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Home My WebLink AboutMARCH 18, 2008 - P&Z JOINT/SPECIAL MEETINGCITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION .JOINT/SPECIAL MEETING March 18, 2008 I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL Councilmember Williamson gave the invocation followed with the pledge to the flag. The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in a Joint/Special Meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Deloris "Bobbie" Prince; Mayor Pro Tem Michael "Shane" Sinegal; Councilmembers Jack Chatman, Jr., Martin Flood, Robert E. "Bob" Williamson, and Willie "Bae" Lewis, Jr.; City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons; Acting City Secretary Terri Hanks; First Assistant City Attorney Valecia Tizeno and Sergeant At Arms Police Chief Mark Blanton. Councilmember Cal Jones was absent from the Joint/Special Meeting Councilmember Thomas J. Henderson arrived at the Joint/Special Meeting at 5:17 p.m. Councilmember John Beard, Jr. arrived at the Joint/Special Meeting at 5:32 p.m. The Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Port Arthur met in Joint/Special Meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Commissioner Richard Cox, Phillip Todora, Fernando Ramirez and Planning, Zoning and Grants Director Dale Watson. Planning & Zoning Commissioner Edward Chatelain, Jr. was absent from the Joint/Special Meeting. Planning & Zoning Commissioner Inell Moore arrived at the Joint/Special Meeting at 5:15 p.m. II. PRESENTATION The Marshall Group The Marshall Group Chief Executive Officer Bryon Marshall, 1011 Catalpa, Austin, Texas appeared before the City Council to conduct the attached presentation as shown as Exhibit "A" of the Meeting Minutes. III. ADJOURNMENT Upon the motion of Councilmember Henderson, seconded by Councilmember Chatman and carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. An audio-tape of this meeting is on file in the office of the City Secretary and is made a part of the official minutes of this meeting. MAYOR DELORIS "BOBBIE" PRINCE ATTEST: ACTING CITY SECRETARY TERRI HANKS END OF JOINT/SPECIAL MEETING HELD MARCH 18, 2008. APPROVED: EJ(HIBIT "A" West Port Arthur Redevelopment Corporation (WestPARC) Mission Statement Stimulate economic development in or around West Port Arthur (WPA) by serving the community, creating affordable housing, eliminating slum and bligh#, encouraging redevelopment, attracting economic investment, and growing a spirit of collaboration Organization and Board of Directors Function of the Organization • Serving the Community. Organize as a 501 c3 non-profit, community- based organization with CHDO and/or CBDO status • Creating Affordable Housing. Build or support the building of livable affordable housing • Eliminating Slum & Blight. Implement projects and programs that eliminate slum and blight • Encouraging Redevelopment. Assist in the rebuilding of commercial corridors damaged by hurricane Katrina or otherwise suffering from disinvestment and serve as the administrative staff for the redevelopment authority of a Tax Increment Redevelopment Zone (TIRZ) • Attracting Economic Investment. Build or cause to be relocated or built commercial, light industrial, civic, non-profit or ecumenical structures • Growing a Spirit of Collaboration. Work in collaboration with the City of Port Arthur, the Port Arthur Industrial Group, community groups, nonprofits, businesses, investors, developers and others to improve WPA and the adjacent neighborhoods Role of the Board of Directors • Develop policies related to (1) the acquisition and management of properties; (2) the development and management of the buffer zone; and (3) the implementation of the redevelopment plan in and around WPA • Hire and provide policy direction to the chief executive/administrative officer to implement the plan and manage the day-to-day operations of WestPARC The Marshall Group Page 1 February 27, 2008 Composition of the Board of Directors • Needed/Desired Skills o Community Interest (History; selflessness; credibility; access) o Real Estate (Commercial and Residential) o Lending /Underwriting o Marketing /Public Relations o Business /Economic Development Represented Sectors o Government o Neighborhood Associations and Organizations o Business (large and small) o Education o Non-profit/Churches o Lenders • Size of Board 0 10-1 1, <13 o ~0% must be from community if want CHDO status (can be ~~~biz/NPO that serve community, residents) Selection Process for the Board of Directors • Interim Membership o Rick Strauss, Motiva Representative for Port Arthur Industrial Group (PAIG) o Steve Fitzgibbons, Port Arthur City Manager o Melven Getwood, Chairman of Westside Neighborhood Association • Select future members based upon skill sets necessary with input from those interest groups How do we recruit other members of the Board? • What is the role of City Council in