HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 03 23 Seminole County Director Economic Development Minutes
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
MINUTES
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING
WITH SEMINOLE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MARCH 23, 2006
CALL TO ORDER
The Meeting with the Seminole County Director of Economic Development of Thursday,
March 23, 2006 of the City Commission was called to order by Mayor John F. Bush at
11:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East
State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708).
Roll Call:
Mayor John F. Bush, present
Deputy Mayor Michael S. Blake, present
Commissioner Robert S. Miller, present
Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore, present
Commissioner Sally McGinnis, present
Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs, present
City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, arrived at 11 :20 a.m.
City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, absent
REGULAR AGENDA
REGULAR
300. Office Of The Mayor
Discussion With The Seminole County Director Of Economic Development.
Mayor Bush introduced Mr. Bill McDermott, Seminole County Director of Economic
Development, and Ms. Sabrina O'Bryan, Senior Planner, Seminole County and stated, "I
just asked him to come and tell us a little about what he does and - what he - or the
County could do, I should say, to help us develop a vibrant business community here in
the Town Center, as well as in the City as a whole."
Mr. Bill McDermott, Director of Economic Development, Seminole County, 1101 East
First Street, Sanford, Florida: addressed those in attendance and noted the
responsibilities of Seminole County's Economic Development Department; and discussed
future possible changes in Seminole County.
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
MINUTES
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING WITH SEMINOLE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - MARCH 23,2006
PAGE20F5
Regarding Orange County's "Innovation Way" concept, Mr. McDermott stated, "The
three (3) anchors that they identify as important elements to this 'Innovation Way' are the
University of Central Florida, and then they identify Valencia Community College; and
the last one is the Orlando Airport; and the more I read the material, and the more I
thought about what they were trying to accomplish, it occurred to me that - why does this
thing need to stop at the County Line, it doesn't make any sense. I mean UCF
(University of Central Florida) is up at this end of this 'Innovation Way' corridor, that
they are identifying; and it seems logical just to extend it all the way up [State Road] 417
- but, in order for us to see how we could take advantage of that, we are going to have to
sit down, both the City of Oviedo and the City of Winter Springs, and the County and
kind of talk ourselves through what's the logical approach of taking advantage of this
situation and even to the point of offering to partner with Orange County in this effort.
And I think probably the first order of business is for all of us to understand as much as
we can about what they're trying to accomplish. Alright. And then figure out how that
fits with the wants and desires of the County and the two (2) cities."
Mr. McDermott mentioned that he had spoken to his counterpart with Orange County,
and stated, "He was very flattered. And he said, he felt that Mayor Crotty would be very
flattered over the fact that Seminole County and the two (2) cities would have an interest
in working with him on this."
Discussion.
Mr. McDermott mentioned that he gave the Mayor "A list of site selection criteria that
restaurants typically go through, and it lists." Furthermore, Mr. McDermott commented
on high-end restaurants for our City and stated, "The idea of having a high-end
restaurant, I mean it is a great goal to have, maybe we can pull it off - we will certainly
do everything in our power to help the City of Winter Springs make that a reality; and
we've got a lot of resources that I think we can bring to bear, including research.
Because, if you look at the list of things that are - on that sheet, I mean there are a lot of
things that we can help assemble and put together and provide to the City so that they
have a package.
City Manager Ronald W McLemore arrived at approximately 11:20 a.m.
So, if you're going to go have a conversation with a restaurateur - you're armed with
some really powerful information that will help you make the case to that individual or
individuals that this is a great place to put a restaurant, so we will work with the City to
try and make that happen."
As to how restaurants are contacted, Mr. McDermott explained, "You figure out who
they are and you contact them. I mean the City can do it, we can do it, we can do it
together. You develop a hit list of who would you like to have here."
Discussion.
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
MINUTES
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING WITH SEMINOLE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - MARCH 23, 2006
PAGE30F5
Manager McLemore stated, "It is great for you all to do this, but you're dealing with
another private company's product. My question in doing this, is you have got to
coordinate with the owner of that development - you don't want to be saying things that
are directly contradictory to his marketing efforts - throughout the country." Manager
McLemore added, "You can't get in a situation where you're conflicting with his effort."
Furthermore, Manager McLemore noted, "My point is all this has got to be - these efforts
have got to be coordinated together with that Developer, in this case; so I mean you have
got to get some - approval from this guy, before you go out and start making statements
about his property."
Mr. McDermott remarked, "Actually, what I have offered to do, is to help the City - right.
It is up to the City to go talk to that gentleman." Mayor Bush stated, "George Tullos, we
have contacted George about coming today, but he couldn't and I told him, I said, well
this won't be the last Meeting and he said, he will certainly be at any future Meeting."
With discussion on applicable data, Mr. McDermott noted that he had data "As recent as
[20]'05 now, that paints a profile of the Winter Springs community - like disposable
income, education levels, household income - all these different elements that would be
important to somebody who wanted a business here, particularly a restaurant. That's the
type of thing that I am talking about, and we can provide that information to you, we can
help you package it, alright. If you want us to - say alright, give us a list of restaurants.
