Agenda Request

	Sugar Land 4B Corporation
	Agenda Request
Agenda Of:	december 20, 2006	Agenda Request No:		II-A
Initiated By:	Donna Vaughan, Records Manager	Responsible Department:		City Secretary
Presented By:	Glenda Gundermann, City Secretary	Department Head:		Glenda Gundermann, City Secretary
		Additional Department. Head (s):		N/A
Subject / Proceeding:	Minutes Sugar Land 4B Corporation Meeting November 15, 2006 Approve Minutes
Exhibits:	Minutes November 15, 2006
Clearances			Approval
Legal:	N/A		Executive Director:	Joseph Esch, Business & Intergovernmental Relations
Recommended Action
Approve minutes of Sugar Land 4B Corporation meeting November 15, 2006.
Exhibits

STATE OF TEXAS	§
COUNTY OF FORT BEND	§
CITY OF SUGAR LAND	§

CITY OF SUGAR LAND

Sugar Land 4B Corporation MEETING

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2006

REGULAR MEETING

The Sugar Land 4B Corporation convened in regular meeting open to the public in Cane Room, 161, of Sugar Land City Hall on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 4:00 P.M. and the roll was called of the members; to wit:

Tim Stubenrouch, President

Karam Abu-Hamdan, Vice President

Thomas DeMont, Secretary/Treasurer

Ray Meyer

Michael Schiff

Jeng Liang

Cyril Hosley

QUORUM PRESENT

All of said members were present except Director Schiff, Director Hosley, and Director Liang who were absent.

Also present were:

Regina Morales, Director of Economic Development

Donna Vaughan, Records Manager

A Number of staff and visitors

CONVENE MEETING

President Stubenrouch convened the session, open to the public, to order at 4:06 P.M.

MINUTES

President Stubenrouch introduced consideration of the minutes of the regular meeting of October 18, 2006.

Following a full and complete discussion, Director DeMont, seconded by Director Abu-Hamdan, made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 18, 2006. The motion carried unanimously.

ORIENTATION

President Stubenrouch introduced orientation and training for members of Sugar Land 4B Corporation Board of Directors.

Ms. Regina Morales, Director of Economic Development, stated that orientation and training will assist the board in the decision making process.

Objectives of the orientation include:

Ø Economic development defined

Ø History of economic development sales tax

Ø Purpose of SL4B Corporation

Ø Duties and responsibilities

Ø Budget process

Ø Annual report

Ø Permissible 4B projects

Ø Future of economic development sales tax

Economic development today can be defined as: The process by which new dollars are infused into a local economy creating capital investment, jobs and thereby increasing quality of life for residents.

A basic strategy for success includes diversity for the City of Sugar Land. Basic strategies for community economic development is to establish firms, recruit new employers, enterprise creation, capital, financial, human, improve community’s ability to retain and capture investment, and quality of life initiatives.

4B sales taxes are sales taxes imposed by cities for economic development. The Texas Legislature in 1979 established the Development Corporation Act; through the years there have been several amendments. Total 4A/4B Sales Tax Cities as of July 19, 2006 are:

Ø 123 – 4A Cities

Ø 318 – 4B Cities

Ø 97 – Cities both 4A and 4B

Ø 538 – Total Cities

The board discussed city population breakdown of Section 4A and 4B cities; of which sixty one percent have a population of less than 5,000. Members inquired about projects which come before the Board for consideration.

The purpose of the SL4B Corporation was adopted by City Council Resolution 06-05 and states:

The role of the Sugar Land 4B Corporation is to assist in the implementation of the City’s Capital Improvement Program and Economic Development Program by performing procedural acts necessary to provide funding to accomplish identified projects and programs.

Sugar Land 4B Corporation was created in 1995 as a non profit organization to provide funding for First Colony Mall. The recent funding focus has been quality of life initiatives as provided in the Act.

The board discussed general powers and duties, budget responsibilities, budget process, annual report, and qualified projects. In approved projects the Corporation has returned $39 million to the community. Defined project types were reviewed, Cities must meet the State’s definition of project under Section 4B (a) (2) of the Act. Some state defined projects have been very specific, written mainly for possibly one municipality.

Since 1989, millions of dollars have been brought in to the State of Texas through economic development sales tax. The intent of the Act is for smaller communities to have business development and quality of life opportunities.

Members noted that SL4B funding is directed to parks projects. Other projects were the University of Houston, and landscaping projects. Housing projects are funded through the Community Development Block Grant program to free 4A and 4B funds for other types of projects. SL4A focuses more on job creation, 4A and 4B are used for marketing, and 4A is not used as a funding source for parks.

Projects seen by the board have already been approved by City Council through Capital Improvements Projects. Staff informed members if they are not comfortable with any project they can table the item for further information and were advised and encouraged to ask questions during the budget process, which includes Capital Improvement Projects. Staff noted there are always more projects than funds.

CITY STAFF REPORTS

There were no reports.

CORPORATE MEMBER REPORTS

There were no reports.

ADJOURN

There, being no further business to come before the Corporation, Director Abu-Hamdan, seconded by Director Meyer, moved that the meeting adjourn. The motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned, time at 4:45 P.M.

Tim Stubenrouch, President

Thomas DeMont, Secretary/Treasurer

(SEAL)