02-25-10-Council/EDCMINUTES
JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING
February 25, 2010
A Workshop Meeting was held with the Schertz City Council and Schertz Economic
Development Corporation, on February 25, 2010 at 4:00 p.m., at the Schertz Civic Center,
1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit:
Mayor Hal Baldwin
Councilmember John Trayhan
Staff Present: City Manager Don Taylor
Assistant City Manager David Harris
City Secretary Brenda Dennis
EDC Specialist II Erin Matlock
Mayor Pro -Tern David Scagliola
Assistant City Manager John Bierschwale
City Attorney Michael Spain
Asst. EDC Director Jeff Jewell
EDC Analyst Peter Graves
Economic Development Corporation Members Present:
President Steve White
Vice President Harry Whitney
Director James Harden
Director Roy Richard
Director Tim Brown
Director Angelina Kiser
Director Matthew Duke
Councilmembers Fowler and Carpenter absent
CALL TO ORDER JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING
1. Discussion and appropriate action on a joint strategic planning session to include
mission, vision, goals, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats affecting
the City and its Economic Development Corporation.
Mayor Baldwin called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m , and introduced Assistant
Economic Development Director Jeff Jewell who introduced Tom Stellman with
TIP Strategies, who also introduced Senior Consultant Alan Cox and Consultant
Mitsu Yamazaki. Mr. Stellman provided a PowerPoint presentation covering the
following information answering questions from City Council, EDC Directors.
Members of Council and EDC Directors discussed the following:
• Discussion on current Global and National trends affecting economic
development
- What should we pay attention to?
- Slow recovery globally
- Back to basics: Fundamental principles still relevant in location
selection and focus on a few target industries and building lasting
relationships.
- U.S. is still the largest consumer economy
- Heavier focus on expansion over new investment
02 -25 -2010 Minutes
- Weak US dollar vs. JPY and EUR
- "Growing importance for M &A investment opportunity
• Discussion on recent findings from regional and local data analysis and TIP
fieldwork.
- Schertz has overtaken Seguin in population
- Schertz local employment & labor force growing
- Suburban labor force growing more rapidly
- Schertz unemployment remains relatively low
- Regional unemployment rate below state and nation
- Schertz has 31.4% of experienced workers
- Schertz outpaces Texas in education as well as outpaces the
neighboring region too
- Locals are primarily middle & upper middle class
- Schertz household income far outpaces state and nation
- Most of Schertz residents in "white collar" sectors:
Education & health care, Public administration and retail trade
- Schertz still lags behind in per capita taxable retail sales comparisons
- Schertz outpacing peers in job growth ... but is lagging most in wage
growth
• Discussion of opportunities for the City of Schertz
- Medical/Healthcare
- Education
- Energy
- Clean Tech
- Defense & security
- Agriculture equipment & supplies
- Discount retail
- Collaborative Media
• Discussion on participant input on best opportunities
- Major Employer Focus Group results
Overall happy with Schertz location
Attract more manufacturers to help bring in workers that are more
skilled
Re- enforced jobless recovery — investments in production
technology to minimize future labor costs
Demand is increasing for parts due to inventory shortages
Access to capital is tough if you do not have cash
Do not take any employer for granted
Recession is hitting small employer /retailer hard
Small employer concern about signage regulations
Small employer most desired marketing assistance
Small employer overall upbeat about doing business in Schertz
• Discussion regarding next steps and formulation
- Identity clarification for Schertz
- Existing business retention and development
- Develop reputation as a responsive City government to business
02 -25 -2010 Minutes Page - 2 -
Develop town center
Corridor land plans
Develop rail station
- Use BRE to create new business
- EDC input into city strategic planning and update SEDC plan
- Transportation master plan
I.D. EDC vision statement
Incorporate input on opportunities
Update strategies & actions
Draft strategic plan
• Target Sectors:
- Medical/healthcare
- Healthcare related services (IT)
- Transportation equipment suppliers
- Clean tech
- Professional /technical services
- Defense contractors
- Destination retail
ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further action, Mayor Baldwin adjourne the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Hal Baldwin, Mayor
ATTEST:
t
$ren a Dennis, TRM M City Secretary
02 -25 -2010 Minutes Page - 3 -