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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - unsigned - 1994-05-31 - Adjourned Special Meeting1 05/31/94 City Council, Adjourned Special Meeting Redding Convention Center, Room 125 Redding, California May 31, 1994 1:30 p.m. This was a joint meeting of the Redding City Council, Shasta County Board of Supervisors, and the Anderson City Council. The following were present: Redding City Council Members P. Anderson, Kehoe, McGeorge, Murray and B. Anderson, Shasta County Board of Supervisors Clarke, Dickerson, Fust, Wilson, and Sullivan, and Anderson City Council Members McFarland, Smolenski and Jones. Although the City of Shasta Lake was represented by Council Members Frank, Duryee, and Beaudet, it did not participate since it did not notice the meeting. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (E-050) Shasta County Supervisor Richard Dickerson explained the meeting was being held to inform newly-elected officials within Shasta County about the Economic Development Corporation (EDC); to receive an update on new ideas and goals of the EDC and to obtain a commitment from the cities and County to work as a group for the overall improvement of the Shasta County economic base. James Zauher, General Manager of the Economic Development Corporation, presented a brief history of the EDC since its formation in 1958 as a county- wide, non-profit organization focusing on diversifying the local economy. Formation of the Shasta Metro Enterprise Zone, Mt. Lakes Industrial Park, financing for Dicker's anchor in downtown Redding Mall, $11 million dollars in loans and 500 jobs were created since the early 1980s. EDC has been generating Small Business Administration (SBA) loans since the 1980s, and formed the Superior California Development Corporation and the Redding Area Development Corporation, which split into separate entities in 1989. Robert Nash, Executive Officer of the Superior California Development, explained that the corporation is a Federally funded, four-county regional group involved in small business development activities including financing programs, while the EDC is involved more directly in industrial recruitment. George Lewellyn, President of the Board of Directors of the EDC, stated that following a January informational retreat, the EDC began focusing their efforts in three specific areas: 1) Industrial Sites; 2) Financing and Public Policy; and 3) Sales and Marketing. Mr. Lewellyn asked for an indication of commitment by Board of Supervisors and both Redding and Anderson City Councils to EDC's three-year marketing program. Shasta County Supervisor Sullivan reminded EDC that the Board of Supervisors could not make a commitment at this time; and could only direct staff to look into it. Dave Scott, Chairman of Public Policy Committee for EDC and Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors of EDC, presented several "focus points" to assure all is being done to attract industry. John Dunlap, Chairman of Industrial Sites Committee, reviewed the importance of having sites available before large corporations can come it. He stated an inventory of 2,000 catalogued sites in the County suitable for industrial use has been done and indicated owners of properties may be given incentives to pre-plan entitlements. Richard Downs explained how Shasta County is marketed and stated that EDC needs to move from reactive marketing to marketing/selling and to meet with companies and find out what we can do to help them do their jobs better. He said that during 1993, eleven companies looked at our County; and two of those companies located here. However, the number must be increased and an outside sales consultant is needed for approximately six months to get the marketing plan going, then EDC will hire their own sales person. While substantial amount of funding will come from the EDC reserves, there is a short-fall of $80,000 that EDC would like to have pro-rated between the Cities of Redding, Anderson, and Shasta Lake; an additional $140,000 is needed to bring the budget to the $334,000 needed. 2 05/31/94 Mr. Downs reviewed the "Associate Program" and the 1993-94 budget breakdown: $80,000 City of Redding, $30,000 County of Shasta, $9,000 City of Anderson, $13,000 City of Shasta Lake, hope to raise $40,000 from Associates Program, approximately $21,000 line servicing fees, net increase $110,000, $30,000 from EDC reserve, and $80,000 from outside. A general round table discussion was then held covering such topics as: 1) What makes rural areas successful; 2) funding; 3) benefits and recouping investments; 4) sharing of resources; and 4) increasing the number of companies contacted to increase odds of some actually moving here. EDC was requested to send a letter outlining its need, what its "shortfall" is, and what it would like the Board and City Councils to do. The letter is to be sent within the next two weeks. Representatives discussed the County budget timeframe and EDC indicated while it needed a commitment for funds, the funds were not needed until September. It was agreed then that staff would be directed to work with EDC. The City of Redding recommended that the individual committees meet; the City of Anderson indicated it would like joint meetings on different items such as permits; and Mr. Treadway indicated that Shasta College would coordinate training with any company needs and work with other schools to maintain quality. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at the hour of 3:30 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. APPROVED: _____________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ City Clerk