Mayor & Common Council Meetings

MINUTES CITY OF WESTMINSTER Special Meeting of Mayor and Common Council and The Council of Past Presidents of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Friday, July 20, 2018 Elected Officials Present: Councilmember Becker, Mayor Dominick, President Wack, and Councilmember Yingling. Staff Present: City Administrator Matthews. MEDA Council of Past Presidents Present: Jack Lyburn, Director of Carroll County Economic Development; Dave Ryan, Executive Director of Salisbury – Wicomico Economic Development; Laurie Boyer, Manager of Economic Development, Division of Fiscal Management of Montgomery County Government Finance Department; and Larry Twele, President of Howard County Economic Development Authority. Other Attendees: Dennis Frazier, Carroll County Commissioner and Pam Ruff, Executive Director of MEDA. Welcome President Wack called the meeting to order at 10:12 a.m. Those in attendance introduced themselves. Opening Remarks Ms. Ruff provided a brief overview of MEDA, stating that it is a statewide organization with approximately 450 members. She shared that approximately ten years ago, MEDA established the Council of Past Presidents to offer advice and act as a sounding board for MEDA members. Ms. Ruff stated that comments made during the meeting by individuals do not necessarily reflect the opinion of MEDA as an organization, and should not be reported as a statement by MEDA. She added that MEDA is a non-partisan organization that does not take a position on legislative issues. Meeting Purpose Councilmember Yingling stated that he and his elected official colleagues were looking for candid feedback. He noted that there were considerable assets in Carroll County and the City of Westminster, including a business-friendly climate, an airport, a fiber network, and the Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovative Collaboratory (MAGIC). Mayor Dominick stated that the City has dealt with certain challenges, but is on the cusp of finding solutions to current problems. The City’s assets include construction of the Westminster Fiber Network to provide gigabit connections, the airport, and its sizable Main Street. Mayor Dominick noted that Westminster is a unique mix of urban and rural, offering the best of an urban environment without the customary traffic congestion. He added that, while Westminster is close to metropolitan areas, it is often referred to as a bedroom community. Discussion Mr. Ryan stated that he had arrived the previous night and took the opportunity to drive around the city. He shared that Westminster was larger and had more of a manufacturing base than he had previously envisioned. Mr. Ryan stated that he had reviewed the City of Westminster’s Strategic Plan and was impressed with its forward-thinking ideas. He appreciated the opportunity to assist the City in its endeavors. Ms. Boyer requested background on the construction of the Westminster Fiber Network and MAGIC’s role. In response, President Wack provided information on the City’s public-private partnership with Ting. He stated that MAGIC’s mission is to create, nurture, and assist tech entrepreneurs. Ms. Boyer provided background on the establishment of the Frederick Innovative Technology Center. Mr. Ryan discussed the formation of the Entrepreneur Center in the City of Salisbury. Both Ms. Boyer and Mr. Ryan described the roles that educational institutions played in these organizations. President Wack noted that both McDaniel College and Carroll County Community College had representation on the MAGIC Board of Directors. The members of the MEDA Council of Past Presidents then shared information on various economic development tools, including the State’s recently-enacted Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone Program and Tax Increment Financing. Mayor Dominick noted how virtually every business sector is now tech-oriented. He commented that, in his business, it is easier to teach the tech side of things compared to grammar and writing skills. He shared that his recent hires have been English majors from McDaniel College. Mayor Dominick commented that McDaniel College was one of the City’s major assets. In response to an inquiry from Councilmember Yingling, the members of the MEDA Council of Past Presidents described their respective organizations, including how they are staffed, funded, and the level of subsidy provided by the local government. They also shared information on the type of performance metrics used to measure success within their organizations. Commissioner Frazier asked the members of the MEDA Council of Past Presidents, most of whom were affiliated with county governments, if municipalities typically had their own economic development staff. Mr. Ryan replied that municipalities tend to focus their economic development efforts on special events in their downtown areas. Ms. Boyer shared information on how municipalities in Frederick County, where she previously worked, approached economic development. She added that the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville, located in Montgomery County, each have their own economic development staff. Ms. Boyer commented on the Bethesda Urban Partnership, which is structured as a Business Improvement District and focuses on security, beautification, and events. In response to an inquiry from President Wack, she provided information on how a Business Improvement District is established. Councilmember Yingling then initiated a discussion concerning nuisance properties, asking members of the MEDA Council of Past Presidents to share strategies on how to address them. The members of the MEDA Council of Past Presidents shared information on zoning tools, grant programs, and other incentives to resolve different types of issues. At the conclusion of the discussion, Councilmember Yingling thanked everyone for their feedback. The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:55 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Barbara Matthews, City Administrator