DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF THE GILBERT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD

REGULAR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004

PRESENT: Richard Andrews, Lanny M. Brown, Ben Cooper, Angela Creedon, Eric Faas, Martha Fleming, Tony Hyland, Kathy Langdon, Scott Morrison, Peg Mulloy, Kent Norcross, Steve Paisley, Keith Vaughan, Greg Tilque, and Les Presmyk

ABSENT: Maria Hesse, Mary Ellen Fresquez, Karl Kohlhoff, and Christopher Lindahl

OTHERS PRESENT: Doreen Cott, John Zupon, Victor Gonzalez, David Van Den Berg and Jim Cronk

CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Norcross called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m. and declared a quorum present.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS
Chairman Norcross opened the floor to the public for any comments or communications on items not on the agenda. No communication from citizens.

3.        Minutes - Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 13, 2004
A MOTION was made by Board member Brown, seconded by Board member Hyland, to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of October 13, 2004 as written. Voice vote carried 10 - 0.

4.        GP04 - 13 Amendment for the 160 acres ½ mile east Val Vista, north of Germann to the Willis Road alignment.
Economic Development Director Tilque gave a brief overview as to what was proposed and discussed at last month’s meeting pertaining to this corner. The proposal included:
40 acres of Business Park
20 acres of multi - family residential
20 acres of General Office
15 acres of Neighborhood Office
Remaining acres as higher density residential

Economic Development and Planning staff met to discuss the input received from the Board and made further changes to plan. The newest version was included in the packet. On October 20, 2004 the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the newest version be approved and that recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Council for consideration on December 14th.

The new plan includes:
15 acres of commercial uses
20 acres of multi - family
65 acres of business park
40 acres of general office
20 acres of Neighborhood Office

This layout will give the Town substantial amounts of new industrial and office use opportunities.

Council Liaison Presmyk informed the Board that representatives of some landowners will be asking Town Council to approve a different plan as they do not want to set aside any land for residential. He circulated their latest plan as of November 9th. (Board members Creedon, Langdon, and Faas joined the meeting during the discussion).

Economic Development Director Tilque indicated that Chairman Norcross will attend the Town Council meeting to represent and convey GEDAB’s position.

The Board discussed the following:
What is surrounding the site
Roadways (future and current)
Approval process (P & Z/Town Council)
Feelings of the residents to the east of 156th Street

Board member Andrews reiterated that you have to have an employment base for the residential section. He would also recommend that residential be kept as a component. He does not care where it is located in the plan.

Business Development Specialist Cott stated she was in attendance at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting and got a general sense that many of the landowners like the plan proposed by staff.

A MOTION was made by Board member Langdon, seconded by Board member Creedon, to support the plan approved by Planning & Zoning Commission at their October 20, 2004 meeting with the stipulation that the Board is flexible as to the location of the residential component within the plan. Voice vote carried 12 - 1 - 0. Board member Brown cast the dissenting vote.

5.        GP04 - 12 - - Cooley Station
Senior Planner Cronk announced the Cooley Family hired a new consultant last week and will be meeting later today with the team.

Senior Planner Cronk mentioned this case will go to Planning & Zoning Commission on December 1st for some type of recommendation to Town Council. Town Council needs to open the hearing on this case in December but can continue until January if needed. Process is on a very tight schedule.

Senior Planner Cronk highlighted the following elements in the proposed plan:
Eliminate the light industrial and replace with single family residential
Make village center an east - west direction
Reduce commercial from 196 acres to 149 acres
Reduce multi - family residential from 180 acres to 60 acres

Staff reviewed the recommendations made by the Board in October:
Employment is a key factor
Keep the transit center component

Planning staff went to the Planning & Zoning Commission with a number of different recommendations:
Change the Light Industrial designation to Business Park (67 acres to 45 acres)
Designate the NWC of Williams Field and Recker Roads for General Office (20 acres)
Retain the Village Center as a unique mixed use neo - traditional urban core with retail, employment and multi - family uses
Relocate the Village Center to both sides of Williams Field Road, east of Recker Road while reducing its size by the area designated for General Office
Allow early phases of development in the Village Center to have a FAR of .40 as long as they demonstrate a conceptual plan to reach .80 FAR at build - out.

Senior Planner Cronk indicated that staff recommends the Business Park be perpendicular to the transit stop.

Comments of the Board:
Promote .40 FAR down to something more reasonable. Possibly .30 (example given was the Kierland Commons)
Locate transit station near employment uses. Board member Andrews said it needs to be close to the Village Center.
Depth of the proposed residential areas

A MOTION was made by Board member Morrison, seconded by Board member Vaughan, to support this recommendation with an acceptable beginning FAR of .30. Voice vote carried 12 - 1 - 0. Board member Andrews cast the dissenting vote.

Chairman Norcross directed staff to put the item on the December 8th agenda.

