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4A Wichita Falls Economic Development Minutes - 09/17/2015MINUTES OF THE WICHITA FALLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION September 17, 2015 PRESENT: Dick Bundy, President § Members Reno Gustafson, Vice President/Sec'y /Treasurer § Leo Lane § Darron Leiker § Dave Lilley § Glenn Barham, Mayor § Mayor and City Council Tim Ingle, Councilor, District 4 § Jim Dockery, Asst. City Manager /CFO § City Staff R. Kinley Hegglund, Jr., City Attorney § James McKechnie, Assistant City Attorney II § Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary § Henry Florsheim § Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kevin Pearson § Ann Arnold- Ogden § Cynthia Laney § Downtown Wichita Falls Development Jeff Stambaugh § MSU /IdeaWF Scott Manley § Tom Whaylen § Sheppard Military Affairs Committee Linda Yeager § 1. CALL TO ORDER Dick Bundy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (JULY 15, 2015) Reno Gustafson moved, seconded by Leo Lane, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. Jim Dockery presented the Board's budget. The projected sales tax for the ending of fiscal year 2015 is $3.723 million, compared to the adopted budget of $3.798 million. Sales tax revenues are less than last year. Projected revenues for the end of fiscal year 2015 are at $3.956 million, compared to the budgeted amount of $4.021 million, just slightly under based upon the decreased sales tax revenues. Next year's sales tax revenues are estimated at $3.948 million. Mr. Dockery said the fund is estimated to end fiscal year 2015 with $2.675 million in total expenditures. Added to the beginning cash balance, this totals $18.735 million. However, around $9 million is reserved for encumbrances. Therefore, just slightly under $9 million is unencumbered and available for future projects. The Board would have $12.2 million available at the end of next year in the unlikely event no new projects were approved throughout the year. Mr. Lane asked for details about the unexpended funds in the line item for the Marketing Task Force /Pride in the falls (PITF). Mr. Dockery said when the PITF campaign began five years ago, there was a WFEDC commitment to contribute $750,000 over a period of three years, to be matched by private donations. That was Phase 1 of the campaign. In Phase 2, the decision was made to fund $200,000 from the WFEDC, to be matched with private contributions. Those funds were never spent but remain encumbered. They can either be released or used in PITF work. Phase 1 of the Wayfinding project was a part of the PITF campaign, and the City desires to use those unexpended funds to help with the next phase of that project. Mr. Lane asked what would be the next phase of wayfinding. Mr. Dockery said there would be additional facility signage, vehicular signage and pedestrian signage in the downtown area, with maps to guide visitors to the various facilities. About $750,000 is needed to complete the entire project. If the 4A approves this request, $425,000 has been cobbled together as follows: the $200,000 from the WFEDC; $25,000 from PITF; $100,000 from private donations; and $100,000 from 4BSTC funds. Mr. Gustafson asked if the WFEDC could see a presentation on the wayfinding project. Mr. Lane said it is a terrific project, but he would also like more information as a board member representing taxpayers. Mr. Leiker said staff could get something put together. Mr. Dockery suggested the Board earmark the money until staff meets with the consultant. Mr. Bundy said that wouldn't be necessary; the only questions he has is who came up with the idea and why wasn't this done a long time ago. 3. PRESENTATION BY SHEPPARD MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Tom Whaylen said the Committee is requesting $140,000; he is convinced there will be a BRAC, which will require trips to San Antonio and Washington, D.C. Wichita Falls already has a red dot by its name because of the drought. The consultants were educated about Wichita Falls' efforts against the drought, but the next step will be to explain to the voting board members how the city is ahead of other communities. Burkburnett has increased its contribution from $15,000 to $18,000; Iowa Park from $5,000 to $12,000. Since the BRAC in 2005 and the loss of medical training, SMAC has not set idle. SAFB has added 175 civilian and /or military permanent party. About 3,000 students come through in courses that have been added since 2006. There are 88 Saudi permanent party instructors and 4,000 Saudi students in aircraft maintenance. Everything looks good for a new MOU for the ENJJPT. It expires next year, and there might be a new country signing up. Mr. Bundy asked how to get rid of the red dot by Wichita Falls' name. Mr. Whalen said it cannot be removed; it is just a question of education. The consultants were impressed that Wichita Falls still had four years of water left after the worst drought in 118 years. So, there is a red dot, but also a big footnote of explanation. Other communities have red dots for reasons that might be harder to overcome. 2 Mr. Whalen said he is retiring at the end of the year; efforts are underway to find his successor. Mr. Leiker asked if SMAC will come back later for a request for another allocation to help with the 75th anniversary of Sheppard AFB. Mr. Whalen said he had no answer for that question. They do not have dates yet so they cannot solidify anything. 