selection? Sources of Revenue • Start-up Capital. The City and/or PAIG contributes seed funds to lay the foundation for WestPARC (i.e. through a contract with the City and PAIG, a portion of Payment in Lieu of Tax funds may be allocated to WestPARC to maintain properties within the green buffer zone, to oversee the boarding up or demolition of vacant houses and buildings, to execute beautification projects, and for predevelopment activities) • Short-Tenn Capital. WestPARC will pursue income-generating opportunities aligned with its mission statement o Developer and or project management fees from economic and/or housing development The Marshall Group Page 2 February 27, 2008 o Grants for operations from philanthropic or governmental organizations o Sales proceeds from completed projects • Long-Tenn Capital. To support its daily operations, WestPARC will also receive annual income through rents from commercial and/or housing properties that it maintains The Marshall Group Page 3 February 27, 2008 J .~ .~... C O Q O ^L A U a O A.a 0 .~y 0 0 U 0 '~ v -c~ v L U c 0 c~ N .~ (0 i 0 t~.? fl ~ ~ ~ ~ v U ~--i `~ ~ ~ ~ H •~ a~ ~ •~ y --- ~ ~ ~o U 0 ~- ^` W .~ Q ~ ~ .-.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "~" H Goal of Communication Plan - to facilitate communication between The Marshall Group (TMG) and community stakeholders in the West Port Arthur revitalization area Target Audience • Residents -contact information to be provided by City of Port Arthur • Businesses -contact information to be provided by Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce + Churches • Port Arthur Industrial Group • Port Arthur City Government • Community groups -such as the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Topics & Methods of Communication Revitalization Plan - On at least a monthly basis, TMG will be responsible for communicating with community stakeholders on progress made and challenges to be addressed with the revitalization plan. Paper copies will be mailed to residents, churches, PRIG, etc... Interested community stakeholders may also elect to automatically receive e-updates by contacting TMG on its biog. An electronic copy will also be available online for downloading and distribution. Community Meetings -Location, date and times for community meetings will be communicated as they are scheduled. Local media will be used including radio stations such as KSAP (107.1 FM, "The Breeze") and KZZB (990 AM, "Musical Soul Food") and newspapers. Leaders in the West Port Arthur community (business owners, pastors, etc...) will be notified to spark word of mouth coverage. Meeting information will also be posted on TMG's blog and e-mailed to those on TMG's e-update list. Feedback -Most importantly, because successful community plans require constant communication between planners and the community, TMG will solicit feedback on a regular basis through polls on its blog and short 5-minute "pulse" surveys conducted during the community meetings. A frequently asked questions section, based on questions gathered at the September 6~' Community meeting, will be posted to TMG's blog to answer most common questions. Alternatively, visitors to the TMG blog can also write to TMG's a-mail address with specific questions. Next Steps Secure email and mailing addresses of community stakeholders and contact them. TMG has already created its website for the Port Arthur projects [http://marshallgroup- portarthur.blogspot.com/]. The first entries will be sign-up instructions for the e-updates, answers to the Frequently Asked Questions, and the first newsletter outlining the 2007-08 work plan for TMG will be issued on March 10, 2008. ,...,.., Revitalization Plan for West Port Arthur The City of Port Arthur and the PA1G commit-to support irplementaton, of a community revitalization plan for West Port Arthur beginning in 2007`as jointly developed by the City of Port. Arthur and° the Marshall Group on behalf of the PAID The West Port Arthur Community Revitalization Plan consists of the following key elements: • Adequate public infrastructure to support the revitalization efforts; • Construction of new homes and businesses and rehabilitation of existing homes and businesses to help revitalize West Port Arthur; • The development of funding strategies to support the expansion and development residential and commercial facilities in the area; and appropriate light industrial development; • An effective city-wide job training and placement initiative involving the Texas Workforce Commission, Lamar State College -Port Arthur, the City of Port Arthur and the City's private sector to increase available training for residents of Port Arthur to help strengthen work force readiness; • Effective city-wide collaboration among government, the private sector, the nonprofit sector and the public and post-secondary education community; • An attractive "buffer zone" between the petrochemical plants in the immediate area of West Port' Arthur's neighborhoods that will be voluntarily established over time as part of a new land use plan for the Westside area; and • Aself-sustaining, viable, redevelopment implementation entity to leverage public and private funds. 