BCC Minutes 09/23/2011 W (w/EDC of Collier County) MINUTES
BCC
Workshop
Meeting
September 23 , 2011
September 23, 2011
MINUTES OF THE JOINT WORKSHOP OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AND THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF COLLIER COUNTY
Naples, Florida, September 23,2011
LET IT BE REMEMBERED that the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners and the Economic Development Council of Collier County,
having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 AM in WORKSHOP
SESSION in the BCC Chambers, 3rd Floor, Building "F," of the Government
Complex, Naples, Florida with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Fred Coyle, District 4
James Coletta, District 5
Donna Fiala, District 1
Tom Henning, District 3
Georgia Hiller, District 2
ALSO PRESENT:
Leo Ochs, Jr., Collier County Manager
Mike Sheffield, Business Operations Manager
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
David Jackson, CRA Director
Bob Mulhere, EDC
Tim Cartwright, EDC
James McGraw, KMK Consulting
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AGENDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF COLLIER COUNTY
WORKSHOP
Friday September 23, 2011
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
9:00 - 9:10 a.m. INTRODUCTION
Mr. Bob Mulhere, Chairman, EDC Board of Directors
9:10 - 9:15 a.m. INTRODUCTION OF KMK CONSULTANT, JIM MCGRAW
Mr. Tim Cartwright, Chairman-Elect, EDC Board of Directors
9: 15 - 10: 15 a.m. PRESENTATION: Collier County Economic Development Plan
Mr. Jim McGraw, President, KMK Consulting
10:15 -12 p.m. RECOGNIZE PRESENTOR, OPEN DISCUSSION &
PUBUC INPUT
September 23,2011
Any person in need of a verbatim record of the meeting may request a copy of the video recording from the
Collier County Communications and Customer Relations Department or view online at www.collierf!ov.net
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Chairman Fred Coyle called the Workshop to order at 9:01 AM.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
INTRODUCTION:
By: Bob Mulhere, Chairman, EDC Board of Directors
Background:
. Workshop was held in March, 2011 with the Board of County Commissioners
. A proposal to hire a consultant to develop a Strategic Plan for the Delivery of
Economic Development for Collier County was approved by the Board
. "Request(s) for Proposal" (RFP) were issued; KMK Consulting was selected
INTRODUCTION OF CONSULTANT, JAMES McGRAW:
By: Tim Cartwright, Chairman-Elect, EDC Board of Directors
. James McGraw is the President, CEO, and a member of the Board of Directors for
KMK Consulting
PRESENTATION: Collier County Economic Development Plan
By: James McGraw, President, KMK Consulting
Background on KMK Consulting performance given.
A PowerPoint Presentation entitled "Strategy for Strengthening Economic Development
in Collier County" was given.
Points:
. Objective: Improve economic delivery
. Shared Vision
. Formula for Success
. SWOT Analysis: (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
. Key Findings
. Goals
Recommendations:
. Re-invent the EDC - new name/location/staff - formalize organization-
administered by private sector
. Narrow the scope to direct servicing of existing businesses and acting as a sales
team for outside opportunities. Assist with planning and permitting issues.
. Funding: find money and develop programs to replenish it
o Current budget - $400,000
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September 23,2011
. Applications for incentives will be brought to the Board of Commissioners
. Involve Naples Chamber of Commerce - expand role - business support initiatives
. Set deadlines and target dates (six months)
OPEN DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC INPUT:
Soeakers:
1. Duane Billington
2. Michele Borders
3. Harry Romano
4. Steve Harrison
5. Richard Federman
6. Bill Barton
Commissioner Hiller:
. The majority of Florida Counties don't subsidize indirect economic
development initiatives.
. The allocation average is $280,000, with grant allocations averaging $291,000.
. Collier County isn't competing with Counties that are offering millions in
incentives.
(Note: The statistical report, compiled by the State, was included in the public record.)
Commissioner Fiala directed the following questions to Mr. McGraw:
Q. Has politics played a major role in deterring new businesses from coming here?
A. The County's reputation (i.e., "anti-business") has been noticed by companies
in the business of site selection.
Q. How can the County assist businesses in keeping its employees?
A. A collaboration between employers and educations is valuable to ensure
students are trained to work, i.e., high school programs, college degrees,
internships. Match education to what businesses need most.
Q. Why has Collier County been labeled unfriendly to business?
A. Barriers to business growth must be identified, reviewed, and eliminated if
possible.
Commissioner Coletta:
. Politicizing must stop. The Commission must take a leadership role to move
to the next level or else it will set the groundwork for failure.
. Suggestion: Direct Staff to begin an immediate search for an Executive
Economic Development Director. Money has been set aside and is available.
. Suggestion: Create an Economic Development Advisory Committee where
the members will not be chosen based on political.
Chairman Coyle: reminded the members the matter had not been brought before the
Board for approval, but could be presented at the next monthly meeting.
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September 23,2011
County Manager Ochs: presented a Plan of Action that outlined the staff necessary,
organizational structure, and funding required if the Board directs Staff to implement
the proposed recommendations contained in the Consultant's report.
Commissioner Coletta: stated any enhanced economic incentive package should be
brought to the voters in the form of a referendum - possibly by November 2012 - to
demonstrate that no burden would be placed on the residents of Collier County.
Commissioner Henning: agreed regulatory problems should be among the first to be
reviewed and resolved. He supported the County Manager's Plan of Action and stated
the feedback from the business owners was important.
BREAK: 10:30 AM
RECONVENED: 10:42 AM
Tim Cartwright: met with the members to discuss the Chamber taking over events
and programs delivered by the EDC. He noted some might revert to the County due
to prior agreements with other organizations. The Chamber is reviewing the list of
items, and a copy ofthe list was provided to the County Manager.
Chairman Coyle: Commented on economic development activity and the EDC.
He suggested Staff begin to study the situation, but could not "direct" Staff until the
members voted. Staff can provide recommendations at a future Board meeting.
Commissioner Hiller: stated Collier County could become "business friendly" by
cutting taxes and lowering fees. She agreed with Commissioner Coletta that a
referendum is necessary - the taxpayers should not fund economic incentives.
Public Soeaker:
George Ahern, Chairman-Elect of SCORE
County Manager Ochs summarized:
. The position of Executive Director of Business & Economic Development
will be a full-time position and report to the Office of the County Manager.
. He/She will function as the central point of contact for businesses.
. He/She will break through barriers to business.
. Coordinate efforts within County agencies (i.e., CRAs, Airports, Tourism
Department) that have an influence on business, and interface with other
organizations.
. Create one more full-time position (retain a former EDC employee) to handle
business leads
. Funding: partially from the $400,000 earmarked for the EDC
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September 23, 2011
Mr. Ochs: recommended the immediate creation for a part-time position of Project
Manager for Business Development (which will become full-time upon the Board's
approval) -utilizing Job Bank to fill the position to ensure that nothing "falls through
the cracks" during this period of transition and will bring his proposal to the Board at
its next meeting.
Commissioner Henning: expressed his support of the County Manager's Plan of
Action and urged him to proceed.
Mr. McGraw's report was quoted: "In five years, Collier County must be a better
place than it is today. The more we work together, the more successful we will
be. "
"'''''''''''''
There being no further business for the good of the County, the Workshop concluded
by order of the Chair at 11 :30 A.M.
COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
These Minutes ~prOVed by the Board/Committee on M
as presented ^-- , or as amended
o~ 2011,
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