Economic Development Task Force

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council Economic Development Task Force met on November 19, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., with the Vice Mayor presiding. During the meeting, the task force heard four agenda items, took two votes, and received three public comments.

The meeting included presentations on retail issues in Lexington by Kelly Cofer and economic development matters from Commerce Lexington, both presented for informational purposes. The task force approved the Commerce Lexington economic development presentation. A proposal from Councilmember Doug Martin regarding a name change for the task force—to be renamed the Economic & Community Development Task Force—was deferred for later consideration. The meeting also addressed other issues on an informational basis.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on November 19, 2009:

• Council Member James
• Council Member McCord
• Council Member Stennett
• Council Member Blues
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member Myers
• Vice Mayor
• Darby

No council members or officials were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The council took two votes during this meeting, both of which passed unanimously by voice vote.

Approval of the Purchase of Service Agreement (PSA) with Commerce Lexington 56:55

Council Member McCord moved to approve the Purchase of Service Agreement with Commerce Lexington. The motion passed by voice vote with seven votes in favor and no votes against. Those voting in favor were Council Member James, Council Member McCord, Council Member Stennett, Council Member Blues, Council Member Lawless, Council Member Myers, and the Vice Mayor.

Motion to Include Council Recommendations in the RFP for an Outside Study of Commerce Lexington's Operations 58:05

Council Member McCord moved to include council recommendations in the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an outside study of Commerce Lexington's operations. Council Member Myers seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with seven votes in favor and no votes against. Those voting in favor were Council Member James, Council Member McCord, Council Member Stennett, Council Member Blues, Council Member Lawless, Council Member Myers, and the Vice Mayor.

This motion included a condition that the findings of the consultant must be delivered simultaneously to the council and Commerce Lexington.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant contracts for economic development services in Lexington.

Organizational Assessment and Marketing Plan

The council approved a contract for $150,000 with an economic development consultant to conduct an organizational assessment and develop a target marketing plan for Commerce Lexington. This engagement was designed to evaluate the organization's current structure and operations while establishing strategic marketing initiatives.

Retail Strategy Services

A second contract, valued between $50,000 and $55,000, was approved with Kelly Cofer, Retail Coach, to provide retail strategy and assessment services. This work was to be conducted across all 12 council districts, providing comprehensive retail analysis and recommendations throughout the city.

Public Comment

Three council members provided comments on economic development and the council's role in shaping engagement strategy.

Council Member McCord 49:57 addressed the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Commerce Lexington review. McCord proposed that the council craft its own recommendations for the RFP and that findings be shared directly with the council to ensure transparency and partnership in economic development planning.

Council Member James 51:35 expressed concern about retail strategy and economic development, noting that the council is consistently behind in shaping the scope of engagement. James emphasized that recommendations made during this meeting may not impact the current PSA (Public Service Agreement) and stressed the need for ongoing council involvement in economic development matters.

Council Member Stennett 53:44 commented on council input regarding the PSA, noting that this represents the first time the council has had input on the PSA. Stennett welcomed the opportunity to shape the scope of engagement through an outside study and highlighted the importance of clarifying the council's role in economic development.

The comments reflect a shared concern among council members about ensuring meaningful council participation in economic development planning and the need for clear communication and transparency between the council and external entities involved in these processes.

Contested Items

Council Input on Commerce Lexington's PSA

The council approved a public service announcement (PSA) from Commerce Lexington by unanimous vote. However, this formal agreement masked underlying tension regarding the council's role in the process. Several members expressed frustration that they had not been involved in shaping the PSA prior to its execution, leaving them in a reactive rather than proactive position. Despite the unanimous passage, this discontent reflected broader concerns about the timing and nature of council consultation on major initiatives.

Timing of RFP and Council Recommendations

A heated discussion emerged regarding the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and the practical impact of council recommendations made during the meeting. Council members debated whether suggestions offered at this meeting would meaningfully influence the current RFP process, given concerns that the timeline was too compressed to allow for substantive changes to the scope of the engagement. This disagreement highlighted tensions between the council's desire to provide meaningful input and the constraints of an accelerated procurement schedule.

Kelly Cofer: Lexington Retail Issues

20:07

Kelly Cofer presented a proposal to integrate retail development into the city's economic strategy. The presentation focused on the need for a comprehensive approach to retail planning across Lexington's districts.

Proposal Overview

Cofer advocated for conducting 12 district-specific retail assessments to better understand and support retail development opportunities throughout the city. He emphasized that effective retail strategy requires analysis of multiple factors including demographics, psychographics, and trade area analysis to identify gaps and opportunities in each district.

Key Components

The presentation highlighted Cofer's offer to actively recruit retailers on behalf of each district, positioning retail recruitment as an integral part of the city's broader economic development efforts. This approach would tailor retail strategies to the specific characteristics and needs of individual districts rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Council Response

The council expressed interest in the proposal and engaged in discussion regarding its feasibility. The presentation was received as informational, with council members considering how district-specific retail assessments could be implemented and what resources would be required.

Outcome

The agenda item concluded as informational, with no formal action taken during the meeting. The council's expressed interest suggested openness to further exploration of the retail development strategy proposal.

Commerce Lexington: Economic Development Issues

Darby presented on an upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) for an external review of Commerce Lexington's operations. The review would encompass organizational assessment and strategic planning activities.

Key Discussion Points

The council emphasized the importance of transparency in the review process and discussed the need for shared funding arrangements. Council members stressed the importance of having council input into the scope of the study to ensure the external review addressed their priorities and concerns.

Outcome

A motion was passed to include council recommendations in the RFP, ensuring that the council's input would be formally incorporated into the scope of work for the external review.

Councilmember Doug Martin: Task Force Name Change / Economic & Community Development Task Force

Councilmember Doug Martin brought forward a discussion regarding a potential name change for the Economic Development Task Force to reflect a broader focus on community development.

Discussion

The task force explored the possibility of renaming the Economic Development Task Force to include community development in its title. This proposal was presented as part of a broader strategic reevaluation of the task force's scope and mission.

Outcome

No formal vote was taken on the proposed name change. The idea was acknowledged and discussed, but the matter was deferred, indicating that further consideration or additional information may be needed before a final decision is made.

Other Issues

Council members raised concerns about the timing and transparency of economic development decisions during this discussion. 48:18

Key Speakers and Concerns

Council Member McCord, Council Member James, and Council Member Stennett participated in the discussion, focusing on a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Commerce Lexington. The council members expressed concerns about the need for greater council input in economic development matters and questioned the transparency of decision-making processes.

Main Issues Discussed

The discussion centered on several key points:

• The timing of economic development decisions and whether adequate notice and opportunity for council review were provided
• The importance of council input and shared accountability in economic development initiatives
• The need for better alignment between public and private sector efforts in economic development

Council members emphasized that economic development decisions should not proceed without appropriate council involvement and that transparency in these processes was essential for effective governance.

Outcome

The agenda item was classified as informational, indicating that no formal action was taken. The discussion served to raise awareness among council members about their concerns regarding the PSA with Commerce Lexington and the broader need for improved coordination and communication between the council and economic development partners.