1 , 2007-2008 Work Plan for West Port Arthur Revitalization In -order=to stimulate economic development.-and comm~u~ity rehabilitation in-the West° Port:Arthur,z~the City of Port Arthur and the FAIL commit to engage the i~!tarshali Group to implement the West Port Arthur Community Revitalization Plan, under the oversight of.the City of Port Arthur and-with support and input from the PRIG: Inrecognition that the success of the Revitalization Plan is tied to increased and improved employment opportunities The City of Port Arthur and the PRIG will also work together to increase and improve such opportunities. In conjunction with the City of Port Arthur, the Marshall Group will coordinate the 2007 Implementation Plan for the revitalization effort consisting of the following: • Assist in establishing the redevelopment implementation entity, including recommending its mission. goals and obiectrvessa three to five year funding base and a Board of Directors: Set up non profit entity with State of Texas .... (COMPLETE; With Interim Board) Apply for tax exempt status from:IRS.:::. "..... I st Quarter, 2008 (UNDERWAY) =Achieve. tax exempt status from IRS ...:...... 3rd :Quarter, 2009 (Goal, Actual Date Dependent on IRS) Present options for structure of non profit community development entity and ident~ optimal skill sets, attributes, affiliations etc, of Board members ....: By End of 1st Quarter 2008 Assist in reviewing pool of potential candidates from which board of non profit entity may be selected and make recommendation. So that board can be appointed ....... By End of 1st Quarter 2008), • Develou a Land Use Plan for West Port Arthur, including land uses and sites for residential. mixed use. commercial. light industrial, industrial. civic and recreational puraoses, and a buffer between West Port Arthur neighborhoods and refineries. Research and develop land use options, based upon neighborhood and other stakeholder input and best practices, for creation of buffer zone between incompatible uses such as residential uses and industrial plants; and zoning recommendations to ensure proper transitions between uses ..........by (UNDERWAY; Preliminary To Steering Committee By End Of 1~ Quarter 2008) 2 2007-2008 Work Plan For West Port Arthur's Revitalization Discuss :options .with steering Committee of affected parties (Residents, property a owners, Cityofficials, industry..... During First 45 Days of Z"~ Quarter 2008 Recommend land use plan to City Officials .....During Fist 60 days of 2nd Quarter 2008 Work with board of new non- profit redevelopment entity, City, community stakeholders and industry to have land use plan adopted ..... By End of .3rA Quarter 2008 • Implementation in conjunction with neighborhood stakeholders, the Citv of Port Arthur, the Housing Authority, the private sector and various other entities of a arocess to identify, plan and implement catalytic projects in West Port Arthur that also help to strengthen and improve ezisting minority owned business Implement process for identification of initial catalytic projects ..... (UNDERWAY; To Be .Presented To Steering Committee by End of I~` Quarter 2008 Begin to conduct project feasibility studies (anatysis of assumptions regarding market, suitability of development sites, operating & development pro forma, financing etc...... (UNDERWAY; To Be Presented Fos Initial Project within first 30 days of 2nd Quarter 2008) Identify and reach consensus w/stakeholders on initial catalytic projects ..... Within First 60 Days of 2"d Quarter 2008) • Develop a funding plan and strategy to support the West Port Arthur Revitalization Plan: and SPresent draft plan and strategy....... (UNDER WA ~; By End of 1 ~' Quarter 2008) Identify initial potential investors/developers ..... (UNDER WA ~; By End of 2"d Quarter 2008) Where appropriate and feasible, work with developer(s) or assist non profit entity in acting as developer on catalytic project(s). • Develop the needed partnerships among the public and private sectors, non- profit organizations and foundations. Meet with community groups to share and shape Revitalization Plan... Meet with business, civic, religious, non profit and community leaders to share and shape Revitalization Plan ....... (ONGOING) 3 2008-2009 Work Plans for Revitalizin¢ West Port Arthur Develop specific-work plans with metrics for performance each-year .: Continue to identify projects, developers, investors, Begin and complete, as appropriate, project construction and clean and green projects Work with other groups to spur employment and address drug abuse as a barrier to employment as a part of the strategy for economic and community revitalization. 4