EDC MEETING MINUTES, OCTOBER 25, 2007

CITY OF LAKELAND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007, 6:30 PM
CITY HALL, LAKELAND, TENNESSEE 38002

I. CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m., Thursday, October 25, 2007, by Mark Lawrence, Chairman.

II. ROLL CALL:
Kathleen Brasfield Absent
John Dudas Absent
Connie Hess Present
Mark Lawrence Present
Randy Nicholson Present
Don Oliver Present
Josh Roman Present (Excused at 7:42 p.m.)
Melissa Smithmier Present (Arrived at 6:50 p.m.)
Pamela Womack Absent

City of Lakeland staff members present:
Growth Management Director, J Higbee
Theresa Meyer

III. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES:
EDC Regular Meeting Minutes, September 27, 2007, 6:30 p.m.
Motion made by Don Oliver to accept the September 27, 2007, Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes as written. Motion seconded by Josh Roman.
Motion carried, voice vote, all in favor.

IV. PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
None.

V. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD:
Update on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. (Oliver)
Tom Leatherwood, Shelby County Register of Deeds, was the speaker at the October 11, 2007, meeting. There were 20-22 in attendance.

The Chamber Board will meet Friday, November 2, 2007.

The November luncheon meeting will be held Thursday, November 8, 2007, at the Stonebridge Clubhouse. The sponsor for the meeting is The Community Bank. Mark Lawrence and Chuck Marquis will speak on the “Consumer Connection”.

Update on New Business Licenses. (Franklin)
There were no new businesses to report since the September 27, 2007, EDC meeting. Mark Lawrence will contact last month’s new business — “Your Business Partner” to welcome and invite them to the next chamber meeting.

Update on Planning Department. (Higbee)
J. Higbee provided an update on projects from the October 15, 2007, Municipal Planning Commission meeting.

The Final Development Plan for The Grove at Lakeland was approved with l24 lots.

The proposed Comprehensive Plan change was postponed until the November MPC meeting.

The Preliminary Site Plan for a proposed 20,000 square foot retail strip center on the three-acre lot at Saskatoon and Canada Road was postponed due to insufficient drainage information.

Staff has reviewed plans and determined that the proposed development for the two-acre lot south of Saskatoon is a retail carpet store not a carpet warehouse.

Update on Code Re-write Project from Advisory Committee. (Higbee)
The Advisory Committee will meet on November 7, 2007, to complete the review of the notebook distributed by Growth Management Director, J Higbee.

The focus of the previous meeting was on flow charts in the development process. The next meeting will concentrate on the residential and commercial development implications of the Land Use Map.

FARR will return sometime after the next advisory committee meeting.

The results of the Image Preference Survey conducted by FARR. have been published on the Planning page of the City website.

Update on Wi-Fi and Surveillance Project. (Roman)
The project is out for bid and may be ready for construction in January 2008. The cost estimate for Wi-Fi at the City soccer fields is $5,000 - $10,000.

Update on WA Consumer Connection Community Retail
Development Program (Lawrence/Hess)
All but five of the original members remain on the Retail Development Team.

The team has been mentored by Chuck Marquis from TVA. Mr. Marquis has helped the team identify several resources.

At the initial team meetings, parameters were established for working with developers to put tenants in their buildings.

Mr. Lawrence identified the four functions of the Retail Development Team: administration, research, design and production, and community liaison.

City Manager, Robed Wherry, will speak on City finances and their role in retail at the next Retail Development Team meeting.

Hank and Connie Hess presented information from the ICSC Conference in Atlanta.

EDC member and Chamber President, Don Oliver, expressed an interest in obtaining promotional materials about the City of Lakeland.

VI. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion on Economic Development Commission sponsoring a New Board/Commission Member Orientation in January 2008. (Lawrence)
The EDC will sponsor an orientation designed for new City Board and Commission members in January, 2008.

EDC members reviewed and commented on the preliminary agenda submitted by Mr. Lawrence. (Copy attached.)

Connie Hess volunteered to assist with the refreshments. Commissioner Nicholson and Mr. Oliver volunteered to help where needed. Ms. Smithmier also volunteered to assist with refreshments.
Discussion only. No action taken.

VII. NEW BUSINESS:
None.

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
None.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no other business to discuss, Don Oliver moved to adjourn the meeting. Connie Hess seconded the motion.
Motion carded, voice vote, all in favor.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

These minutes were approved January 24, 2008.