OKAY. TESTING. OKAY. IT IS 625, AND I WILL CALL THIS MEETING OF THE HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC
[1. Call to order; Establishment of Quorum]
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DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ORDER. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OPEN FORUM. ANYONE? NO ONE'S HERE TO SPEAK, TO OPEN FORUM. THE FIRST ITEM I HAVE IS[3. Approval of Minutes from:]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE MINUTES? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FOUR ON RECENT ACTIVITIES[4. Discussion:]
OF HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. MR. YOUNG. THANK YOU. WALTER. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. SO WE WE'VE HAD A BUSY PAST EIGHT WEEKS. THESE ARE SOME OF THE UPDATES ON OUR ACTIVITIES AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST EIGHT WEEKS. SOME OF THESE YOU WILL SEE THAT WE'VE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THESE PROJECTS.THE WORDING IS ACTUALLY UPDATED ON THE STATUS OF A LOT OF THESE. WE DID MAKE SOME GOOD PROGRESS ON A FEW OF THEM. WE'LL START WITH THE WORKSHOP, THE LATEST WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD OVER AT THE BIZ. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS OUR BUSINESS INNOVATION ZONE IS OUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IS HAVING THAT BE SORT OF THE CENTRAL HUB FOR ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES IN TOWN. AND SO WE BROUGHT, AS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THE STAFF FROM OUR ALIGNED PARTNERSHIPS. THESE ARE PEOPLE FROM PROJECT VIDA, FROM TNT STAFFING AND FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. MORE COMPLEX. AND SO WHEN WE PUT OUT OUR MOST RECENT SURVEY, AS YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER FROM LAST TIME, THE INFORMATION SHOWED THAT THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING MARKETING AND CAPITAL. AND SO WE WORKED WITH OUR ALIGNED PARTNERS TO GET ANOTHER WORKSHOP, BASICALLY A TRAINING WORKSHOP TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM. SO THAT WAS HELD AUGUST 8TH. THIS TWO MONTHS AGO, AND WE DID CONDUCT A FULL BUSINESS TRAINING EVENT. SO THIS WAS A TWO HOUR TRAINING EVENT THAT FOCUSED ON BUSINESS MARKETING. 20 BUSINESSES IN THE AREA WERE REPRESENTED AND WE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM EACH BUSINESS. SO IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WHAT WE ALSO HAD WERE DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES TALKING TO THEM ABOUT LOW INTEREST LOANS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE GRANTS, HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES AND OF COURSE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SO IT WAS AGAIN A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS SHOW UP, AND THIS IS ALWAYS AT THE SERVICE OF MAINTAINING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF QUALITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. SO AS WE'VE GOTTEN HERE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT BY AND LARGE, THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AND HORIZON CITY ARE THE BEST FIT TO SURVIVE AS WE START RECEIVING ALL THE ADDITIONAL COMMERCE THAT WE KNOW IS COMING OUR WAY HERE. SOME IMAGES OF THE EVENING EVENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS PRETTY WELL ATTENDED ON TOP AND AT THE END, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THESE SORT OF BREAKOUT WORK WORKSHOP SESSIONS THAT WE GOT TO GO. THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT REALLY GIVES PEOPLE SORT OF A CHANCE TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE MORE STRUCTURED TRAINING SESSIONS AND START TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND START SHARING INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH US. SO THAT EVENT WENT VERY WELL. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON PROVIDING SOME MORE TAX SAVINGS FOR BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY. AND SO ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE GETTING ARE PEOPLE COMING TO OUR BUSINESS, OUR FACILITY, AND ASKING YOU ABOUT DAYCARE. SOME PEOPLE NEED DAYCARE, AND SOME PEOPLE WANT TO START DAYCARES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO GET THEM GOING. SO ON ONE END, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TALKING TO THE LANDOWNERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PROPERTIES ARE READY TO TAKE IN DAYCARES. AND WHEN I SAY THAT, A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING FOR WHAT IS CALLED A TRS CERTIFICATION THROUGH AUSTIN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND REALLY A STATE CERTIFICATION THAT REQUIRES FOR CERTAIN THINGS TO BE MET BY DAYCARES. AND SO IT'S NO LONGER THE CASE THAT YOU CAN SIMPLY GET KIDS AND JUST SORT OF SIT THEM DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS.
YOU REALLY NOW HAVE TO TRAIN THEM, HAVE TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR THEM SO THEY CAN GO OUTSIDE. IT'S A WHOLE NEW SET OF REQUIREMENTS, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T ALLOW A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS TO GO INTO JUST ANY BUILDING NOWADAYS. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO TRY TO GET THAT ON THEIR RADAR, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE STARTING TO BUILD IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE DAYCARES IN HORIZON CITY. ON ONE END. WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT HERE IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY CHANGE TO THE CITY'S TAX STRUCTURE TO EFFECTIVELY GIVE A 100% PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR QUALIFYING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. WE THINK WHAT THIS WILL DO IS BASICALLY REDUCE THE COSTS OF RUNNING YOUR DAYCARES AND THEN SPUR MORE DAYCARE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH NATURALLY WILL PROVIDE MORE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GO TO WORK. THIS WILL SERVE AS A POSITIVE INCENTIVE IN THE SENSE THAT FOR THEM TO QUALIFY FOR THIS 100% EXEMPTION, THEY'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT TRS TRAINING, WHICH THEN AGAIN REQUIRES THEM TO REALLY BECOME SORT OF MINI SCHOOLS FOR THESE KIDS ON ONE END, AND THEN ALSO SORT OF PROVIDE SERVICES. AT LEAST 20% OF THE SERVICES HAVE TO BE FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE. SO WE'RE LOCKING IN TWO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THERE THROUGH THIS POLICY CHANGE. AND WE TOOK THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE
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FIRST READING. THIS WILL BE AN ORDINANCE FORM. THEY HEARD IT ON NINE 1124. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING THAT BACK FOR THE SECOND FINAL READING ON 11 2011 1224 SO AGAIN, THIS WILL PROVIDE TAX SAVINGS AND HOPEFULLY EXPAND OUR CHILD CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT OUT HERE. HORIZON CITY LAND PURCHASES. WE'RE MOVING REALLY QUICKLY. THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. AND WE'VE TAKEN A HUGE STEP FORWARD JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND, THE TWO PRIMARY HERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TOD ACROSS THE STREET. AS YOU KNOW, THE TWO PRIMARY OBSTACLES ARE THAT ONE, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT FRAGMENTATION OF LAND OWNERSHIP. AND SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF LITTLE PARCELS OWNED BY A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ACROSS THE PLANET. AND WE NEED TO GET OURSELVES ON THAT BOARD. RIGHT UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN OBSERVERS IN THE SENSE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANYTHING TO LEVERAGE WITHIN THAT TOD. AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WE'VE PIVOTED TO START BUYING THESE INDIVIDUAL PARCELS, AND WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THAT IN THAT AREA. SO AGAIN, THE CITY INTENDS TO PROACTIVELY ACQUIRE SMALL INDIVIDUAL PARCELS TO FACILITATE LAND CONSOLIDATION. AND ONCE WE DO DO THAT, THE INTENT IS TO START SWAPPING THEM, CONSOLIDATING THEM, BASICALLY MAKE THEM MORE ATTRACTIVE TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING US TO DO. SO WE DID PARTNER WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY TO GET THIS DONE, AND STAFF RECEIVED A CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL TO FINALIZE NEGOTIATIONS AND PROCEED WITH THE TOD LAND OWNERSHIPS. AND THIS WAS LAST MONTH OVER AT THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION. THIS IS THE AREA, OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW WHERE OUR TOD IS, AND THIS IS A LIST OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BUYING. WE'RE GETTING READY TO CLOSE ON THESE. THESE ARE THE FIRST 18 PARCELS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUYING IN A WHILE. AND WE'VE ALREADY PREPARED TO GET THE SECOND AND THIRD PHASES. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 51 TOTAL PARCELS.SO WE'RE BUYING 51 PARCELS ON THAT PROPERTY. IT'S REALLY GOING TO GIVE US A LOT MORE POWER.
WE'RE BASICALLY PUTTING PIECES ON THAT CHESSBOARD RIGHT NOW. WHEREAS BEFORE WE WERE JUST OBSERVERS. SO THAT'S A BIG MOVE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE COSTING US $386,000. BUT WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY TO GET THIS DONE. SO THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A BIG STEP FORWARD ONCE WE GET THESE IN OUR HANDS. AND LIKE I SAID, WE WILL SHOW YOU WE DIDN'T INCLUDE THE SECOND AND THIRD PHASES ONLY BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING. SO WE LIKELY WILL SHOW YOU THOSE AT THE NEXT SESSION IF IT'S MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION AT THAT POINT. BUT THAT'S A BIG STEP WE TOOK. SO THAT'S TOWARDS THE CENTER OF TOWN. BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO EXPAND WHAT WE'VE GOT IN TERMS OF LAND ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF TOWN. SO WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO OVER TO SPEAK WITH THE FOLKS AT THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. WE HIRED A CONSULTANT, IF YOU REMEMBER TO GET US A MEETING WITH WITH REALLY THE PEOPLE THAT CALL THE SHOTS OUT THERE. WHAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE DIDN'T TAKE THE GOOD TIME TO GO OUT THERE AND MEET WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF STAFF LEVEL AND REALLY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE WITH US. SO WE HIRED THAT CONSULTANT TO GET US IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO MAKE THE DECISIONS, AND WE'LL BE GOING THERE WHEN HE BOOKS THAT MEETING. SO IT'S SOMETIME IN OCTOBER, WE SUSPECT. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER. SO TO BACK UP A BIT, THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER WHO VENTURES TO ANNEX 130 ACRES OF LAND INTO HORIZON CITY. WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THESE FOLKS FOR JUST OVER A YEAR NOW. BLESS YOU, WALTER. AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTROL WHAT THEIR DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT WILL BE. AND YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT THEN ALSO PULL THEM INTO HORIZON CITY. AND LET ME GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO SHOW YOU WHY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US. LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO THIS CORRECTLY. SO THE LAND IN BLUE IS THE LAND THAT IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY HS VENTURES. THEY WANT TO BUILD THIS DEVELOPMENT THERE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS WILL BE AND I SHOULD JUST PREFACE THIS BY SAYING IT'S NOT LOCKING IN THIS TIME, THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT. IT COULD EVENTUALLY BE INDUSTRIAL AND ALL THAT. BUT SO FAR THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. THESE ARE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, RIGHT? THE ONLY PART MISSING REALLY IS NOW, WHICH WAS SOLD TO THE WATER COMPANY. BUT THEY WANT TO BUILD A FULL RESIDENTIAL NICE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PART OF TOWN. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THEY NEED TO ACCESS SUNSET BOULEVARD, WHICH IS REALLY THE NEXT MAJOR NORTH SOUTH ROUTE. THAT'S THAT'S REALLY GOING TO TRIGGER OFF OF ALL THE DEVELOPMENT OUT HERE. AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS HOPING TO WORK WITH THE GLO TO EITHER ALLOW THEM OR HAVE THEM SELL THIS PROPERTY TO THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER, OR AT LEAST ALLOW ACCESS TO THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER ACROSS THIS YELLOW SPACE. THIS YELLOW SPACE IS WHAT IS OWNED BY THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THERE AND TALK TO THEM WITH THE DEVELOPERS, WITH US, SHOW THEM ALL THE PLANS THAT WE'VE GOT, AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET EITHER ACCESS TO OWNERSHIP OF THIS LAND OR AT LEAST GET ACROSS TO ACCESS US.
