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Item 4CCITY OF SOUTHLAKE M MEMORANDUM (January 6, 2013) To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager From: Shannon Hamons, CEcD, Director of Economic Development and Tourism Subject: Item 4C: Resolution 15-005, a resolution of the City of Southlake, Texas, to dissolve the Southlake Business Council and providing an effective date Action Requested: Approve a Resolution 15-005 as noted above Background Information: Since assuming the position of Director of Economic Development in June, 2014 1 attempted to arrange a meeting of the Southlake Business Council on two separate occasions. Unfortunately, for each attempt, we were unsuccessful in getting enough responses from members to comprise a quorum to conduct an official meeting. Both meetings were subsequently cancelled. In reviewing the minutes and notes from previous meetings conducted before June 2014, it was discovered that the last meeting of the SBC conducted where a full quorum was present was February, 2013. After discussions with SBC Chairman Matt Schirle about the difficulty getting a meeting scheduled, he decided to send a personal letter to members on September 9, 2014 asking for their attendance at an October meeting to discuss the future of Business Council. At that meeting Mayor John Terrell and I attended briefly at the beginning to encourage the members to consider the purpose and role of the SBC moving forward. After Mayor Terrell and I left, the committee members discussed whether or not the SBC was still needed in light of the increased viability of the Chamber of Commerce and the difficulty in getting SBC members to attend meetings over the last year and -a -half. The members then conducted a vote on whether to continue the SBC. A motion to disband was offered and the members voted 6-3 in favor of dissolving the committee. Financial Considerations: None. Strategic Link: The item links to the city's strategy map relative to collaborating with select partners to implement service solutions, and attract and keep businesses to drive a dynamic and sustainable economic environment. The critical business outcome is to optimize resources through collaboration and partnerships to reduce costs and add service value. Citizen Input/ Board Review: SBC meeting of October 21, 2014 Legal Review: None Alternatives: 1. Approve the Resolution as submitted 2. Approve the Resolution with amendments 3. Take no action on the Resolution. Supporting Documents: Resolution 15-005 SBC Minutes from October 21, 2014 Letter from Matt Schirle to SBC members Staff Recommendation: Approve Resolution 15-005 as submitted. Staff Contact: Shannon Hamons, Director of Economic Development & Tourism RESOLUTION NO. No. 15-005 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, DISOLVING THE SOUTHLAKE BUSINESS COUNCIL; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Section 1 —4.02 of the City of Southlake Code authorizes the City Council the authority to establish and crate articles of operation for Southlake Boards and Commissions; and WHEREAS, on March 3, 2009 the City Council adopted resolution 09-010 establishing the Southlake Business Council (SBC) and provided for the Southlake Business Council's membership, terms of office and responsibilities: and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted resolutions on October 6, 2009 and November 13, 2013, to amend the number, membership and criteria of the SBC, and WHEREAS, on October 21, 2014 the Southlake Business Council membership met to discuss the purpose and function of the SBC and voted 6-3 in the affirmative to recommend that the City Council dissolve for the reasons outlined in the meeting minutes of that date; and WHEREAS, the City and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism intends to continue working productively with businesses through various means, including strategic partnerships with entities such as the Chamber of Commerce, Southlake Executive Forum and individual business owners to achieve linkages, communications and effective programs to serve the business community; and WHEREAS, upon full review and consideration of the SBC meeting minutes of October 21, 2014 attached and all matters attendant and related thereto, the City Council is of the opinion that the SBC is no longer necessary to promote economic development and business and commercial activity in the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby adopts a resolution to dissolve the SBC as recommended by the membership of the committee for the reasons outlined in the minutes of October 21, 2014. Resolution 15-005 - Dissolve SBC - January 6, 2015 - Page 1 of 2 SECTION 2. The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute the Resolution to dissolve the SBC according to the terms as outlined by the members of the SBC on October 21, 2014. SECTION 3. This Resolution shall become effective from and after its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED this the 6th day of January, 2015 John Terrell, Mayor Fill 19:6111 Lori Payne, City Secretary Resolution 15-005 - Dissolve SBC - January 6, 2015 - Page 2 of 2 September 9, 2014 Dear SBC Member: I need your help as a fellow member of the Southlake Strategic Business Council (SBC). We need to make a recommendation on how to move forward with the SBC. Quite simply, we collectively need to decide