HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EDAB 011206I
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Economic Development Advisory Board
January 12, 2006
The Economic Development Advisory Board met, on January 12, 2006. The
meeting was called to order at 8:32 A.M. in the Council Chambers of the
Municipal Complex, located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Lou Gaeta, Kenneth Kahn, Mark Murnan, Casey
Steinbacher, James Kissel, Steve Cohen, and Sandra Foland
Members Absent: Elaine Beers
Also Present: Dolores Key, Economic Development Director and Charles Wu
Growth Management Administrator
II. Approval of Minutes
The Board approved the minutes from the December 8, 2005 meeting.
111. Election of Officers
• Casey Steinbacher made a motion to retain the Board's existing officers. The
motion passed 7 -0.
Kenneth Kahn: Yes
Lou Gaeta:
Yes
Mark Murnan
Yes
Casey Steinbacher
Yes
James Kissel
Yes
Steve Cohen
Yes
Sandra Foland
Yes
Kenneth Kahn will remain as Chairperson and Lou Gaeta will remain as Vice
Chairperson.
IV. STAFF REPORT
Dolores Key updated the Board on the Targeted Expedited Permitting Program —
Ordinance 1, 2006. She stated that on December 13, 2005 the Planning, Zoning,
and Appeals Board voted to recommend approval of Ordinance 1, 2006 to City
Council. It then went before City Council for first reading on January 5, 2006 and
passed 5 -0. Second reading is scheduled for February 2, 2006.
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Dolores informed the Board that Eric Habecker has resigned because he has
accepted a position with another firm and will relocate to Alabama. •
Dolores gave an update on the permitting process for Anspach. The project is
scheduled to go before the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board on January 24,
2006. She also stated she has received a letter from the Business Development
Board of Palm Beach County indicating that LRP Publications will be submitting
building interior renovation plans in order to accommodate more staff. Although
the project will not require PZAB or City Council action, the project does qualify
for TEPP and will be expedited in the Building Division.
She distributed to the Board a copy of the Art in Public Places postcard series.
She explained that the idea behind the postcards is to show how the business
community supports the arts. The Board commented on how beautiful the
postcards came out and suggested selling them, perhaps at ArtiGras. Dolores
stated she is looking into the legal aspects to selling the books or possibly taking
donations for the books.
X. OLD BUSINESS
Flow of Money Discussion
Lou Gaeta led the discussion regarding the Flow of Money Report. He stated
that the bottom -line of the report: communities need improved /approved
properties in order to have economic growth. He stated that Palm Beach County •
is going to have to do a lot of work to repair the damage that was done due to the
Scripps project. Further, some businesses are avoiding coming to Palm Beach
County because they did not want to deal with the County and the attitude about
approvals. He added that the County is hurting the residents by not having a
process of approval that is swift and less subjective than it is now. He added that
real economic growth is not building shopping centers or homes but building an
industrial base such as headquarters, research and development, and service
sector. This will increase the long term economic growth. He did state that this
report is only from one source and that there are a lot of different opinions on this
information. There was discussion about Scripps and the problems that have
taken place trying to bring Scripps to Palm Beach County.
Casey Steinbacher suggested that this Board have a workshop with City Council
to talk about how the Board can provide advice on the development of public
policy that will affect the ability to provide approved and improved land and
buildings for economic development in the future. She feels that if City Council
agrees with this Board's advice then it is the Board's job to help them implement
public policy. She added that City Council members are the leaders and
therefore the EDAB needs to share their ideas and projects. There was
discussion about how to go about meeting with City Council and what to discuss
with them.
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Kenneth Kahn suggested that Staff author an executive summary of the Flow of
• Money Report that could be forwarded to City Council. There was also a
suggestion to discuss the level -of- services currently used by the City and the
impact on the tax dollars and the business community. Dolores explained that
City Council will be assigning a Council liaison to each Board, but has not done
so yet. The Council liaison will take the information from each Board meeting and
report back to City Council. She suggested that the Chair and Vice Chair present
the executive summary to Council liaison and request a workshop. Dolores will
also consult with the City Attorney to see what the procedures would need to be
followed in order to schedule this type of meeting. The Board would like to have a
workshop in the near future.
Dolores Key is going to prepare an executive summary based on the Flow of
Money Report and email it to the Board for their approval. Charles will talk to the
City Manager about how to get a possible workshop with City Council.
Charles Wu, Growth Management Administrator, spoke to the Board about the
group IPARK. This is a county wide planning directors group that meets
quarterly to discuss local issues. He said that the City of Lantana is starting an
initiative to help stop the converting of business to residential property.
Charles updated the board on the approval of Parcel 5A on the Northwest corner
of Alternate Al A and PGA Blvd. The project is being developed by Catalfumo
• and has been vested for 600,000 square feet of industrial research space. He
wants the Board to know that staff is working hard not to convert property to
residential and he feels that the developers are starting to get the message.
Charles also updated the board on the status of bringing Tri -Rail to the City and
discussed a transportation study that the City is initiating. He also talked about
redeveloping different areas throughout the City and stated that there is already
discussion about redeveloping the Lohemans Plaza into a Mizner Park type
development. There was ongoing discussion about Tri -Rail and transportation in
the City.
Dolores informed the Board that Staff has been directed by City Council to begin
work on an overlay corridor system that would be for value -added employers.
She stated that an increase in intensity, density, and heights would be proposed.
This plan would also incorporate transportation routes. She feels this Board will
be instrumental in keeping this plan moving forward.
Casey Steinbacher talked about a Special Council that is being held to discuss a
North County proposal for the development of a bioscience cluster in the North
County. The proposal will show an inventory of land and building in the North
County. It will also include language for zoning overlay ordinances. She will
make sure the Board gets a copy of the proposal and will happy to do a
presentation on the topic.
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XII. ADJOURNMENT •
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:34
A. M.
Approval:
Kenneth Kahn, C
`Lou Gaeta, Vice Chairperson
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Elaine Beers, Board Member
ames Kissel, Board Vember
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Mark Murnan, Board Member
Casey Steinbacher, Board Member
Vacant, Board Member
Steve Cohen, Alternate Board Member
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Sandra Foland, Alternate Board Member
Attest:
usan II, Public Information/ Recording Coordinator •
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