66th Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting
May 18, 2009
10:00 a.m.
City Hall
Members Present:
Chairman Rick Buckner
Ron Anderson
Joe Bagwell
Ron Henderson
Dean Infinger
Mark Phillips
Members Absent:
David Warner
Staff Present:
Dennis C. Harmon, City Administrator
Jeff Molinari, Assistant City Administrator
Guest:
Press Present:
I. Call to Order – Chairman Rick Buckner
Mr. Buckner called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m.
II. Approval of Minutes:
Mr. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 12, 2009, meeting. Mr. Bagwell seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
III. Restaurants:
Mr. Molinari reminded the EDAC that at the last meeting Councilmember Phillips inquired about the old Food Lion and the potential for a business or businesses to use the property. He stated Councilmember Phillips requested City staff complete an annexation analysis. Mr. Molinari distributed the analysis information to the EDAC.
IV. Downtown Redevelopment Update:
Highway 52 Drainage Improvements/Landscaping: Mr. Molinari stated at the last EDAC meeting he had indicated City staff was still working to secure the encroachment permit from CSX Railroad for the Highway 52 improvements which include drainage improvements, landscaping and other items. He reminded the EDAC that in March 2009, CSX gave City staff conceptual approval. Mr. Molinari stated in August 2008, City Council authorized a contract with Banks Construction to perform the work. He stated City staff has been in contact with Banks Construction and they have agreed to hold the price of the contract as the City awaits the encroachment permit. Mr. Buckner inquired if there were any grant monies through CSX for the improvement projects. Mr. Molinari stated he was not aware of any available funding.
Central Avenue Rehabilitation: Mr. Molinari stated when the City initially began discussions about the side street projects, Central Avenue, Brandywine Boulevard and Thomason Boulevard; it was thought it would be possible to work on all three (3) roadways at one time. City staff has determined that it would not be practical. He stated City staff was in the process of coordinating with the companies of the multiple utilities within those areas in order to bring the various utilities together with the least bit of service interruption. Mr. Buckner inquired if the City would be responsible for the expense to relocate the utility lines. Mr. Molinari stated the City would be making an in-kind contribution.
Downtown Redevelopment Web Video: Mr. Molinari stated Casey Fletcher, the City’s Public Information Officer, was putting together a series of videos to keep the public apprised of what was going on with the Downtown Master Plan. He stated the video was produced in-house and that Sarah Hanson, the City’s Planning Technician in the Planning Department, did the voice over on the video.
Mr. Bagwell inquired (off the subject) if there was any consideration with the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) for the signalization of the traffic signals. Mr. Molinari stated yes, the issue regarding the traffic signals is a routine issue with the City’s residents. He stated Mr. Harmon and Mayor Heitzler recently met with Mr. Robert Clark, the SCDOT District 6 Engineer, and signalization was one of the issues discussed.
Mr. Buckner inquired if the video could be viewed by citizens. Mr. Molinari stated the City had an account with You Tube and it could be viewed directly from the Web site or if you were on You Tube, you could input "City of Goose Creek" and the results would show.
V. Comprehensive Plan Update:
Mr. Molinari reminded the committee that at the last meeting the City’s Planning Director, Daniel Ben-Yisrael, briefed the committee on the Comprehensive Plan update. He stated Mr. Anderson attended one of the kick-off meetings. He stated approximately 10,000 surveys were mailed out and to date approximately 901 surveys have been received. He stated the information has been sent to the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments, who are acting as the City’s consultants and they will be analyzing the data and turning over the results of the survey.
Mr. Molinari stated the next Steering Committee Meeting would be the following evening at 5:30 p.m., in the Police Department training room. He stated Mr. Buckner would be there and anyone was welcome to attend. Mr. Buckner inquired if the City had any plan if the Swine Flu epidemic came to the City. Mr. Molinari stated there had not been a single case reported in the City and if there were an outbreak the City would activate the Emergency Operations Plan at the direction of the City Administrator.
VI. Chairman’s Time:
Charleston Regional Development Alliance Governance Model: Mr. Buckner stated the Charleston Regional Development Alliance has taken a different direction on how the Alliance will be funded, the composition of the board and how the Alliance will be governed. He stated it may come down to how much money people want to contribute on an individual or company basis for their organization to get a seat on the board. He stated the Charleston Regional Development Alliance was essentially putting the board seats up for sale, anywhere from $50,000 and down. He stated $50,000 would be the executive committee level and from there would be several versions or groups at the $10,000 level and lower.
Mr. Buckner stated money to fund the Alliance is collected on a per capita basis from the three counties and from private contributions. He stated the Alliance wants to have a balance between private sector contributions and public sector contributions. Currently, Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester counties contribute approximately 65% of the funding and the private sector contributes the other 35%. The Alliance wants to increase the total amount of funding to further enhance the marketing of the Charleston region. He stated there are all kinds of promises on how these things will take place and there are recommendations coming forward with changes to the by-laws to make it a more viable economic development solution. He stated these are all things he is hearing.
Mr. Buckner inquired if Mr. Harmon wished to comment on the issues at hand. Mr. Harmon stated he and Mr. Buckner have discussed the issue to some detail and he felt it could have the affect of disenfranchising the municipalities, especially if you have to make a $10,000 contribution to have a seat on the board. Mr. Harmon stated for the City of Goose Creek, it would be a policy decision that City Council would have to make. He stated right now he could not really see what value that $10,000 would buy the City. There was discussion concerning whether or not the City of Goose Creek would stay as a board member of the Alliance and how would it affect the City if they stayed as a member versus withdrawing from the organization. Mr. Harmon stated he did not feel it would affect the City one way or another in regard to marketing the Crowfield Corporate Center. Mr. Buckner stated he would take all that was discussed as information and when he hears of changes to the bylaws he will get back with Mr. Harmon to discuss the issue further.
Mr. Buckner reminded the committee there would be a Steering Committee Meeting for the Comprehensive Plan the following evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Police Department training room and everyone was invited.
VII. Comments from Staff:
Mr. Molinari stated 84 Lumber finally had their sign down. He stated approximately one (1) month ago he corresponded with 84 Lumber as to the status of the property. He stated 84 Lumber indicated to him the property was under contract. Mr. Molinari stated he recently found out the contract had fallen through and 84 Lumber was working with another potential buyer. He stated City staff would be keeping a close eye on the situation.
Councilmember Phillips inquired if there was any knowledge as to the status of the old Goose Creek trailer park. Mr. Molinari stated there has not been any recent activity at that location.
Mr. Anderson inquired how building permits were going within the City. Mr. Molinari stated it has slowed down. He stated last year at the end of April the City had 184 housing starts and at the end of April this year there were 76 housing starts. He stated fortunately the City was in strong financial condition and because of the City’s diversity in revenue sources; the City has been able to absorb the economic downturn. Mr. Molinari stated the Local Option Sales Tax has leveled out a bit and business license revenue is holding steady.
VIII. Adjournment:
Hearing nothing further, Mr. Buckner asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Infinger made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Meeting adjourned 11:21 a.m.
Minutes approved and adopted:
_________________________________ Date: July 13, 2009
Rick Buckner, Chairman
