Economic Development Corporation

FINAL - MINUTES OF THE NEW BRAUNFELS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGULAR MEETING OF THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023 AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER President Kathy Meurin called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM. 2. ROLL CALL Present: President Kathy Meurin, Vice President Kristen Carden, Secretary Stuart Hansmann, Director Larry Hammonds, and Treasurer Don Austin (5:04 PM). Absent: Directors Shane Hines & Neal Linnartz Also Present: Mayor Rusty Brockman 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) Approval of the minutes of the March 9, 2023 regular meeting President Meurin introduced this item. Vice President Carden motioned to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2023 regular meeting. Secretary Hansmann seconded the motion which was approved unanimously. 4. CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATIONS This time is for citizens to address the Board on issues and items of concerns not on this agenda. There will be no Board action at this time. None 5. TREASURER'S REPORT A) Presentation and discussion of the April 2023 Treasurer’s Report President Meurin introduced this item. Jared Werner, Assistant City Manager, presented a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview of the April 2023 Treasurer's Report. Mr. Werner identified that gross sales tax collections, for the month of January, decreased by 5%. For the first four months of the fiscal year, sales tax collections are down 1.2% which is significantly Thursday, April 20, 2023 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Regular Meeting  outperforming the estimate considering the comparison to last year with HD Supply collections. The restaurant, general services, manufacturing and miscellaneous industries experienced double-digit growth for January, whereas professional services and wholesale markets saw declines. February is the first month we can compare to last year's numbers without HD Supply and sales tax collections are up 13.1%. Mr. Werner shared that sales tax collections have averaged a double-digit growth during the pandemic recovery, while also summarizing projected revenues for FY 22-27 and project commitments including the Landa Lake Dam, S. Castell Drainage, and Sports Complex projects. 6. ADVISORY TEAM REPORT A) Quarterly Advisory Team Report President Meurin introduced this item. Jonathan Packer, President & CEO of the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, provided an update from the Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation on private sector funding in relation to public funding and the status of the Chamber's budget. Michele Boggs, Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, presented a PowerPoint reviewing the Advisory Team Report for Quarter 1 which summarized new leads, business retention and expansion efforts, and overall marketing activity. Ms. Boggs shared that there are 18 new projects for Q1, 54 active projects, with 74% of projects in manufacturing. There are seven upcoming scheduled marketing trips for Q2 dedicated to meeting site selection consultants and new companies. To conclude, Ms. Boggs shared data highlighting education-based underemployment in New Braunfels in which more skilled jobs are needed for this area - something the Chamber is working on. Mr. Packer and Ms. Boggs answered questions from the Board. 7. DISCUSSION AND ACTION A) Presentation and update on SPARK Small Business Center President Meurin introduced this item. Thursday, April 20, 2023 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Regular Meeting  Jeff Jewell, Director of Economic and Community Development, refreshed the Board about its support of the UTSA SPARK Small Business Development Center. Dani Hensley, President of the SPARK Board, shared that changes have been made at the Business Advisor level to include an interim Business Advisor, Mr. Ruben Lopez, who has been filling in during the new staff transition. Ruben Lopez, SPARK SBDC, provided a report summarizing advising, training, and businesses supported this past quarter. Mr. Lopez introduced the new staff at the center and indicated additional training events will be held in the following quarters. Breannah Ruesga, Program Specialist at SPARK, informed the Board of the upcoming plans to revitalize and revamp the social media and web presence for the Small Business Development Center. Ms. Ruesga answered questions from the Board. B) Discussion and nomination of a recommended EDC representative to the Central Texas Technology Center Advisory Board for City Council consideration President Meurin introduced this item and shared with the board about the Central Texas Technology Center Advisory Board, meeting requirements and frequencies, as she served as the EDC representative to this advisory board. Mr. Jewell, Director of Economic and Community Development, provided additional background about the CTTC and highlighted upcoming proposed changes to the Advisory Board's bylaws and role. Vice President Carden motioned to recommend Mr. Shane Hines as the EDC representative. Secretary Hansmann seconded the motion which was approved unanimously. Mayor Brockman shared his gratitude towards President Meurin for chairing the CTTC Advisory Board and applauded her leadership. C) Presentation and update on the 2019 Bond Sports Complex project President Meurin introduced this item. Garry Ford, Director of Transportation & Capital Improvements, Thursday, April 20, 2023 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Regular Meeting  provided a PowerPoint presentation updating the Board on the 2019 Bond Sports Complex project. Mr. Ford shared updates to the design team, the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), project status, and the CMAR's role of setting a guaranteed