AND SO THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU REALLY CAN'T DEPOSIT TRAFFIC RIGHT AT THIS INTERSECTION. IT WOULD TRIGGER OFF PROBABLY A T, WHICH WOULDN'T COME BACK TO FAVORABLY. SO THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WOULD TRIGGER OFF DEVELOPMENT HERE. THAT WOULD ADD REVENUE AND MORE
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POPULATION TO OUR CITY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS US RIGHT ON AUSTIN, WHICH IS REALLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS A CITY. THE MAIN BLOODLINES ARE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, HORIZON AND EASTLAKE UP TOP. THIS WOULD BE ABOUT THIRD RANK RIGHT NOW. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. AND SO WE'RE WORKING QUICKLY TO TRY TO GET OVER TO AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET ACROSS BASICALLY THE STATE LAND THERE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES. WE SUSPECT ANY ANY MINUTE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET A CALL FROM THE CONSULTANT TO LET US KNOW THAT MEETING IS BOOKED. WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER. THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ALL WITHIN ONE DAY, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THE FULL DEBRIEF FROM THAT. THIS ONE I WON'T HANG OUT ON TOO LONG.YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THIS ONE ALREADY. IT'S THE HORIZON HOTEL DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE IN COORDINATION WITH THE HOTELIER TO DEVELOP A HOTEL WITHIN THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FOOTPRINT. REALLY? TRUTHFULLY, WE'LL TAKE IT ANYWHERE IN TOWN THAT WE CAN GET IT. THIS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL ANYWHERE IN TOWN. AND SO TOMORROW WE'RE MEETING WITH THE OWNER TO TRY TO IDENTIFY PARCELS OF LAND THAT WE CAN BUILD ON. WE DID, AS YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATE A PRELIMINARY PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER TO ENSURE THAT HE BUILDS IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT HIM TO BUILD AND HIM AND HIS TEAM. WE PRESENTED THAT TO YOU ALL, AS YOU KNOW, AND SO THE LAND TRANSFER NEGOTIATIONS ARE IN PROCESS. AND AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL TOMORROW ON SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN LOCK IN THAT LAND. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. WEBSITE RECONSTRUCTION. YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER THAT WE CAME TO YOU ALL A LITTLE WHILE AGO, EARLIER IN THE YEAR, TO GET YOUR PERMISSION TO REDO OUR WEBSITE, WE HAD A GOOD WEBSITE, BUT WE UNDERSTOOD FROM SPEAKING WITH SITE SELECTORS THAT IT WASN'T THE KIND OF WEBSITE THAT REALLY THEY COULD ACCESS TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED QUICKLY ENOUGH. GOOD WEBSITE, BUT IT WAS SORT OF A BIT SCATTERED AND IT WASN'T AIMED AT SITE SELECTORS. WE'VE SINCE MADE MOVES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WEBSITE DOES LOOK THE WAY SITE SELECTORS NEED IT TO LOOK. AND WHAT I'M SAYING THERE IS BASICALLY WHEN YOUR SITE SELECTOR, YOU ONLY GIVE EACH CITY MAYBE ONE MINUTE OF YOUR TIME OR TWO MINUTES, YOU'RE COVERING THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON YOUR WEBSITE TYPICALLY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO QUICKLY GET THE INFO THAT THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO THEIR BOSSES. AND IF THEY CAN'T FIND THAT QUICKLY, TYPICALLY THEY'LL JUST BOUNCE TO THE NEXT TOWN. AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE THAT TOWN THEY BOUNCE AGAINST OR AWAY FROM. SO WE'RE WE'RE MAKING OUR WEBSITE BASICALLY SITE SELECTOR FRIENDLY. WE DO HAVE A LINK THERE. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IF I CAN BORROW A DEVICE OR WHAT. IT MIGHT GET MESSY IF I TRY TO GO.
ANYWAY, THAT'S THAT'S THE LINK TO OUR WEBSITE. WELL, THIS ONE. YEAH. LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN GET THERE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS I GUESS YOU CAN JUST GO, WELL, WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL JUST KEEP IT THERE. THAT'S OUR WEBSITE. IT'S COMING ALONG. 75% OF THE WAY. DONE. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT LOOKS AT THE END. OUR OFFICES, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS IS THAT'S REALLY MOVING FORWARD AS WELL. IF YOU REMEMBER, IT WAS ON THIS BUILDING BEFORE. IT WAS THE OLD FAA BUILDING. IT REALLY WAS BLIGHT. AND PART OF OUR MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO GET OURSELVES IN OFFICE, BUT TO REMOVE BLIGHT SO THAT WE NOT ONLY BEAUTIFY THE PLACE ESTHETICALLY, BUT ALSO INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUES THERE. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE HAD AN OLDER BUILDING THAT WAS BRINGING DOWN THE PROPERTY VALUES AND CREATING THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT. AND I'LL TELL YOU, THIS IS NOT ONLY GOING TO SWITCH THIS INDIVIDUAL PARCELS THE WAY IT FUNCTIONS IN TERMS OF TAXES, BUT WHAT IT'S DOING NOW IS THAT THIS SAME DEVELOPER BOUGHT THE LAND RIGHT NEXT TO IT, AND SO HE'S TAKEN DOWN THAT LAND THAT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR A WHILE, AND HE'S GOING TO START BUILDING PRETTY SOON, AND IT'S GOING TO BE BUILDINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH HIM TO GET THOSE BUILDINGS BUILT AND GET THESE RENTED AS AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AROUND. IN FACT, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE JUST SPOKE WITH YESTERDAY IS ANOTHER DAYCARE. SO THAT PERSON MAY ALSO MOVE HER BUSINESS INTO THERE. THESE ARE OFFICES, AS WE MENTIONED. YOU ALL HAVE HEARD PLENTY ABOUT THIS. SO I WON'T GO INTO TOO MANY DETAILS. BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS, AS I MENTIONED, IS SPUR UPGRADED DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS FOR THE EDC. AND WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TO MAKE OUR ORGANIZATION MORE LEAN IN TERMS OF OUR EXPENDITURES. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S REALLY GOING TO DO THAT. SO WORKING ON THE EV CHARGING GRANT, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER LAST SUMMER I MENTIONED THAT WE HAD JUST STARTED DISCUSSING THIS PLAN WITH UTEP. WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. A LARGE PORTION OF THE GRANT HAS BEEN WRITTEN.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WITH THE ACOG TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT IN WRITING THAT GRANT, AND THEN ALSO THE CITY OF EL PASO. AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A PRIVATE PARTNER BECAUSE WE DO NEED A 20% GRANT MATCH, AND THAT WOULD BE CHARGEPOINT AND SO SINCE WE'VE LAST SPOKEN, WE'VE GOT THE 30 SITES ACROSS THE CITY TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED. ULTIMATELY, THEY CAN CHANGE, BUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO WAS GET THOSE PRELIMINARY SITES OVER TO THE CHARGEPOINT PEOPLE SO THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE RENDERINGS FOR ONE, BUT ALSO A BUDGET. THAT BUDGET IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE'RE SUBMITTING OUR GRANT. SO AGAIN, THE IDEA IS THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH YOU TO APPLY FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT TO FUND THE INSTALLATION OF LEVEL TWO AND THREE B CHARGES ACROSS HORIZON CITY. AND WHEN WE DO DO THIS, IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS GRANT, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRAG ABOUT THE FACT THAT HORIZON CITY WILL BE ONE OF THE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST COUNT OF EV CHARGERS PER PER SQUARE MILE. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE
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REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. HERE ARE THE 30 SITES. AND AGAIN THESE ARE PRELIMINARY. WE'VE INCLUDED THIS MORE. SO TO GIVE YOU A SENSE THAT WE'RE REACHING INTO PUBLIC LANDS PRIVATE LANDS TALKING TO BUSINESSES AND REALLY TRYING TO PUT THEM IN MANY PLACES. AND SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO BUSINESSES AND, AND TO SEE HOW WE CAN REALLY PUT THESE ON THEIR LANDS. SO A LOT OF THESE WILL HAVE LEVEL TWO AND THREE CHARGERS. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN 60 DIFFERENT CHARGERS. THAT'S MOVING AHEAD. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THIS GRANT RE OPENED. AND SO WE SUSPECT IT'S GOING TO OPEN IN Q2 OF 25. AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SUBMITTING OUR GRANT. SO THAT'S LOOKING GOOD. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT SLIDE SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO SORT OF SHOW YOU A KIND OF A MINI SLIDE BASICALLY ULTIMATELY THIS WOULD BE THE FINAL PRODUCT RIGHT. WHAT IS ULTIMATELY HAPPENING IN TERMS OF OUR BUSINESS SUPPORT IS THIS RECEIVING BENEFITS. AND IT IS WHAT YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE IS THAT WE'VE GOT EVERY YEAR, WE'VE GOT AN INCREASE IN OUR MONTH TO MONTH SALES TAX REVENUE. AND IN FACT, WE'VE ACHIEVED A COUPLE OF PEAKS. SO THIS IS THE HIGHEST WE'VE EVER HAD IN THE PAST DECADE. THAT WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL. AND IF YOU COULD TRACK THIS LINE, YOU'LL SEE IT ON THE NEXT SLIDE. WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THIS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT'S BEEN EVERY OTHER YEAR. AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT WE'VE GOT MORE TAX REVENUE IN OUR CITY. WE'RE CAPTURING MORE.SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NOT ONLY FOR THE IDENTITY OF THE CITY, BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING A MUCH MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY. WE'RE ATTRACTING MORE BUSINESS ATTENTION, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST TRANSPARENTLY SPEAKING, GETTING MORE REVENUE IN OUR IN OUR TAX COFFERS. SO, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. THIS SHOWS YOU WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE YEARS. AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE 24 WAS OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR TO DATE. AND AGAIN FROM OUR RECORDS THIS IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR THIS WHOLE DECADE. AND SO WE'RE INCREASING AT A AT A SOLID RATE. I THINK THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 24 AND 21 IS SOMETHING LIKE 25%.
