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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/19/2020 - Minutes The Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County Zoom Meeting Minutes Roanoke, Virginia 24018 Wednesday, August 19, 2020, the Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia met remotely by Zoom Members Present Steve Musselwhite, Chair Woody Windley, Vice-Chair Greg Apostolou Max Beyer Michael Cagle Kirtesh Patel Max Beyer Peter Lubeck, Counsel Steve Anderson Kyle Richardson Barry Thompson Jill Loope, Secretary-Treasurer Absent Ssunny Shah Guest Tom Rowley, Manager, Economic Development Jessica Lovell, Financial Analyst, Philip Thompson, Director of Planning and Allison Fay, Recording Clerk. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Steve Musselwhite called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. REQUEST TO POSTPONE, ADD TO, OR CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA ITEMS None APPROVAL OF June 17, 2020 MINUTES On motion by Greg Apostolou to approve the minutes of June 17, 2020 as presented, seconded by Kyle Richardson, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Page 2 of 5 August 19, 2020 Economic Development Authority Minutes FINANCE REPORT Jessica Lovell, Financial Analyst for the Department of Finance, reviewed the information provided on the financial report through June 30, 2020. It was noted that undesignated cash balance was $812,154. On motion by Max Beyer to accept and approve the financial report as presented, seconded by Greg Apostolou, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. OLD BUSINESS 1. Presentation of the Roanoke County Small Business Recovery Grant Program Summary of Awards. Tom Rowley presented a Power Point presentation to the Board reviewing the following items; deadline dates and eligibility of the grant money, number of grants by business type, grant amounts for home based businesses. Mr. Rowley also discussed the original grant requirements and the changes that have been made. He listed the total number of submitted applications received, the average grant amounts, and the percentages of openings and operations of the businesses. Mr. Barry Thompson stated additional federal money might be available and asked if funding would be available for another grant program. Ms. Loope stated yes there would be additional funding but she does not know when it will be available and it has not been determined how the money will be allocated. She stated the Board of Supervisors have not approved or confirmed an amount for additional grant funding to date. Mr. Rowley reviewed how the county was responding to COVID 19 for local businesses in the area and discussed potential marketing collaboration with Roanoke Regional Partnership. He reviewed economists' speculations for the coming months and through the New Year and also stated unemployment insurance claims were slowly coming back down. Mr. Rowley said the Economic Development Department has been working with the State on programs being offered to area business employees. Chairman Musselwhite thanked Ms. Loope and Mr. Rowley for a well-done presentation. 2. Financial Disclosure statements and Conflict of Interest training. Ms. Loope thanked the Board Members for submitting their financial disclosures to the clerk's office. She reminded the Board Members of the required training and said she Page 3 of 5 August 19, 2020 Economic Development Authority Minutes had provided the Board with the website for the online training. Ms. Loope stated she understands there was problem with the site but she believes the problem has been corrected but would double check and send an email to the Board confirming the correction. NEW BUSINESS 1. Hollins Plan Presentation Philip Thompson provided a presentation on the Hollins Plan and reviewed the plan contents including existing conditions, community engagement, vision and principles, plan implementation and recommendations. The plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in July and Mr. Thompson explained why this area was selected including, location on a major transportation corridor, contains both employment and housing opportunities, has a high population density and the potential for mixed-use development. He discussed the high level of community engagement involved and other outreach that was completed during the plan development, and encouraged continued community participation. Chairman Musselwhite asked what the timeline was for the project. Mr. Thompson said we wanted to focus of the first 10 years and see what could be done in that time. He said the window is 10-20 years. He stated staff is working on the project plan being added to the Comprehensive Plan and reviewed what the next steps were for the plan. Mr. Apostolou stated he did not see sidewalks or a gateway/entrance sign and asked if those two items would be incorporated into the plan. He stated he would like to see both items added to the plan. It was recorded that Mike Cagle joined the meeting at 9:43 a.m. CLOSED MEETING At 9:58, Mr. Musselwhite moved to go into closed session, seconded by Mr. Cagle pursuant to the Code of Virginia Section 2.2-3711(A)(7): consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body; specifically, the authority will consider whether to exercise its legal right to enforce protective covenants pertaining an industrial site located with Roanoke County. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The closed session was held from 9:58 a.m. until 10:08 a.m. Page4of5 August 19, 2020 Economic Development Authority Minutes Certifying the closed meeting was held in conformity with the Code of Virginia WHEREAS, the Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia has convened a closed meeting on August 19, 2020 pursuant to an affirmation-recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act. WHEREAS, the public business matters addressed in the closed meeting were exempt from the open meeting requirements, Pursuant to the Code of Virginia Section 2.2- 3711(A) (7): consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. Section §2.2-3712(D) of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia, that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with the Virginia Code. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia, hereby certifies that, to the best of each members knowledge only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia At 10:08 am, Barry Thompson moved to return to open session and adopt the certification. The motion was seconded by Mr. Apostolu and carried unanimously The following motion was made by Kirtesh Patel and seconded by Greg Apostolou: Based on the information and recommendation provided by staff regarding Lot 4A in Valley Tech Park, and conditioned upon the use proposed by Thalheimer, in Boyd Johnson's letter dated August 10, 2020, I MOVE that the Board release and waive its right of first refusal (which is set forth in paragraph 7 of the Protective Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the Valley Techpark). This waiver is in addition to the prior waiver that was conditioned upon the use proposed in Jim Bolling's letter dated May 20, 2020. The the motion carried unanimously. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES Ms. Loope provided the following updates to the Board; the previously frozen Economic Development Specialist position has been unfrozen and the part-time position has been re-advertised, with interviews occurring soon. Tanglewood Mall is adding a new fuel island at the Kroger store with an expected completion by early December. There are two new hotel projects being planned; a Springhill Suites by Marriott near Gander Outdoors and a $10 million hotel project at 1-81 and Wildwood Road -a 3 story, 75 room hotel that is requesting a rezoning for the project. Page 5 of 5 August 19, 2020 Economic Development Authority Minutes The AEP operation center project in the CRT is underway with public reviews and approvals proceeding over the next few months. The Mack Trucks operation is in full production, following two months of pandemic related delays. She stated that two critical executive visas have finally been obtained due to the involvement of Congressmen Cline and Griffith. A new Firestone service center is under construction at Valley Gateway and is expected to open this fall. Staff is reviewing a proposal from Waukeshaw development for the former William Byrd technical school redevelopment project for commercial or light industrial projects. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be September 16, 2020. ADJOURNMENT On motion by Greg Apostolou and second by Barry Thompson, the meeting was adjourned at 10:16 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Jill Loope Secretary-Treasurer