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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-12-12MINUTES CITY COUNCILIREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 7:30 A.M. - Salon B Waterfront Hilton 21100 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, California Monday, December 12, 1995 Call To Order As Mayor Sullivan had been delayed, Councilman Garofalo welcomed the meeting participants. City Council/Redevelopment Agency Roll Call: Present: Harman, Leipzig, Bauer, Dettloff, Green, Garofalo, (Sullivan arrived 7:50 a.m.) Absent: None Councilman Garofalo introduced Mayor Pro Tempore Ralph Bauer. Mayor Pro Tempore Bauer addressed the gathering regarding the importance of economic development in the city and the various current and past avenues which have been taken to achieve this goal. Material Presented At This Council Meeting Edinger Corridor Economic Market Study approved November 6, 1995 Long Range Opportunities and Constraints approved December 4, 1995 Roster of members of the Red Team Economic Development Strategy approved October 16, 1995 The Smart Choice For Business (pamphlet prepared by Economic Development Department) Slide Report - Economic Development Strategy, October, 1995 List Of Meeting Participants Lou Banas, Public Affairs Director GTE California, Incorporated Jerry Dominguez,. Region Manager Southern California Edison Bill Ellis, President Huntington Seacliff Corporation Bob Eck, President SIR Industries, Incorporated Carol Freeman, Chief Executive Officer Huntington Beach Medical Center Bill Williams, Chairman Clayton, Williams and Sherwood 6--3 G Page 2 - Council/Agency Minutes - 12112195 Phil Inglee President and Chief Executive Officer Liberty National Bank Tom Andrusky, Assistant Project Manager Economic Development Department Eli Naffah, Development Specialist Economic Development Department James Connors Masco Corporation Richard Zamboni The Zamboni Company James Swearington Unisource Christopher Stahl, President Long Beach Iron Works Ken Bourguignon, President Dotkin Engineering Ed Laird, President Coatings Resource Corporation David Biggs, Director Economic Development Department Jim Lamb, Project Manager Economic Development Department Ray Silver Assistant City Administrator William Rea TR Trading Incorporated Barry Bussiere, President/Broker HB-FV Association of Realtors Pacific Strand Real Estate Joe Garofalo Management Consultant Donald Goodwin, President Goodwin Company Paul Viviano, Senior Vice -President Saint Joseph Health System Tom Parkinson, Division Director McDonnell Douglas Mayor Sullivan arrived at the Council meeting and reported on the business community's help in assisting the city to bring business to the city. David Biggs, Economic Development Director, spoke regarding the city's goal to make the city attractive for economic growth. He made a slide presentation and referred to the city's current General Plan Amendment issues. He reviewed the role of his department including redevelopment, housing and Community Development Block Grant and business development issues. Mr. Biggs spoke regarding the organized effort of the city to utilize its 1,100 employees to be the eyes and ears of the city relative to economic development needs. He presented recommendations including "Target Clusters" which include a High Tech Cluster, Health Care Cluster, Tourism, Cluster, Entertainment and Retail, International Trade and Regional Opportunities. The Economic Development Director stated the city was concerned with the type of jobs created in order to have economic activity. He continued his presentation referring to the written material provided to all participants. He stated that he believed Huntington Center was a big opportunity for the city to capture a tax base. 63 7 12112/95 - City Council/Redevelopment Agency Minutes - Page 3 Councilman Garofalo spoke regarding requests for increased services and declining revenue and infrastructure needs. Councilman Garofalo stated that the Economic Development Committee was working toward business expansion, retention and expansion. Councilman Garofalo requested input from the participants as to their recommendations and if there is agreement with the city's plan or disagreement? Ray Silver, Assistant City Administrator, stated that staff needs to know if the city is on target. Phil Inglee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Liberty National Bank, spoke regarding the need for the city to develop a procedure whereby the city would study proposed expenditures against a model of what is trying to be achieved in the city. He spoke regarding providing incentives to business by assisting them with the cost of compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) in providing access to facilities. He stated that having fiber -optics capabilities should be a high priority and should be investigated. Discussion was held. Lou Bangs, GTE California, Incorporated representative, reported on what GTE has done in the area of fiber -optics and discussion was held. Jerry Dominguez, Southern California Edison Company representative, reported on the deregulation hearings this month which will determine, to a great extent, future electrical services. He reported on how his company could assist businesses. Councilman Garofalo referred to the many people on the Red Team and stated