Economic Development Committee minutes 3-9-21

Economic Development Committee Minutes March 9, 2021- 4:00 p.m. The Economic Development Committee Meeting was held by video conference on March 9, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. with Mayor Robin R. Christiansen presiding. Committee Members present via video or telephone were Councilman David Anderson, Kim Adams, Dave Hugg-City Planner, Diane Laird, and Tracy Armstrong were present. Councilman Roy Sudler, Clayton E. Hammond II, and Randy Robertson – City Manager were not present. WELCOME T At 4:01 pm Mayor Robin R. Christiansen called the Economic Development Meeting to order. ADOPTION OF AGENDA AF Mayor Christiansen called for a motion to adopt the Agenda. Dave Hugg moved for adoption of agenda, seconded by Councilman David Anderson, unanimously carried. (Councilman Roy Sudler, Clayton E. Hammond II, and Randy Robertson City Manager absent). ADOPTION OF MINUTES R Mayor Christiansen called for a motion to adopt February 9, 2021 minutes. Diane Laird moved for adoption of minutes, seconded by Councilman Anderson, unanimously carried. (Councilman Roy Sudler, Clayton E. Hammond II, and Randy Roberston absent). D DIANE LAIRD-PRESENTATION OF THE DOWNTWON DOVER PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL REPORT. Diane Laird played a five-minute video summarizing Downtown Dover Partnerships Annual Report. Please see Attachment 1 summary of video/annual report. Diane Laird states this is a calendar year with a net gain of one business. Since 2021 three closures 33 West, Barber Shop, and Duck Creek printing. Two new business to open in April Rebel Cove and Artisanal Market. Anticipating 3 new business all in various stages opening by end of the year. First priority is supporting and retaining business already in place. May first Friday relaunch this year. Working hard on comprehensive parking plan for Downtown Dover. Currently exploring planning opportunities to have us look at Downtown Dover in a comprehensive way to create plans that will be transformational for the physical aspect of downtown. With transformation of physical structure will address many other problems that will

Economic Development Meeting of February 9, 2021 PAGE 2 be lessened or dealt with and increased residential opportunities. Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing to find a new location by the end of this year. Purchase fell through and likely to extend deadline. working at West end property to develop concepts for entrance. Working with DSU finalize acquisition with Wesley in June of this year. Open Schwartz center for at least two performances this year. Thank you to support philosophical support to City and Council. CITY OF DOVER PLANNING UPDATE GIVEN BY DAVE HUGG Dave hug says the Mayor had a tour of the new Post Office Building. Mayor said the completion date will be end of June early July. Report continuing discussion of people involved in Family Court Project meeting with them for land transactions and resolve the alley. Focus on Downtown, the City Council approve change in land use designation and zoning classification for 92 North West Street Standy Liggins proposed to food related business at old Southern State site. Councilman Anderson raised concerns about noise and use. Its encouraging that people are investing residential and commercial in that area. City Council rejected proposal from Dover Mall to changed designation of their property. A lot of concern expressed by residents and Dover T International Speedway on negative impacts on residential impacts from Nascar and Firefly. Property at College Road and McKee Road land use designation and zoning changed to build a Royal Farms. AF New Lease for Governors Café and that person has expressed desire to add outdoor dining patio to increase capability of restaurant. Greater Dover focus preliminary plans for Delaware Solid Waste Authority Office Building are in review in the Planning Office. The reconstruction and opening of Bob Discount Furniture are imminent in the next month in the old Toys R Us building. Prospects that involve aircraft and aviation components and parts manufacturing. The R City of Dover has made the first short list they are looking at Civilian Air Terminal and Kent Aero Park and access to Air Base for its long runway. European Manufacturing for condiments interested in our area. Would be their first venture on the east coast. Potential ice-skating D business in downtown and general location of the City. Wrapping up Rockport 2.0 next month or so can report more detail what the target industries are for Kent County and Dover. This level of analysis is drilling into things more specific to Dover area. Received workforce and manpower estimates and projections most categories ample workforce available in 30, 45, and 60-minute drive time to accommodate new businesses in target industry groups. We are in need to emphasize work force development in a few areas. Last night City Council Meeting wrapped up comprehensive plan amendment request submitted in December. Working on Comprehensive rezoning effort to make sure zoning and land use map match. First reading in April and ask Council to set aside first special meeting Monday in June for purpose to update zoning map. Tonight, at Council Committee of the Whole to introduce amendment to incentive program that City has for large scale industrial manufacturing investment. Planning discovered the IPM3 the Aviation aeronautics related industrial zone was not added to zoning districts where the 10-year tax abatement could be applied. We have 3

Economic Development Meeting of February 9, 2021 PAGE 3 serious inquiries about businesses an awning manufacturing firm in the Kent Aero Park and expansion at Sun Rock Building. It is critical that we modify incentive program that way if we get a large investor, we have that tool. Councilman Anderson asks, what areas in workforce development do we need to train to make sure our people have the jobs we bring in? Dave Hugg does not have the report with him and will have to get back to Councilman Anderson. Mayor states that we have heard from a number of employers in addition to workforce training and development we need to establish work ethic. Before the pandemic a person had been advised by local companies there is workforce available, but they have no work ethic. Whatever direction we go in workforce development we instill in folks it helps to have attendance, proficiency in what you are doing, and a commitment to show up. For example, gentleman who owned Hollywood Diner Rob White the reason he closed was not because he wasn’t doing business. It was because people would not come in to cook, wait, and take care of the restaurant. If we could find someone to teach how to do jobs that are coming but work ethic, we will be able to bring people here to create jobs. Council Anderson agrees this is very important. Are the jobs divided blue collar or white collar? Dave Hugg states target T industry included wholesale, distribution, logistics, and packaging that is an area there is some deficiency in workforce development but there will be a lot of job growth skilled and semiskilled jobs. Mayor states the Kent Aero Park once joint use agreement is in place becoming a AF secondary hub for DHL, FedEx, and Amazon. Right now their hubs are overworked as soon as we have the joint use agreement is in place we have a captive audience. We have people to load and unload planes and handle stock. Our deficiency is warehouses to do short term turn over of products to be loaded on these planes. Audience for possible aircraft repair facility. A lady told me today her friends husband got a job working in Ohio working in a brewery and he is Aircraft Mechanic. If we had this kind of facility, we would have high paying jobs and families stay here. R Councilman Anderson asks where we in the joint use agreement. Mayor states its being held up in Washington. Dave Hugg states environmental assessment that has been completed and being D reviewed by the Airforce. Everyone feeling is it will get signed in the next few months. Number of landings and take offs significantly increased and the Airforce was concerned about the environment this has been resolved. Diane Laird asks what next step for old Southern States property? Went form land use designation change from industrial to mixed use because would not allow commercial activity. Once Council approve change in land use entertained request to rezone commercial designation allow for food and beverage operations. The next step now the property owner needs to come to planning department with preliminary site plan to work through some issues such as parking. From here out it will be a design and build. MAYORS ANNOUNCMENT Next meeting will have a guest speaker thanks to Councilman Anderson will give insight on new directions we can go.

Economic Development Meeting of February 9, 2021 PAGE 4 NEXT MEETING DATE April 13, 2021 ADJOURNMANT Mayor Robin R. Christiansen called for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Anderson moved for adjournment, seconded by Diane Laird, unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned 4:40 pm T AF R D

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