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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-26 Special Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 26, 2014 PAGE 136 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for a Special Meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in the New Hanover County Executive Development Center, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC. Members present:Chairman Woody White; Vice-Chair Beth Dawson; Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; and Commissioner Thomas Wolfe. Commissioner Brian M. Berger was absent. Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; and Interim Clerk to the Board Teresa P. Elmore. City of Wilmington Council members present: Mayor Bill Saffo; Mayor Pro-Tem Margaret Haynes; Council Members Neal Anderson, Kevin O'Grady; Laura Padgett; and Charlie Rivenbark. Council Member Earl Sheridan was present for the afternoon session. City of Wilmington staff present: City Manager Sterling Cheatham; City Attorney William Wolak; and City Clerk Penny Spicer-Sidbury. Facilitators: Director Jim Roberts, UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Dr. Thomas Porter, UNCW Cameron School of Business, Department of Marketing. Chairman White and Mayor Saffo called their respective Boards to order for the Special Meeting reporting the purpose of the meeting was to identify the priorities as presented in the Garner Economic Development report Pathways to Prosperity: New Hanover County’s Plan for Jobs and Investment. Chairman White welcomed everyone and spoke on efforts that started a year ago when the City and County began discussion for an economic development planning initiative and all agreed that a unified message was needed to determine the types of jobs that would strengthen current businesses and grow the economy. Mayor Saffo expressed appreciation for everyone working together to improve economic development for the city, county, and region. He spoke on the need to evaluate the current economic development processes in order to improve the environment to bring in new businesses to the area. He suggested that once the most important priorities have been defined, a joint group be formed that would report biannually to the Boards as priorities are implemented. Mr. Roberts explained the ground rules and advised the anticipated outcomes from the discussions by the elected bodies on the 21 recommendations offered by Garner Economics Report as follows:  Determine a consensus of the recommendations they support right now with time, advocacy, and resources, and the rationale of why each is supported;  Identify which local agency holds the primary leadership role for the recommendation as the elected bodies agree to support for right now;  Accept the recommendations not agreed for support right now action and set-aside (the balance of the 21) as longer term recommendations to consider after success accomplishing the “right now” issues. Strategy and Policy Manager Beth Schrader presented a PowerPoint presentation on the results of the Online Survey:  Invitation sent to the Steering Committee and focus group participants (110 total)  42 individuals responded (38% response rate)  Respondents asked to indicate:  Degree of support / opposition to each recommendation  Top 3 priorities to take action on first  Which organization should lead each initiative  Steering Committee Member or focus group attended  Survey Participation:  Steering Committee Member = 26.9%  Large Employer Focus Group with more than 100 employees = 19.2%  Small Employer/Entrepreneur Focus Group with less than 100 employees = 19.2%  Government and Elected Officials Focus Group = 7.7%  Education and Workforce Development Focus Group = 7.7%  Non-Profit Focus Group = 11.5%  Media/Marketing/PR/Communication Focus Group = 7.7%  Net Supporter Score (% Strongly Support - Strongly Oppose):  Advocate for continuation of State film incentives – 69%  Each high school student has ability/option to graduate with AA degree or 2 years of credit hours – 61%  Support use of career academies/career pathways in middle and high schools – 58%  Create a three-county micro marketing alliance (Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender) – 52%  "ReBuild" New Hanover County – 50% NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 26, 2014 PAGE 137  Support career awareness of cluster occupations through internships – 48%  Improve graduation rates by promoting entrepreneurship among youth – 45%  Advocate for and develop a realistic and sustainable written incentive policy (and procedures) – 44%  Identify existing resources that will help small businesses grow – 43%  Develop hangar facilities at ILM Airport to attract MROs – 41%  Modify NHC's Special Use Permit – 41%  Identify sustainable funding sources for economic development – 40%  Develop familiarization events for site location consultants and companies – 38%  Develop portfolio of additional sites for industrial, commercial and office – 38%  Provide the public free high-speed Internet access throughout New Hanover County – 36%  Increase communications with small businesses – 36%  Recruit/train business leaders to serve in elected office/appointed boards and commissions – 36%  