HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-18-10 Economic Development Council MinutesCity of Bozeman
Economic Development Council (EDC)
Meeting Minutes
March 18, 2010
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Bozeman City Hall
Madison Conference Room
Attending:
EDC - Gary Bloomer (Tech Ranch), Stuart Leidner (Prospera Business Network), Cheryl
Ridgely (Bozeman Deaconess Hospital), Chris Westlake (Midwest Welding and Machine),
Tracy Menuez (Human resource Development Council), Daryl Schliem (Bozeman Area
Chamber of Commerce), Chris Mehl (Bozeman City Commission)
Absent:
Eugene Graf (Graf Construction/RealEstate)
Staff :
Assistant to the City Manager Brit Fontenot, Associate Planner Doug Riley
Public:
Dennis Carlson, Harry Kirshenbaum, Jennifer Erickson
1. Introduction of EDC members
EDC members, staff and members of the public introduced themselves to all attending the
meeting.
2. Schedule of EDC Meetings
Staff reminded the Council that EDC meetings recur at 11:00 am on the third Wednesday of each
month and are held in the Madison Conference Room in City Hall unless specifically scheduled
otherwise.
3. The EDC and the Bozeman City Commission 2010-2011 Work Plan and New Policy
Initiatives
City Attorney Greg Sullivan, who was not present at the Council meeting, provided comments
via e-mail:
a. The authorization for the Council has been included BMC because the
Council is a permanent board;
b. [The Council][m]ust comply with all adopted City policies and rules
including the Code of Ethics, open meetings, public records, etc;
c. The Council, as created, is advisory only;
d. The Council needs to establish bylaws for their operation that will be
approved by the Commission; and
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e. [The] Authority granted to the Council is generic and as such the Council
has latitude to determine what constitutes “economic development.”
Staff reviewed the Council role in the context of the Commission’s adopted 2010-2011 work
plan. A discussion regarding the Council’s mission and purpose ensued. A few suggestions
were made about creating business incentive plans and improving the City website with business
incentive information.
It was suggested that the Council take care of the administrative business and approve the
Ordinance and Council bylaws promptly in order to move on to the business of the Council and
allow time for an opening discussion of the Mandeville Farms property.
4. EDC’s draft bylaws
The Council nominated the following members as Council officers:
Chris Westlake – Chairperson
Daryl Schliem – Vice-Chairperson
Stuart Leidner – Recording Secretary
Each nominee accepted their respective nomination and each was duly elected by a series of
unanimous Council votes. (Chair Westlake: Aye – 7, Opposed – 0, Vice-Chair Schliem:
Aye – 7, Opposed – 0, Recording Secretary Leidner: Aye – 7, Opposed – 0).
Chair Westlake assumed his position as Chair and presiding Council officer.
Chair Westlake began a review of the proposed bylaws and called for comments and/or edits to
the Council bylaws as proposed. Council members discussed deletion of section 1.4 Definitions,
and deletion of Section 4.1 No. 4 due to redundancy with 4.1 No. 7 and the addition of the phrase
“most current edition” to Section 5.4.
It was moved by Commissioner Mehl, seconded by Mr. Schliem, to approve the Council
bylaws as amended. The vote was called by Chair Westlake and the motion passed
unanimously 7 – 0. Staff reminded the Council that the City Commission must ratify the
Council bylaws and the approved version would be placed on a future Commission agenda.
5. Designation of EDC member terms
The EDC members present, volunteered for the following EDC terms:
a. Chris Westlake, Chair (2 year term);
b. Daryl Schliem, Vice-Chair (4 year term);
c. Stuart Leidner, Recording Secretary (4 year term);
d. Gary Bloomer (2 year term);
e. Tracey Menuez (3 year term);
f. Eugene Graf (1 year term); and
g. Cheryl Ridgely (3 year term).
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6. Ordinance 1784 – EDC’s draft ordinance
Chair Westlake began a review the content of the proposed EDC Ordinance (Ordinance 1784)
and called for comments and/or edits to the Ordinance as proposed. Council members discussed
deletion of Section 2.86.020 A. 4 due to redundancy with Section 2.86.020 A.1 and the deletion
of the editorial comment in Section 2.86.020 E.
It was moved by Mr. Bloomer, seconded by Ms. Ridgely, to approve the content of
Ordinance 1784 as amended. The vote was called by Chair Westlake and the motion
passed unanimously 7 – 0. Staff reminded the Council that the City Commission must
provisionally adopt Ordinance 1784 in a scheduled public hearing, finally adopt the ordinance in
a second reading of the same, with changes if necessary, and becomes effective 30 days after the
approval on second reading. The content approved version of Ordinance 1784 will be placed on
a future Commission agenda. The Ordinance must be approved prior to the approval of the
bylaws.
7. Mandeville Farm
Associate Planner Doug Riley provided background information and answered questions
regarding the preliminary platting of the Mandeville Farm property and associated timelines and
expirations. The Council was advised that the preliminary plat expires in April of 2011 and is
eligible for a one year extension. The Council discussed recommending to the Commission that
the City file for said extension.
In the interest of time, the Council requested more detailed information in writing. Planner Riley
suggested his staff memo, the related Findings of Fact and a link to the entryway corridor design
guidelines be transmitted to the Council.
The Council Requested more information on the Mandeville TIF District. For general, statutory
requirements and regulations of TIF Districts in Montana, Staff suggested referencing the
Montana Code Annotated at Title 7, Chpt. 15, Parts 42 and 43. The parts are titled “Urban
Renewal.” Montana Code Annotated on the web can be found at :
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/index.htm
Additionally, Staff suggested that a member, or members, of the Finance Department be invited
to attend the next EDC meeting to provide more detailed information on the Mandeville TIF.
Finally, the Council requested that Engineering Staff familiar with the creation of the Mandeville
Farm preliminary platting project be invited to address the Council on Mandeville Farm
infrastructure issues.
8. Next steps/agenda items for April 15nd EDC meeting
The council suggested the following next steps:
a. 20 minutes of the April 15 meeting be devoted to the “purpose and scope” of the
EDC;
b. A public comment section be added to all EDC agendas;
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c. Mandeville Farms constitute the majority of the discussion of the April EDC
meeting (40 minutes) and that Planner Riley be invited back in addition to
Finance and Engineering Staff.
9. Adjourn
Chair Chris Westlake adjourned the meeting at 12:25 pm.