the future role of the SBC and what deliverable, if any, may be offered by the organization. We have had difficulty getting a quorum for more than a year, with our last official meeting conducted in February of 2013. Yes, we all have work and busy personal lives and often we have schedule conflicts that make it difficult to attend the SBC meetings. But, such a failure to gain a quorum for over a year indicates an issue that is more than a lack of commitment from the SBC members. After reviewing the situation, it is my conclusion that it would be easier to attain a quorum if participating members could see a relevant SBC value to the city and business community. The agendas of recent SBC meetings have included presentation topics that may be of interest to business people. That may be good for each SBC member to learn about a topic but the city does not gain from the knowledge, experience, and skills each SBC member is capable of contributing. It appears the meetings have been a one way street going the wrong way. It seems we have drifted from the original intent of the SBC when it was created by Mayor John Terrell and the City Council in 2009. The vision for the SBC then was to bring a voice from the businesses in Southlake to City Council so they could understand the needs and concerns of businesses as the city grew. That seems like common sense and a value added proposition. It is not as easy to simply say we need to go back to the way SBC was intended to operate. Things have changed. The city is much larger, the Chamber of Commerce is stronger and city management has changed with Shannon Hamons as the new Director of the Economic Development and Tourism. Organizations, methods to communicate and technology never ceases to improve. So what role should the SBC play today? To get to the answer of that last question, I propose that we as SBC members meet to review the situation and make a recommendation on what the role of the SBC should be and what deliverable(s) will be expected by the city. If you have not introduced yourself to Shannon this is would be a great time to do so. In recent discussions with Shannon, Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski, Denise Artho from Economic Development, Mayor Pro-Tem Laura Hill and Mayor Terrell, it was made clear that all options are open to the SBC. This would even include dissolving the organization as long as the city is able to understand the collective needs of the businesses in the future. With a six -week notice, I would like you to attend the next SBC meeting on Tuesday October 21, 2014 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at City Hall. I have asked Shannon and his team to send this letter along with the formal meeting invitation. I look forward to discussing the future of the SBC with you and the city management. Best regards, 1 , ►,. I1 Matt Schirle SBC Chair 1512 Main Street, Southlake, Texas 76092 USOUTHLAKE SOUTHLAKE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: October 21, 2014 LOCATION: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, Texas 76092 Conference Room 4A in Town Hall TIME: 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. Members Present: Steve Barry, Frank Bliss, Peter Ermish, Santhosh Gandhari, Bret Kidd, Wendy Knutson, Matt Schirle, Chris Schrobilgen and Mike Tesoriero Ex-Officio Members Present: Southlake Chamber of Commerce President Mark Guilbert Others Present: Economic Development & Tourism Administrative Secretary Denise Artho (also briefly present but not for the vote were Mayor John Terrell and Director of Economic Development & Tourism Shannon Hamons) Before the meeting was called to order, both Shannon Hamons and Maryor John Terrell spoke to the members of SBC individually and indicated it was up to the members as a group to determine the role of SBC moving forward. After Hamons and Terrel left, the membership discussed if SBC was still needed since the role and responsiveness of the Chamber of Commerce had become greater within the last year; the City was establishing a more detailed work agreement with the Chamber; and SBC had never developed a defined sense of purpose and struggled to attain a quorum during the last year and -a -half. 1. Call to Order Chairman Schirle called the meeting to order at 7:53 p.m. 2. Members voted on the Future of the Southlake Business Council Motion: Disband the SBC under the conditions the City would work more closely with the Southlake Chamber of Commerce to accomplish the tasks that would otherwise have been assigned to the SBC. The motion to disband SBC passed 6-3. VOTl First Name Last Name Organization Yes Steve Barry Sabre Holdings Yes Frank Bliss Cooper & Stebbins Yes Peter Ermish Variosystems No Santhosh Gandhari Clearrrist Software Solutions Nike Hutchison Hilton Dallas 1 Southlake Tow n Square No Bret Kidd Yes Wendy Knutson Knutson CPA Tim Moorehead RPAI Southwest Management LLC Yes Matt Schirle Celeritas Chemicals No Chris Schrobilgen Our Great City Yes Me Tesoriero Southlake Style Magazine Mack Zimmerman Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. Southlake Business Council - Meeting Minutes: October 21, 2014 - Page 1 of 2 3. Adjournment F� mot' wa ade and seconded at 7:59 regarding adjournment, approved unanimously. Denise Artho Administrative Secretary Southlake Business Council - Meeting Minutes: October 21, 2014 - Page 2 of 2