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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-04 Economic Development Committee MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Economic Development Committee Date: 2015 -02 -04 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Karl Weld George Rio Jack Russell Maria Higgins Meghan Young - Tafoya Members - Not Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: Berger Room Sandra Popaja Jessie Wilson, Community Development Administrator Others Present: Minutes Respectfully submitted By: Meghan Young Topics of Discussion: Call to Order: kECEIVE0 i OWN CLERK ;DING, M,�SS. 1015 MAR 2 3 P 1: 13 There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Approval Of EDC Minutes 12/4/2014 The EDC reviewed minutes of December 4, 2014 Ms. Young - Tafoya made a motion to approve the revised minutes from 12/4/2014. Mr. Rio seconded and the motion carried 4 -0 -0. Update on the Cultural District Plan The EDC reviewed Ms. Wilson's Cultural update from 1/15/2015. Mr. Weld had agreed that he would be happy to help with the branding of the newly formed group, with the working name - The Cultural Connection. The EDC brainstormed a bit and the EDC members really liked Ms. Higgins idea - Arts in Common as a possibility. Ms. Young - Tafoya had started an initial press release for the Cultural District and with the help of Ms. Wilson and Ms. Higgins a strong draft is ready for review when the group meets again towards the end of February. Work Plan Updates Page 1 1 Building Fagade and Signage Improvement Program - The EDC reviewed the draft of the 2015 BFSI, program. Edits were provided and Ms. Young - Tafoya will send the revisions to Ms. Wilson. Mr. Weld suggested that the EDC review and then vote on the changes in the next EDC meeting. The EDC then reviewed the additional application information from 159 Ash Street that provided rough estimates of the project. All members agreed that they would need to see a more complete plan of the additions before making a decision on grant funding. In other news ... Mr. Weld was delighted with the renovations that Family Dental had "unveiled" this past week. Ms. Young - Tafoya agreed to write up an initial press release highlighting Family Dental (with Ms. Higgins agreeing to edit) for the next meeting. Mr. Weld felt that we could use this project in our brochure for the 2015 program. Diet Funding -Mr. Weld had the understanding that DIET funding was going to be provided in this year's budget. As Ms. Wilson was not available for this meeting, the EDC would like to include 2015 budget funding as an agenda item for the March meeting. Social Media -Mr. Weld, Facebook EDC administrator, reported that the process of updating /approvals of the page has limited his updating the page. Ms. Young - Tafoya shared that Ms. Popaja has a contact that could create an "app" that would allow us to promote the businesses /happenings in Reading. This project would require some planning, consulting, approvals before it can be launched. For `food for thought' Ms. Wilson will be sending the examples that Ms. Popaja provided for the March meeting. Economic Development Master Plan - Ms. Young - Tafoya attended the January face to face meeting with MAPC. The MAPC had updated the information, but was very similar to the 12/2/15 online presentation. Ms. Young - Tafoya noted that she had contacted Ms. Delios, Ms. Wilson, and Mr. LeLacheur about including the public space (behind CVS) for a PDA in the Downtown area. Ms. Wilson had initially responded, but there had been no follow -up since. There will be an Action Plan project check in at 11:00 (online) on 2/26/15 and Mr. Weld suggested that the PDAs be updated to reflect not only medical in PDA 4. During the discussion, the EDC felt it would be important for Ms. Delios to attend the March meeting (along with Ms. Wilson) to discuss components of the current project, and the going forward strategy once this project has concluded. Passport - EDC discussed the draft that Ms. Popaja has helmed and the subcommittee meeting that was held at the end of January with Ms. Wilson. Ms. Young - Tafoya shared that Ms. Wilson was getting additional feedback from the individual departments on the information in the draft. Ms. Wilson had also indicated that through the MAPC grant it might be possible for the MAPC to provide best practices and possibly create a revised Passport for US. Economic Development Activity Ms. Young - Tafoya shared that Subway is now approved by the CPDC, for location into the Northern Bank building (in the former location of the Hitching Post.) Mr. Rio shared that he had talked to a developer who had submitted a proposal to purchase the Post Office site and that the developer had let him know that there were a couple of submissions. Adjournment March EDC meeting: Calendar check -in confirmed that 3/18/15 worked for a quorum for the next meeting. Ms. Young - Tafoya moved the EDC to adjourn at 8:25 PM. Mr. Higgins seconded and the motion carried 4 -0 -0. Page 1 2