Economic Development minutes-2-28-2006

CITY OF EVANSVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes

Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Second Floor, Evansville City Hall

5:30 p.m.

1. Roll call. Present: Gene Bass, Roger Berg, John Decker, James Otterstein. Absent: Chairperson Aikman, Ald. Anderson, Dean Arnold. Also present: Greg Sanders and Wendy Soucie of Sortis, LLC and (for the latter portion of the meeting) City Administrator Bill Connors. The committee asked John Decker to facillitate the meeting.

2. Approval of agenda. The committee reviewed the revised agenda, dated February 24, 2006. Without objection, the revised agenda was approved.

3. Approval of minutes. Motion by Bass, second by Berg, to approve the minutes of the January 24, 2006 minutes, as distributed. Approved by voice vote.

4. Citizen appearances, other than on items listed below. None.

5. Presentation by Sortis. Greg Sanders and Wendy Soucie furnished a presentation on Sortis's proposal to establish a "branding" program for Evansville, and to seek grant funding to defray a portion of the cost of the program. The committee asked Sortis to focus initial attention in the presentation on grant funding possibilities, due to the press of approaching deadlines for certain grant applications. Ms. Soucie reviewed the various potential grants identified by Sortis.

In discussion, the committee noted that its annual budget is $5,000, and that any required local "match" funding beyond the committee's budget would require a supplemental appropriation from the Common Council. Mr. Connors observed that there is little leeway in the City's current budget for additional project funding.

Mr. Otterstein suggested the time may be appropriate for the Evansville community to commission a trade market study to evaluate (among other things) spending patterns in town and out-of-town, and to enable one to guage the potential for increasing local trade and commerce, and in which particulars. He observed that the Community Development Department of the University of Wisconsin Extension had considerable experience in conducting such studies, and would be available to conduct a study for Evansville. The extent and depth of the study could be varied, along with attendant cost. Mr. Sanders observed that R.A. Smith also had experience in such activities, and could provide an alternative project proposal and cost estimate.

The committee and Ms. Soucie focused attention on which of the grant sources identified by Sortis would be most amenable to furnishing funds in connection with a trade market study.

Following extended discussion, the committee reached consensus on the following course of action:

a) Mr. Otterstein will contact the University of Wisconsin Extension to obtain materials and cost quotations for a trade market study, and furnish those to the Chairperson Aikman and to Mr. Decker as soon as possible.

b) Sortis will contact R.A. Smith for similar materials and cost quotations, and likewise furnish them as soon as possible.

c) Sortis will obtain grant application materials for the Business Opportunity Grant Program sponsored by Wisconsin Rural Development, and for the Community Based Economic Development Program sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and will evaluate the nature of the information which will have to be gathered locally to complete the grant applications.

d) Sortis will also contact the Department of Workforce Development for the most recent measure of community household median income, and check to see that Evansville still falls within the eligibility standards for a Wisconsin Rural Development grant.

e) Prompt attention will need to be given to application work, as the deadline for the Wisconsin Rural Development grant application is around May 27, 2006 (Sortis to confirm due date).

f) Mr. Decker will consult with Chamber of Commerce president Barbara Patterson to discuss the trade market study proposal and learn of the interest of the Chamber of Commerce in participation and promotion.

g) The committee will plan to take action at its regular March 21, 2006 meeting, with the expectation it may be necessary to recommend to the Common Council the adoption of an authorizing resolution at the Council's regular April 11, 2006 meeting.

6. Question and answer for Ms. Soucie. Covered under item 5, above.

7. Discussion of potential new commercila and industrial development. Mr. Connors advised that D&D Development has presented an annexation petition to the City for approximately 96.83 acres of land in the southeast quadrant of US Hwy 14 and CTH "M." Maps showing potential street and lot locations, and potential commercial and light industrial zoning districts were distributed. Following discussion, Berg moved, second by Bass, for the Economic Development Committee's expression of support for the annexation petition. Approved unanimously on voice vote.

8. Adjournment. Motion by Berg to adjourn, second by Bass. Approved by voice vote at 7:29 p.m..


Respectfully submitted,


John Decker, Member


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