Taylor Economic Development Corporation

APPROVed MINUTES Taylor Economic Development Corporation February 27, 2013

The Board of Directors of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) met in regular session on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. in the TEDC Office Library at 700 N. Main Street, Taylor, Texas.

In attendance:

Christine Lopez, Chair Sean Stockard, President/CEO Clark Jackson, Treasurer Traci Anderson, BR&E Manager Kelly Cmerek, Director Christine Radosti, Executive Assistant Bob vanTil, City Planner Nancy Tyson, Vice Chair Jim Dunaway, City Manager David Wauffer, Citizen Leland Enochs, Attorney for TEDC

Call to Order: Chair Christine Lopez called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum.

Christine Lopez asked for citizen communication.

Citizen – Mr. David Wauffer, citizen, in attendance to observe.

1. Recognition of Outgoing Board Member Nancy Tyson (Lopez) Recognition of Nancy Tyson as former board member tabled. Sean Stockard will wait for official resignation from Nancy Tyson; until official resignation, Nancy can participate in any votes, however, advised to not vote on board items.

2. Minutes (Christine Lopez): Nancy Tyson: remove Nancy Tyson from list of attendees on January 17, 2012 minutes, she was not in attendance. Clark Jackson moved to approve the minutes for November 28, 2012. Kelly Cmerek seconded the motion; motion passed.

Aye: 5 Nay: 0

3. Accept January 2013 Financials: Kelly Cmerek asked for breakdown of visa charges on future bills paid. Clark Jackson moved to approve the minutes from November 28, 2012. Nancy Tyson seconded the motion; motion passed.

Aye: 5 Nay: 0

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 1 of 7 February 27, 2013

4. Audit Management Letter Sean Stockard: Management letter not available, table until next meeting.

5. Set Date for Strategic Planning Session/Board Retreat Sean Stockard: Proposed March 6-7 for planning session. Sean said we want to sit down and go over goals and objectives for the organization to make sure we are all on the same page and alter goals to fit the needs of the organization. Probably not as in depth as original goals, just a review and tweak. Envision the board and staff attending, rather than a full blown planning session with a moderator, etc. Probably a day and a half, or one full day, depending on how much progress we make. Date not set in stone, look at alternatives.

Kelly Cmerek: Prefers 11 – 18 of March, not next week. Christine Lopez said Cordell Bennigson will be unavailable for March 6-7. Kelly Cmerek suggested last week in March. Kelly could attend one day, not two. Christine Lopez: Could Friday, March 8th work? Kelly Cmerek: Yes; Clark Jackson: Yes. Traci Anderson has conflict with Williamson County Small Business Summit from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Friday March 8th, start at 8:00 a.m. is chosen.

6. Board Resolution 2013-01 Sean Stockard: We were contacted by Austin Chamber regarding programs that are due to sunset this year. We have been asked to show our support to extend the sunset date for the act and appropriate the funding for existing Texas.

Nancy Tyson moved to accept the resolution 2013-01. Kelly Cmerek seconded the motion; motion passed.

Aye: 5 Nay: 0

7. Burrows Cabinets Sales Tax Reimbursement Issue Sean Stockard: Table this for now. There is an issue with amount of sales tax reimbursement that Burrows is receiving. Jeff Straub has helped immensely with uncovering some of this information. Burrows Cabinets is being shorted, but a fix is in the works. Not prepared to move on it yet.

8. Walnut Creek Industrial Park Sean Stockard: In order for the site to be shovel-ready, we need to do some work. In the board packet, there is a page obtained by the City that shows a bid to get land down to acres of “dirt”. The price is $24,400. The City has offered to go in half with TEDC to clean clear and develop land.

