Economic Development Authority

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY of the CITY OF HAMPTON, VIRGINIA Minutes – Regular Meeting April 16, 2013 – 8:30 A.M. EDA Conference Room CALL Chair Joseph called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. TO ORDER SWEARING IN Linda Smith, Clerk of Circuit Court for the City of Hampton, CEREMONY attended the meeting to swear in Dr. Lewis J. Bellinger. DIRECTORS James R. Joseph, Anne W. Shuford, Wallace C. Arnold, Dr. Lewis PRESENT J. Bellinger, Perry T. Pilgrim and Leonard L. Sledge. Also present were Secretary-Treasurer Michael A. Yaskowsky and EDA Attorney S. Frear Hawkins, II. GUEST Thomas Flake – Peninsula Technology Incubator PRESENT STAFF Pete Peterson, Vanessa Valldejuli, Terry O’Neill, Donald PRESENT Whipple, Ellen Templeton, Susan Borland, Daniel Girouard and Teresa Hudgins MINUTES Chair Joseph stated the Minutes of the March 19, 2013 EDA board meeting were distributed. A motion was made by Mr. Sledge and seconded by Dr. Bellinger to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried. LOAN Mr. Pilgrim reviewed the Loan Status Report as follows: PROGRAM  The Healthy Connection has made one payment  Touch of Class Fencing has secured a contract with Harrison & Lear. Mr. Quadros will prepare an assignment agreement and the funds will be applied to the outstanding balance on the line of credit; the delinquent loan payments will be addressed  Avis Fraser-Williams has paid the loan in full  Unitech, LLC will be discussed at the Committee meeting on Monday A copy of the Old Point Statement of Account dated March 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013 was included in the package. There were no questions or comments. ECONOMIC Mr. Yaskowsky stated the updated Status Report on EDA Actions DEVELOPMENT was included in the package. Other items of interest: REPORT   LeCam is working on landscaping  Project Magnet has signed the Performance Agreement; staff forwarded a sample news release  19 Enterprise Zone applications were received  There was an article in the Daily Press on the Old Point National Bank building project  Staff met with the owners of the former Holiday Inn site; they are interested in developing a multi-family/retail/hotel project  $3 million was included in the CIP budget for joint land use encroachment issues at Langley Air Force Base; a policy will be drafted for purchasing property from willing sellers  The consolidation of EDA incentive program funds into the revolving loan fund did not go before City Council  The City Manager’s proposed FY14 budget includes a $1.00 per night per room lodging fee to be used for cultural attractions; the EDA will administer the program  HREDA will be hosting a tour for VEDP on May 30th; they will tour the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute  There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the ARC of the Virginia Peninsula on April 18th at 10:00 a.m. for the new x-ray imaging business  150 people attended the Cornerstone for Change Conference at Hampton University on March 26th  Pam Croom was hired as the Contract Compliance Specialist Mr. Sledge asked how much money will be generated from the lodging fee and how will funds be disbursed. Mr. Peterson said approximately $500,000 would be generated and there would be an application and award process based on economic activity generated in the city. Mr. Joseph asked about the Economic Development Department budget for next year. Mr. Yaskowsky said the proposed budget calls for the vacant Redevelopment Manager position to be transferred to the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority. EDA Mr. Girouard stated draft guidelines were presented at the REVOLVING previous EDA meeting for members to review and provide LOAN FUND comments. The board members had questions concerning how GUIDELINES staff determined the list of excluded businesses, if the EDA Loan Review Committee/staff should be evaluating business plans, if applicants should be part of the incubator program and should there be another non-EDA member on the Committee with banking and/or loan experience. After the discussion it was determined the draft guidelines would go back to the Committee for further review. 2 HRC NORTH Mr. Yaskowsky stated Mr. Girouard prepared a draft RFP & CITY WIDE based on discussions at the previous board meeting regarding STRATEGIC updating the HRC North master plan in conjunction with PLAN city wide strategic planning efforts. After discussing the matter the board decided to take no action until a new Economic Development director is hired. Mr. Joseph asked staff to prepare a complete inventory of all assessments, reports and studies and the Incubator Committee to recommend initiatives from the Science Park study that are within reach. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael A. Yaskowsky Secretary-Treasurer MAY/tbh 3