08/06/2024 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilman Limpert: I do have a report, Mr. President. Thank you. The Building, Zoning, and Development Committee met on June 25, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Present were committee members Limpert, Glassburn, and Gilchrist; Council Members Hemann, Madden, Scarl, Shymske, the Mayor, Law Director, HR Director, Economic Development Director, Service Director, Recreation Director, and Special Assistant to the Mayor. There were three items on the agenda. The first was the Ordinance 2024-67, which was an ordinance declaring an additional 45 -day moratorium, extending the moratorium approved by Ordinance 2024-11, restricting the issuance of any permits, zoning, or otherwise to any business operating a thrift store in order to allow for such retail to use properly defined sections of the code. Director Upton explained that the moratorium allows for the legislative process to take place, noting that he anticipated a committee meeting and second and third readings here in August, as noted in our caucus meeting, we will be recommending suspending on this in order to account for timeline. Director Gareau concurred with Director Upton to allow the legislation to work since public hearing was just held that evening. Legislation was favorably recommended by Committee by a vote of 3-0. Next on the agenda was Ordinance 2024-71, which was a resolution authorizing the Director of Economic and Community Development to solicit statements of qualifications from marketing firms to provide promotional strategies and materials for the purpose of local business retention and development, and declaring an emergency as amended. Director Upton explained that the intended funding for the engagement came from the Restricted Economic Development Fund, which was created back in 1992, and amended several times. He mentioned that over the past five years, the only expenditure from the fund was for the annual dues for the Arizona Alliance. At the time, Councilman Gareau noted the last amendments were in 2008, which included a split of cell phone tower revenues for the fund. The fund can only be used for promoting, attracting, and planning economic development activities, and Director Upton noted that the use of these funds are extremely narrow. The legislation authorizes his office to seek qualifications from individuals or firms to create a presence of a branding for the city to attract new residents through a marketing strategy, and he added that he had reached out to previous economic advisors, years ago, to figure out how he could create a promotional material for people coming in the area. I also reached out several years ago, so I'm very enthused that the administration is looking to do that, to better brand and market our city to those outside. It was determined through discussion of the committee that we should amend the legislation to include the "attraction, retention, and growth" as part of the goals of the marketing strategy, and the legislation was favorably recommended by Committee by a vote of 3-0 with the amendment noted above. Mr. President, at this time 1'd like to move to amend Resolution 2024-71 to include the language of "attraction, retention, and growth", and ask for a second. Councilman Glassburn: Second. 08-06-24 Council Meeting Minutes - Page 6