that through personal relationship with Ed Laird, President, Coatings Resource Corporation, a new business was located to Huntington Beach. Phil Inglee, Liberty National Bank representative, again stressed the need for fiber -optics. He stated the need to identify the major commercial nodes for ADA also ADA retrofitting procedures as it is so difficult to find a business location which meets compliance. Ray Silver, Assistant City Administrator, concurred with Mr. Inglee and stated that he would be attending a meeting this Friday with McDonnell Douglas. Tom Andrusky, Economic Development Assistant Project Manager, spoke regarding his discussions with the U. S. Department of Commerce relative to tying global communications with them. Tom Parkinson, McDonnell Douglas representative, spoke regarding the business climate which his company is in and the fact that they are competing globally. He stated that they need congressional help and asked if the city can get involved nationally by writing letters, etc. He stated that his main issue is that McDonnell Douglas is very cost driven. As an example he questioned whether the Waterfront Hilton is a tourist or business hotel as most restaurants have coffee shops for business people. He cited the need for restaurants in the city. L Page 4 - Council/Agency Minutes - 12/12/95 Richard Zamboni, the Zamboni Company representative, stated that he believed the city was proceeding in the right direction. Carol Freeman, Huntington Beach Medical Center representative, spoke regarding the labor pool and its cost. Councilman Bauer reported on training facilities including Coastline Community College and the adult high schools. He spoke regarding the issue of high housing costs. Comments were received that the city had to decide what kind of city it wished to be; that not every business from Los Angeles is what the city wants and it must be planned carefully. James Swearin ton, Unisource representative, questioned if the city has audited its "Red Carpet" treatment to determine if it has been working. Ed Laird, Coatings Resource Corporation representative, stated that this type of meeting should be held for commercial Realtors who could attract businesses to the city. Mr. Laird questioned what type of trees should be planted in the industrial areas to not uproot the sidewalk. He stated that the city needs to be known; that he would like a logo to be developed that he could place on his cans stating "Made in Huntington Beach" and other companies could do so. He stated that the schools need to be emphasized that the student's SAT scores are among the highest in the country. The schools need to be wired for the Internet and perhaps a program such as "Adopt a School" could be established.. He suggested a network program through the city and businesses to communicate with the levels of government citing an instance where a federal representative had voted against a businesses measure because he had received one letter from a constituent. He complimented the Assistant City Administrator for giving Red Carpet treatment. Ken Bour ui non, Dotkin Engineering representative, spoke regarding the need for a positive approach was needed in permit processing. Jerry Dominguez, Southern California Edison Company representative, stated that a letter to an assemblyman or congressman can be very effective and cited an instance where his company had been successful_ A suggestion was made that the brochure developed by the Economic Development Department include the word "commercial". Councilman Green stated that he would like to see a focus on tourism and that the city's facilities were at the peak in summer and a feasibility study is being made of a conference center and depending on the results of the study the Waterfront Hilton could be asked to build another tower and the city to have a conference center. He stated that the resources would be needed to keep up beach maintenance if the goal of more tourism was realized. 639 12112195 - City Council/Redevelopment Agency Minutes - Page 5 Councilman Harman asked what the time lines are in reaching out with mailers and contacts and Jim Lamb, Economic Development Project Manager, reported. Councilman Harman stressed the critical need for private sector involvement as they are knowledgeable about potential businesses. Councilwoman Dettloff stated that the Red Team's goal was to go forward with these plans and not have the plans left on the shelf. Councilman Bauer stated that he believed it was important to have answers to the questions that have been presented at this meeting. He stated that due to Council elections every two years, continuity has to be ensured, and that there are ways in the internal organization to ensure continuity. Mayor Sullivan stated that there were many tremendous ideas generated from this meeting. He summarized the recommendations made by the -business people present at the meeting. ADJOURNMENT - CITY COUNCILIREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Mayor adjourned the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to Tuesday, December 4, 1995 at 5:00 p.m., in Room B-8, Civic Center, Huntington Beach, California. ATTEST: � G City Clerk/Clerk City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, and Clerk of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach, California Mayor/Chairman