MINUTES OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Thursday, August 2, 2012 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lompoc City Council Chambers COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Stephen Pepe, Committee Chair Jenelle Osborne, Committee Vice Chair Tom Davidson Robert Manning Debbie McComb Julie Menicucci Alice Milligan Don Pommerville Rick Rantz Dulcie Sinn Dawn Thomas COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Jason Montello Ken Ostini, ex officio member Paul Patel Robert Smith COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Teresa Gallavan, Economic Development Director/Assistant City Administrator Angela Wynne, Staff Assistant The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Pepe at 6:00 p.m. and roll call was taken. Page 1 of 7
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion: It was moved by Member Milligan and seconded by Member Manning that the Minutes of July 11, 2012 be approved. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote and member Rantz abstaining. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: It was indicated that Jason Montello will need to resign from the Committee. It was suggested that a representative from the newly located DenMat be sought out. AGENDA ITEMS: 1. 90-day Presentation and PowerPoint slides to City Council Member Pepe stated that he will address the City Council and reported that the Committee is diligent with current plans and suggested publicizing the Committee s progress to the citizens, that the meeting is scheduled for August 2012, and that requested the sub-committees work on a one page summary of progress to be placed into the presentation. Member Pepe informed the Committee that the next Council update will be in October and that a meeting will be held prior to the presentation. Member Davidson asked if the Infrastructure Committee is still viable. Member Pepe stated that the committee will remain intact and will be working on future projects. Member McComb asked about what can cause bad odors in certain city locations and restaurants and if it can be improved within an infrastructure aspect. Member Osborne indicated that this could be, in part, linked to Caltrans. It was moved by Member Manning and seconded by Member Sinn that Member Davidson Chair the Improving Our Infrastructure Sub-Committee of the Economic Development Committee. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. 2. Subcommittee Reports and Implementation Plan Status & Action Items A. Improving Our Infrastructure Item issues were discussed under Agenda item 1. Page 2 of 7
B. Revitalizing Lompoc Through Improved Marketing and Communication Member Osborne stated that she will be working to get the City s website to provide economic development information. C. Initiating a Supportive Business Environment Member Sinn reported she is working with the Parks and Recreation division to initiate a cooking academy and is seeking funds and donations to fill the kitchen with supplies to begin community classes and community cooking events. She stated one idea is to introduce an innovative product; a salsa or a sauce, and be the source of incubation. Member Pepe stated that there is a shortage of certified commercial kitchens and suggested that the Parks and Recreation division could generate funds in renting out the space. Member Milligan suggested a focus on healthy eating. Member Pepe requested that Ms. Harmon of the Santa Barbara Foundation be included in this proposal. D. Launching Lompoc Into the 21 st Century Member Pommerville reported on the progress of the Aquatic Center and the newly installed timing system. 3. Business Leads Member Milligan indicated that she had requested some information from Main Street USA and will present to the Committee when it is received. Member Milligan stated that when the information is received, the Committee can then evaluate, make recommendation, develop activities and a plan of action. Member Pepe discussed elements of demographic data. Member Davidson indicated that he would check into what databases are available to retrieve more detailed demographics relating to the Lompoc Valley. Member Ostini was asked to gather data based on zip code. Member Milligan verified that the data will be identified as Lompoc Valley. Member Pepe suggested viewing the City of Buellton s website as a potential template. 4. Membership Commitments and Vacant Position * Email non-attendance * Change meeting time to 4:00 p.m. Ms. Gallavan discussed Committee membership requirement. She asked members to contact staff if there is a foreseeable absence to a meeting and that there is a Page 3 of 7
suggestion to alternate meetings between afternoon and evening times. Ms. Gallavan stated that she would speak with the Mayor regarding open seats on the Committee and clarified that appointments to the Committee do not parallel City Council seat terms. Member Pepe asked if Committee alternatives may be appointed and noted that if so, meeting Committee quorums would be easier. He also suggested the Committee seek diversity and noted there is not representation from ethnic communities. 5. Website Member Osborne stated that the Economic Development Committee website currently has meeting agendas and minutes posted and suggested that the Committee have a deeper presence. She stated that Ms. Gallavan, and IS representative and herself had met and discussed having more pages, more press releases and more events to be posted and available. Member Osborne indicated work on social media policies is taking place. She discussed that she and Council member Costa will work together on two surveys of not more than 20 questions that will focus on an internal and external input. One survey will target residents and the other will target visitors to the area and that a landing page will be linked from the website to the economic development surveys. Member Osborne indicated that research is being done on how to set up a centralized, city-wide calendar that will include community events and would be color coded. Member Milligan asked if the calendar would be linked into the Chamber of Commerce and Member Osborne answered affirmatively. Member Sinn suggested a page of testimonials. Member Rantz discussed the program, Way To Go Santa Barbara and suggested TV campaigns to discussed the positive elements of Lompoc. Suggestions from several Members were brought forward; a UTube contest, utilization of TAP TV, Noble Productions to market Lompoc. Member Pepe asked about how crime is reported locally as compared to other localities and suggested a meeting Police Chief (when appointed). Members Pommerville, Sinn, and Davidson noted that DUI checkpoints on Saturday nights negatively impact local businesses. 6. Aquatic Center Timing System Ms. Gallavan announced that the Dedication Ceremony will be held on August 8, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Aquatic Center and that there will be a mock swim meet to show how the new system operates. Page 4 of 7