maximum price. Mr. Ford reminded the Board of the budgeted amount for the total project as $36.6 Million, with an established budget limitation set at $29 Million. The remaining budgeted amount will address owner items, design costs, equipment, and utilities. A timeline was reviewed with a projected notice to proceed for construction highlighted for Fall 2023 with an 18-month construction timeline. The CMAR is coordinating with utility providers about the project needs and agreements. Mr. Ford answered questions from the Board. D) Presentation and update on the Dry Comal Creek - Phase 1 project President Meurin introduced this item. Garry Ford, Director of Transportation & Capital Improvements, provided a PowerPoint presentation updating the Board on the Dry Comal Creek Phase 1 project. The project received final design funding from the EDC at a prior meeting. Segment 1 is an .8-mile segment from Walnut to Landa streets which will go under three underpasses - under the UP railroad, the Guenther Ave Bridge, and Landa Street. The connection from Landa Park Drive and Elizabeth Ave has been moved to a later date. The original estimate for this project was $1,790,000 which has been modified to $2,900,000, and AAMPO is covering the construction cost increase. The project has experienced delays due to the multiple plan reviews by Union Pacific Railroad, property acquisition negotiations, and work with TxDOT. Plans are underway to bring the project to a steering committee and requests for community feedback, with final direction provided by City Council at an upcoming meeting. Overall, the construction stage of this project has been pushed from FY24 to FY25. E) Public hearing, discussion, and possible action approving an expenditure of up to $260,007 to the City of New Braunfels for a professional services agreement with Bain Medina Bain, Inc. for the final design of Citywide Pedestrian Improvements, a project expenditure authorized under Local Government Code Section 505.152. President Meurin introduced this item. Thursday, April 20, 2023 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Regular Meeting  Scott McClelland, Assistant Director of Transportation and Capital Improvements presented a PowerPoint for this item. Final design for citywide pedestrian improvements will include completing sidewalk gaps, improve existing sidewalks/ramps, enhance pedestrian crossings, and addressing ADA issues. Smaller projects have been combined together to speed up the project process. Phase 1 addresses sidewalk improvements near New Braunfels Middle School/Klein Elementary School, Landa Street at Loop 337, Oak Run Parkway, Oak Run at Westpointe, and Prince Solms/Hinman Island parks. Mr. McClelland answered questions from the Board. President Meurin opened the public hearing and no comments were made. President Meurin closed the public hearing. Secretary Austin made a motion to approve the $260,007 expenditure to the City of New Braunfels for a professional services agreement with Bain Medina Bain, Inc. for the final design of citywide pedestrian improvements. Vice President Carden seconded the motion which passed unanimously. F) Presentation and update on Downtown Parking Initiatives Jeff Jewell, Director of Economic and Community Development, presented a PowerPoint for this item. Mr. Jewell provided an overview of the parking challenges downtown, reviewed previous initiatives, and provided recommendations for managing the existing supply, monitoring changes and reassessing. Results from a 2016 parking study advised improving parking enforcement efforts, updating parking wayfinding, and expanding public parking supply opportunities. Present-day challenges include limited parking information and signage, employee parking challenges, parking enforcement not matching patterns of demand, and an overwhelming amount of private-access parking lots. Mr. Jewell shared results of a parking lot financial feasibility study in which revenue and expense assumptions were offered. Overall, it was projected that a 400 space parking garage would cost around $20M and operate at a $1.3M annual loss. It is recommended that the City establish a parking department/division, create a civil citation process for parking offenders, utilize technology for more efficient enforcement, and to integrate paid parking systems with City departments. Mr. Jewell informed the Board of the next steps to build-out a comprehensive Thursday, April 20, 2023 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Regular Meeting  parking wayfinding system, to improve online information regarding parking, to unlock private parking lots for public usage, increase enforcement, and problem-solving employee parking. Mr. Jewell answered questions from the Board. 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION In accordance with the Texas Government Code, Section 551.071, the Board reserves the right to retire into executive session concerning the items listed on this agenda to consult with its attorney. In addition, the Board may convene in executive session on any of the following items, with any final action being taken in open session: A) Deliberate and consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, in accordance with Section 551.072, of the Texas Government Code: 1. Gruene 16, Block 1, Lots 1-3 Deliberate issues regarding economic development negotiations in accordance with Section 551.087 of the Texas Government Code: 1. Project Unicorn President Meurin introduced this item. The Board retired to Executive Session at 6:23 PM. Items were discussed in order of their appearance on the agenda. The Board returned to open session at 7:01 PM. No action was taken. 9. ADJOURNMENT President Meurin adjourned the meeting at 7:01 PM. By: ______________________________ KATHY MEURIN, PRESIDENT Thursday, April 20, 2023 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Regular Meeting