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 2 of 7 February 27, 2013 Nancy Tyson: The bid is from New Braunfels. Is there no one local? Clark Jackson: There are two local companies. Nancy Tyson: I want to use locals. Was this an open bid? Jim Dunaway: No, it was a quote. Nancy Tyson: I don’t support it since it was not from an open bid. It should go out to open bid with consideration of local companies. Sean Stockard: We will put it out for open bid. Clark Jackson: How big of an area would be cleaned? Sean Stockard: The entire property from what I understand. Kelly Cmerek: This may be our guy, but we should still put it out for bid and see if the $24,400 bid is still the one. Nancy Tyson: Why is the city doing this? Why not the TEDC? Sean Stockard: This is the first step in developing the property. The idea is to move forward and promote the property. Clark Jackson: $12,200 is a mighty good price to have land cleared. Sean Stockard: We can wait until it goes out for bid. If it raises the comfort level, let’s put it out for bid and then no one can come back on it and say we didn’t do our due diligence. Kelly Cmerek: The property across street is more attractive, but if City is willing to help us, that’s a tremendous offer on Walnut Creek. Sean Stockard: It is hard to advertise property and submitting… Christine Lopez: If we have interest even though we don’t own land across street, shouldn’t we market it? Sean Stockard: We don’t own it. Traci Anderson: There has been one lead this year for the property across the street. It is being marketed, and there are other bids for it. Regarding the gas line – We met with Atmos Energy to get utilities to Walnut East vs. Walnut Creek; it will be about the same cost. Nancy Tyson: Didn’t we do pre-qual for that site? Soil testing? Sean Stockard/Traci Anderson: Yes there was. We own Walnut Creek; we have an option on Walnut East. Kelly Cmerek: If we can clear property for $12k, we should do it. A no-brainer. Traci Anderson: I wanted to discuss this more at the Board Retreat. There is a big project wanting to come in for the Walnut Creek site. Christine Lopez: Should we have this as a discussion point at the retreat next Friday? Sean Stockard: Yes. Table item until retreat.

9. BRE Report

a. Update on Meetings/Business Contacts Traci Anderson: We have met with realtors, putting data base together of all available land, so we can pull options quickly. Realtors have been very helpful. As a Chamber Ambassador, I go out with the Chamber and meet new companies in town. I am also a TAB (Taylor Area Businesswomen) member. They have a lot of good ideas. I want to host a banker’s breakfast in the next couple months. To find out what banks offer/do for small businesses.

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 3 of 7 February 27, 2013 We were contacted to participate in a bus tour on April 18, 2013 from 10 am til 3 pm. Sean Stockard and Jim Dunaway will be on the bus tour. Residential and commercial realtors will be in attendance. We will cater lunch at the BIG Industrial Building.

b. Project Updates Ruby Tuesday - has not set an exact site visit date yet. Canadian electric car company looking to set up in Pflugerville; Thad Smith of the BIG Industrial Building proposed BIG. Project Plastics - from Director of Economic Development in Encore. Looking in Central Texas. Project Bedrock - Submitted for Mustang Creek, looking for 3 – 5 acres. Nancy Tyson: Do they need rail? Traci Anderson: It was not mentioned in the request. Project Freedom – Submitted for BIG Project Lakewood – Submitted for BIG; we are short listed for project Lakewood Project Sky Scanner – Submitted for MCIP. Project JC – submitted for Walnut East.

Four of the bids came through in one week with quick turn around times. Sean Stockard said Traci has done an outstanding job with meeting deadlines and putting together quality bids, etc.

Traci Anderson: Cotton growers - We offered, they counter offered, nothing happened. Why is TEDC interested in this land? What do you want to do with it? Why looking at it to begin with? It is 3.3 acres, not enough land if Project Lonestar wanted it to expand. Christine/Clark/Kelly: Looking at it for parking lot for Project Lonestar at the time. Kelly Cmerek: Had idea of land swap with city for 16 acres for 75K for the 3.3 acres? How would the city feel about that? We don’t want to pay $200K for 3 acres. Christine Lopez: I think Project Lonestar has reached another solution since then. Traci Anderson: We will see if Project Lonestar still has interest in it, but don’t act on the three acres right now. Sean Stockard, Christine Lopez agree. Sean Stockard: If the need arises, offer the swap, 16 acres for 3 acres. Bob vanTil: Last time we met with Project Lonestar, they were thinking about doubling size of business, so three acres would not meet their needs. Want to drill down to what the best direction is for us to go in. Bob’s suggestion: file away land contract, if we need to talk to Snodgrass (Cotton growers) again, we will let him know. Sean Stockard will verify with Project Lonestar and then contact Snodgrass with answer.

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 4 of 7 February 27, 2013 10. Alliance Geotechnical Group

a. Request for waiver of 90 day notice requirement and consent to transfer property to 404 Partners, LLC.

Sean Stockard: There is a letter in the board packet from Wayne Edmonds; regarding name of company. Edmonds has formed an LLC to protect themselves. They are still personally liable for loan/grant, but changing to LLC for protection. They are asking us to waive 90 day notice requirement.

Leland Enochs (TEDC Attorney): City National Bank is okay with the name change. Sean Stockard: We need a motion to waive 90 notice requirement in the contract.