7. Planning Commission Update Member Pepe indicated that progress is being made in working with the Planning Commission and noted the Commission s concerns with pioneering. He stated that permitted uses have too many adverbs and that bulk wine storage was not put into storage uses, that definitions are too specific and detailed, and proposes more generic descriptions. Member Pepe stated that the Commission agreed to adopt the suggestion of permitting ground floor offices at H Street and Ocean Avenue and proposed artisanal product. Ms. Gallavan included that the Planning Commission will consider the text amendment for first floor office use space on August 8, 2012. Member McComb stated the Planning Commission is working to make revisions to Old Town. Member Pommerville expressed concern with the General Plan finalized and the Planning Commission unable or unwilling to make amendments to it. 8. Theater/Civic Auditorium and Concessions Ms. Gallavan indicated that CDBG funding will finance $87,000 in theater upgrades; lighting, carpet, sound and electrical. She also discusses recent travel and training pertaining to theater renovations, renovation resources, and stated that concessions are an important part of theaters and civic areas and should not be outsourced. She said that the current trend is for theaters to be more community-class instead of being historic renovation projects. As a communityclass venue, renovations are more long term projects and that a start for the Lompoc theater would be to stabilize the roof and the building. Member Davidson commented that he did not see a performing theater coming and being sustained in Lompoc. Member McComb suggested that a venue that provided food and entertainment would be more likely to sustain itself. Member Sinn suggested an IMAX venue. Member Milligan asked about what upgrades need to be made to the theater and Ms. Gallavan stated, that upon visual inspection, that health and safety upgrades would cost approximately $2.5 million. Member Osborne discussed her experience with refurbishing old theaters into pubstyle dining, view movies, and have a live stage. 9. JM Park Ball fields Member Pommerville reported that he is working with Four Square Church to assist with facilities in the ballparks and that $120,000 has been funded for the parks. Member Pepe discussed city staff sensitivities. Member Pommerville indicated that additional funding is needed for parking, concession stands and bleachers. Member Milligan reported that the Rotary Club is seeking to donate Page 5 of 7
proceeds from a recent fundraising event and suggested an emphasis that these funds would be utilized to service under-priviledged children. Member Pepe encouraged seeking out private donations. 10. Four Baseball fields Member Davidson indicated that he would be speaking to Member Pommerville regarding this item. 11. Art Alley Member Pepe asked the Committee if anyone was interested in overseeing Art Alley. Member Milligan stated that the Chamber of Commerce has an Art Alley Committee. 12. Annual Conference for Downtown Association Ms. Gallavan announced the annual conference will be held October 29 October 31, 2012 and that the conference s theme is Outside the Block. Member Pepe suggested that information on the event be circulated through the Committee. 13. Downtown Theme Member McComb indicated that a City theme is still to be determined and suggested the return of neon signage on H Street and Ocean Avenue. She stated that this theme would lend to night life activity, would be pedestrian-friendly, and that a sign ordinance may need to be considered by the Planning Commission. Member Pepe suggested that research be done on neon signage and Member Milligan stated that she would talk to Main Street USA about the idea. Member Rantz stated that this idea/theme would need to be promoted to the public in order for understanding how neon theme-ing could add to downtown ambiance. Member McComb noted that neon theme-ing would provide a bridge to generational gaps. Member Milligan suggested planting trees in the medians in the H Street and Ocean Avenue area. Page 6 of 7
14. Ghetto Vintner s Park Member Osborne stated that she had attended the meeting and reported that the area plans to have food trucks with reasonably-priced items available, that a parking pad would be needed for the trucks to park onto, and that the lease would not be under PG&E. She discussed that city zoning does not allow for food trucks and that the current landlord of the property does not allow food trucks on site and that is would be the Committee s task to organize the project. Member Davidson clarified that the city ordinance states a food truck may not occupy a space for more than 5 minutes. Member McComb stated that the success of this area would be the ability to have a food truck at site events. STAFF AND COMMITTEE REQUESTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ms. Gallavan reported that the Workforce Investment Board wanted to present their Industry Cluster study to the Committee and suggested that the City could utilize the data to fine tune market groups. Member Pepe suggested staff schedule a presentation to last no more than 15 minutes. Member Manning discussed the enormous amount of information important to share and consider, and suggested that the presentation be allotted 45 minutes. The Committee discussed hearing only data that was pertinent to the Lompoc area and Ms. Gallavan stated she would request an executive summary. Member Osborne suggested a few members of the Committee meet with the Board and then pare down information and present to the Committee. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None. MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE: 3 ADJOURNMENT: The Committee adjourned at 8:00 p.m. to the next Regular meeting of the Economic Development Committee September 5, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Lompoc City Hall Council Chambers. G: Econ Dev \ EDC \ Minutes \08-02-12 10-03-12aw Page 7 of 7