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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 06 14 Informational 101 Land Design Innovations, Inc. Providing Summary Report COMMISSION AGENDA Consent ITEM 101 Informational X Public Hearing Regular June 14, 2010 MGR. /DEPT. pd Regular Meeting Authorization REQUEST: Land Design Innovations, Inc. (City consultant) is presenting the Summary Report for Economic Development activities from April 24, 2010 through May 14, 2010. SYNOPSIS: As part of their contractual economic development efforts for the City, Land Design Innovations (LDI) makes monthly reports to the City Commission summarizing and detailing their efforts on behalf of the City relative to economic development CONSIDERATIONS: LDI has summarized their efforts relative to their economic development efforts in the following areas: • Potential New Businesses • The Development Review Process Workshop • The Town Center • The City's opportunity sites • Seminole Way • Chamber of Commerce activities • Branding/brochure efforts for the City's Economic Development Program • W -Team real estate professional for non - residential properties • Meeting summaries • Upcoming Activities • Other specific areas /projects aimed at economic development FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item. COMMUNICATION EFFORTS: No communication efforts beyond the advertising of the Commission agenda are necessary in conjunction with this agenda item. RECOMMENDATIONS: The City Commission is being asked to review and accept the information in this agenda item. ATTACHMENTS: "A" — LDI Economic Development Program — Summary Report ATTACHMENT A LAND DESIGN INNOVATIONS 11 iii 190 North Orlando Avenue. Suite 295 Winter Park Florida 32789 Phone: 907- 975 -1273 Fax: 907- 975 -1278 www.landbiz.com Memorandum To: Kevin Smith, City Manager From Tracy Crowe, President CC: Randy Stevenson, Community Development Director John Jones, Senior Planner Date: May 17, 2010 R.e: Winter Springs Economic Development Program — Summary Report The following bold activities occurred between April 24 - May 14 of the Economic Development project: 1. Potential New Businesses Sent a request to four major realtors in the City and Realvest to assist in locating a site in Winter Springs. Sent requests to the EDC to use their Costar database for potential sites. Meet with the potential tenant twice to gather details on their five year growth plan from 8 employees to 32 employees. Contacted County to determine what current incentives may be available, began recommendations for City incentives. Contacted the Town Center Property Manager to provide an overview of the tenants future needs prior to their walk through. Followed up with tenant after meeting and provided additional sites. John Jones prepared a list of questions for an evaluation of the potential for incentives for a potential new tenant in the Inwood building with Mr. Partyka and Mr. Stevenson. Tracy Crowe met with a potential new tenant for the Lifeway Building near the town center. Reveiwed the new companies proposed business plan, established date for follow -up meeting. LDI helped draft a Jobs Growth Incentive package for a healthcare services company creating eight (8) new jobs and submitted to the County. John Jones had a meeting with the Metro Orlando EDC to discuss leads that they are trying to locate in Winter Springs. Mr. Jones has followed up with the EDC regarding how we can offer assistance providing information about attracting these leads. LDI is currently evaluating available office space for the possible relocation of a financial services company, which will relocate potentially 30 jobs. LDI is also evaluating potential facilities for relocating /expanding industrial site users. G:\Projects\01 \01026.34 Winter Springs EDWdmin\Progress Reports1WS_ED_ProgRpt_May14.doc Memorandum to Mr. Smith May 19, 2010 Page 2 We are also in discussions with a media type company for opening a branch office in Winter Springs. Mr. Jones is continuing to negotiate potential incentive packages with their CFO. SOARing Plaza Activities LDI has been providing on -going one -on -one meetings and briefings with Ms. Heidi Goff of SOARing Plaza. LDI has assisted Ms. Goff through her information gathering and capital funding and grant funding search and we stand ready to assist her project at the permitting and development stages. We are continuing to provide on going referrals and notification of appropriate training, counseling and funding opportunities as they become known. The following events catalogue the coordination with Soaring Plaza. 3/17 J. Jones meeting with Heidi Goff, CEO SOARing Plaza project. Introduced to project. 