Michael Glatfelter, Citizen City Council Liaison: Billy Trenado Mr. Manning called the meeting of the Paris Economic Development Corporation to order at 4:00 p.m. on October 18, 2016. Citizens' Input Mr. Manning opened the Citizens' Input. Michael Glatfelter came up to speak. He spoke about our agenda item supporting Paris Junior College with a resolution. He stated that the last two buildings constructed on the Paris campus were not subject to a public bidding process. He also stated that one of the buildings has defective cement that is disintegrating. Mr. Glatfelter went on to talk about the millions of dollars that was taken from the jewelry program and put into the general fund. There have been requests made for a list of the donors that contributed to the jewelry program but no list has been given to him. Mr. Manning interrupted saying "Mr. Glatfelter, your time is up ". Mr. Glatfelter argued that his two minutes were not up and since it was an agenda item he should be able to speak for more than two minutes. Ms. Harris, City Attorney, said the agenda item was not open to public discussion. In the end Mr. Glatfelter asked that the Board not support Paris Junior College. Billy Trenado came to the podium and asked that the Board give their support Paris Junior College because it is an asset to all of Lamar County. No one else came forward and Mr. Manning closed the Citizens' Input. PEDC Board Meeting Minutes October 18, 2016 Page 2 of 4 Discuss and possibly approve Minutes of the September 20, 2016, Monthly Meeting. Mr. Manning asked for a discussion and approval of the September 20, 2016, meeting minutes. No comments were made and Mr. Banks made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Mr. Brockman seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -ayes and 0 -nays. Discuss and possibly approve September 2016 Financials. The September 2016 financials were not ready at meeting time. Mr. Anderson and his staff are closing out the 2015 -2016 year. The financials will be ready for the November meeting. Discuss and possibly approve a Resolution in Support of Paris Junior College. Mr. Paris said that Paris Junior College is a great asset to our community. Lamar County and the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce are supporting the college and the Board is asked to do the same. Mr. Brockman made the motion to approve the Resolution supporting the college. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -ayes to 0 -nays. Each of the Board Members signed the Resolution in support of Paris Junior College and Mr. Paris read the Resolution out loud for the public to hear. Discuss and possibly approve starting the Request for Bids process for Proiect White Rock (Park Street) street renovations for Potters Industries and Aegus Aero Machine. Mr. Paris stated that this project was referred to as Project White Rock when discussed in executive session. The project will be referred to as Park Street in open session. This is an old street that runs East and West on the south side of Potters Industries and Aequs Aero Machine. The old street is breaking apart because of the heavy trucks that use it to service both industries The two industries approached the PEDC about collaborating with them to rebuild Park Street. This would be a partnership with the two industries, the PEDC and the City of Paris to rebuild the street. Mr. Wilson asked Mr. Godwin if he was comfortable with the project. Mr. Godwin stated that he was comfortable with the concept and that the City does have funds, but it would depend on the cost. Mr. Brockman suggested that we did not make the two industries participate in the cost because they are a big part of our industrial community. We would put out a Request for Bids to rebuild the street with the dimensions of 1,066 feet in length and 30 feet in width. Mr. Brockman made the motion to move forward with a Request for Bids. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -ayes and 0 -nays. Update on obtaining approval from Paris City Council to expend PEDC funds from its undesignated fund balance to finance the construction of the building at 2305 NW Loop 286. (According to the PEDC Bylaws, Section 4.12.) PEDC Board Meeting Minutes October 18, 2016 Page 3 of 4 Mr. Paris said Mr. Brockman and Mr. Hughes accompanied him to the October 10, 2016, City Council meeting for a discussion with the City Council about constructing the Spec Building. Mr. Paris said he told that City Council that "Our mission as an Economic Development Corporation is to create jobs with whatever assets are available." We presented them with the bid, the contingency and the bid bond for a total of $774,260. Two conditions were added to the memo: the Spec Building could not be leased without City Council approval; the Spec Building could not be sold without City Council approval. A long discussion took place with the Council and good questions were asked. Today Mr. Paris was told by City Staff that they will not put this memo on the Council agenda for October 24, 2016, or any time because the perception is it would create a fight between Council members. We were told that the Council does not want to listen to anything about the Spec Building and certainly does not want to take a vote. Mr. Paris stated that we do not have an inventory of existing space to bring prospects to Paris. The Spec Building is a low risk venture that we will not lose money on. We offer many incentives, but our lack of inventory is holding us back. There were companies that went bad in the past, but the outcome with the businesses that came into those buildings has been outstanding. Mr. Brockman asked if Mr. Trenado, our City Council Liaison, would tell us what the Council is thinking by not wanting us to be on the agenda. Mr. Trenado told us that Mr. Paris is presenting the Spec Building very well and the problem with the Council not wanting to discuss or vote on it could be personal. Mr. Brockman asked Mr. Trenado if he would consider putting the Spec Building on the agenda and he answered that he would put it on the agenda. The Board is in agreement that they are looking for a "Yes or No" vote from the Council to determine the direction the PEDC will go with the Spec Building. Mr. Paris stated that we would work with Mr. Trenado to put the Spec Building on the City Council agenda. Executive Director's Monthly Report. • Our marketing efforts will be highlighting the parcels of land at the NW Business Park. We will be using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn in our marketing plan. Constant Contact will send out email blasts that we create to email lists that we are collecting. The goal is to start with bi- weekly blasts and move up to weekly blasts. The marketing will focus on the land and buildings we have, it will highlight features that make Paris a unique place and it will talk about the PEDC. • Two travel opportunities have been cancelled IEDC meeting and IAMC meeting because of the work taking place at the office. Mr. Paris will attend the TEDC meeting is this week in Austin. There are two more marketing trips that he will be going to before the end of the year: the National Business Aviation Association and FabTech. • A new sign for the front of the building is on order with the sign company. This is replacing the framed bulletin board which is becoming an eyesore. The new sign is simple with our name, address, and website. PEDC Board Meeting Minutes October 18, 2016 Page 4 of 4 • The Industry of the Year was voted on and will be presented at the Lamar County Chamber Celebration on October 25h. • We will be ramping up our visits to the trailer companies in the area. They are so important to our community and our economy. • I met with Chris Bailey, the new plant manager at Turner and am very impressed with his vision for the plant. Discuss Future Agenda Items. No items were discussed. Adiourn Mr. Banks made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. Vote was 4 -ayes to 0 -nays. The meeting was adjourned at 4:44 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Paula Brownfield Administrative Assistant Paris Economic Development Corporation