Special Economic Development COW

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Economic Development Committee met on February 18, 2014, at 10:00 AM, with Beard presiding. The committee addressed six agenda items during the session, taking two votes and hearing four public comments.

The committee approved the Committee Summary from February 4, 2014, and approved the Food Truck Review. Items referred to the committee were moved forward for further consideration. However, the JOBS Program Review failed to pass. Two informational presentations were also delivered: an update on the Old Courthouse Renovation and a report on the Partner Agency Reporting System.

Attendance

Present: Beard, Stinnett, Gorton, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Scutchfield, Myers, Mossotti, Clarke, Henson, and Lane.

Absent: Akers, Lawless, and Farmer.

Late arrivals: None.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Extend Food Truck Pilot Program

A motion to extend the food truck pilot program through December 31, 2014 was made by Akers. The motion passed unanimously with 9 ayes and 0 nays. 30:24

The following members voted in favor: - Beard - Stinnett - Gorton - Ellinger - Kay - Ford - Akers - Scutchfield - Myers

Motion to Refer Zoning Text Amendments

A motion to refer zoning text amendments for P1 and agricultural zones to the Planning Committee was made by Akers. The motion passed by voice vote. 31:29

Public Comment

Four speakers addressed the council regarding the food truck pilot program and the food truck industry.

Elias Pappas 12:37 spoke in support of the food truck pilot program, describing his personal experience as a food truck operator who transitioned to owning a brick-and-mortar restaurant. He emphasized how the pilot program enabled him to grow his business from a pop-up operation to a full-time establishment with 11 employees, highlighting the program's role in supporting small business development.

Sean Tibbetts 14:13, owner of Cluckenberger food truck and director of the Bluegrass Food Truck Association, addressed the broader impact of the program on industry growth and the community. He noted that the program has been successful in creating jobs and supporting charitable efforts. Tibbetts reported that the association has grown to over 20 members and has seen 5 brick-and-mortar restaurant openings emerge from food truck operations within two years, demonstrating the program's role in fostering a vibrant culinary scene.

Matt Bradford 18:00, a food truck operator and brick-and-mortar owner, shared his personal journey and credited the pilot program with enabling his business growth and expansion. He expressed gratitude to the council for supporting the industry and helping to legitimize food truck operations.

Andrew Southers 20:44, owner of Gastronomes food truck, addressed challenges in launching a food truck business. He emphasized the significant costs and regulatory hurdles involved in starting a food truck operation, noting that these barriers are comparable to those faced when opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Southers urged the council to recognize the legitimacy of the food truck industry.

All speakers expressed support for the food truck pilot program and its impact on business development and community economic growth.

Contested Items

JOBS Program Guidelines Approval

The primary contested item during this meeting was a motion to approve guidelines for the JOBS program. The proposal generated significant disagreement among attendees, ultimately failing with a vote of 3-8.

The debate centered on three main areas of concern: wage criteria, transparency requirements, and collateral requirements. These issues divided the body, with the majority voting against the approval of the guidelines as presented.

The motion did not pass, indicating that the proposed guidelines in their current form were not acceptable to the majority of those voting.

Committee Summary February 4, 2014

33:01

The committee reviewed and approved the summary from the February 4, 2014 meeting. Key speakers during this discussion included Beard, Clark, and Ellinger.

The February 4 summary covered three main topics:

• JOBS program
• Food truck review
• Old Courthouse renovation

The committee voted on the approval of this summary, and the motion passed unanimously.

Food Truck Review

22:20

The committee reviewed the pilot program evaluation for food trucks, examining data on permits, citations, business growth, and community impact.

Key Speakers

The discussion involved committee members Akers, Myers, Southers, Tibbetts, Bradford, and Pappas.

Program Evaluation

The committee reviewed comprehensive data from the pilot program, including:

• Permit information
• Citation records
• Business growth metrics
• Community impact assessment

Public Comment

Public comments highlighted the program's success, with speakers emphasizing positive outcomes in job creation and business development.

Outcome

The committee voted to extend the food truck program through December 2014. The motion passed unanimously.

Items Referred to Committee

31:29

The committee received referrals related to economic development matters during this agenda item. Akers presented information regarding zoning amendments for food truck operations in P1 and agricultural zones.

These zoning amendment proposals were referred to the Planning Committee for further review and consideration. The referral process allows the Planning Committee to examine the details of the proposed amendments and provide recommendations before any final action is taken by the full body.

JOBS Program Review

Wes Holbrook and Kevin Atkins presented the JOBS program guidelines to the board. The presentation covered investment criteria, taxpayer protection measures, and wage requirements for the program.

During the discussion, several concerns were raised by board members. Issues regarding median wage thresholds and the transparency of the program were highlighted as areas of concern. Board members Henson, Mossotti, Kay, Scutchfield, Myers, and Clarke participated in the discussion alongside the presenters.

The board voted on a motion to approve the guidelines. The motion failed with a vote of 3-8, indicating that a majority of board members did not support approval of the guidelines as presented.

Old Courthouse Renovation Update

Fugate presented an update on efforts to stabilize and revitalize the Old Courthouse. The presentation covered leasing concepts and potential funding sources for the project.

This was an informational item with no decisions made during the meeting. The discussion focused on exploring options to address the condition of the Old Courthouse and identifying viable paths forward for its renovation and continued use.

Partner Agency Reporting System

First quarter FY14 data from economic development partner agencies was presented during this agenda item. The presentation provided updates on program performance and financial metrics from the partner agencies.

This was an informational item with no speakers identified in the available records. The session focused on reviewing the quarterly reporting data to track the performance and financial status of partner agencies involved in economic development initiatives.

No specific concerns, debates, or action items were documented for this agenda item. The outcome was informational in nature, with the data presented for the committee's review and awareness.