Kelly Cmerek moved to waive the 90 day notice requirement and consent with guarantee of 404 Partners. Clark Jackson seconded the motion; motion passed.

Aye: 5 Nay: 0

11. CEO Report (Sean Stockard): a. Website Update Sean Stockard: We had a conference call scheduled with website developer but it has been postponed. I am going to have a plan for March board meeting for revamp.

b. First Friday Breakfast: First one was a huge success, sixty plus people attended. I have been thanked at each club meeting I have been to since then. I have been asked to add people to the invite list. Cheapest and best advertising to inform public of what we do. Upcoming Friday’s breakfast has sixty-five rsvps so far. At Friday’s meeting we will present with the City (Jeff Straub) to lay out what the City does, their projects, what they can offer businesses; Sean will do the same thing for the TEDC. Then we will discuss how the TEDC and the City work together on projects. The key is to show which organization takes the lead on particular projects. Nancy Tyson: Will you have a hand out summarizing what the City does vs. the TEDC? Sean Stockard: Yes, we will, or we will email a follow up document summarizing what is discussed at the First Friday Breakfast. Sean Stockard: I will meet with Mike Eddleman (Taylor Daily Press) a day or two after our board meetings to discuss what actions were taken and he will disseminate this information to the public.

c. ISD Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on February 25 regarding the Freeport Exemption Sean Stockard: This meeting has been pushed back to April; ISD still looking for a little more information on how the tax dollars are reimbursed.

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 5 of 7 February 27, 2013 d. Update on Legislative Day Sean Stockard: Legislative Day will be in Austin on April 27, 2013, in the morning, with a breakfast event in Capital Grill. We are partnering with Georgetown and Atmos Energy. We will invite legislators, etc.to attend the breakfast. Hutto has an event scheduled for the same day at lunch. We chose breakfast to beat Hutto to the punch.

e. Traci Anderson is January Chamber Ambassador of the Month Sean Stockard: Traci has received well-deserved recognition from the Chamber. Christine Lopez: I hear Traci’s praises all over town. Great work, great job.

f. Junior Women’s Study Group Sean Stockard: Very pleased with the meeting, a group of feisty, engaged women; all know what is going on in this town. Very astute group of people. Also spoke at Lions Club and Rotary this month.

g. Frustrations by citizens regarding policy and permitting procedures, etc. Sean Stockard: Met with Jeff Straub to discuss. TEDC will host a breakfast on a Friday; host all real estate agents that want to attend, we will host a discussion between real estate agents and the city to make sure both parties and TEDC are all on the same page, especially when dealing with a new prospect in town. Jeff was very supportive, agreed it was a great idea.

Nancy Tyson to the City: Didn’t you have a Thursday meeting? Open to the public? Bob vanTil: Every Thursday from 9 – 11 open to public. It is just the staff going over the active projects every Thursday from 9 -11. Nancy Tyson: Okay, thank you.

h. Christine Lopez: What about the signage for the Industrial Park? Traci Anderson: it will be on the next agenda but I have been in touch with Greg (Ringer Windows) about it.

i. Nancy Tyson: HDI how did they do with hiring employees? Traci Anderson: They had to push things back a little bit; they will open by end of first week of March. Bob vanTil: Talked with Adam Mosier today, things are clipping along fast to finish inside of building. Traci Anderson: City working closely with Adam Mosier to get Certificate of Occupancy.

12. Executive Session I: Chair Lopez placed the Board in a closed meeting for one session at 5:35 p.m. pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee. a. Personnel matters

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 6 of 7 February 27, 2013 13. Executive Session II: Chair Lopez placed the Board in a closed meeting for one session at p.m. pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551 to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial and/or financial information on business prospects that the TEDC seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the city of Taylor, Texas, and with which the TEDC is conducting economic development negotiations and/or to deliberate the offer of financial or other incentives to the business prospects (Texas Gov't Code, Section 551.087) a. Project Second Street b. Project Minneapolis

14. Return to Open Session: The Board reconvened into regular session at 7:15p.m.

Nancy Tyson: Because the intended objective of the bond is no longer viable, I motion for the TEDC to immediately repay the bond in full and all associated obligations. Clark Jackson seconded the motion; motion passed.

Aye: 5 Nay: 0

Adjournment: There being no further business, Chair Lopez adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

______Christine Lopez, Chair Attest:

Christine Radosti, Executive Assistant

Meetings/Minutes/FY2013 Page 7 of 7 February 27, 2013