Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes
Wednesday, February 14, 2007

MEETING MINUTES OF THE
GILBERT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING ON FEBRUARY 14, 2007
PRESENT: Ben Cooper, Angela Creedon (via phone), Martha Fleming, Maria Hesse, Kathy Langdon, Dr. Albert McHenry, Kent Norcross, Steve Paisley, Kris Thompson, Terri Tobey, Keith Vaughan, Greg Tilque, Jim Iacobazzi, Brigette Peterson, Donald Clay and Steve Urie

ABSENT: Richard Andrews, and Scott Morrison

OTHERS PRESENT: John Zupon, Håkon Johanson, Lauren Cochran and David van den Berg

CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Cooper called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. and declared a quorum present.

Chairman Cooper expressed condolences on behalf of the Gilbert Economic Development Advisory Board to Board member Morrison whose father, Marvin, recently passed away.

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

3. Minutes-Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of January 10, 2007
A MOTION was made by Board member Vaughan, seconded by Board member Hesse, to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of January 10, 2007 as written. Voice vote carried 11-0.

PRESENTATIONS
4. Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Board member Hesse, President of Chandler-Gilbert Community College, gave an update and informational presentation about the three campuses of Chandler-Gilbert Community College. She distributed a folder containing information about the college as well as a spring class schedule.

Highlights of the presentation:
? CGCC is one of ten (10) Maricopa Community Colleges
? Serves the Southeast Valley
? Three campus locations: Pecos (120 acres) located at NW Corner of Gilbert & Pecos; Williams (55 acres) located at Ray & Power Roads and Sun Lakes (5,000 sq. ft) facility located on the NEC of Alma School & Riggs that serves the senior community
? Focus of the college:
o Prepare students for transfer
o Offer general education courses
o Offer Workforce Development Programs
o Offer specialized training program for business & industry
o Offer community events and educational activities
? Program and Degrees (credit and non-credit) offered by CGCC include Teacher Education, Nursing, Massage Therapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Personal training, Pharmacy Technician, Administrative of Justice (Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis, Emergency Management, Evidence Technology and Homeland Security).
? Law Enforcement Academy held its first graduating class several weeks ago.
? Fire Science currently opened to employees of Fire Departments.
? Engineering currently has 200 students enrolled in program
? Biotechnology program is only two years old and has only 2 courses but is being developed for an associate degree.
? Other programs offered include Electric Utility Technology, Retail Management and Information Technology.
? Aviation program has four focus areas: Airframe & Power Plant Maintenance, Avionics, Aircraft Flight Technology and Aircraft Construction.
? Performing Arts Center (Pecos Campus) for Music, theatre and dance.
? Student Center?expanded services such as career center.
? University partnership with ASU/ASU Polytechnic, NAU.
? Early Outreach programs being offered to target at-risk students. Reaching out to 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
? CGCC only Maricopa Community College with Residence halls and student housing.
? Wireless Technology available on all three campuses.
? Fitness Centers at Pecos and Williams campuses
? Athletics include: Men?s/Women?s Basketball, Soccer and Golf, volleyball, softball, and baseball.
? Need to expand classrooms to accommodate the 13,000 students enrolled. CGCC fastest growing community college.
? New construction: Sun Lakes–Added second level to building for classrooms and large meeting room; Pecos?Constructing building for science labs, and general classrooms, expanded parking lot with 400 additional spaces and added signage off of Gilbert Road; Williams?Breaking ground to construct hangar for the Aviation program and nursing health care facility.

Board member Hesse concluded her presentation by fielding questions from the Board. The Board had asked questions regarding the current and future parking needs, number of international students, and the number full-time/part-time faculty.

Chairman Cooper thanked Board member Hesse for the informational presentation.

PUBLIC HEARING
5. Presentation and discussion of the Draft Amendment to LDC Chapter 1, Article 4.4: Sign Regulations for Multi-Story Buildings
Senior Planner Veljic presented the proposed draft amendment to the Land Development Code for sign regulations for multi-story buildings in the absence of Senior Planner Milillo who is out ill.

The presentation included a Power Point of photographs that illustrates the type of allowable and prohibited signs on multi-story buildings. Senior Planner Veljic indicated the proposed text amendment was designed to have multi-story building signage be aesthetic and not cluttered.
? Current sign regulations for multi-story buildings in all zoning districts prohibits wall signs on more than one floor
? No provisions to allow applicant to request the Design Review Board to consider signs on more than one floor of multi-story building
? Changes to be made to four main subsections of the Sign Regulations:
o 4.403 Sign Criteria?C. Placement of Signs and H. Master Sign Plan
o 4.407 Commercial, 4.408 Office/Employment and 4.409 Public Facility/Institutional?C 1. (d) Multi-Story Building and g. Placement and Scale

Highlights of draft sign amendment:
? Projecting signs will be permitted throughout the town. Heritage District currently has projecting signs (Joe?s BBQ, Oregano?s).
? Master Sign program will be available for office/employment exceeding 100,000 sq. ft. and hotels.
? Two-story commercial uses will be allowed tenant and/or building identification signs on 2nd floor.
? Commercial uses three-story or more in height will be allowed signage on first floor and top floor and subject to new sign size and height standards for on-premise signs.
? Top floor signage located on multi-story buildings may span floor plates
? Public Facility/Institutional uses four-story or more in height will be allowed signage on first floor and top floor and subject to new sign size and height standards for on-premise signs.

Questions, comments and concerns of the Board:
? Wanted to know who the ?stakeholders? were. Board member Langdon responded she was a member, along with major developers such as Westcor, Rome Towers, members of the Sign Industry, Design Review Board, Planning Commission and Business Development staff, just to name a few.
? Full floor tenants should be allowed to have signage.
? Signage issue is very important. Example given was New York City where prime identity is the building.
? Tenants of the building should be allowed to have signage on building.

Senior Planner Veljic mentioned he would get a copy of the draft text amendment in its entirety to Business Development Manager Tilque to distribute to Board members. The Draft text amendment will go to Design Review Board next week and then to Planning Commission for 1st public hearing.

Chairman Cooper recapped the thoughts of the Board and stated that end users should be part of the stakeholders group.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
6. Update on Projects in Gilbert
Business Development Manager Tilque highlighted some of the current economic development projects:
? Several GPEC Project Requests were received but Gilbert did not have the space available and did not respond to requests. Requests included High Tech Manufacturer, Light Manufacturing, Aerospace and Back office needing between 30,000 ? 100,000 square feet of existing space.
? Seville Tract T General Plan Amendment– Applicant will be asking for a decision at the March 7th Planning Commission meeting. Vice Chairman Thompson will attend to present the Board?s position.
? Harkins Theaters at SanTan Village Shopping Center?Scheduled to be open March 30, 2007.
? Copper Point Business Park?94,000 square feet, 3 story professional & medical office; 15,000 square feet of retail component.
? Meeting with Tesco?Plan to open 20 locations in valley. Two will be located in Gilbert: NEC Higley/Ray Roads and SWC Greenfield/Warner.

Business Development Manager Tilque mentioned:
? Postcard Campaign?Currently being designed and printing to be done by APS. A special thank you was given to APS.
? Community Profile–Ready to go to print. SRP to do the printing. A special thank you was given to SRP.
? Circle of Influence?New look. Board should have received e-mail last week which featured Business Development Specialist Patton and Research Analyst Johanson.
? PCE?Going to Council Retreat on February 24, 2007
? Cancer Treatment Center?Still waiting for a decision to be made for location.

COMMUNICATIONS
7. Redevelopment Commission Report
Redevelopment Commission Liaison Iacobazzi reported the following:
? GrainBelt Grillhouse?The restaurant is now open.
? Community Center?Groundbreaking ceremony was held in January
? Water Tower?Painting of tower is now complete
? Old Boys & Girls Club?Staff going to Council March 6th to request an extension on the Development Agreement to allow Land Capital Group to resolve a personnel issue.

8. Planning Commission Report
Planning Commission Liaison Peterson mentioned the following:
? February agenda included public hearing on signage for the Heritage District
? Continued the Minor General Plan Amendment for the Seville Tract T to March 7th meeting.

9. Design Review Board Report
Design Review Board Liaison Clay reported 15 agenda items were reviewed by the Design Review Board in January:
? Four study session items which included Liberty Market, Docle Salon & Spa, Best Buy and amendments to the zoning code of Gilbert for Heritage District Sign regulations
? Eight consent agenda items?All approved with two being approved with modifications, sign package for Banner Gateway Medical Center and standards plans and elevations for proposed home in The Willows at Recker and Williams Field Road
? Three public hearing agenda items?Landscape contractor?s office and outside storage at 202 Loop and Val Vista (approved), Moutainside Fitness and Office at Main Street Commons (approved with modifications) and Williams Field High School Aquatic Complex continued to February 15th meeting.

10. Report from Chair on current and future events
No report.

11. Report from Business Development Manager on current and future events
Business Development Manager Tilque reported the following:
? Business Development Specialist Patton is attending the Medical Devices & Manufacturing MD&M Tradeshow in Anaheim, CA
? Strategic Planning for the Town is underway. Notices to be sent to Board members with details about an upcoming Strategic Planning stakeholders meeting on February 28th at 7:00 p.m.

12. Report from Board members on current and future events
Board member Norcross announced the Valley Partnership Flat Tire Tour is March 8th. Invitations already sent by Administrative Assistant Stupski to the Board. Program includes: Lunch guest speaker Marshall Trimble, Arizona State Historian, three break-out sessions, a Market Overview by Greg Vogel and final presentation by Barry Broome (GPEC) and Steve Moore (Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau).

ADJOURNMENT
A MOTION was made by Board member Vaughan, seconded by Board member Hesse, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 8:47 a.m.

Ben Cooper, Chairman
ATTEST:

Elizabeth A. Stupski, Recorder