Corrections made at the January 5, 2009 meeting are reflected by strikethroughs; corrections are in bold. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE An Economic Development Task Force Meeting was held on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 4:00 pm., Commission Chambers, City Hall PRESENT: MEMBERS: Michael Akialis, Chris Casper, Richard Clemons, Diane Cline, J. Nejame, Ted Johnson, Joseph Pozzuoli, Teri Pruden, Mary Ann Ruzecki and Lea Stokes EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Caryn Miller, Joy McGrew STAFF MEMBERS: Administrative Assistant Kate Settle ABSENT: MEMBERS: Phyllis Carmel EX-OFFICIO MEMBER: Tom Cooley, Linda Mitchell 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER: Lea Stokes called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. She wanted to welcome Michael and Phyllis to the Task Force. 2. APPROVAL OF TASK FORCE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 3, 2008: The following corrections/changes were made to the minutes: Item 5: first sentence. “Ms. Stokes reported Mr. Lester, owner of Eagles Nest is willing to paint a sign on the side of his building.” was replaced with: Ms Stokes reported Mr. Lester, owner of the Eagles Nest, is willing to have a sign or ‘mural painted. Item 6: line 3 the typo “Rorce” was corrected to reflect: “Force;” line 28: the typo “tale” was corrected to reflect: “take;” line 34, the word “plan” was corrected and replaced by past-tense: “planned.” Item 7: line 4: the word bring was corrected to reflect the word “bringing.” Motion by J. Nejame, seconded by Mary Ann Ruzecki, to accept the minutes with the corrections. The motion carried unanimously. 3. CRA UPDATE : Ms, Miler reported the CRA Board has approved a moratorium on the enforcement of the City’s code regarding the use of sandwich signs. The same request will be going before the Commission on December 4, 2008 for approval of the sandwich signs city wide. The criteria for the sandwich sign are: trial period for six months to allow sandwich signs on their property (not on the right of way or the side-walk) sidewalk; four feet in height - two feet wide; not to exceed three feet at the base, the signs must be neat and legible and one sign per business. Discussion ensued and included the placement of the signs and the type of businesses that will benefit from the moratorium. Chris Casper suggested a uniform sandwich sign be created for businesses and have the city generate some income by providing the sign. He continued to explain that if he were to want to use a sign, he would ask one of his purveyors what they had available for free. The sign template might be advertising Budweiser instead of the City. Discussion continued and included a design type; the general look of a sandwich sign; the possibility of the Beachside Merchants providing the signs for sale; the Beachside Merchants and the Chamber working together to create a design after the six month moratorium, Ted Johnson was wondering if the sandwich signs could be used for directional signage for businesses, such as Tri-City Cycle. The topic of directional signage brought the discussion to the downtown masterplan; undergrounding; streetscaping; the time it will take to do the streetscaping; altematives to do some streetscaping before theCorrections made at the January 5, 2009 meeting are reflected by strikethroughs; corrections are in bold. undergrounding; how the businesses will be informed of the moratorium regarding the sandwich signs within the CRA and citywide upon the Commission’s approval. Ms. Miller reported the CRA Board approved the purchase of 34 more trash receptacles as a temporary fix until the streetscaping is completed. The Board also asked Ms. Miller to look into recycling bins to see if it is cost effective. The trash cans will be located two per block throughout the CRA. Ms. Pruden asked if direction signs could be on the trash cans on every comer. Mr. Johnson referred to the type of receptacles located in New Smyrna and gave a brief description. Ms. Miller reported the Scenic Byways will be applying for a Coastal Partnership Grant and part of the grant is to provide more trash receptacles along AIA. The receptacles the City currently uses will be replaced or they will be added to the walk over. Ms. Ruzecki announced the Scenic Byway will be hosting their first “Adopt a Highway” on December 13, weather permitting. She indicated the areas that will be covered on the date. Ms. Miller reported a court decision has been made regarding the Strand Case. ‘The case inhibited how CRAs can finance projects within the CRA. At the next Commission meeting, ‘Ms. Miller will ask permission from the Commission to approve a financing plan for stormwater, undergrounding utilities and streetscaping in one full sweep. Ms. Stokes asked for an update regarding the streetscaping from N. 9" to S. 9" Street on the west side of AIA. Ms. Miller reported the preliminary plans for the landscaping have been sent to DOT for approval. Once approved, it will go to the County for implementation, County personnel will be planting and maintaining the plants for the first year. ‘The plans were developed by Bob Smith, City Engineer. The Task Force asked if Caryn could bring those plans to the next meeting. Ms. Miller spoke with a member of FDOT while he was here inspecting the site at the pier for the first aide aid tower. He thought the traffic needed to be slowed down on AIA. After he made the suggestion, Ms. Miller invited him and a colleague to come to the city in order for her and the City Engineer to show them the areas of concern to the City. During that meeting, she indicated she would ask them about streetscaping on Moody Boulevard. Ms. Stokes asked Ms. Miller if she and Jan Hancock, Planning and Zoning Director, had gotten together to discuss the Tourist Oriented Directional Signage Program FDOT is sponsoring. The program had been mentioned at the November meeting. Ms. Miller indicated that she had not had an opportunity yet. Ms. Stokes felt strongly this would be helpful to some of our businesses. 4, UPDATE FROM THE SIGNAGE SUBCOMMITTEE: Ms. Stokes reported on the last signage subcommittee meeting, Ms. Hancock provided the subcommittee with the location and two possible designs for the signs. Discussion ensued and included the latest technology available for signage; the cost of the designs proposed; having a fundraiser; matching the funds, for the Commission; whether the subcommittee should come back to the full task force; the constraints of a smaller sign; retrofit the proposed CVS sign; Flagler County vendors; LED signage, and the cost for LED signage. Motion by Joseph Pozzuoli, seconded by J. Nejame, we vote for the largest sign possible, we take this design prepared for us by CVS and possibly use Coquina at the base of the sign. Discussion continued and included the sign being uniform with CVS’s sign; could the sign be larger than that recommended by CVS; prior PARB approval; requesting Flagler County vendors received priority in the RFP or bidding process, how to incorporate the wording within the RFP; the City providing a workshop for local vendors on how to properly word an RFP; making the sure the sign could be changed easily as technology