64th Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting
October 20, 2008
10:00 a.m.
City Hall

Members Present:
Chairman Rick Buckner, Ron Anderson, Ron Henderson, Dean Infinger, Dave Warner

Members Absent:
Mark Phillips, Joe Bagwell

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 10:02 a.m.

II. Approval of Minutes:

Mr. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from the July 14, 2008, meeting. Mr. Infinger seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.

III. Restaurant Recruitment Update:

Impact Fee Information – Mr. Molinari stated at the last meeting a question came up about sewer impact fees. He stated he had presented impact fee information to the Committee at a previous meeting, but wanted to refresh their memory since the subject had come up at the July meeting. Mr. Molinari proceeded to brief the Committee on some research he conducted comparing the City of Goose Creek and surrounding jurisdictions in the tri-county area. He briefed the Committee on general development, water and sewer impact fees. He stated impact fees authorized by state statute enables local governments to help defray the capital costs of bringing in new users to public facilities as a result of development. Mr. Molinari thoroughly briefed the Committee on his findings and answered all of their questions as they related to impact fees for commercial businesses, to include restaurants, property taxes taken in by the City and the future trend of impact fees for the City of Goose Creek.

Mr. Molinari stated he would go ahead with the Commercial Development Update, indicated on the agenda, and stated that Mr. Garey Gorey has opened his shopping center with Dunkin’ Donuts now open and the businesses slated to go into the new shopping center are Doctors Plus (Chiropractor), Hair Salon, St. James Restaurant and T-Mobile Wireless. Mr. Buckner inquired how the businesses accommodated for sufficient parking. Mr. Molinari stated the shopping center met the City’s parking requirements. He stated the number was based on the types of uses and Mr. Gorey was well within the number of parking spaces required. Mr. Molinari answered questions from the Committee concerning the average square footage of the businesses located in the new shopping center and the average cost to lease a store in Goose Creek.

IV. Downtown Redevelopment Update:

Banks Construction Contract and CSX Meeting – Mr. Molinari stated on August 12, 2008, City Council awarded a contract to Banks Construction of North Charleston for $719,905.00, for the first phase of downtown redevelopment which will encompass landscaping and drainage improvements along Highway 52. He stated City staff, along with the Herb Gilliam from the LandPlan Group South were currently in the process of trying to secure an encroachment permit from CSX. He stated he, Mr. Harmon and Mr. Gilliam recently traveled to Jacksonville to speak with corporate officers of CSX to discuss this project. Mr. Molinari stated CSX wanted the capacity to add an additional parallel track in the future if necessary, thus they would need sufficient clearance from any activity conducted by the City in the CSX right-of-way. Mr. Molinari stated the initial conceptual drawing was for a hiker/biker trail to run parallel to the train tracks, but that will now not be in the plans. Mr. Molinari stated the City’s engineer was fairly confident the City could secure an encroachment permit in possibly two (2) to three (3) to provide only landscaping along the railroad tracks. He stated because of the delay, the City was currently working toward locking in the cost Banks Construction bid on the project and City staff was in hopes of beginning the project in approximately 120 days, after the encroachment permit is received from CSX.

V. National Car Rental Building:

Mr. Molinari briefed the Committee on the status of bringing in a business to occupy the old National Car Rental building. He stated currently the City has been working very closely with the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, Berkley County Economic Development and the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce on getting a business to occupy that location. He stated the call center closed on May 31, 2008, wherein the building has been vacant since and impacted the City with a net loss of 250 jobs.

VI. Commercial Development Update:

Mr. Molinari stated he already discussed the update for the St. James Restaurant and the shopping center at that location. He stated Chick-fil-A had to purchase some additional land from Lowe’s because the outparcel site did not exactly meet their specific site requirements. He stated the project should be completed sometime in February. He stated the entrance signs are now up at Carnes Crossroads for both the residential and first phase of commercial. He stated McAllister-Smith Funeral Home is now complete and open. He stated there is a possibility the old funeral home will be converted back into a restaurant. Mr. Henderson inquired about the family center that was supposed to be located at Cobblestone. Mr. Molinari stated to his knowledge that project has been placed on hold. Mr. Henderson inquired if Mr. Molinari knew anything about a climate control storage company going in on Highway 17A heading toward Moncks Corner. Mr. Molinari stated he has only heard some rumors at this point about the possibility of such a business going in at the location. Mr. Buckner inquired about Stokes Kia. Mr. Molinari stated that project has been approved by the Architectural Review Board and he was not sure at this time when they planed to break ground.

VII. Chairman’s Time:

Mr. Buckner stated the only thing he wished to discuss was the overall economic update and overall how it is impacting the City. Mr. Molinari stated he believed the City was in good financial shape and has been consistent with housing starts for the past three (3) years. Mr. Molinari continued to brief the Committee on how the economy has impacted the City and briefed them on development within the City and current financial trends within the City and how they relate to the various funds in the City. Mr. Infinger inquired if the City has seen changes yet for businesses whose business license fee is based on sales, if sales are down. Mr. Molinari stated at this time the City has not witnessed a decline in those types of business licenses.

Mr. Infinger asked for a moment to be able to brief the Committee about his role with Infinger Furniture. He stated he was still a partner and owner of the business, but he has now opened a business with his wife, a software program for nurses that will be sold to hospitals. He stated weekly he is at the furniture store working on business matters but if anyone needs to reach him and he is not at the store, he can be reached on his cell phone.

Mr. Molinari stated that every ten (10) years the City is required to produce a new Comprehensive Plan for the City. He stated in 2009, he would have the Planning Director brief the Committee about the Comprehensive Plan, what it entails and the plans for implementing a new Comprehensive Plan.

VIII. Adjournment:

Hearing nothing further, Mr. Buckner asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Anderson made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Infinger seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed. Meeting adjourned 11:16 a.m.

Minutes approved and adopted:

_________________________________ Date: January 12, 2009
Rick Buckner, Chairman