SO WE'VE REALLY COME A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE GENERATING AS FAR AS OUR ANNUAL REVENUES FOR TAX COLLECTION OVER HERE, WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THAT WE'VE GOT A COUNT OF THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN. IN 23, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 160 BUSINESSES AND THAT'S ACROSS THE 12 MONTHS SO FAR TO DATE, WE'VE GOT 161 BUSINESSES. AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE LAST THREE MONTHS OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. AND SO WE'VE STILL GOT A QUARTER OF THE YEAR LEFT, BUT WE'RE ALREADY BEGINNING THE BUSINESS COUNT LAST YEAR. SO AGAIN, MORE TAX REVENUE, MORE BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND MORE BUSINESSES IN HORIZON CITY. SO OVERALL, THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. BUT WE'RE NOT ABANDONING THE NEED TO BRING IN MORE BUSINESSES OF COURSE. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN STEADILY SUBMITTING OUR RESPONSES TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THAT WE GET FROM THE STATE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. THE GOVERNOR'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO GET THESE LEADS. THESE ARE THE SITE SELECTORS THAT I REFERENCED BEFORE. AND SO WE SUBMITTED IN AUGUST 13TH A RESPONSE TO AN RFP FOR WHAT'S CALLED PROJECT KETTLE. AND SO AGAIN, THAT'S A BIO MANUFACTURING FIRM WITH A PROPRIETARY HYPER FERMENTATION TECHNOLOGY. BASICALLY THEY USE PETRI DISHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO CREATE MATERIALS. REALLY INTERESTING STUFF. AND SO THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A 60,000 100,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY TO BUILD 7 TO 12 BUILDINGS. AND AS PART OF THIS, THEY'RE LOOKING TO INVEST OVER $81 MILLION, AND IT CREATES 63 JOBS. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US. SO WHAT WE DO IS WE GET THESE TOGETHER, RESPOND ON EVERY LEVEL. DIFFERENT BUSINESSES ASK FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. SOMETIMES IT'S WHAT LANDS ARE AVAILABLE. HOW CLOSE ARE YOUR RAILROADS, HOW CLOSE IS FORT BLISS FROM YOU, ETC. SO WE'VE GOT TO CATER THESE TO MAKE SURE WE RESPOND TO EVERY DETAIL THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT. AND THEN WE PUT TOGETHER AN INCENTIVE PROPOSAL AND WE SEND THESE OUT. WE ALSO RESPONDED TO PROJECT TRELLEBORG FORTRESS. THAT'S A FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROCESSING COMPANY WORKING TO IDENTIFY A SITE FOR THE NEW PROCESSING FACILITY. AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR 25 TO 30 ACRES AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO INVEST ANYWHERE FROM 100, 125 MILLION. OUR NUMBERS ARE SHOWING ABOUT $104 MILLION WORTH TO CREATE 120 TO 150 NEW JOBS AT AN AVERAGE HOURLY RATE OF 22 TO $29. SO THIS IS A REALLY BIG PLUS FOR US. AND AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES INCENTIVES THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS FOCUSING ON WHAT ARE CALLED BASIC INDUSTRIES. THAT IS INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD COME TO THE TOWN OF VERIZON CITY, CREATE A NEW PRODUCT HERE, SHIP IT OUT OF THE REGION AND THEN BRING IN FRESH DOLLARS. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US ON SEPTEMBER THE 17TH, WE SENT OUT A THIRD RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. THIS WAS A PROJECT 1.21. THIS IS A TAIWANESE BATTERY CELL AND BATTERY MODULE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR 100 ACRES ON WHICH TO CONSTRUCT AND ACTIVATE A 4,356,000 SQUARE FOOT PRODUCTION SPACE THAT IS PRETTY HUGE AND THAT ALIGNS WITH THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO. 800 MILLION AND A BILLION, POTENTIALLY TO CREATE 1600 NEW JOBS. THE WAY THESE WORK IS, WE SEND THESE OUT WITH EVERYTHING I MENTIONED, AND THEY MAY DISAPPEAR FOR A FEW MONTHS BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE GATHERING THESE FROM MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. THEY WHITTLE IT DOWN TO THE FINAL CONTENDERS. THEN WE'LL USUALLY HEAR FROM THEM. IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM THREE MONTHS, SIX
