Loading...
1994-07-28-PEDC 2 MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION July 28, 1994 The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in a regular meeting on Thursday, July 28, 1994, at 4:15 P.M., in the City Hall, City Council Chambers, Paris, Texas. Chairman Philip R. Cecil called the meeting to order with the following board members present: Curtis Fendley and Barney Bray. Also present were ex-officio board members, Ike Jewett (representing Gary Cunningham), Don Shelton, Gary Vest, Economic Development Director, Michael E. Malone, City Manager, and T. K. Haynes, City Attorney, as counselor. Chairman Cecil noted there was a quorum present at this meeting. He introduced Mr. Gary Vest, the new Chamber of Commerce Executive and Director of the Paris Economic Development Corporation. He said the board would receive a report from Mr. Vest later in the agenda. Chairman Cecil noted that when the P.E.D.C. was formed earlier this year officers were elected to serve a term through July, and then the regular rotation of officers would begin. He said the Bylaws provide that officers will be elected in July and commence their terms with the August meeting. He stated the first order of business is the election of officers for a term beginning August 1, 1994, through July 31, 1995. He opened the floor for nominations for President of the Board. Board member Curtis Fendley made a motion, seconded by Board member Barney Bray, nominating Philip Cecil for President. Mr. Cecil was elected on a unanimous vote. Chairman Cecil asked for nominations for Vice President. Board member Barney Bray made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cecil, nominating Curtis Fendley for Vice President. Mr. Fendley was elected on a unanimous vote. Chairman Cecil asked for nominations for Secretary/Treasurer. Board member Curtis Fendley made a motion, seconded by Board member Barney Bray, nominating Dick Amis for Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Amis was elected on a unanimous vote. Chairman Cecil stated that the next item of business was to establish a regular monthly meeting date and time. He said the Board currently meets the last Thursday of the month. He said he was reluctant to make a change at this time since two of the board members were absent. It was the consensus of the Board to schedule the August meeting as the last Thursday in August and to discuss this item at that meeting. Mayor Shelton asked the Board to. consider scheduling this the Monday the Council has their meetings since the Mayor is on the ARK-TEX Council of Governments Executive Committee and they normally have their meetings on the last Thursday of the month. Chairman Cecil stated they would take this into consideration. 43 Chairman Philip Cecil stated the next item on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the previous meeting of the Paris Economic Development Corporation. Chairman Cecil asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the previous meetings and there was none. Board member Curtis Fendley made a motion, seconded by Board member Barney Bray, to approve the minutes as presented, and the motion was approved unanimously. Chairman Cecil asked Mr. Gene Anderson, Finance Director, to go over the financial report. Mr. Anderson explained that this is the standard report which is used by the City and he plans to use this format for the Board unless there are some modifications the Board would like for him to make. The Board discussed the amount paid to Pace Group as of this date. Mr. Anderson advised in the July expenditures under consultants there was approximately $8,100.00 which probably includes the last payment to the Pace Group. Mr. Anderson stated he felt the initial payment to the Pace Group was paid by the City and has not been reimbursed to the City yet. It was the consensus of the Board members that the form of the report was fine. Board member Bray made a motion, seconded by Board member Fendley to receive the financial report which carried unanimously. Chairman Cecil said he met with some Chamber officials and Committee members to discuss an industrial prospect and it appears at this point this is not going to develop. He said he would continue to be in touch with the Chamber and their Committees as they work on prospects. Chairman Cecil said last month the Board developed the budget figures as a requirement of the bylaws, and there is also a requirement of developing the annual plan of work for the upcoming fiscal year which should have been submitted with the annual budget. Chairman Cecil asked for further clarification from City Attorney Haynes. Mr. Haynes stated the annual plan of work probably should include the annual meetings, training sessions, targeted areas, and basically the plan of attack for certain type situations. He said in the beginning, and any time there are changes in the Board, he felt training, familiarization with what's available, what agencies to be in touch with, and visits planned through agencies should be provided for and anticipated. Chairman Cecil asked Mr. Vest whether based on his experience he could develop this type plan. Mr. Vest said in his previous experience they did a complete program of work outlining the various areas such as retention and expansion, marketing, recruitment, industrial visitations, etc., with goals and objectives. He said he felt there needed to be some exposure of board members to the allies, to the Department of Commerce and to programs such as the Texas Leverage Fund. He said he felt the program of work needed to be very flexible particularly in the beginning of the Corporation. Chairman Cecil asked him if he would be able to develop a brief plan for the Board to consider. Mr. Vest said yes that he would be able to do this. Chairman Cecil asked Mr. Vest if he could develop some rough plan guidelines for the Board to consider at the August meeting. Mr. Vest said he would like to develop some items for discussion and let the Board decide whether they feel these items should be incorporated. City Attorney Haynes advised the budget must go to the Council, but the plan is filed as a matter of record. 54 Chairman Cecil said the next agenda item was consideration of membership in the Texas Marketing Team. Mr. Cecil said he had asked Mr. Vest to make a presentation in connection with this, and the Board will take whatever action is necessary. Mr. Vest said the letter being passed out was from the John Prickette, Manager of the Economic Development Department at Texas Utilities, as well as chairman of the Texas Marketing Team. Mr. Vest said the Texas Marketing Team is a group that was formed by several communities in an effort to promote Texas for industrial location purposes. He said the main function of the Marketing Team is to host a hospitality suite or reception for the Industrial Research. Council which meets twice a year. He said this is a good opportunity for people as economic development professionals to have contacts with these Fortune 500 companies. He said he felt this was a good opportunity to show allies that the Board is serious about prospect development, and for these reasons he felt the Board should be a member. He said the Fall meeting will be in Dallas on November 5, thru November 9, and they are expecting 2,500 representatives at this meeting. He said usually the Spring meeting is smaller. He said for budgeting purposes he felt the Board could accomplish all that is needed by making the big meeting in the Fall. He said he is requesting the Board to fund us to be a member of the Texas Marketing Team, and allow him to participate in these functions. Chairman Cecil questioned Mr. Vest as to the cost. Mr. Vest said the cost is $2,000.00 per year, but since we did not join at the beginning of the year and did not attend the first session, then the amount would only be $1,500.00 to participate in the Dallas meeting. Mr. Cecil said he felt this was a valuable tool in building relationships in the industrial development area. He said if the Board agrees then this expenditure would be a legitimate expenditure since it is promotional in nature. Board member Fendley made a motion, seconded by Board member Barney Bray, that membership in the Texas Marketing Team be approved, which carried unanimously. Chairman Cecil stated the next item on the agenda was the Economic Development Director's Activity report, and he opened it up to Mr. Vest. Mr. Vest reported that the prospect they were working with through the J.M. Mullis Company has developed a short list that we were not on and for all practical purposes this Project is dead at this time. He said he expects to present a couple of other projects to the Board at the next meeting. Chairman Cecil asked if there was any other business and there being none he declared the board meeting adjourned. CHAIRMAN PHILIP R. CECIL ATTEST: ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, BARBARA DENNY