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