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MONTHS TO SOMETIMES TO SPEND OVER A YEAR. BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE AT THAT TABLE IN TERMS OF INCENTIVES. SO WE SENT OURS OUT AND IT WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVE. BUT BY THE WAY, ALL OF OUR INCENTIVES ARE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE PLUS PLUS FOR US. SO ANYTHING WE PROPOSE ALWAYS GENERATES BRAND NEW TAX REVENUES FOR US ON DAY ONE. WE DON'T GIVE AWAY ANYTHING FROM OUR BASE VALUE. WE DON'T GIVE ANYTHING AWAY THAT WOULD BRING OUR BUDGETS LOWER THAN WHAT THEY ARE NOW. SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO BRING IN COMPANIES THAT EFFECTIVELY ARE PAYING FOR THEIR OWN INCENTIVES THROUGH THEIR INVESTMENT. AND I JUST DID WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IN CASE THERE NATURALLY, THERE IS A THOUGHT THAT MAYBE WE'RE GIVING AWAY TOO MUCH, WHICH WE MAKE SURE NEVER TO DO. AND THE LAST ONE WE PUT OUT WAS JUST ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, PROJECT PROMETHEUS. AND THIS IS A TOP TIER INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY JOINT VENTURE PARTNER PROCESSING. ACTUALLY, IT'S A CHEMICAL PROCESS PLANT THAT PRODUCES SOLID ROCKET MOTORS AND CASTED WARHEADS. AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A DECENT FIT FOR THE MICHAEL EGAN PROPERTY, WHICH PREVIOUS TO NOW HAD BEEN TESTING MISSILES. AND SO WE THREW THIS ONE IN THERE. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR 250 ACRES. AND SO THAT MATCHES THAT SITE LOOKING TO BUILD 25 TO 50 BUILDINGS. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A HUGE INVESTMENT, $3 MILLION TO CREATE 375 JOBS. SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROCESS FOR US. THIS IS WHERE WE PLANT THE SEEDS THAT REAP HUGE BENEFITS IN THE FUTURE. IN OUR PREVIOUS JOB.THIS IS HOW IT WOULD GO. WE PUT THESE OUT THERE. SOMETIMES YOU THINK THEY'VE DISAPPEARED. THEN YOU GET A KNOCK AT YOUR DOOR SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FINAL FOUR. LET'S GO LOOK AT THE PROPERTIES. WE DON'T WANT TO BE OUT OF THIS GAME. AND SO WE DO RESPOND TO THESE. AGAIN, THIS WAS SENT OUT OCTOBER 4TH. SO THOSE ARE OUR RFPS. THIS ONE WE THREW IN BECAUSE IT'S A WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S ACTUALLY LED BY DEAN AND HIS TEAM OVER AT THE WATER BOARD. THANK YOU DEAN I'M NOT SURE IF MAYBE THERE'S ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THAT THAT HAS COME UP IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE THE RESTAURANT AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. THEY'RE SENDING A CHEF IN NEXT TO THEIR CHEF FROM DALLAS, IS COMING NEXT WEEK TO MEET WITH US. OKAY. A FEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT I MAY NOT ABOUT ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW. OKAY, OKAY. THEY HAVE TO START CONSTRUCTION WITHIN TWO YEARS, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING LIKE OVERNIGHT GOING TO START HAPPENING. BUT THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THE OPERATION OF THE RESTAURANT AND THE FULL FACILITY, EXCEPT FOR THE PRO SHOP AND OUR PART, OKAY, ON JANUARY 1ST. SO OKAY, SO THERE'S THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO $9 MILLION WORTH OF F AND B A YEAR. SO THEY WANT TO AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO INVEST IN 12 TO $15 MILLION IN A PROPERTY THAT'S HUGE. YEAH. AND I'LL TELL YOU WE'VE BEEN USING THIS HONESTLY TO TRY TO LURE DEVELOPERS AS WELL. SO AS WE TALK TO THE PEOPLE AT MOTELS, AS WE TALK TO PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO DO EVENT SPACES, WE BRING THIS UP PRETTY OFTEN BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. SO WE THREW IT IN BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY MATTERS TO US IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND THE LAST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, IS WE'RE GOING TO AUSTIN. I'M SORRY, TO ADDISON, TEXAS. AS YOU CAN SEE, OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 25TH TO THE ANNUAL TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CONFERENCE. AND SO THIS IS A ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AS I SAID. AND HERE'S WHERE YOU GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRY EXPERTS SHOWING UP. YOU GET A CHANCE TO EITHER SIT DOWN AND LEARN FROM THEM. YOU CAN ATTEND TALKS. AND THEN OF COURSE YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE. THEY HAVE A WHOLE DISPLAY AREAS WHERE YOU CAN TALK TO DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS, YOU CAN TALK TO DIFFERENT CLIENTS. SO IT'S REALLY SOMEWHERE YOU DO WANT TO NETWORK AND PUT YOUR NAME OUT. