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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBED Minutes 2-26-2013 BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD CAPE CANAVERAL LIBRARY MEETING ROOM 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2013 3:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: Omar Capellan, Chairperson called the Meeting to Order at 3:00 P.M. ROLL CALL: Susan Chapman, Board Secretary called the Roll. Board Members Present: Birch Brown Vice Chairperson Omar Capellan Chairperson Melanie Evans arrived at 3:05 pm Jim Massoni Shannon Roberts arrived at 3:20 pm Andrew Serafin Board Members Absent: Bill Carroll Others Present: Susan Chapman Board Secretary Todd Morley Community& Economic Development Director Barry Brown Planning & Zoning Director ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. Approve Meeting Minutes of January 29, 2013: Motion by Jim Masson!, seconded by Andrew Serafin to approve the Meeting Minutes of January 29, 2013, as written. Vote on the motion carried unanimously. 2. Community Brandinq - Status Update and Discussion: Todd Morley described City Branding; and explained the process of Image Communication. As requested by the Board at the previous meeting, he contacted the City of Titusville regarding their Branding efforts and spoke with Jim Thomas, Community Relations department, who highlighted their City Branding efforts and recommended that the City consider a "good" marketing firm; partner with Space Coast Office of Tourism for "great" billboard rates; focus on Site Selector magazine and National Geographic Explorer magazine; and for the City to develop a marketing budget. Todd Morley advised that he also spoke with Marcia Gaedcke, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce, who had described Titusville's Branding project as a "painful process". She recommended North Star Destination Strategies for the City's Branding project. She had noted that if the City does it right, it will have an easily manageable marketing plan; and she offered the following recommendations: use citizen input, but don't allow the project to derail; hire a firm to be in touch with the community to guide the process; need fresh perspectives; need a firm that bases Branding on statistical data; engage a professional who will create focus Business & Economic Development Board Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013 Page 2 of 4 groups; take a partnership/consortium approach to sponsorships to offset the cost. Flagler/St. Augustine and Seminole County were successful in their Branding efforts. She also noted that due to economic constraints, going back and re-doing it now was not a priority for the City of Titusville. Todd Morley advised that as requested by the Board at the previous meeting, he also researched engaging a consulting firm to work with Community Branding for the City. He contacted North Star Destination Strategies and attended an on-line demonstration, which he described as "very interactive". He stated that he would provide a video from North Star at the next meeting, and also invited Board members to view the video prior to the next meeting at the City's Community & Economic Development department. He advised that this company would work with the City's Branding for an approximate cost for $68,000, and described what was included in the price. Discussion followed. Following discussion, by unanimous consensus, the Board requested that Staff provide more research and data from other branding firms for further consideration at the next meeting. 3. Assets of the City - Review and Discussion: Todd Morley read an outline, which was contained in the Board packet, regarding Assets of the City and Assets of Brevard County. The Board reviewed, discussed, and added additional assets to the list. Jim Massoni offered to send Cape View Elementary School's rating to Todd Morley to email to the other Board members. By unanimous consensus, Board members will forward Staff additional assets to add to the list. 4. List of Existing Businesses - Review and Discussion: Todd Morley gave an overview of the Statistical Data Charts contained in the Board packet of companies with current Business Tax Receipts that are physically located in the City and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. He noted that he utilized codes from the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS), and source information from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to obtain the information. The Board held discussion regarding the provided data. Following discussion, a motion was made by Omar Capellan, seconded by Andrew Serafin to request Staff bring back additional information as follows: provide a demographic of existing companies, including number of employees and annual gross revenues; email a list of NAICS codes for companies depicted on the pie chart that was included in the Board packet; provide a list of names of store front businesses, and include revenue data generated for the City from the Economic Development Council. Vote on the motion carried unanimously. 