Engage third party for cost/benefit analysis (consolidated services/CoW and NHC government) – 33%  Establish an Airframe and Power plant (A&P) certificate program at CFCC – 31%  Create a cadre of regional ambassadors – 29%  Advocate for the creation of a pharmacy school – 29%  Execute a process for lead generation – 26%  Create industry working groups for targeted clusters – 26%  Eliminate the Special Use Permit – 20%  Create NHC Department of Economic and Community Development – 7%  Online Survey Results – Top Five Strategies to Take Action on First in Order of Priority:  Create a three-county micro marketing alliance with Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties  Develop a real estate portfolio of additional sites for industrial, commercial and office development (with appropriate infrastructure)  "ReBuild" New Hanover County (invest in missing, aging or limited infrastructure, eliminate blight, etc.)  Modify NHC’s Special Use Permit Table of Permitted Uses  Advocate for the continuation of State incentives for the film industry  Online Survey Results – Important but Low Priority for Urgency:  Eliminate the Special Use Permit from NHC's permitting process  Create a New Hanover County Department of Economic & Community Development  Consolidate services and explore the feasibility of consolidated government in New Hanover County  Online Survey Results – Focus Plan to Build Upon:  Advocate for and develop a realistic and sustainable written incentive policy (and procedures) for New Hanover County (and City of Wilmington)  Provide the public free high-speed Internet access throughout New Hanover County  Create a cadre of regional ambassadors to extend the region's brand  Make the case for sustainable funding sources to improve the County's economic development infrastructure and identify catalytic programs to use the monies effectively  Support the optimal target by establishing industry working groups for each of the targeted clusters  Develop familiarization events for site location consultants and companies  Better support of small and new businesses:  Increase communications with small businesses  Identify existing resources that will help small businesses grow  Facilitate regional efforts to grow the talent pipeline:  Support career academies or career pathways in middle and high schools  Ensure each high school student has the ability and option to graduate high school with an associate arts degree or two years of credit hours from a four-year university  Support career awareness of cluster occupations through internships  Improve graduation rates by promoting entrepreneurship among the County's youth Dr. Porter led the discussion to determine priorities from the listing of Garner’s recommendations that the members of the boards voted on by placing post-it notes on their selections as follows:  The Top Five Barriers to Economic Development:  Create a three-county micro marketing alliance with Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties  Make the case for sustainable funding sources to improve the County's economic development infrastructure and identify catalytic programs to use monies effectively  “ReBuild" New Hanover County (invest in missing, aging or limited infrastructure, eliminate blight, etc.)  Advocate for and develop a realistic and sustainable written incentive policy (and procedures) for New Hanover County (and City of Wilmington) NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 26, 2014 PAGE 138  Provide the public free high-speed Internet access throughout New Hanover County  Advocate for the continuation of State incentives for the film industry  Top Five Easiest to Implement in a Short Time Frame/Low Hanging Fruit:  Create a three-county micro marketing alliance with Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties  Advocate for the continuation of State incentives for the film industry  Advocate for and develop a realistic and sustainable written incentive policy (and procedures) for New Hanover County (and City of Wilmington)  Better support for small and new businesses:  Increase communications with small businesses  Identify existing resources that will help small businesses grow  Facilitate regional efforts to grow the talent pipeline:  Support career academies or career pathways in middle and high schools  Ensure each high school student has the ability and option to graduate high school with an associate arts degree or two years of credit hours from a four-year university  Support career awareness of cluster occupations through internships  Improve graduation rates by promoting entrepreneurship among the County's youth  Top Five for Out of Sphere of Control of Elected Officials:  Advocate for the continuation of State incentives for the film industry  Establish an Airframe and Power plant (A&P) certificate program at Cape Fear Community College  Consolidate services and explore the feasibility of consolidated government in New Hanover County  Advocate for the creation of a pharmacy school in the region Dr. Porter led the discussion in identifying the top priority strategies for “right now” action:  Create a Three-County Micro Marketing Alliance with Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties  Advocate for the Continuation