4. PRESENTATION BY THE WICHITA FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY Henry Florsheim said the request is similar to those in the past. There are three categories of funding requests: A. Operations for economic development staff salaries and benefits Staffing requests are the same, except for the addition of one part-time position to assist Kevin Pearson and Michael Paris keep the economic development section of the website up to date and provide research assistance. This position would come at a cost of $15,000. The total request of $428,000 represents the full -time salaries of Kevin Pearson, Michael Paris, Ann Arnold - Ogden, the new part -time position, and half the salary of Henry Florsheim, plus benefits. B. Regional Marketing Task Force (Economic Development Marketing) The regional marketing task force could well be renamed the economic development marketing task force, as its efforts are geared toward recruitment, retention and expansion of economic development. The funds would be used to allow staff to make headquarters visits, and attend trade shows and conferences. Also, they would hire an aerospace consultant, and determine how to better promote the Business Park. C. Community -Wide Marketing Ann Arnold -Ogden has been running the marketing program for the Chamber since March; the "Choose Wichita Falls" promotion came from the Pride in the Falls campaign. She is producing a series of short videos intended for social media that tell the story of Wichita Falls. At the same time, she is starting work on a more comprehensive video and print campaign focused on Choose Wichita Falls. Mr. Lane asked if the Chamber has worked with any of the major recruiters, such as the hospital. Mr. Florsheim said they have spoken with them, but have not used them in an advisory capacity. Ms. Arnold -Ogden then showed two videos promoting Wichita Falls. The first video is being run at every WFISD athletic event this year, and they will add the Nighthawks and Wildcats to show it at MPEC events. The second video showed the history of the Falls. They are developing an online library of videos to promote enthusiasm about Wichita Falls. 3 Mr. Florsheim said they have three other requests that do not fall into traditional Chamber allocations: 1. Labor Market Study - $20,000 (need a better idea of the work force that employers can tap into, and need to document those who are under employed). 2. Strategic Planning continuation — $10,000 (meet again the first part of 2016). 3. Visits to high - performing communities of similar size to learn how they handle funding, industrial parks, spec buildings. Leo Lane asked why $25,000 was budgeted for wayfinding from PITF. Mr. Florsheim said an early draft of PITF earmarked $600,000 specifically for wayfinding. As discussions were had about how to raise funds for Phase 2 of the wayfinding project, it was decided to allocate some of next year's PITF funding to help get that project a little further. Mr. Dockery said it might be cleaner to reduce the PITF line item to $175,000 and increase the wayfinding project line item to $225,000. 5. PRESENTATION BY DOWNTOWN WICHITA FALLS DEVELOPMENT Cynthia Laney said if not for the WFEDC and the 4BSTC, a lot of activities sponsored by Downtown Wichita Falls Development (DWFD) would not have been possible. DWFD's events have injected $3.4 million in economic impact into the community. They are increasing the marketing for their events. That is where the WFEDC dollars are needed. They advertise within a 50 -mile radius. When DWFD took over the Farmers Market three years ago, it made about $2,000 a year. This season, it has brought in almost $7,000 in income. Mr. Dockery noted the request is for $100,000, but the budget shows $133,000 of total costs. Ms. Laney said they bring in $33,000 through memberships, sponsorships and fundraisers. Mr. Dockery asked for a financial report. Ms. Laney said she neglected to bring it. Mr. Florsheim said the 4BSTC provides matching grants up to $5,000 to downtown property owners to improve their property. They have met with the 413STC to discuss the concept on a larger scale for residential projects. In addition, there will be talks about a comprehensive master plan for downtown. 6. PRESENTATION BY LALANI CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FREE ENTERPRISE REGARDING THE IDEAWF BUSINESS PLAN CONTEST Jeff Stambaugh thanked the WFEDC for its past support, without which this program would not exist. He introduced Dr. Scott Manley, who will be taking over this program as he is going to run the Dillard Energy Center. They have already raised the in -kind prizes for this year. The $70,000 prize package is the same this year, assuming the WFEDC grants the same level of participation of $30,000. The contest will be run more closely with the Chamber this year. The most important part of this 4 contest is the quality of the entrants. They want to go to the business community and turn it into a contest to find the economic future of Wichita Falls. I TOM Mr. Bundy adjourned the meeting into executive session at 4:50 pm. pursuant to TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE §§ 551.072 and 551.087. He closed the executive session and announced the meeting back into regular session at 5:10 p.m. He declared that the subjects described in the certified agenda were deliberated and no lurther action was taken. 0001• � 0 Darron Leiker moved for approval of the isca car - u get o t e WFEDC, with an amendment to the budget to reduce the PITF line item to $175,000 and increase the Wayfinding project line item to $225,000. Seconded by Leo Lane, the motion carried. 10. ADJOURN N