5. City Economic Development Brochure Discussion: Todd Morley distributed the Board members an economic development brochure from the City of Cocoa for the Board's review and comment. He asked if the Board would be interested in pursuing such a brochure for the City. The Board members will hold discussion and provide additional input at the next meeting. Business & Economic Development Board Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013 Page 3 of 4 6. FTZ 136 Update Regarding County Initiatives: Todd Morley advised that on Wednesday, February 6th, Staff attended a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Program hosted by Port Canaveral. He advised that FTZ No. 136, Port Canaveral, was recently successful in designating all of Brevard County as an "Enhanced Service Area", which meant that a "Usage Drive Site" could become eligible for FTZ activation within 30 days of application. He explained that this could be an important economic development incentive for any company involved in a large volume of import/export business anywhere in Brevard County. He explained the geographical area and operations of the FTZ. He advised that there are currently over 230 FTZ projects and nearly 400 Subzones in the U.S. He noted that FTZ 136 currently covers 4,160 acres, including 1,372 contiguous acres surrounding the Space Coast Regional Airport and the Spaceport Commerce Park; 886.1 acres at Port Canaveral; a 23.5 acre parcel at Tate Industrial Park in Cocoa; 1,876.2 acres in the immediate area of Melbourne International Airport and the City of Melbourne. Discussion followed. Omar Capellan, Chairperson, noted that since all of Brevard County is eligible for FTZ activation, this Board's FTZ assignment has been accomplished. 7. Enterprise Zone Discussion: Todd Morley advised that an Enterprise Zone is a specific geographic area targeted for economic revitalization, to encourage economic growth and investment within a distressed area, by offering tax advantages and incentives to businesses located within the Enterprise Zone boundaries. He explained that there are a number of tax incentives available to attract new businesses as well as to help existing businesses expand, and because of those incentives, it would be worthwhile for the City to look into an Enterprise Zone. He reported that during the timeframe of October 1, 2009 through September 20, 2010 the following levels were reported by the Enterprise Zone Coordinators Statewide: 7,559 new businesses moved into or were created in enterprise zones; 6,784 new jobs were created by businesses located in enterprise zones; and $67,602,483 State tax incentives were approved by the Department of Revenue. Todd Morley advised that before the next meeting, he will forward information pertaining to insight and benefits of the program, as it becomes available, for discussion at the next meeting. 8. Establish Prioritized Action Item List: The Board members discussed ranking of current action items. They discussed ranking of the City's priority items for the Board; Visioning incentives; Branding; and vehicles for advertising, which included utilizing the City's website as a communication tool. Following discussion, the Board members agreed that Branding is the Board's #1 priority, followed by: Visioning, establishing an Enterprise Zone, Marketing, and utilization of the City's Website for communication. 9. Establishing Regular Meetinq Dates: Motion by Jim Massoni, seconded by Andrew Serafin for the Board to hold regular meetings on a quarterly basis. Vote on the motion carried by a (5)to (1) majority vote, with members voting as follows: Birch Brown, for; Omar Capellan, for; Melanie Evans, for; Jim Massoni, for; Shannon Roberts, against; and Andrew Serafin, for. Discussion followed regarding the timing of the City's Annual Report, annual budget, and the Board's goals for Branding. Business & Economic Development Board Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013 Page 4Uf4 Motion by Birch Brown, seconded by Jim K48SGODi that the Board will hold regular quarterly meetings for the remainder of the calendar year. and City Staff will contact Board members for their availability to meet in between the regularly scheduled meetings as necessary. Vote OOthe motion carried by8 (5) tO /1\ majority vote, with members voting as follows: Birch BrOvvD' for; [}[D8rC}8pe||8D. for; Melanie Evans, for; Jim M8SSDni. for; Shannon Roberts, against; and Andrew Se[@fin' for. OPEN DISCUSSION & PUBLIC COMMENT: Chairperson CapH||8n opened the floor for Op8O diSCUSSiOO and public cVnlDleni. The Board members held discussion regarding Board liaison opportunities, and pFOCeSSiOg em8i|G received from individual Board 080bBnG for Staff to fOmv8nd to Other Board members. There being OOfurther business h i adjourned Approved on this . 2013.