of State Incentives for the Film Industry  Advocate for and develop a Realistic and Sustainable Written Incentive Policy (and procedures) for New Hanover County (and City of Wilmington)  Better Support for Small and New Businesses:  Increase communications with small businesses  Identify existing resources that will help small businesses grow  Make the Case for Sustainable Funding Sources to Improve the County's Economic Development Infrastructure and Identify Catalytic Programs to Use Monies Effectively  "ReBuild" New Hanover County (Invest in Missing, Aging or Limited Infrastructure, Eliminate Blight, Etc.) Lunch Break : Chairman White and Mayor Saffo called a break from 11:52 a.m. until 12:35 p.m. Dr. Porter led the discussion in identifying the local agency to hold the primary leadership role for each priority of “right now” actions:  Who Takes the Lead  Create a Three-County Micro Marketing Alliance with Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties:  Stakeholders:  New Hanover County Elected Officials and Staff  City of Wilmington Elected Officials and Staff  Wilmington Business Development (WBD)  Southeastern Regional Partnership  Jim Bradshaw, Brunswick County Economic Development Director  Brunswick County Elected Officials  Pender County Elected Officials  Consensus : Lead Organization - New Hanover County Staff and Elected Officials  Advocate for the Continuation of State Incentives for the Film Industry:  Stakeholders:  New Hanover County, City of Wilmington, and Legislative team  Chamber of Commerce  New Hanover County and City of Wilmington Public Affairs Staff  Film Commission  Community Organizations such as Home Builders, Environmental Groups, Film Industry Representatives NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 26, 2014 PAGE 139  Enlist support from other Film industry areas such as Charlotte and Greensboro to join effort  Consensus : Lead organization – Wilmington Film Commission Consensus : In further discussion, members from both Boards agreed that a letter be prepared for their signatures to Governor Pat McCrory, President Pro Tempore of the Senate Phil Berger and Speaker of the House Thom Tillis to relay the urgency of needing economic incentives for the film industry and to request a special session of the General Assembly to reconsider film incentives that will better serve North Carolina in remaining marketable and competitive to support and sustain the film industry.  Advocate for and develop a realistic and sustainable written incentive policy (and procedures) for New Hanover County (and City of Wilmington):  Stakeholders/sources:  New Hanover County and City of Wilmington  Business Community  Chamber of Commerce  Wilmington Business Development  Site Selectors  Consensus : Lead organization - City of Wilmington  Better Support for Small and New Businesses:  Stakeholders:  UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Director Jim Roberts  Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center  Small Businesses  Chamber of Commerce  Wilmington Downtown Inc.  New Hanover County and City of Wilmington (Government Regulatory Processes) Planning Departments:  One-Stop Shop person with City of Wilmington and New Hanover County  Small Business Technical Services  Consensus : Lead Organization - City and County staff to provide report on process to proceed  Make the Case for Sustainable Funding Sources to Improve the County's Economic Development Infrastructure and Identify Catalytic Programs to Use Monies Effectively:  Stakeholders:  Wilmington Business Development Director Scott Satterfield  Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Director Jim Fletchner  New Hanover County and City of Wilmington Staff and Elected Officials  Chamber of Commerce  Funding sources:  Economic Development Grants  NCACC  NC Legislature  New Hanover County  Voluntary Annexation  Bonds for Schools and Roads  Provide Funding for Water and Sewer for Highway 421 Corridor  Consensus : City and County staff to provide report on process to proceed  "ReBuild" New Hanover County (Invest in Missing, Aging or Limited Infrastructure, Eliminate Blight, Etc.):  Stakeholders:  Cape Fear Public Utility Authority  New Hanover County and City of Wilmington  Consensus : Lead Stakeholder for Highway 421 Corridor - County Staff (with City Staff)  Consensus : Determine Cost and Develop 5-10 Year Plan to provide water and sewer to Highway 421 Corridor.  Conclusion/Next Steps:  Management Staff to provide report in 45 days on going forward with the six strategies  Schedule joint session with elected leaders  Management Staff to provide report on how to proceed with the remaining 15 recommended strategies of the Garner Report NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 26, 2014 PAGE 140 ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further discussion, Chairman White and Mayor Saffo thanked the facilitators Mr. Roberts and Dr. Porter, the cooperative spirit among the board members, and those in attendance and adjourned the Special Meeting at 1:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Teresa P. Elmore Interim Clerk to the Board Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Special Meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.