Business Retention and Development Committee Agenda and Packet 2010 09 07

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BRaD Meeting Summary August 2, 2010 Page 2 of 2 DISCUSSION – DEVELOPERS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION – EMPHASIS ON COLORADO TECH CENTER Present for the Roundtable Discussion: Jim Vasbinder – Etkin Johnson Group Steve Meyer – Stephen Meyer and Associates Jon Lee – Community Development Group Bonnie Star, Economic Development Director, was the moderator and asked the panel several questions pertaining to development in the Colorado Tech Center. Each panel member gave a brief history of their qualifications and experience. Panel members currently own and have developed properties in the CTC and/or have developed other properties in Louisville. The positive feedback from the panel is that Louisville sells itself, CTC is priced right, in a good location, good infrastructure, and the improvements along Dillon and the addition of the traffic light at the entrance to CTC on the south side are positives when marketing properties in this area. The panel went on to say the City of Louisville Building Department bends over backwards in working with companies and developers wishing to move to the CTC. The City of Louisville offers amenities that attract. Buildings at the CTC offer companies office as well as warehouse space in one location. The panel views the City as part of the team in working with developers and tenants in wishing to relocate to Louisville. Incentives are important ad should be continued. Some negative feedback from the panel such as the south entrance to the CTC interferes with marketing this area. The north side entrance is a preferred entrance to the CTC and the recommendation was that improvements should be made to the entrance on the south. An estimate of 50% of employees at the CTC live south or east of Louisville, and the panel suggested some ways to attract these employees to shop and eat in Louisville. Ways suggested such as providing a City booth to company events and summer picnics might give Louisville more exposure to employees who don’t venture into the downtown area or areas within Louisville to north and west. RETENTION VISIT OVERVIEW Malcolm, Michael and Scott visited Balfour. Balfour residents are concerned about 2 major issues, 1) they want a light from Balfour onto Highway 42 to allow left hand turns, 2) a sidewalk from the entrance on Highway 42 to South Boulder Road so they can access King Soopers. Michael reported that Balfour offers their residents many services and amenities and he posed the question of how does staff integrate Balfour residents into the Senior Services at the Louisville Recreation Center so they will know what this center can offer them. There is an invitation coming from the Senior Center to Balfour residents to invite them to join the Bloomin Seniors. Bonnie and Mayor Sisk visited American Zephyr located at the CTC. They have a small organization that markets residential wind turbines. They hope to grow to 26 employees by the end of year one. Chris Pritchard and John Benedetti visited Alem on Friday, July 30. Alem has been in Louisville for 8 years. They are happy with the community, but are concerned about the prairie dogs in an adjoining property. A very aggressive company and involved in planning major events, follows the