BM 2002-03-06 EcDevCOPPELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
March 6, 2002
MINUTES
The Coppell Economic Development Committee met at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2002,
at Coppell Town Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 255 Parkway Boulevard, Coppell, Texas.
The following were present: Chairman Bill Rohloff, Vice Chairman Gary Roden, Bruce
Bradford, Jay Thompson, Dennis Onalaja, Tim Brancheau, Bill Herries, Mohamed Elmougy,
Karen Hunt, Mary Ann Kellam, Robert Key, Councilmember Jayne Peters, Councilmember
Marsha Tunnell, City Manager Jim Witt, Chad Beach, Gary Sieb and Andrea Roy.
Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Mohamed Elmougy and seconded by Gary Roden that the minutes of
the February 6, 2002 meeting be approved as recorded. The motion passed unanimously.
Request by Verizon to amend economic development incentive agreement to allow
for an extension of the completion date for Building "B" (Continued from February
meeting).
This request was held over from the February 6, 2002 Economic Development
Committee meeting to allow staff adequate time to review and discuss the City's options
with the City Attorney. Chad Beach again briefed the Committee on the background of
this request, indicating that the original agreement required Building ~B" to be
constructed by December 12, 2000, and one extension has already been granted, allowing
completion of the building by April 1, 2002. The subject request is to extend the
completion date to December 2004. Conditions of the agreement require construction of
the building by the noted date or payment for a portion of the construction of Coppell
Road.
Mr. Beach informed the Committee that his discussions with the City Attorney indicated
that a variety of payment options were allowable, as Verizon will be in default as of April
1, 2002. The Committee discussed several options, such as requiring interest on the
amount due to the City during the extension period, payment of the total amount due in
escrow which would then be returned to Verizon if/when the building was constructed, or
denial of the extension. The Committee discussed these options and continued to express
concerns for the City which was guaranteed revenue from the construction of the Verizon
building or payment for a portion of the construction of Coppell Road.
It was recommended by Mohamed Elmougy and seconded by Dennis Onalaja that the
request by Verizon for an additional two-year extension be denied. The motion passed
unanimously.
4. Discussion regarding market/networking options in lieu of a broker's reception.
Mr. Sieb briefed the Committee on the possibility of sponsoring/hosting a NAIOP
(National Association of Industrial & Office Properties) reception, giving the City an
opportunity to market to the industrial and office brokerage community beyond those
brokers which currently have dealings with Coppell. Mr. Sieb informed the Committee
that a Gold Sponsor of a NAIOP breakfast reception, with approximately 200-300
members in attendance, would allow the City to make a 5-minute presentation to the
Page 1 of 3
audience and would cost approximately $2,750. Another option would be to co-host
(with three other organizations) a special NAIOP reception in July at the Westin Gallery,
with more individuals in attendance, which would allow the City to setup a table with
marketing materials and make a 5-minute presentation, costing approximately $5,000.
The Committee discussed the possibility of hosting two receptions in lieu of sponsoring
one at the higher cost, in an attempt to reach more individuals. The Committee then
discussed the type of marketing materials that would be distributed at these receptions.
Mr. Sieb and Mr. Witt indicated that they would meet with Kevin Slater, who could
update the Coppell video, allowing the City to utilize the video for presentations and for
the creation of a Coppell CD. Mr. Sieb and Mr. Witt will report back to the Committee
next month.
Discussion regarding membership requirements to the Coppell Chamber of
Commerce for tax abatement recipients.
Ms. Roy briefed the Committed on the possibility of requiring membership in the
Chamber of Commerce as part of a company's tax abatement agreement. The Committee
agreed that membership in the Coppell Chamber would be required if a company receives
a tax abatement for personal property or if the building is owner occupied. Because many
of the City's tax abatements are also granted to the developer of speculative buildings and
tenants are unknown at that time, the developer would be encouraged to promote
Chamber membership to tenants.
It was recommended by Mohamed Elmougy and seconded by Bruce Bradford that
Chamber membership be required as part of all tax abatement agreements granted, except
those which are granted for speculative buildings. The motion passed unanimously.
Update on Economic Development Presentation to Council regarding City Council's
2001-2002 Economic Development Goals.
Chairman Bill Rohloff briefed the Committee on his presentation to Council, indicating
that the Council responded favorably and had no questions at that time.
Update on Commercial and Industrial development in the City.
Ms. Roy briefed the Committee on the several inquiries by relocating companies
interested in Coppell, including Computer Sciences Corporation and Pella Doors &
Windows. Mr. Roy also informed the Committee that results of the new and existing
business survey indicates that the number of employees at Haverty Furniture Co. has
almost doubled, from 250 to 494. Verizon has also increased the number of employees in
Coppell from approximately 850 to 1,060.
General Discussion and Other business.
Ms. Roy indicated to the Committee that the ordinance that will revise the Committee's
attendance policy will be heard by City Council at their next meeting and results will be
provided to the Committee at the next meeting. Additionally, Ms. Roy asked the
Committee if they wished to resume conducting an occasional meeting offsite at
companies located on the west side of Coppell. The Committee indicated that they would
like to conduct an occasional meeting at a west side company, approximately every
fourth meeting, instead of quarterly.
Karen Hunt indicated to staff that she is the Chamber of Commerce Alternate and not
Mary Ann Kellam. Staff will make the noted changes to the Committee's membership
list.
Page 2 of 3
Adjournment
With no further business to discuss, it was moved by Bill Herries and seconded by Tim
Brancheau that the meeting adjourn. By unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at
approximately 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrea L. Roy
Page 3 of 3