HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001/07/17-Minutes-HEDC City of Fort Worth
City Council
Economic Development Committee
" Highlights of the Meeting Held
Tuesday,July 17, 2001
Committee Members Present: Jeff Wentworth, Frank Moss, and Becky Haskin
Other Council Members and Staff Present: Tom Higgins, Ardina Washington, Robert Sturns, Patricia Garcia,
Teresa Carreon, Brian Boerner, Kirk Slaughter, Jim Keyes, Peter Vaky, Kathy Hansen, Marisol Trevizo, Joe
Paniagua, and Vincent Mantero
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Wentworth at 1:50 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes from the Meeting held June 12, 2001:
Committee member Moss made a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting held on June 12, 2001.
Committee member Haskin seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
3. Update and Discussion of the Brownfields Program:
Brian Boerner updated the Committee on the Brownfields Program, stating the City received a grant on
October 1999 that expires October 2001 in the amount of$200,000 from the EPA to perform site evaluations
and assessments for potential Brownfield properties. The original target areas were Council Districts 2, 5, & 8.
The City recently received another grant for 2 years for $200,000 with the stipulation that $150,000 is for
Brownfield site assessments and $50,000 is for green space assessment or green belt projects — Environmental
Management will be working with Parks & Community Services.
Brownfields money can be applied to any redevelopment project to be used for identifying and assessing
hazards except asbestos, lead base paint, and petroleum products that may be associated with the project. A
total of 286 properties have been identified, but only 241 meet the criteria. For example, the money can not be
used for old apartment complexes and quadplexes which usually contain singularly lead base paint or asbestos.
Committee member Haskin asked that the Brownfields presentation be taken to the full Council because it
coincides with the Council's "Clean up the City" goal and maybe request an allocation of funds from the
general fund. Additionally, Committee member Moss requested staff report to the EDC the dollar amount
necessary to assess the 45 sites that did not meet the Brownfields Program criteria, a possible funding source
for the sites, and how to approach similar sites on an annual basis.
Committee Chair Wentworth asked staff to research how much money has been allocated in the Crime District
and General Fund in the last 2 years for remediation of environmentally contaminated properties. He also
asked for legal advice on the City's authority to force property owners to clean up environmentally
contaminated properties.
4. Discussion of the Cultural District and Will Rogers Memorial Center Master Plan:
Kirk Slaughter, Public Events Director, stated that the Western Heritage Steering Committee (3 Museums,
Stock Show, and Public Events Dept.) has agreed to fund the design for the infrastructure improvements at
C'� I «
��° Will Ro�crs Memorial Center at cost of X300,000 and the City will contribute $60,000. An M&C was
approved by the full Council July 10, 2001. Carter and Burgess will move forward with the design of all the
improvements which are due in less than 60 days.
Page I of 1
In addition, on July 10, 2001, Council approved the selling $3.7 million of bonds to fund the infrastructure
improvements. The improvements will include streets, storm drains, water, sewer and parking lots. When the
bonds have been sold the money can be appropriated.
5. Discussion of the Naming Rights for the Convention Center Arena:
Kirk Slaughter asked the Committee for direction on the following two questions:
Should the City of Fort Worth proceed with marketing of the naming rights sponsorship at the FWCC Arena?
The City will have the right to accept or reject proposed naming rights sponsorship.
Should the City of Fort Worth enter into a professional service agreement with the Fort Worth Brahmas hockey
team to market the naming rights? City Council will have the sole authority to approve any naming rights.
The City will bear no expense for marketing of naming rights sponsorship. Mr. Slaughter recommended
entering a professional service agreement with the Fort Worth Brahmas and giving the Brahmas 120 days to
market the arena. After 120 days of marketing, the results will be presented to the City Council for final
decision. The contract is for 3 years with two one year renewal options. Committee Chairman Wentworth
stated the contract needed to be very explicit that the naming rights have no bearing on the new arena. Mr.
Slaughter agreed. (handout available upon request)
The Committee was concerned about the use of alcohol and tobacco brand names for the new arena. Peter
Vaky, Assistant City Attorney, suggested guidelines be created for the types of sponsorship the City would be
like to have. Mr. Slaughter stated the City Council would have sole authority of accepting or rejecting any
sponsorship.
Committee member Moss made a motion to take the naming rights contract between the City and the Fort
Worth Brahmas hockey team to the full Council on next week's agenda. Board member Haskin seconded the
motion and the motion was unanimously passed. The Committee also asked staff from the Law Department to
follow up on the City's current policy for naming.
6. Discussion and Consideration of Downtown Hotel Projects (A.convention center Hotel Project B.T&P Hotel Project):
Mr. Keyes, Finance Director, stated the City has entered into an agreement with HVS International, a hotel
consultant, who is doing an economic development study relative to the impact of the proposed hotels and
should have the results around the 1" of August 2001. During the month of August the underwriters and
financial advisors will review the draft results of the study. By the end of August, a recommendation of the
projects which can be supported will be presented to the EDC.
Mr. Slaughter also noted that the Request for Proposals (RFP) from selected developers and the Request for
Information (RFI) from the T&P developers are due on July 19, 2001. Mr. Slaughter stated it would probably
take 2-3 weeks to evaluate the RFPs and RFIs, including possibly taking site visits.
7. Discussion and Consideration of a Tax Abatement Application from Meacham Rail 191 Limited
Partnership for Property in Railhead Industrial Park:
Mr. Higgins, Economic Development Director, briefed the Committee on a potential investment in the
Railhead Industrial Park which is located in the Central City and the North Enterprise Zone. Mr. Higgins
stated Opus, a national real estate developer, is representing ConAgra Foods and is requesting a tax abatement.
(handout available upon request)
Page 2 of 2
Steve Chilton, Director of Real Estate for Opus South, stated his client, ConAgra, is looking for a site for a
regional distribution center project. ConAgra is a food service wholesaler headquartered in Omaha, NE. As a
result of restructuring, 32 ConAgra distribution centers have been consolidated into 7. The Railhead Industrial
3 Park site would serve a 5 state area, employ 84 people, p a $11-$12 per hour for warehouse employees, and
pay an average of$45,000 per year for managerial/supervisory employees.
Committee member Moss asked that incentives put in to earn points if local Fort Worth minority contractors
and other M/WBE's are used.
The EDC Committee was concerned that the construction commitments were too low. The Committee also
wanted the following questions addressed:
• What level of education is needed for the 84 positions? Will there be transfers?
• Is there training?
• What are the long term benefits?
• Is there a 401K?
• Is there any child care?
• Where are the other locations?Are there any facilities in Fort Worth?
• What is the Management and Board make-up? (per Committee member Haskin)
Mr. Chilton answered a number of the questions. Committee Chairman Wentworth stated that the application
could be presented to the entire Council, but without the EDC's recommendation.
8. Executive Session:
aThere were no Executive Session items for this meeting.
9. Adjourn: Chairman Wentworth adjourned the meeting at 2:45 p.m.
Approved By:
Jeff Wentworth, Chairman
Page 3 of 3