HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-15-2006 Council Economic Development Committee
AGENDA
City of Iowa City
City Council Economic Development Committee
Wednesday, March 15,2006
3:00 p.m.
City Hall
Lobby Conference Room
410 East Washington Street
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes - March 10, 2006
3. Discussion of application from McConnell Revenue Cycle Solutions, Inc. for CDBG
Economic Development Funds
4. Discussion of job description for Economic Development Coordinator
5. Discuss dates for visit to Nucleus Retail Incubator, Cedar Rapids
6. Adjournment
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MARCH 10, 2006
CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM
PRELIMINARY
Members Present: Regenia Bailey, Connie Champion, Bob Elliot
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Steve Atkins, Karin Franklin, Steve Long, Tracy Hightshoe
Others present: Joe Raso (ICAD)
Call to Order
Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
Approval of the minutes of the February 16. 2006 meetinq:
Champion moved and Elliot seconded approval of the minutes of the Feb. 16,
2006 meeting as submitted. Motion passed, 3-0.
Discussion of the future role of City in economic development:
Franklin presented an overview of the current duties of the Economic
Development Coordinator (attached), pointing out that this position has been
funded at a .5 FTE level. She indicated economic development efforts have
historically been divided between ICAD, the Chamber of Commerce and the City.
In a very general fashion, ICAD's role has been that of recruiter for new
businesses, the Chamber has nurtured existing businesses, and the City has
played a responsive role, facilitating financial assistance and incentives and
acting as a guide to and through government bureaucracy. The Committee was
then asked for their views on the future of this position in the City.
Elliot indicated it was important to have a City staff person with sufficient position
and knowledge to be able to work with businesses and be responsive with
information and decisions. Champion expressed her desire to at least keep the
half-time position. Bailey suggested a more assertive role was necessary with a
person who would be an active player in the Corridor and in spearheading and
recruiting businesses for special projects in Iowa City such as Aviation
Commerce Park South. Both Elliot and Bailey indicated the Committee had
discussed on other occasions the need to have a full-time person devoted to
economic development.
Raso suggested the Chamber's focus is likely to be on legislative matters and
business or entrepreneurial development using SEED as an example of their
efforts. Discussion followed of the partnership that existed between the City,
ICAD and the Chamber. Collaborations with the University of Iowa, through
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