3/17 Referred Ms. Goff to Wayne Hardy (Seminole State College, SBDC) to review Business Plan 3/18 -4/14 Prepared Seminole JGI Application for SOARing Plaza review 4/15 Revised JGI Application as per SOARing comments 4/16 Submitted JGI Application for Seminole County Jobs Growth Incentive Fund program 4/19 Met with Seminole County staff to discuss JGI Application and funding options. SOARing Plaza application for JGI grant funds not recommended for consideration by County Staff because it is not a targeted industry, corporate headquarters or locating in targeted area. 4/26 Instructed by WS Mayor Bush to meet with Ms. Goff. 4/29 Met with WS City Manager, K. Smith and Ms. Heidi Goff (SOARing Plaza) to discuss alternate funding opportunities and how the City can assist her business venture 4/30 Reintroduced Ms. Goff to Mr. Goetz (Seminole State College, SBDC) to pursue alternate funding opportunities and business counseling 4/30 Referred Ms. Goff to GrowFL program at UCF 4/30 Received confirmation from Mr. Goetz that he and Ms. Goff are working together 5/11 Referred Ms. Goff to upcoming small business funding seminar 2. Development Review Process Improvement Workshop G:\Projects\01\01026.34 Winter Springs EDWdmin\Progress Reports \WS_ED_ProgRpt_May14.doc Memorandum to Mr. Smith May 19, 2010 Page 3 A workshop was conducted which included all key development review staff. The workshop was well attended and participants were candid in their response to the facilitators. A draft of the summary and recommendations is in process. In conjunction with the workshop held at the City, LDI also conducted a development community panel. The panel consisted of a representative cross - section of designers, engineers and contractors /builders who have been through the City's development review and permitting process. A draft report will be submitted summarizing the results to the City Manager. A draft report has been submitted to the City. 3. Town Center A follow -up meeting is scheduled with a Town Center property manager on March 16` A list of potential items that the City could implement to assist the existing tenants is being developed by LDI for presentation to the Council. Included in the list of potential ways to attract more users of the Town Center was a signage program. LDI is analyzing the SR 434 corridor and the Tuskawilla Rd for additional directional and wayfinding signage. Also, included in this analysis is a review of suitability of gateway features at select locations. Held conference call with Town Center Phase II broker, Jim Mitchell, two potential tenants are currently feasible, he can meet by the end of March (too busy right now). LDI met with Mr. Stevenson to make recommendations for both civic and Town Center identity signage. LDI is developing the final wayfinding concepts. Wayfinding concepts and cost estimates for short and long term timeframes have been submitted to the City Staff for their review. Three meetings were held with staff to discuss the wayfinding concepts. Additional Commissioner briefings are planned. Mr. Jones has coordinated with Mr. Gregory (with Transwestern Company) to help relocate a potential tenant to the Town Center. 4. Opportunity Sites Six major development sites have been analyzed based upon prior input from staff and knowledge of the City to be the hot spot target sites for the brochure. Of the six development areas analyzed, four targeted areas have been determined. The following has been done for the sites to date: • Review of the comprehensive plan related to each site. • A review of the SEED program and incentives. • Discussions regarding City incentives with City staff. • Discussions with SeminoleWAY representatives regarding a Unified Land Development Code for the SeminoleWAY corridor. • Research all of the parcels in each of the locations on the property appraiser's website for ownership, land use, zoning and acreage. • Research the City's regulations for overlays and special restrictions in those locations. • Located vacant office buildings • Added vacant office buildings and realtor information to Opportunity Sites GProjects\01 \01026.34 Winter Springs ED\Admin\Progress Reports \WS_ED_ProgRpt_Mayl4.doc Memorandum to Mr. Smith May 19, 2010 Page 4 5. Private Business Association of Seminole County (PBAS) LDI attended the monthly luncheon with the business organization. Continuing to attend monthly PBAS meetings and announce that we are there on the City's behalf. 6. Chamber of Commerce LDI was provided an opportunity by Cynthia Sucher to present at the February Oviedo Winter Springs Chamber luncheon with Mr. Spaeth about what opportunities there are in both cities along the "University Corridor" that combines SeminoleWay and InnovationWay. LDI also presented about both cities at the Oviedo Rotary. LDI attended the public hearing to renew the Trustee membership and thanked the Chamber for their assistance. The Chamber is providing LDI a list of realtors for non - residential properties. Continuing to attend monthly chamber luncheons and events on behalf of the City, and request coordination regarding the University Corridor. 7. SeminoleWay Ms. Crowe attended the Oviedo Council hearing that Mayor Bush spoke as to request a joint meeting to discuss SeminoleWay. Ms. Crowe left a message for Alison Stettner regarding her new appointment as Project Manager for SeminoleWay and is establishing a meeting date. A meeting with Alison Stettner was attended by John Jones and Chris Dougherty. The SeminoleWAY project was the topic of discussion. The County has suggested to the cities involved with SeminoleWAY an expedited review process for properties with the SeminoleWAY, which the County has already adopted. A status meeting with the City Commission was suggested to bring all parties up to speed. 8. UCF Business Incubator LDI is attempting to schedule a follow -up meeting between Tracy Crowe and Ms. Esther Vargas - Davis, the Site Manager for the Winter Springs UCF Incubator. Tracy Crowe and Ms. Vargas -Davis met on April 5, 2010 to discuss the City's commitment to retaining local businesses and to continue the partnership with the Incubator. Ms. Crowe met with the City Manager and Randy Stevenson to let them know that the Incubator would like an official exhibit in the lobby of City Hall to attract "start-up business entrepreneurs" to locate in the incubator in the City, and that the incubator, as well as the chamber needs signage in the City. Ms. Crowe held a second meeting with Ms. Vargas- Davis. 