Business Retention and Development Committee Agenda and Packet 2010 08 02

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BRaD Meeting Summary July 6,2010 Page 2 of 2 3. Streamlined review 4. Various Sign designs 5. Void Spaces Committee members and staff discussed the different exceptions that might arise in signage, such as signs above fascia, multi-tenant buildings, and prohibiting moving and flashing signs. The Planning Department will take the various suggestions into consideration when presenting the sign code information to other committees and boards, and incorporating appropriate changes into the proposed sign code to City Council. UPDATE ON POTENTIAL CONSUMER USE TAX BALLOT ISSUE Malcolm Fleming informed the committee that the fall ballot will propose a 3.5% use tax on purchases outside the City of Louisville for use within the City. There are challenges to the wording and phrasing of the use tax. The committee and staff discussed the consequences of the use tax not passing. BRaD unanimously endorsed the Use Tax measure to Council. DISCUSSION - PROPOSAL BY ROB LATHROP TO CHARGE SALES TAX ON RENTAL STORAGE SPACE AND RV/BOAT STORAGE Committee members and staff discussed the sales tax proposal and concluded that now is not the right time to pursue this issue. Additional comments addressed the need to diversify the tax base. RETENTION VISIT OVERVIEW Rob and Troy visited with Vaisala. Vaisala is a Finnish company that works in meteorological scientific equipment. The company has acquired other similar companies and is re-Iocating employees to the Louisville office. Malcolm and Hank visited with Sundrop Fuels. Sundrop has an office in CTC and an interesting future. The company also has operations in Broomfield. Sundrop converts rice straw into liquid fuels and works in other bio-fuels. A concern for this company is rail transportation and the lack of high end condos. Jill and Phil visited with Streets Fitness. This company is growing. Streets Fitness stated that promoting their business was an issue. Bonnie visited with the DaVinci Institute, owners of The Vault. This company is a coworking environment that offers varied levels of leased office space. The company is non profit and has a one-year lease. If the business does well they might consider purchasing the building. Rob and Shelley visited with Samnina-Sci. This company has a niche in STC circuitry board repair, testing, and re-programming. The company has approximately 15 employees and is located in CTC. A future contract with Level 3 is possible.