2003-05-22 PEARLAND ECONCOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PEARLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION ("PEDC") BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS,
HELD THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2003, 4:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
I. The meeting was called to order at 4:03 p.m. with the following present:
BOARD MEMBERS
Chairman Dennis Frauenberger
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Board member
Board member
Randy Ferguson
Lucy Stevener
Helen Beckman
Bill Chase
Board member Charlie Philipp
Not in attendance: Due to a conflict in schedule, Board member Steve Saboe was unable to
attend the meeting.
EX -OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
City of Pearland Bill Eisen
City of Pearland Mayor Tom Reid
Chamber of Commerce Carol Artz
STAFF MEMBERS
Executive Director
Administrative Assistant
Intern
Fred Welch
Janice Vega
Matthew Wilcoxin
Minutes of Special Meeting of
May 22, 2003
Page 2
II. Approval of Minutes: Board member Charlie Philipp made the motion, seconded by
Board member Helen Beckman to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing and Special
Meeting of March 24, 2003 and the Special Meeting of April 14, 2003.
Motion Passed: 6 — 0
III. Board Member Reports: Chairman Dennis Frauenberger commented on his attendance
at the City Council workshop. Board Member Helen Beckman commented on her
attendance at the CEO Roundtable, Broker/Developer Day, SEED Banquet, and advised
the board that she has been appointed to the Citizen's Code Advisory committee.
Secretary Lucy Stevener commented on her attendance at the Broker/Developer Day,
and the P.I.S.D. bond election meeting.
IV. Financial Statement Review: Executive Director Fred Welch gave an oral report and
one was submitted to file.
V. Executive Director's Report — Fred Welch:
The annual trade show for the Houston Association of Realtors was held in Houston on
April 15tH. PEDC had a booth in the exhibition hall. We met with several hundred of
Houston's commercial real estate agents and brokers. Several contacts for possible
projects along SH 35 were made at this event.
The Tele -Flow project closed officially in early April. A special reception and ribbon
cutting was held on April 16th. About 25 members from the City, Chamber of Commerce,
and PEDC staff and board attended the event. The firm has already added sixteen
employees with plans for additional employment later in the year.
Our second CEO Roundtable was held on April 17th. Tobin Maples from the Community
Development department talked to the group about the development guidelines in the city
of Pearland and the revisions taking place this year and next with the City's
Comprehensive Plan. About a dozen CEO's were present.
The Texas Economic Development Council held its spring meeting in Dallas on April 23rd.
Will Benson attended on behalf of PEDC. Most of the discussion at the spring meeting
concerned the Texas legislature and impending changes to the state economic
development organization.
PEDC hosted a luncheon for the Brazoria County Economic Development Allies on April
28tH Representatives from Alvin, Brazoria County Partnership, Greater Houston
Partnership, and Freeport were in attendance to talk about economic development
activities in the county and region.
Over 100 commercial real estate agents and developers attended the annual
Broker/Developer Day on May 1St. The day's events included a bus tour to highlight
development activity in Pearland, presentations on the Pearland market by a local
economist, a presentation on HCA Hospital, and a medical office complex under
construction near Silverlake.
Minutes of Special Meeting of
May 22, 2003
Page 3
Traveled to Washington, DC from May 4th —8 1h to attend the annual congressional visits
for the NASA appropriation by the Clear Lake community. Over 135 legislators were
contacted in a three day period to show our regions support for the manned space
program and commercial space flight.
While in Washington, I visited with the staff from Congressman DeLay's office and
Senator Cornyn. I also visited with a firm interested in bringing several biotechnology
companies to Houston.
Attended the City Council workshop on May 12th. The purpose of the workshop was to
give council an update on current projects of the PEDC and to solicit input from council on
our upcoming strategic planning efforts.
Staff just returned from the International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Las
Vegas. Mayor Reid and Pearland Chamber President Carol Artz accompanied us on the
trip. The ICSC conference brings over 30,000 persons in shopping center development,
leasing and marketing together to make deals for future retail projects. We made several
contacts while there and will be following up over the summer to provide information on
real estate and demographics to a prospect list of over 40 companies.
Upcoming Events:
The Baylor Medical Center will be hosting a biotechnology conference in Houston on June
2-3. PEDC will be attending the event to network with several of the existing
biotechnology in Houston and across Texas. Two companies in our area have recently
FDA approval to begin production of their product. Our interest is to entice companies
needing research and development space or manufacturing space to consider sites in
Pearland for growth and development.
The International Bio -Technology Conference (Bio -2003) will be held in Washington, DC
June 22-25. PEDC is sharing booth space with six other Houston area communities and
the state of Texas. Last year over 35,000 persons attended this event.
The National Plastics Show will be held in Chicago June 23-26. PEDC will be
participating in this event along with the state of Texas and fourteen communities from
around the state.
Other Activity:
Matthew Wilcoxin has joined the PEDC staff as an intern for the summer. He is a senior
at UT Austin.
The next several weeks will see a great deal of activity on our strategic planning process.
The TIP team will start work in June. We hope to have the kick off meeting on June 4th
A steering committee with representatives of the PEDC board, city staff, Chamber of
Commerce and business leaders will do the majority of the legwork with TIP.
Minutes of Special Meeting of
May 22, 2003
Page 4
Projects:
Project Isolagen — Isolagen — Biotech start up in Houston. The firm is still actively
considering a site on the north side of Pearland. They are awaiting FDA approval for the
manufacture of their product, which will be used in treating skin and burn tissue and for
other cosmetic purposes.
Project Vantage — Work with a Houston developer in construction of 5,000 to 15,000 sq.
ft. office warehouse type buildings (tilt -wall) to serve business and industry. We met
again right after the HAR conference in April. Two sites are under consideration in the
city.
Project Phoenix — This is a state lead for a custom contract packaging service. No word
has been received from the state as to project status. It is still very much in the initial due
diligence stage by the PEDC staff.
Project EarthPak — The company has not responded to our inquiries. They were
interested in starting a sewing and assembly plant to make backpacks for school age
children.
Project Gerland — Referred to us during the HAR conference. A distributor for valves and
fittings to the oil industry interested in locating to Pearland for an office warehouse type
facility.
Project American Door Products — A statewide referral. Manufacture and distribution of
steel frame doors and window casings. No activity this past month.
Porta Gas — Distributor of industrial gases looking for distribution facility. Site information
provided to the realtor developer in April. No other response to date.
Project TyMetal — The property owner is completing needed fagade improvements to the
building to bring it into compliance. Equipment move in can begin in late June or early
July. PEDC approved a grant to this firm in April. They should be in the facility late this
summer.
VI. Public Comments — Carol Artz, President of the Pearland Area Chamber of Commerce
thanked the PEDC for included the Chamber on PEDC projects and events. Commented
on her participation at Broker/Developer Day, as well as the ICSC trip.
VII. New Business
A. Board members Bill Chase and Charlie Philipp were appointed by Chairman Dennis
Frauenberger to serve on the Steering Committee for the strategic plan.
B. The Board of Directors set the date of June 4th for the first meeting with TIP for the
strategic plan. Executive Director Fred Welch will confirm this date with TIP.
Minutes of Special Meeting of
May 22, 2003
Page 5
VIII. Adjournment: Vice Chairman Randy Ferguson made the motion, seconded by Board
member Bill Chase to adjourn the meeting.
Motion Passed: 6 - 0
TIME: 4:41 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or Corr ed th's { T�l day of
A.D., 2003
De ni Frauenberger hairman
ATTEST: �.
Janice ega, AdministrAMes Assistant