CM 1987-07-07 Minutes of July 7, 1987
The City Council of the City of Coppell met in special called session on
Tuesday, July 7, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in the Coppell Town Center. The
following members were present:
Lou Duggan, Mayor
Dan Stanton, Mayor Pro Tem
Dean Wilkerson, Councilman
Walter PettiJohn, Councilman
Tom Morton, Councilman
Bill Smothermon, Councilman
Jim Cowman, Councilman
Mark Wolfe, Councilman
Also present were City Manager Alan D. Ratliff, City Secretary Dorothy
Timmone, and City Attorney Larry Jackson.
The meeting was called to order and everyone asked to stand while
Councilman Morton gave the invocation. Mayor Duggan then led everyone
present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 1: Presentation and briefing by the North Texas Commission
representative on Economic Development strategy and planning.
Mr. Harden Wiedemann, representing the North Texas Commission, made this
presentation to the Council. He stated that the definition of Economic
Development is "to create Jobs so that people have more disposable
income". Mr. Wiedemann also stated that the procedures for a
competitive economic development program include: 1) set up the right
kind of organizational structure and have the right kind of people
involved (neighborhood groups, associations, etc.). Use persistence and
imagination in setting up the organizational structure (Houston-bad;
Beaumont-good; San Antonio-innovative); 2) find a "hook" to use that is
unique but describes the community. He feels that a good one for
Coppell is "Hometown Charm, but Access to the World"; 3) use first-class
writing, research and data capabilities; 4) pay attention to
entrepreneur start-ups and education; 5) have a sustainable budget year
after year, including incentives for prospective businesses; 6) have a
partnership between the city hall, the business community, and the local
chamber; and 7) do something-even if it's wrong. Other points that Mr.
Wiedemann stressed or questions answered included 1) the use of an
outside firm to develop an economic strategy-if the City does not have
the capabilities locally, then hire an outside firm; 2) the use of an
economic director for the City is a critical part of institutionalizing
the system, but it is not necessary to have one until the City has done
a part of its planning; 3) it is important to tie the City to a
university- either local or outside the region or state; 4) the North
Texas Commission would be willing to donate a substantial amount of time
to work with and guide the City's Economic Development Board; 5) it
should take about two weeks to put together, in outline form, an
economic development plan; 6) persons that should be involved in the
development of this plan include, in addition to the Board members, the
Council liaison, and the presidents of the two local banks (Paul Adams
and Lee Richardson); 7) the percentage of Jobs created in small business
(usually characterized as under one hundred employees) is 70-80%; 8)
should have accessible technology - the "old gang of four" is still
important, but because knowledge is the new capital, they are becoming
irrelevant; and 9) it is not known just how much the City would need to
contribute to a "center for learning" in order to obtain accessible
technology. Following discussion, no action was required on this item.
07/07/87
Item lA: Discussion and consideration of establishing a short term plan of action related to Economic Development.
Councilman Cowman informed the Council that both he and Councilman
Morton will be meeting Wednesday of the following week with the Economic
Development Board with the intent of having information available at the
Joint City/School Board Meeting which is scheduled for July 22, 1987.
No action was taken on this item.
Item 2: Consider approval of a contract with North Texas Commission
for the design, development, amd implementation of a regional
marketing/communications campaign and authorizing the Mayor to
sign
Following discussion on this item, Councilman Smothermon moved that the
above stated contract be approved and that the Mayor be authorized to
sign; Councilman Morton seconded and motion carried unanimously with
Mayor Pro Tem Stanton, Councilmen Wilkerson, Pettijohn, Morton,
Smothermon, Cowman, and Wolfe voting in favor of the motion.
Item 3: Discussion, consideration and adoption of a resolution to have
a voluntary donation of $2.00 added to the City's water bills
and to provide for the establishment of a special fund from
which all donations to the City will be administered and
authorizing the Mayor to sign.
City Manager Alan Ratliff and Finance Director Frank Traudo made the
presentation on this item. Mr. Ratliff stated that if residents desired
to designate one of the three specific areas for their donation
(Paramedic, Parks, Library), then that should be noted on the water
bill; otherwise, the money donated will be split equally between the
three areas. Following discussion on this item, Councilman Wilkerson
moved that Resolution No. 070787.1 be approved and that a special fund
be established that will allow the accumulation of each of the three
balances; Mayor Pro Tem Stanton seconded and motion carried unanimously
with Mayor Pro Tem Stanton, Councilmen Wilkerson, Pettijohn, Morton,
Smothermon, Cowman, and Wolfe voting in favor of the motion.
The meeting was then adjourned.
ATTEST:
D'offothy Tim~ns~-C~ty Secretary
MNITS07/07/87
MNITSI