09-23-19 La Porte Development Corporation Board

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RICHARD WARREN, PRESIDENTC* A DANNY EARP,BOARD MEMBER NANCY OJEDA,VICE-PRESIDENT t G� JOHNNY MORALES,BOARD MEMBER i \' � m CHUCK ENGELKEN,BOARD MEMBER SHELLEY FULLER,BOARD MEMBER VENESSA GUERRERO,BOARD ` ` �I • MEMBER MINUTES OF THE LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 The City of La Porte Development Corporation Board met on Monday, September 23, 2019, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 5:00 p.m.,with the following in attendance: Board members present: Richard Warren, Chuck Engelken, Danny Earp (arrived at 5:02 p.m.), Johnny Morales, Shelley Fuller, Nancy Ojeda (arrived at 5:02 p.m.) Board members absent: Venessa Guerrero Council-appointed officers present: Jason Weeks, Assistant City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Clark Askins, Assistant City Attorney 1. CALL TO ORDER—President Warren called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. STATUTORY AGENDA (a) Approve minutes of the meeting held on August 26, 2019. [Richard Warren, President] Board member Morales moved to approve the minutes: the motion was adopted,4-0. (b) Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve reimbursement for a completed Enhancement Grant project at 812 South 8th Street. [Ryan Cramer, Economic Development Coordinator] Board member Morales moved to approve reimbursement for a completed Enhancement Grant project at 812 South 8th Street for$21,505.00; the motion was adopted, 6-0 (c) Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve reimbursement for a completed Enhancement Grant project at 508 W. Main Street. [Ryan Cramer, Economic Development Coordinator] Board member Fuller moved to approve a reimbursement for$6,998.73 for a completed Enhancement Grant project at 812 South 8th Street; the motion was adopted,6-0. (d) Presentation and discussion of possible changes to the Enhancement Grant Program. [Ryan Cramer, Economic Development Coordinator] Board members suggested that general beautification monies were available for art projects and improvements and reiterated that the enhancement grants should be for packages to bring back dilapidated properties, not to pay for signs for typical new business expenses. Members encouraged including a reminder that grants were for enhancing areas around buildings and perhaps remove renovate or convert existing structures back to their original historic conditions as that may not be as appropriate as updated or enhanced. Also discussed was actively/advertising promoting the opportunities for sites and funding for art enhancements and requesting that applicants include original photos, not simply those lifted from websites. (e) Presentation and discussion on the Board's interest in a convention/conference center. [Ryan Cramer, Economic Development Coordinator] Board members expressed being open to ideas and perhaps an economic impact feasibility study on what's appropriate for the La Porte area. Also discussed were remote work and co-working space opportunities. 3. SET DATE FOR NEXT MEETING Page 1 of 2 September 23, 2019, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes