Economic Development Commission Minutes 04/10/2014 ADOPTED
Economic Development Commission ADOPTED
Minutes 4/10/2014
Regular Meeting
Simsbury Town Offices – 7:30 a.m. – Main Meeting Room
1. Call to Order
Mark Deming, Chair, called the regular meeting of the Economic Development Commission to order on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 7:35 AM in the Main Meeting Room at the Town Offices. The following members were also present: David Balboni, Kristen Barnett, James Devivo, Lou George and Allan Raphael. Also in attendance were: Hiram Peck, Planning Director; Lisa Heavner, Board of Selectmen Liaison, Gerry Toner, Recreation Director, Gerry Wetjen, Liaison to Economic Development Commission and other interested parties.
2. Approval of the minutes for March 20, 2014
Commissioner George made a motion for approval of the March 20, 2014 minutes. Commissioner Devivo seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
3. Reports: SMSP; FVVA
Sarah Nielson, SMSP, noted that the Junior Nationals Hockey tournament just wrapped up last week and she believes it was a success. She stated that this was the first year it was held in Simsbury and will be back again next year. She also reminded the Commission that May is bike month and the bike committee will be discussing this at today’s meeting.
Ms. Nielson noted that Discovery Simsbury will be coming out in the Hartford Courant on May 15th which focuses only on Simsbury. She also stated that SMSP will be doing an article on Simsbury’s Farmers’ Market, which kicks off on June 19th and ends on October 2nd. Ms. Nielson also mentioned that Talcott Mountain is coming up with the Performing Arts Center and SMSP will be doing packages for lodging and food. The Taste in Simsbury is taking place on August 28th at the Riverview and this draws approximately 400 people.
Ms. Nielson also mentioned some of the things that the Economic Development Task Force is currently working on.
Nancy Anstey, FVVA, noted that the Connecticut Convention on Tourism is being held on April 24th. The One Room Schoolhouse lecture bus tour at the Ellsworth Center will also be held on April 24th.
Ms. Anstey mentioned that there may be $12 million coming from the Appropriations Committee to the state of Connecticut Tourism, and that $500,000 will go to each regional tourism district to continue marketing.
Ms. Anstey mentioned that Discover New England, which will be held at the Mystic Marriott on May 19th to the 21st , and that Simsbury will be included this year because Connecticut is the host. She also noted that the FVVA Gala, called The Night at the Bell”, will be May 31st. The FVVA is in the final planning stages of the Try-athlon which is being held in Simsbury.
4. Simsbury Bicycle Advisory Committee: presentation by Larry Linonis and Diana Moody
Mr. Linonis, Director, Simsbury Free Bike and Ms. Moody, Chair, presented a slide presentation to the Commission that shows what the economic opportunities are for bicycling in Simsbury. Mr. Linonis stated that Simsbury Free Bike currently has 50 bikes and is the largest bike share program in Connecticut.
Mr. Linonis noted that people come from all over Connecticut, as well as other states and countries. He reminded the Commission that Simsbury has been certified by League of American Bicyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Community, and noted that this is a very difficult process. There are only two other towns in Connecticut that have received this designation.
Mr. Linonis noted that there are nine venues that are suitable for mountain biking in Simsbury. Ms. Moody stated that Simsbury is in competition with many towns to bring in bikers. The study conducted by Fairweather notes that Simsbury should capitalize on their recreational assets.
Ms. Moody noted that they are working to get Simsbury onto the Adventure Cycling website, as this is a website where cyclist will look for places to ride.
It was discussed by Commissioner George that there are really not enough safe bike routes in Town for people to utilize for biking. Mr. Wetjen noted that it is being worked on to have connectivity to all routes and to have maps available to everyone online as well as in printed form.
Ms. Linonis stated that the Economic Development Commission could assist them with their bicycle events and they in turn can help with tourism for Simsbury. He also stated that the Commission could help with their infrastructure to create more bike lanes as well as educating the merchants. Ms. Moody noted that it is on their list to make a presentation to SCTV to get more information out to the public.
Ms. Moody noted that the sponsors for the Free Bike program can get their name on the front basket of their bikes. Mr. Linonis stated that there are expecting approximately 2000 riders to use the Simsbury Free Bike program this year, which most come from out of the state. Mr. Linonis reviewed the rules of using the Simsbury Free Bike program and how the bikes are maintained.
5. EDC website: update
Commissioner Barnett stated that she had met with Commissioner Deming and Commissioner Bligh to review templates and the structure of the Economic Development website. She believes they will be able to do a presentation to the Economic Development Task Force in late May.
Commissioner Deming noted that they are hoping to eventually be getting access to the tools for Virtual Townhall to be able to start working on templates.
6. Coordination between Culture, Parks & Recreation and the EDC; Gerry Wetjen; discussion
Commissioner Deming is looking to work more closely with Culture, Parks & Recreation in looking at what they do with the golf course and other facilities so that it can be looked at as an economic driver. It was noted that Mr. Wetjen is the liaison from the Culture, Parks & Recreation to the Economic Development Commission. Commissioner Deming stated that he would like to get some ideas on how the Economic Development Commission could more closely coordinate to make sure that the Culture, Parks & Recreation becomes a bigger part of the economic driver.
Mr. Wetjen noted that education and recreation are the Town’s strengths and that 38% of the land in Simsbury is open space or parks. He believes that Culture, Parks & Recreation needs to better coordinate with the other commissions to better market the recreation in town.
Mr. Toner stated that the budget to the Culture, Parks & Recreation has decreased over the years as well as his staff. He noted that his department is responsible for the Greenway, 2,200 acres of open space and 40 athletic fields, which also includes Board of Education fields.
Commissioner George discussed his concern that the Town does not spend as much as other towns, similar to Simsbury, for Culture, Parks & Recreation.
7. Planning Director: updates and potential value of a GIS system
Commissioner Deming asked members to consider if the Town has a GIS system and all the different departments in town used it, how much would we have in labor savings if the GIS system was used versus not having it today.
Mr. Peck stated that he would discuss the GIS system at the next meeting. He noted that the Zoning Commission approved the Powder Forest commercial senior living component.
Mr. Peck also did receive a copy of the site plans for the Big Y and it is moving forward. He also stated that code for The Hartford was completed last week and that The Hartford is doing their final review. The Hartford will then move to the Land Use Commission for their adoption.
8. Old/New Business
Commissioner Deming noted that the GIS system will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
9. Adjournment
Commissioner Balboni made a motion for approval for adjournment at 9:02 AM. Commissioner Devivo seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.