The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSPAC.2014.0916.Minutesr • TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING September 16,2014 AGENDA ITEM#1—CALL TO ORDER Chair Magazine called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. AGENDA ITEM#2—ROLL CALL The following members of the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission were present for roll call: Chair Alan Magazine, Vice Chair Nick DePorter, and Commissioners Peter Bordow, Alice Brovan Audra Koester Thomas, and Nancy Ordowski and Dana Saar. Youth Commissioner Kate Domin was present. Also present were Town Manager Ken Buchanan and Recording Secretary Shaunna Williams. AGENDA ITEM#3—CALL TO THE PUBLIC No one appeared at the call to the public. AGENDA ITEM#4— CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING AUGUST 6.2014 MEETING MINUTES Commissioner Brovan MOVED to approve the August 6, 2014 meeting minutes and Commissioner Saar SECONDED the motion,which CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present. AGENDA ITEM #5 — UPDATE BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST SCOTT COOPER REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Chair Magazine noted that Mr. Cooper was not available for the meeting. Mr.Buchanan reviewed a memorandum from Scott Cooper dated September 11,2014(copy attached) In response to questions, Mr. Buchanan noted that GPEC has limited resources with which to assist Fountain Hills; that Co-Star is used to track available properties in Town and that maps are being created of those properties; that economic development marketing materials are being developed; and that a dialysis company is investigating the Fountain Hills market. AGENDA ITEM #6—TOWN MANAGER'S UPDATE REGARDING STRATEGIC PLANNING GOALS AND OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES Mr. Buchanan stated that nothing has changed since his report at the August 6 meeting and there were no questions. AGENDA ITEM#7—DISCUSSION REGARDING TRANSITION OF SPAC MEMBERS Chair Magazine noted that advertisements have been placed for four vacancies on SPAC. AGENDA ITEMS #8 AND #9 — DISCUSSION REGARDING STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Mr. Buchanan noted that SPAC is required to begin the update process sometime this year. He stated that because there are no budgeted funds this fiscal year, the process will need to begin next July. He recommended getting a 111) consultant to help with the update process. He referred to the need to bring new SPAC members up-to-speed as well as the fact that a determination will need to be made about the scope of the update. Page 1'of 2 Discussion ensued about SPAC's fall work plan and whether there is a need for an October SPAC meeting. There was general consensus that the October SPAC meeting will be cancelled. Based on a discussion regarding SPAC leadership following the resignation of the Chair and Vice Chair on September 17, 2014, it was determined that Town staff will appoint a member of SPAC to lead the November meeting. AGENDA ITEM #10—PRESENTATION BY MICHELLE HOLCOMB REGARDING A GIS MAPPING SYSTEM CALLED OUICKFIND NUMBERS AND DISCUSSION REGARDING ITS POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS IN FOUNTAIN HILLS This agenda item was removed because the presenter was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict. AGENDA ITEM#11—SCHEDULE UPCOMING SPAC MEETINGS The October 21, 2014 SPAC meeting was cancelled. A meeting is scheduled on November 18, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. An additional SPAC meeting was scheduled on December 2,2014 at 4:30 p.m. ADJOURN Commissioner Saar MOVED to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. and Commissioner Ordowski SECONDED the motion, which CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present. •Shaunna Williams,Recording Secretary • Page 2 of 2 t 1'y<ljl TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS 74@t 9 MEMORANDUM �<Lt TO: Ken Buchanan, Town Manager DT: 9/11/14 FR: Scott Cooper, ED Specialist RE: ED Update for SPAC Meeting Attached is my ED update for the SPAC meeting on 0/16/14. Not sure how much you want to share, so I can change whatever is needed before I leave Monday evening. Thank you for the input from the Strategic Plan Implementation Approach I gave out at last month's meeting. It will be used as a complementary piece to the existing plan. The purpose of the approach is to drill down on some of our existing ED Plan objectives. BR&E — After meeting and speaking with a majority of our targeted existing businesses I have been able to ask about why they choose to be in Fountain Hills. The responses: - Wanted to live and operate our business in smaller, safer community. Somewhere close to all the amenities that a big city has, but not in the middle of all that comes with that. - Bought a house in town and wanted the commute to be easy. - It was closer to our employees. - Lease rates were less expensive. - Can now operate our business anywhere, so we chose a place where we wanted to live. - Tired of commuting to central Scottsdale, so relocated to where they live. Responses really reflect quality of life issues, and a lower cost of doing business. These are issues we can really use to market Fountain Hills to site selectors and our targeted industries. Marketing — The new ED logos are done (see handout). It was important to utilize something clean, simple, would integrate with our website and social media platforms, and represent Fountain Hills. I think these two do all of those very well. The tie in of the blue fountain and the green rolling hills will allow us to use both for different purposes. Last month I met with GPEC and will continue to have monthly meetings with them regarding our marketing efforts as they will be assisting with our marketing and communications platforms. Since we continue to see very few leads from GPEC it is imperative that we utilize their capabilities in other areas. I believe we can get our value from GPEC, but only if we push for it. I have been meeting with two local companies to develop an ED marketing video for the Town. We are working on creating one 2-3 minute video, as well as several vignettes showcasing the community and breaking down perceptions. I would also like to do 30-60 ED updates that would be done in house. All of these will be placed on our website as well as a new YouTube Channel. Targeting the healthcare industry has been the early focus of our recruitment efforts. I have been meeting with business development people, developers, architects, builders, and real estate execs whose primary focus is in the healthcare industry. These are the people with direct contacts and know who are currently growing, looking to expand, and other valuable resources. An example; An area corporate medical real estate advisor has the ability to utilize area hospital stats combined with our demographics to pinpoint possible healthcare facilities that could be targeted to Fountain Hills. Projects — Two new leads from GPEC 1) Software company — Tech Support and Sales 2) Operation Center for a financial institution Tractor Supply Co. — Slated to go to Council 9/18/14 A large overseas food manufacturer will be opening up a small office for sales training purposes. Founta1nh111sioMENT o l**N FOUNTAIN HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT