HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EDOC 052004Economic Development Oversight Committee
Economic Development Oversight Committee
Minutes
May 20, 2004
Meeting was called to order at 8:30 am on May 20, 2004.
Members present:
Casey Steinbacher
Jim Griffin
Kenneth Kahn
Lou Gaeta
Dan Clark
Staff present:
Ron Ferris
Melisa Burey
Sheryl Stewart
City Council present:
Joe Russo
Guest present:
Kelly Smallridge
PALM BEACH GARDENS
Ed Sabin
Frank Compiani
Barbara Cottrell
Dave Haysmer
Eric Habecker
Natalie Wong
Dolores Key
■ Minutes from March 18, 2004 were reviewed. Minutes were approved with no changes.
■ Staff Report Presented by Dolores Key
• BIO 2004 in San Francisco, the booth is upstairs for review.
• The Gardens Mall has donated a gift certificate for City staff to take to the Bio
conference as a raffle prize. LBFH has donated $200 in traveler's checks. If there
are any other donations to be made, please see Dolores Key.
• The City has also implemented a website dedicated to science — the address is
http: / /www.pbgscience.com. The testing phase of the site will be conducted next
week, members are encouraged to review.
• Transportation survey for community transit grant has been completed with over 400
responses from businesses and Palm Beach Community College. The problem we
are now facing is that because of compliance issues, the start up costs are
substantial and will far overshadow the monies dispersed by the MPO. The good
news is the definite interest has been shown in public transportation from an
employer perspective, and other steps can now be taken now that we have the
survey data. The survey results and grant will be presented to the EDOC at the next
meeting.
■ First Year accomplishments of EDOC
• Fact finding including several guest speakers providing knowledge orientation.
• SWOT Analysis
• Targeted Expedited Permitting Program, included in the drafts of the Economic
Element for the comprehensive plan. There have also been discussions on changes
in economic development for Scripps with recommendations to the City Council.
• Congratulations and thanks to all the members for all of their efforts in the past year.
Dolores Key, Economic Development & Marketing Administrator
Economic Development Oversight Committee
PALM BEACH GARDENS
■ Old Business
o The letter of support written to the City Council dated March 18, 2004 still had
unresolved wording issues from the last meeting, specifically question #3 which
reads:
Require that a non - profit board with broad based, regional representation
have oversight of the non - residential and non - retail components of the entire
research park.
Several points were raised, including the severity of the wording (for example: encourage
vs. require), which members discussed on proper approach. After discussion, it was
decided by majority vote in favor of leaving the wording the way it currently is, as this is
still a work in progress and can always be changed later, if need be.
• New Business
• Formalization of Economic Development Oversight Committee to Economic
Development Advisory Board.
• Current members will be receiving a package on this in the mail shortly which
will provide more detailed information.
• The City Council will now recognize this as an official board which will have
seven (7) members and two (2) alternates.
• The formal process to being recognized will entail an application to the City
Council between July and August, and the newly developed board will be in
place as of October 1, 2004.
• The next meeting of the EDOC will be August 19, 2004 which will be the last
before the Advisory Board is designated. Please see Ed Sabin or Dolores
Key with any questions.
• We have come a long way in only a year. Our powers and duties continue to be to
advise the City of business trends as well as provide input into the Comprehensive
Plan, which may include the recommendation of adding language.
• Update on Gardens Scientific Village DR[ (Guest speaker Natalie Wong, Senior
Planner and Assistant to the City Manager)
• Brief, informal presentation of latest site plans as well as where the City is in
the process in terms of submitting the DR[ and other concurrent applications
• City is planning on utilizing 2000 acres of space, including 2 million square
feet of Research & Development; 500,000 square feet of commercial uses;
100,000 square feet of which will be office space. There is also a proposal
for the construction of an elementary and middle schools as well as 7500
residential units.
• The residential densities planned vary from 4 units per acre (zero lot line
properties) to as much as 14 units per acre (town -home style). The key is to
allow for a sustainable community, with an attainable housing component.
To date, the figures have not been computed for what the housing will sell
for, however, the county currently has data indicating 20% of the housing for
under $300,000.00. The City believes this might be a bit skewed, and are
hoping for a better number once all of the data has been computed. It was
also brought up that there cannot be control over who purchases the
residential units, and although the ideal situation is for the scientists and
employees of the scientific village live within the property, it cannot legally be
controlled and a preservation mechanism put in place.
Dolores Key, Economic Development & Marketing Administrator
Economic Development Oversight Committee IMIW
4
PALM BEACH GARDENS
o Open Discussion
• Suggestions included entrances to the airport which is located adjacent to
the site, as well as the feasibility of closing the northernmost entrance.
• In addition, the wetlands which surround the site are to be considered
something positive, even a marketing tool, rather than a hindrance. For
example, Centennial Park in North Carolina has made their green -space a
feature and asset of the park; we are attempting to do the same thing.
• The CSX railways have been a problem for the City to work around;
permitting will not be easy and will most likely result in a flyover.
• A question was raised as to whether or not the BDB and ERDI are content
with the progress of the project. The discussion that ensued indicated that
the EDRI is not happy about the fact that Palm Beach County is not joint
planning; however, they are comfortable with the progress and recognize that
it is a give and take relationship.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:34 A.M.
Note: The next meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2004 at 8:30 a.m., City Hall, Council
Chambers.
Dolores Key, Economic Development & Marketing Administrator