6.        September 8, 2004 Board Retreat
Economic Development Director Tilque reviewed the results of the exercise from the September 8, 2004 Board Retreat. He asked for clarification of some of the responses and whether the group responsible was correct.

Business Development & Retention/Expansion-
Strategy #2-Emphasize opportunities in Gilbert’s major commercial growth areas-
Tactic Plan-Promote Gilbert’s competitive advantages
Disseminate messages through internal and external communication vehicles
Question about the Who and why Kathy Langdon was included. The response was probably to connect the websites.
Comment made that if any board member is attending a tradeshow to let the department know to see if there is anyone in particular they should speak with on behalf of the Town of Gilbert. Board member Brown has done this on several occasions.
Strategy #3-Educate public and private entities on the need to preserve Gilbert’s industrial land base. Emphasize that this is the key to success of the General Plan and encourage audiences to articulate this message to others.
Tactic Plan-Keep lines of communication open through regularly scheduled meetings and the submission of progress reports.
Research Analyst Zupon in the process of preparing a report on the changes over the years of the General Plan and land use.
Council Liaison Presmyk indicated Town Council recently approved a RFP for an Economic Development study of the Town of Gilbert.
Clarification as to what was meant by “redensification”. Board member Andrews wanted to make sure infrastructure is in place for ultimate build - out.
Strategy#4-Understand and address the issues that will retain businesses in Gilbert, and use findings to bolster current recruitment efforts.
Tactic Plan-Analyze information gathered by allies, identify trend lines, key relationships and local and regional concerns such as infrastructure issues and business climate. Apply findings.
Appoint a staff member and/or volunteer to participate in retention and expansion programs organized by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and report back on activities
Determine the need for ongoing Public Policy Committee-change under WHO from Public Policy Committee to GEDAB.
Remove APS from the B3 as they are the software provider. Need to reevaluate the B3 program around February. Finding it hard to get into the manufacturing facilities to conduct interview.
Tactic Plan-Support the need to remain attractive in regards to development fees and regulations, including system development fees, Universal Land Development Codes (ULDC) and more
Be involved with CIP process to impact SDFs-The WHO should not be Cluster Committee but Public Policy Committee
Develop process for members to support Council meetings-Should include also Planning & Zoning Commission and Design Review Board.
Tactic Plan-Foster relationships with existing businesses in an effort to uncover new growth opportunities.
Hold forums and annual lunch meetings/GEDAB regular updates to Gilbert Leadership and Gilbert NOW-Change the WHO from Chamber to staff
What was meant by use eco dev & Education profiles due in November. Board member Creedon responded they are from East Valley Partnership and contain valuable information.

Economic Development Director Tilque will take the information given and put together some type of action plan for the Board. Board member Cooper suggested the Board prioritize the list and pick three or four items to work on at the December meeting.

Council Liaison Presmyk reported interviews have concluded for the Industrial Development Authority. All applicants brought experience regarding industrial business and it may be beneficial to utilize them as a sub - committee. He suggested the Economic Development Director, Chairman and Vice Chairman of GEDAB meet with this group.

7.        Marketing Update
Economic Development Director Tilque circulated samples of the new look for the newsletter, post card campaign, cover of the profile. He noted a color change. The Economic Department will move forward with the marketing materials but wanted to make sure the Board received a preview.

MONTHLY REPORTS
8.        Redevelopment Commission Report
Economic Development Director Tilque indicated the Commission will talk about the responses received to the RFP for the NW Corner of Gilbert and Elliot Roads.

9.        Planning and Zoning Commission Report
No report.

10.        Design Review Board Report
No report.

11.        Target Business Cluster Update
Business Development Specialist gave a brief update on the Target Business Cluster Committee:
Held forums to get input on the perceptions of Gilbert and to identify specific industry clusters the Gilbert Economic Development Department can recruit pertaining to Gilbert’s business climate, workforce/education, infrastructure, and quality of life.
In the process of preparing a conceptual overview along with numbers of trends (aerospace, composite, etc.) which should be ready for next month’s meeting.

COMMUNICATIONS
13        Report from Chairman on Current and Future Events
Chairman Norcross mentioned the following:
Participating along with members from the Chamber in the CIP process meetings. Directed staff to put on next month’s agenda for an update.
Gilbert Industrial Guidelines should be ready next month. Directed staff to put on next month’s agenda for discussion.

14.        Report from Economic Development Director on Current and Future Events
Economic Development Director Tilque announced the new tenant for Gonzo’s is Heart Throb Café and should be opened by the end of the year.

15.        Report from Board Members on Current and Future Events
Council Liaison Presmyk suggested the Board consider scheduling another joint meeting with Town Council very soon.

ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Norcross adjourned the meeting at 9:22 a.m.

ATTEST:

Elizabeth A. Stupski, Recorder