Economic Development Committee Minutes--12-20-2005

CITY OF EVANSVILLE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Council Chambers

6:00 p.m.

Roll call. Present: Gene Bass, Roger Berg, John Decker, and Karen Aikman
Approval of agenda. Passed unanimously
Citizen appearances, other than on items listed below. None.
Election of committee officers (chairperson, secretary, and any others as determined by the committee). Karen Aikman was elected to serve as Chair and Secretary. Position of Chair must be filled by a Council member. No other officer position was found to be required at this time.
Presentation by Sortis, and committee directions as to grant application(s).
Sortis was unable to attend. It was explained to Karen that Sortis has been hired to investigate and apply for Grants for the City of Evansville. There was a question as to if Sortis has been paid. (Which Bill Connors, at the following RDA meeting, confirmed they have) It was explained Sortis has a lead on a Grant involving Bike Trails, among others types.

Follow-up on new business inquiries to City, Chamber, ECP, etc..
Mr. Bass inquired if a check has been paid to the Ag teacher, FFA, for some Landscaping - Karen agreed to look into it.

Discussion then focused on bringing Karen up to speed and included a history of the ED committee and some braining storming on ways to move forward. These included:

Distribution of smart growth books
Define ED role
Put ED on the Planning or Council agenda as a reporting committee
Show interest in TIF
Show interest in Box Box group
Organize follow-up to new business inquiries
Increase awareness and involvement in ED
Action Items:

Karen will:

Investigate procuring Smart Growth Books

Investigate payment of Sortis (done at this writing, see above)

Investigate payment for Landscaping

Adjournment.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Aikman

Note: Committee minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting.