Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting

April 27, 2011

11:00 a.m.

AAI – 5 Alliance Drive

Crowfield Corporate Center

 

Chairman Rick Buckner                                                          Dean Infinger

Councilmember Mark Phillips

Joseph Bagwell

Ron Anderson

David Warner

Ron Henderson

             

Jeff Molinari, Assistant City Administrator                  Mayor Michael J. Heitzler

 

Press Present:                                                                                                  

                                                                                                           

I.                   Call to Order:

 

Mr. Buckner called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m.

 

II.                Approval of Minutes:

 

EDAC Meeting - January 27, 2011

EDAC Meeting – February 24, 2011

 

Mr. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.  Councilmember Phillips seconded the motion.  All in favor, none opposed.  Motion carried.

 

III.             Restaurant Update:

 

Mr. Molinari thanked Mr. Warner for allowing the EDAC to conduct their meeting at AAI and stated Mr. Warner was gracious enough to provide them with a tour at the end of the meeting.  Mr. Molinari asked Mayor Heitzler if he had any comments he would like to make.  He stated he was now the City’s liaison on the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) Board of Directors and appreciated the opportunity to attend the EDAC meeting.  

 

Mr. Molinari provided the EDAC with a restaurant update and stated he met with Mr. David Odle, co-owner of Andolini’s Pizza, wherein he provided Mr. Odle and his wife a tour of some sites in the City where they could expand their restaurant business.  He stated the Post & Courier recently had an article that mentioned Andolini’s was looking at possible expansion into both Goose Creek and Summerville.  He stated it was an encouraging meeting and felt it was a good start and contact.  Councilmember Phillips inquired if Mr. Molinari knew why CC’s Pizza closed.  Mr. Molinari stated he was unsure as to why, except they were not making money.  Mr. Bagwell stated it was his understanding the store was not performing well financially at that location.    

 

IV.              Charleston Regional Development Alliance:

 

Mr. Molinari stated on February 24, 2011, the EDAC conducted a meeting by teleconference, wherein they made a recommendation to City Council to appoint Mayor Heitzler to the CRDA Board of Directors.  He stated City Council acted upon their recommendation and appointed Mayor Heitzler to the CRDA Board of Directors.  He stated his first board meeting will be a retreat on May 26th, at Charlestowne Landing.  Mr. Molinari stated he would encourage Mayor Heitzler to speak with Mr. Buckner, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Infinger, as they have significant experience on the CRDA and they would be very good resources in that regard.  There was a discussion amongst the EDAC in regard to the CRDA and where their business interests lie.  Mr. Anderson stated a lot of what the CRDA does is look for industry and not retail.  Mr. Buckner stated the CRDA still needed to focus on the smaller businesses and bringing them along as well.   

 

V.                 Downtown Redevelopment:

 

Central Avenue - Mr. Molinari briefed the EDAC on the Downtown Redevelopment Project of Central Avenue.  He stated one of the outstanding issues has been in securing a landscaping permit with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT).  He stated when the City initially applied for the project back in 2009, the landscaping permit was included as part of the projects package.  He stated SCDOT pulled the landscaping portion out of the project, unbeknownst to the City.  Mr. Molinari stated the SCDOT requested the City stop their work on landscaping in the right-of-ways until a permit was secured.  He briefed the EDAC as to the concerns SCDOT had with the live oaks and any adverse impact it would have as it would relate to each of the business owners on Central Avenue.  He stated the City had already contacted each of the property owners as it related to the overall project and landscaping and each was fully aware and understood the City’s plans for Central Avenue.  Mr. Molinari continued to thoroughly brief the EDAC in regard to the project and the progress that has since been made and stated the City had done everything required by SCDOT to make sure the business owners would not have any issues.    

 

Mr. Molinari stated another issue was with Anson Construction and the City discovered that when the project foreman from Anson Construction was not on scene due to having to be at another project site elsewhere, the project on Central slowed down drastically.  He stated he recently spoke with the project foreman and another person has been hired to manage the other projects of Anson Construction.  He stated Thomason Boulevard was a simpler project and there should not be the same issues and hold-ups as was on Central Avenue.

 

Thomason Boulevard - Mr. Molinari thoroughly briefed the EDAC on the work that would be performed on the Thomason Boulevard project and stated the contractor that was selected was out of Columbia.  He stated the project was a 120-day contract and should begin in May.  

 

Highway 52 (Landscaping/Drainage Improvements) – Mr. Molinari thoroughly briefed the EDAC on the brick columns and fencing being built along the railroad tracks.  He stated there would be an irrigation system and landscaping placed along the fencing and the aesthetics would help to give people a sense of arrival to Goose Creek. 

 

There was a brief discussion in regard to the monies that would be remaining in the Tax Increment Fund (TIF) after the Downtown Development Project has been completed and whether a new TIF would be created in the future.  There was also a discussion concerning the Crowfield Corporate Center and the lack of industry within the industrial park.  Mr. Buckner requested Mr. Molinari and Mr. Warner meet and discuss the issues further.  Mr. Buckner stated he would like to bring the topic back up at the next EDAC meeting in hopes of resolving Mr. Warner’s concerns of the Crowfield Corporate Center and maybe settling some of the issues.   

 

Mayor Heitzler reminded the EDAC they were invited to attend the Strategic Planning Workshop with City Council the following evening at 5:00 p.m.  Mr. Henderson inquired if there were any updates in regard to Carnes Crossroads.  Mr. Molinari stated Mr. Dennis Harmon, the City Administrator, spoke with Mr. Matt Sloan, with the Daniel Island Company, who stated they were getting close to beginning the residential construction by the end of the year.       

 

VI.              Chairman’s Time:

 

Mr. Buckner thanked Mayor Heitzler for attending the meeting and welcomed him back at any time.  He stated he has appreciated Mayor Heitzler’s leadership over the past thirty-two (32) years and his willingness to serve on the CRDA Board of Directors.  Mr. Buckner stated the City was continuing to become more and more business friendly, but still felt there was room for improvement.  He stated he would like to see it easier for people to be able to open a business and be able to conduct business with the City on-line.   

 

Mr. Anderson stated he disagreed with Mr. Buckner a little, because City staff was very helpful in assisting business owners and associates in getting what they needed accomplished.  Mr. Buckner stated he agreed with Mr. Anderson, but what he would like to see is more advertising on the City’s Web site to make it easier to open a business in the City.  Mr. Bagwell stated small businesses have perceived the City to be difficult to work with in regard to, for example, how to obtain a sign permit or how to calculate their business taxes. He stated he felt City staff has always been very helpful, but he has heard it from some small business owners.

 

Mr. Buckner requested Mayor Heitzler use his power as Mayor to make the CRDA understand the City of Goose Creek is here and available to support industry.  Mr. Buckner stated he wanted to commend Mr. Molinari and Mr. Harmon for the efforts and what they have done for the EDAC.  He stated Mr. Molinari was very good at what he does.  There was a brief discussion amongst the EDAC in regard to small businesses, the Better Business Bureau and the City being able to market through social media and possible blogging as to how to open a business in the City of Goose Creek. 

 

VII.           Comments from Staff:

 

Mr. Molinari stated he had Certificates of Appreciation to distribute from the City’s recent Employee Appreciation Picnic, wherein Mr. Warner attended. 

 

VIII.        Adjournment:

 

Hearing nothing further, Mr. Anderson made a motion to adjourn.  All in favor, none opposed.  Meeting adjourned 12:12 p.m.

 

Minutes approved and adopted:

 

_____________________________      Date: July 27, 2011    

Rick Buckner, Chairman