Minutes; Evansville Redevelopment: June 2008

Evansville Redevelopment Authority
Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 7:30 pm
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Chair John Decker. Present: John Decker, Betsy Ahner, Tony Wyse, Barb Jacobson, and Tom Calley. Absent: Chris Eager and Roger Roth. Also present: Executive Director Dan Wietecha and Mayor Sandy Decker.

II. Quorum. There being a majority of the commissioners present at call to order, a quorum was declared.

III. Agenda. Ahner made a motion, seconded by Wyse, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion approved unanimously.

IV. Minutes. John Decker noted Green Globes projects should also be included under the suggestions for future discussion section. Wyse made a motion, seconded by Calley, to approve the May 20 minutes as revised. Motion approved unanimously.

V. Old Business.
a. Economic Development Summit. Wyse said that members of the Chamber of Commerce Board met with the Economic Development Committee earlier in the evening. They discussed three themes as central to the Economic Development Strategy: 1) Better coordinated efforts and cooperation between local organizations; this will likely mean interviewing other cities and counties to research a number of different organizational structures for economic development. 2) A go-to person is needed as a guide or clearinghouse to help prospective and current businesses with their questions about available properties, financial resources, technical questions and help with licensing, zoning and other regulations. 3) Website improvements are essential for economic development.

b. Review TID #5 Project Plan. Wietecha distributed copies of the September 2005 Plan and pointed out the Proposed TIF Project Cost Estimates in it. Many of the line items are specific infrastructure improvements that have been undertaken in the downtown the last couple years. At a future meeting, the list will be updated to show budget-to-actual expenditures. Reviewing the Plan, can highlight opportunities for other projects in which the Authority may participate.

c. Advertising TID #5. Plans for a promotional lunch for TID #5 property owners, entrepreneurs and prospective businesses are being worked on. Although these plans are for a specific lunch, an ongoing series of networking gatherings with an emphasis on promoting and helping the business community may also be possible.

VI. New Business. None.

VII. Suggestions for Future Agenda. As noted earlier, an update on the TID #5 projects budget-to-actual expenditures. The draft of the Economic Development Strategy is expected to be ready by the next meeting. The Authority will be looking at more user-friendly forms and promotional information for TID #5.

VIII. Adjournment. With no further business, Jacobson made a motion, seconded by Wyse, to adjourn at 8:55 pm. Motion passed unanimously.