We will be glad to do that too."
Discussion ensued on a similar effort by the Oviedo City Council to make changes to
their Impact Fees and Land Development Code and to create a more friendly business
community. Mayor Bush said, "That might be something - Mr. McLemore you might
want to talk to Mr. Seeber about - to follow up on."
Mr. McDermott mentioned that "We have the ability right now, looking at the data
resources that we have, I can tell you, looking at the reports, "How much money the City
of Winter Springs spends every year eating out at restaurants."
Ms. Sabrina 0 'Bryan, Senior Planner, Seminole County, 1101 East First Street, Sanford,
Florida: added, "Average annual household in the City of Winter Springs, food and
beverage consumption is over eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00) per year. Four thousand
[dollars] ($4,000.00) in the home, four thousand [dollars] ($4,000.00) outside of the
home, per household." Ms. O'Bryan added, "I can get you detailed specifics."
Next, Ms. O'Bryan distributed copies of a Corporate Guide to those in attendance and
added that she could also provide a video which would accompany the Corporate Guide.
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
MINUTES
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING WITH SEMINOLE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - MARCH 23, 2006
PAGE40FS
Mayor Bush stated, "Would you be able to, based on your data, be able to recommend
what kind of Economic Development this City should be looking at, versus Sanford."
Mr. McDermott stated, "I think we can certainly get you off in the right direction, but I
think ultimately, I think the idea of creating some kind of an Economic Development
Task Force - Committee. The Committee probably - needs to be a permanent thing."
Mayor Bush asked, "What is your recommendation. What should we do next?"
Mr. McDermott responded, "Obviously, you've got a strong interest in what's going on
here today, I mean you have got these people here - I think the City needs to say alright,
how do we want to approach this and the idea of creating - I mean, I realize everybody
says who needs another Committee, but in this case, I think this would be an important
Committee, a group of interested business people who could sit down and begin to talk
about - what is the vision for this community from a job creation standpoint? Where do
we want to go? What types of jobs would you want to attract here? What kinds of
developments do we want to see here? I mean all of those things that need to be talked
about and again, use us as a resource. I'm not here to lead an effort like that, but I am
certainly here to support it."
Furthermore, Mayor Bush noted, "It also seems like that we need to partner with Oviedo
and the County to get the Zoning and other things - mentioned all the way along the
[State Road] 417 corridor there, so that - and it is consistent between the County and
municipalities, so it doesn't confuse people who are coming in."
Discussion ensued on commercial property within the City, to which. Mr. McDermott
stated, "That land out by [State Road] 417 needs to be in that database." Manager
McLemore agreed and stated, "Yes."
Tape I/Side B
Discussion.
Mayor Bush stated, "The way I read the County Commission is that - it is job creation
that they're interested in, and I think that's what we should interested out there on the
GreeneWay. I also, what Denise (Ryser) I think was alluding to there, is that Oviedo
should be in this equation as well." Mayor Bush mentioned that it is beyond just State
Road 417 - "There is nothing wrong with including them, especially if we are going to
hire somebody that can help pay for it."
Discussion ensued on "Class A" office space and Mayor Bush noted that, "This is
something the Commission can take up at a Regular Meeting and kind of decide which
way - Ron [McLemore] will have time to think about it over the weekend."
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
MINUTES
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING WITH SEMINOLE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - MARCH 23,2006
PAGE 5 OF 5
Regarding the comments about job creation and State Road 417, Mayor Bush said to Mr.
McDermott, "What would be our next step? Is this something the County can step in
and..." Mr. McDermott remarked, "... What I would like to do is to get with Ron
[McLemore] and - get a Meeting set up, we will get Tracey Turk [Seminole County
Business Development Department] involved in it as well. Let's learn as much as we can
about the property."
Commissioner Robert S. Miller asked, "How many acres would you need for a
reasonably sized Convention Center with a Hotel?" Mr. McDermott stated, "I don't
know the answer, but - we can find that out." Mr. McDermott added, "We can find that
out and we'll get back to you on that." Commissioner McGinnis remarked, "That is one
option. I am also interested in the alternative to a big Convention Center and a big Hotel.
Because I think there is another market and it is for Conferences, and the - group that
doesn't need the big Convention Center."
Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore suggested, "I think what we need to do is define what
target we want and work on that."
Discussion.
Regarding what the City of Winter Springs can offer businesses to come into the City and
does the City have a business friendly process, Mayor Bush noted, "I think this is
something the Commission could take up at a Meeting and officially make a decision on
it."
Furthermore, Mayor Bush then said to the attendees of this Meeting, "If you would like
to serve on such a Task Force, would you let Andrea [Lorenzo-Luaces, City Clerk] -
know."
Further discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bush adjourned the Meeting at approximately 12:43 p.m.
RESP ECTFULL Y SUBM17 'TED:
AND,.REA LORENZO-LUACES, CITY CLERK AND
LhJ~ ~~'!-'JdJ\ ./
DEBBIE FRANKLIN
DEPUTY CITY CLERK