BM 2002-04-03 EcDevCOPPELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
April 3, 2002
MINUTES
The Coppell Economic Development Committee met at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 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, Jay Thompson,
Dennis Onalaja, Tim Brancheau, Kris Fichtner, Karen Hunt, Mary Ann Kellam, Councilmember
Jayne Peters, City Manager Jim Witt, 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 Jay Thompson and seconded by Tim Brancheau that the minutes of the
March 3, 2002 meeting be approved as recorded. The motion passed unanimously.
Discussion regarding proposed joint meeting
Development Committee regarding City
Development Goals.
of the City
Council's
Council & Economic
2001-2002 Economic
City Manager Jim Witt indicated to the Committee that the City Council wishes to hold a
joint meeting with the Economic Development Committee to more thoroughly discuss
the Committee's report to Council, addressing the City's hot spots, economic
development staffing, the Chamber's role in economic development, and incentives.
Further, the Council has asked Mr. Witt to present suggestions regarding the economic
development staffing for the Council's June 14 and 15th retreat. The Council has
recommended the joint meeting be held April 29, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Justice Center
and the Committee agreed to meet at that date and time.
It was recommended by Tim Brancheau and seconded by Gary Roden that the next
Economic Development Committee meeting be held on April 29, 2002, instead of May 1,
2002. The Committee will conduct its regular meeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with
the joint Council meeting to commence at 7:00 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Discussion regarding market/networking options in lieu of a broker's reception.
Mr. Sieb briefed the Committee on the schedule for hosting a NAIOP (National
Association of Industrial and Office Properties) meeting to assist in the City's marketing
efforts. NAIOP has only scheduled the next four meetings at this time and the summer
meetings are often not well attended. Instead of hosting/sponsoring only NAIOP
functions, Jay Thompson recommended that the Committee may want to consider
hosting/sponsoring another real estate professional organization's function to reach a
larger audience. Mr. Thompson further indicated that the Real Estate Council is another
arena in which the Committee can market the City and agreed to look into the
requirements for sponsoring a Real Estate Council function. If the existing Coppell
Video could be updated in sufficient time, the Committee recommended that the City
host the May 16, 2002 NAIOP meeting.
It was recommended by Tim Brancheau and seconded by Karen Hunt that the Economic
Development Committee host/sponsor the May 16, 2002 NAIOP meeting. The motion
passed unanimously.
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Update on Commercial and Industrial Development within the City.
Ms. Roy briefed the Committee regarding ongoing development in the City, including the
proposed construction of a 160,000 square-foot building for a package supply company-
Uline, a significant expansion of the existing Valley Ranch Baptist Church, and the sale
of the Essex Wire building to JB Dental, who plans to renovate the building.
General Discussion and Other business.
Ms. Roy indicated to the Committee that the ordinance revising the Committee's
attendance policy was approved by City Council and is now in effect. Staff informed the
Committee members that an attendance sheet will be attached to each agenda packet,
allowing members to track their attendance.
Adjournment
With no further business to discuss, it was moved by Tim Brancheau and seconded by
Karen Hunt that the meeting adjourn. By unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at
approximately 6:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrea L. Roy
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