9. OBN (Women Business Network) Followed -up with six businesses requested to learn about ED services and /or how to get involved. Scheduled and met with Suntrust Bank representative on March 9 about being on the W -Team and learnt about the services they can offer to small businesses. Spoke with the Oviedo Winter Springs Life magazine about incorporating future press releases. More businesses still need follow -up this month. Continuing to attend the monthly OBN meetings on behalf of the City, recognition has been strongly established. Will display the new brochure at the OBN luncheon as soon as it is approved. G:\Projects\01\01026.34 Winter Springs EDWdminTrogress Reports \WS_ED_ProgRpt_May14.doc Memorandum to Mr. Smith May 19, 2010 Page 5 10. Branding /Brochure Alternate brands and slogans for the economic initiatives of the City have been presented to the City Manager. Finalization of the brand and slogan is pending City Manager approval. LDI is developing the narrative for the opportunity sites and incentives available to development for the brochure. The City Manager selected the final branding concepts for approval. The brochure is in the final stages of completion. 11. Jetta Point Analysis Per request of the City, a quick economic impact analysis was completed for Jetta Point. A PowerPoint presentation has been developed regarding Jetta Point to brief the Commission at the next regular meeting. Mr. Jones presented to the City Commission on the Jetta Point analysis on April 26 12. Business Retention Surveys The survey deadline was March 5` Approximately 1,350 surveys were sent via mail to all businesses within the City. To date, a great response rate of approximately 108 surveys were received through mail and the City's website. Information received through the surveys is currently being tallied by LDI staff. A PowerPoint presentation has been developed regarding the business survey results to brief the commission at the next regular meeting. An additional presentation in being drafted which discusses a comparison of incentives other municipalities offer to expanding and relocated businesses. This presentation will brief the commission on the different incentive concepts currently in use by other cities during the May 10 public hearing. Mr. Jones presented to the City Commission on the Business Retention Survey analysis on April 26`''. 13. W -Team Contacted Laura -Leigh Wood with Exit Real Estate and she would be interested in being on the team. Had lunch with Laura -Leigh Woods and Eddie Bauer has agreed to be on the W- Team representing Exit Real Estate for non - residential properties. Contacted Brenda Herron at Watson Realty and introduced the W -Team (she only does residential and had no referrals, not a prospect any longer). Took Elizabeth Gifford with Coldwell Banker off the list, because she is also all- Residential. Contacted Kim Coburn with Re /Max, she only does residential properties. Ms. Coburn referred us to Cliff Collins in the Winter Springs office (also discovered he used to be on Oviedo LPA), and he would be glad to join the team (forwarded him the parameters of the tenants needs that I am trying to locate in the cities). 14. Guide Map LDI met with both cities and recommended that a Guide Map be developed for the area similar to the one developed for Baldwin Park and surrounding area that identifies the location of shops, restaurants and recreation in the two cities. LDI will show the Chamber the map that needs to be developed, but it is recommended that it not only highlight chamber members, but the community icons as a whole. Therefore, the cities may need to G:\Projects\01\01026.34 Winter Springs EDWdmin\Pnogress Reports \WS_ED_ProgRpt_May14.doc Memorandum to Mr. Smith May 19, 2010 Page 6 participate. A meeting with Ms. Sucher has been scheduled for May 21" and a meeting with Mr. Stevenson on May 19` 15. Press Relations Mr. Jones has corresponded with Mr. Gary Roberts of the Seminole Chronicle to explain the business survey results. Meetings April 21 — Conducted Contractors Focus Group April 22 — Met with Randy Stevenson about signage and reviewed the upcoming PowerPoints April 26 — Commission Meeting (presented survey and jetta park presentation) April 27 — Synopsis Corporate relocation meeting May 3 — ED Breakfast May 4 — Seminole County Chamber EDC meeting May 6 — Meeting w/ John Metsopoulous (17 -92 CRA) May 10 — Commission Meeting (presented Item 100 and incentives presentation) May 12 — Meeting w/ Alison Settner (SeminoleWay) May 12 — Seminole County Chamber ED Forum May 13 — Meeting w/ Seminole County Staff 16. Upcoming Activities in May and June • May 24 — Attend Commission Meeting • May 21 — meeting with Cynthia Sucher, President of the Seminole County Chamber to discuss Guide Map • Schedule meeting with City's attorney to discuss annexation strategy • First Draft of opportunity sites brochure • Begin business recruitment web page design • Develop indicators to measure economic development • Schedule a meeting with Fifth /Third Bank regarding CRA micro -loan program • John Jones presenting to 17 -92 CRA Advisory Board regarding the potential development of a micro -loan program 6/7/2010 • Oviedo - Winter Springs Joint Meeting • Follow up with incubator tenants G:\Projects\01\01026.34 Winter Springs ED\Admin\Progress Reports \WS_ED_ProgRpt_May14.doc