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US. AND SO WE'LL BE OUT THERE, WALTER AND US WILL BE OUT THERE ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT WENT. SO, SO EVERYBODY UP THERE, I THINK IT'S GOT YOU LAST YEAR OR SO. WELL, THEY SOMETIMES THEY DO LIE TO YOU. YEAH. I MEAN THEY'RE, THEY'RE SALESPEOPLE. AND SO SOMETIMES THEY'LL THEY'LL PROMISE THE WORLD TO YOU. BUT BUT GENERALLY IT'S, IT'S A PRODUCTIVE CONFERENCE TO GO TO.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST EIGHT WEEKS. IT HAS BEEN BUSY, AS I MENTIONED, WE DID MAKE PROGRESS. AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE TODD LANDS, THAT WE'RE PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THAT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THE AWESOME TRIP WENT. HOPEFULLY BY THE NEXT TIME WE MEET WE CAN ACTUALLY SHOW YOU THE OTHER SET OF PARCELS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO BUY, AND MAYBE EVEN ALREADY CLOSING ON THOSE BECAUSE WE NEED TO CLOSE PRETTY SOON. SO THAT'S THAT DOES IT FOR THIS UPDATE.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE AT THIS POINT. NOTHING. I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. NO.
OKAY. I'LL BE BUSY. YEAH, SURE ABOUT IT. HERE'S THE FUN PART. HERE'S WHERE WE GET TO LIKE OUR
[5. Discussion and Action:]
QUESTIONS. OKAY? IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE. DISCUSSION AND ACTION. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I THINK THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO DO THIS IS TO TAKE NOMINATIONS FOR THEM ONE AT A TIME. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A NOMINATION FOR BOARD PRESIDENT. I NOMINATE WALTER MILLER. BACK[00:25:08]
IN, ARE THERE OTHER NOMINATIONS? SO I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT BY ACCLAMATION AS APPROVED. SECOND, THAT MOTION ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT. RIGHT NOW IT'S JERRY, WHICH IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT. SO THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. YEAH. SO ANYBODY ELSE IS INTERESTED IN THE VICE PRESIDENT. SO REALLY THE VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT WOULD TAKE OVER WHEN THE PRESIDENT ISN'T AVAILABLE. WE CAN RUN THE MEETINGS. I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO NOMINATE A RADIO THERE. WE GO. ARE THERE OTHER NOMINATIONS? THAT'S ME. RAY, I HAVE TWO NAMES. OKAY. IS THERE A DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT BY ACCLAMATION? I SECOND THAT ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION. NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD SECRETARY AND THE BOARD SECRETARY RIGHT NOW IS VERONICA. YES. ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE HER DO SOMETHING? I WOULD NOMINATE VERONICA. IS THERE OKAY? I WOULD NEED A MOVE BY ACCLAMATION. SO MOVED SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. AND THE BOARD TREASURER IS LILY. LILY? SHE'S THE ONE THAT HANDLES OUR FINANCES FOR. I NOMINATE LILY. SO I NOW NEED A MOTION BY TO ACCEPT BY ACCLAMATION. I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT. OKAY. SECOND SECOND, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS. ARE VERY NICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. YES I DO, I DO APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING THIS. AND I REALLY APOLOGIZE FOR TONIGHT.
I JUST GOT HUNG UP IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, COULD NOT GET OUT. WE ALL BEEN THERE, SITTING THERE WAITING FOR HIM TO COME IN. APPRECIATE IT BEING NO FURTHER ITEMS. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.