Economic Development Authority

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY of the CITY OF HAMPTON, VIRGINIA Minutes – Regular Meeting September 15, 2015 – 8:50 a.m. EDA Conference Room CALL Chair Arnold called the meeting to order at 8:50 a.m. due to a TO ORDER fire emergency at One Franklin Street DIRECTORS Wallace C. Arnold, Eleanor W. Brown, Richard M. Bagley, Jr., Dr. PRESENT Lewis J. Bellinger, Michelle T. Ferebee, L. Scott Seymour and Anne W. Shuford. Also present was Secretary-Treasurer Leonard L. Sledge. STAFF Pete Peterson, Patricia Melochick, Bonnie Brown, Terri O’Neill, PRESENT Robin McCormick, Steven Lynch, Michael Yaskowsky, Daniel Girouard and Teresa Hudgins GUESTS Councilman Donnie Tuck PRESENT Dr. Richard Antcliff – NASA Langley Research Center Ryan Murphy – Daily Press MINUTES Chair Arnold stated the Minutes of the August 18, 2015 EDA board meeting were distributed. A motion was made by Ms. Brown and seconded by Dr. Bellinger to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried. PRESENTATION Dr. Richard Antcliff with NASA Langley Research Center UNMANNED gave a presentation on the unmanned aerial systems proof of AERIAL SYSTEMS concept center. NASA, the National Institute of Aerospace, Peninsula Technology Incubator and Wallops Island will be submitting a joint proposal to the U.S. EDA for this project. Dr. Antcliff is seeking a match from the EDA of cash and in-kind services. Mr. Sledge will make a recommendation to the EDA Loan & Grant Review Committee for its consideration of a grant amount to support this initiative. LOAN Ms. Ferebee reviewed the Loan Status Report. The City PROGRAM Attorney’s office has sent letters to Covenant Care and Touch of Class Fencing requesting payments be made. Mr. Bagley asked if staff was reaching out to the companies before the account was sent to legal and if there was any benefit to EDA board members contacting these companies. Mr. Arnold said staff and Committee members have met with Touch of Class Fencing and will ask legal counsel if there is any benefit to Committee members getting involved in the process.  There were no questions on the EDA Loan/Grant Program Fund Balance Sheet as of August 30, 2015 which was included in the package. Ms. Ferebee made a motion to approve 25% of unallocated funds be allocated to make grants during the current fiscal year in accordance with program guidelines. The 25% amount is $285,879. A roll call vote was taken which resulted as follows: Ayes: Bagley, Bellinger, Ferebee, Seymour, Shuford, Brown and Arnold Nays: None Mr. Sledge added staff is working on program guideline revisions to include the Arts and Cultural District initiative that City Council will consider at its October meeting. ECONOMIC Mr. Sledge stated the updated Status Report on EDA Actions DEVELOPMENT was included in the package. Other items of interest: REPORT  The Hampton State of the City event was sold out; the Newport News State of the City meeting will be October 20th at the Newport News Marriott. Please let Teresa know if you would like to attend.  An RFP for the strategic plan update is being drafted  Mr. Sledge gave a presentation on the economic development industry clusters and highlighted City Council’s four strategic initiatives. After a brief discussion, the members asked Mr. Sledge to forward his presentation to them and include information on average salaries for the identified clusters. CLOSED Chair Arnold stated a Closed Meeting will now be held in MEETING accordance with Section 2.2-3711.A.3 of the Code of Virginia for discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose in Coliseum Central where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the Authority and Section 2.2-3711.A.5 to discuss a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business’ or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facility in the community. A motion was made by Ms. Brown and seconded by Ms. Shuford to go into the Closed Meeting. A roll call vote was taken which resulted as follows: Ayes: Bagley, Bellinger, Ferebee, Seymour, Shuford, Brown and Arnold Nays: None 2 CERTIFICATION Chair Arnold stated it was now appropriate to take a Roll OF CLOSED Call vote and that to the best of our knowledge (i) only public MEETING business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under this chapter, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the Closed Meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the Closed Meeting. Any member who believes there was a departure from the requirements of subdivisions (i) and (ii) shall so state prior to the Roll Call vote, indicating the substance of the departure that, in his/her judgment has taken place. Such statements shall be recorded in the Minutes. Chair Arnold asked for any statements. There were none. A motion was made by Mr. Seymour and seconded by Ms. Shuford to conclude the Closed Meeting and return to the Meeting. A roll call vote was taken which resulted as follows: Ayes: Bagley, Bellinger, Ferebee, Seymour, Shuford and Arnold Nays: None Note: Ms. Brown left the meeting at 10:20 and was not present for the vote OLD Mr. Bagley asked if the RFP process should be delayed due to the BUSINESS new business opportunity presented today by NASA which will include the NIA and PTI. Mr. Sledge said he did not believe it is necessary since the RFP intent is to provide business incubation services. OTHER Mr. Arnold thanked Vice Chair Brown for chairing the last BUSINESS meeting in his absence. He also thanked the Economic Development and City Attorney staff for their continued efforts. Additionally, Mr. Arnold asked if the Mayor’s State of the City presentation could be posted on the web site for everyone to access. Dr. Bellinger asked Mr. Sledge if someone from the seafood industry could give a presentation on where we are and where we need to go. Mr. Sledge will ask someone from the commercial and research side to give a presentation at a future meeting. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Leonard L. Sledge Secretary-Treasurer LLS/tbh 3