2021-03-23 CEDC Minutes CITY OF
SOUTH LAKE
TEXAS
SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
BOARD MEETING MINUTES: March 23, 2021
LOCATION: The Marq Southlake
Legends Hall — Boardroom
285 Shady Oaks Drive
Southlake, Texas 76092
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT: Board President Martin Schelling, Board Vice President Tom
DeCaro, Board Secretary Craig Sturtevant, Jennifer Kolb, Jeff Wang and Mike Pazera.
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD
MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Mundlin
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski, Chief Financial Officer &
Board Treasurer Sharen Jackson, Director of Community Services Chris Tribble and
Director of Economic Development & Tourism Daniel Cortez.
1. Call to order
Board President Martin Schelling called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. Consider approving the minutes from the January 26, 2021 Community
Enhancement and Development Corporation meeting
A motion was made to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2021 meeting.
Motion: DeCaro
Second: Sturtevant
Ayes: Schelling, DeCaro, Kolb, Sturtevant, Wang, Pazera
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Vote: 6-0
Motion Carried —APPROVED
3. Board member introductions
The Board introduced themselves to the newly appointed members.
March 23, 2021 CEDC Minutes
4. Economic Development
a. Review the 2020 Business Climate Survey and COVID-19 Business
Sentiment Survey results
Director of Economic Development & Tourism Daniel Cortez presented the
results of the business climate survey and the business sentiment survey
conducted in 2020. He noted that due to the unique circumstances of the
previous year and a quickly changing economic environment, the results may not
completely be accurate for today's environment but does provide insight none-
the-less on businesses views of the community.
The findings of survey participants consisted of the following:
• Most businesses have a positive outlook for 2021
• Conducting in-person sales & services is a vital function of most
businesses even if they can conduct business virtually
• The City provides excellent or good services
• Businesses would like to see or find out about more marketing
opportunities
• Consumer confidence is essential for sales to return to pre-pandemic
levels
The priorities for the City, based on the survey responses, consist of the
following:
• Encourage a safe in-person return to business in the community
• Enhance business marketing options
• Provide leasing information for existing and future tenants
• Re-engage with the business community by conducting visits
• Conduct an "Open for Business" campaign as restrictions are lifted and
businesses reopen
The Board inquired about several areas of the survey and areas staff should look
into when conducting the next survey. Some of the Board's suggestions
consisted of taking a closer look at the traffic-related questions with survey
participants, promoting the City as being back open for business and evaluating
the feasibility of hosting a "restaurant week" in Southlake. Director Cortez noted
staff will look into these items and provide an update at a future meeting.
The Board took no action on this item but provided direction to staff to conduct
the 2021 Business Climate Survey in the late summer or early fall.
5. Staff Reports
a. Financial reports
i. The Marq Southlake financial highlights and membership sales report
2
March 23, 2021 CEDC Minutes
Chief Financial Officer Sharen Jackson provided information about
Champions Club membership trends and revenue. She indicated that the City
is trending at 66% cost recovery versus the target of 53% for this time last
year for The Marq. She noted that The Marq is stabilizing in revenue but is
trending lower than pre-pandemic numbers. She also stated that membership
retention is remaining steady at 93% with approximately 1,900 members.
ii. Sales Tax Report
Chief Financial Officer Sharen Jackson presented the Board with the most
recent sales tax data. She informed the Board that the City has collected
about 7% less this fiscal year than what was collected in FY 2020 but noted
that we are still above what is projected in the FY 2021 budget by
approximately 6% with a total of $2,100,671 collected as of February 1.
b. Economic and development activity report
i. Southlake Business Relief Grant Update
Director of Economic Development & Tourism Daniel Cortez provided the
Board with an update on the final status of the Business Relief Grant
program. He stated that 119 businesses applied and approximately $877,000
was awarded to 104 businesses. He also stated that with the remaining funds
of approximately $123,000, City staff will be looking at developing a hotel
recovery program that will be presented to the Board at a later date.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Board President Schelling adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
artin Schelling, Board President
Community Enhancement and Development Corporation Board
Craig t , Board Secretary
Community Enhancement and Development Corporation Board
3