Agenda - 09-04-2018 8-a - Minutes

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39 1 The Board reviewed, amended as necessary, and considered approving the suggested 2 topics for the 2018 Economic Development Summit and the panelists for each hour of the four - 3 hour radio broadcast on economic development, and identify other outside panelists as needed; 4 and determine BOCC members' roles as panelist participants. 5 Todd McGee reviewed this information below: 6 7 BACKGROUND: 8 The Board of County Commissioners appropriated $30,000 in the FY 2017 -18 budget from the 9 Article 46 sales tax to host an Economic Development Summit. At its April 3 meeting, the 10 BOCC chose to partner with WCHL to broadcast the summit live on the radio and Internet. The 11 Board chose to hold the event at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough on October 10, 2018, 12 from 3:00 — 7:00 PM, so that it can also be broadcast on the County access channel (channel 13 1301 on Spectrum). 14 15 Staff and representatives from WCHL have met several times to determine topics and panelists 16 for the summit, based on comments and feedback from Board members related to the Food 17 Council and wages. 18 19 Staff has incorporated these ideas into the program as outlined below with suggested topic 20 areas to be amended and approved as the Board determines. 21 22 Chair Dorosin said he feels there is something missing from the program, and he would 23 be interested in some discussion that provides context around economic development: how it 24 impacts housing availability, access to employment, etc. He said he would like to see 25 something that reflects the inner connection between tourism, business recruitment and the 26 arts, which puts some perspective around the social service that is significantly impacted by 27 economic development. He said he does not think that they need two segments on tourism, 28 and the two segments in hour three could be combined into one. 29 Commissioner Jacobs agreed, and said the schedule does not have body. He said 30 economic development also has a major impact on transportation, land use, water quality, etc. 31 He said it may be worth discussing how this is envisioned working in the future; articulating a 32 vision of where the County is going. 33 Commissioner Marcoplos also agreed too that something was missing, and regular 34 working people also need to be addressed. He said the categories, as listed, have an air of 35 only being for the college educated. He said he is an owner of a small construction company, 36 and if there was training available for young people in his field, it could lead to real and 37 meaningful work with good pay. He said people are leaving the County, but there are a lot of 38 trade jobs available, and he would like to focus on this issue. 39 Commissioner Rich said she liked Commissioner Macroplos' idea, and agreed that the 40 two tourism segments could be one. She referred to Chair Dorosin's comments, and asked if 41 that could be at the end of the program to tie all the parts together, and sharing the vision. 42 Commissioner McKee agreed with Commissioner Rich. 43 Commissioner Price said the portion suggested by Chair Dorosin should be at the 44 beginning to draw the audience in, and provide the theme. 45 Todd McGee said staff will promote this extensively ahead of time, and the moderator 46 would set the stage at the beginning. 47 Commissioner Price said certain words can be more attractive than others to draw 48 listeners within the first few seconds, and it would be helpful for the BOCC to know the overall 49 scope is going to be. She said it is difficult to push the arts, as related to economic 50 development, and it may be wise to move this later in the program.