HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-21-1986 - Special Meeting 83
PROCEEDINGS OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, JULY 21, 1986
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in special session
2 July 21, 1986 at the hour of 6:30 P.M. with Mr. William McDermott ,
3 Economic Development Director for the City of Richmond, Indiana. Those
4 in attendance were Councilmembers Elstro, Williams, Brookbank, Hankinson,
5 Whitsell, Parker, Bodiker, Hutton and Morris. The following was had to-wit :
6
7 Councilmember Parker asked about the confidentiality of any reports given
8 by Mr. McDermott with a member of the press in attendance. Mr. McDermott
9 indicted there was no special business at this meeting and he would request
10 an executive session be called if sensitive material needed to be discussed.
11
12 Mr. McDermott explained to the Council that the point of the meetings he
13 requested with Council was to keep them updated on his activities and
14 respond to any concerns they might have.
15
16 - Mr. McDermott shared a survey with the Council of firms showing interest
17 in the City since January of 1986 and reported that there had been twenty-
18 eight (28) firms with fifteen (15) of them being actual prospects .
19
20 Mr. McDermott informed the Council of the advertising and marketing
21 activities and explained the direct mail activities . Mr. McDermott said
22 that 25 clients have requested customized business packages and there have
23 been visits to the community by 28 corporate evaluation teams.
24
25 Councilmember Bodiker asked if some events happen without Mr. McDermott 's
26 knowlege and Mr. McDermott responded they do and his office receives calls
27 on seeing visitors that have not contacted him.
28
29 Councilmember Bodiker asked if there were referrals through the Chamber
30 or did persons make direct contact and Mr. McDermott stated that he does
31 receive referrals from the Chamber of Commerce along with direct
32 contacts.
33
34 Councilmember Parker asked who accompanies prospects when they are visiting
35 the community and Mr. McDermott stated that it would depend entirely on
36 the situation and what they want to see.
37
38 Councilmember Parker asked about going out of town to visit prospects and
39 Mr. McDermott indicated that most prospects come into the community, but
40 occasionally he does go out of town to visit corporations and that now
41 there are plans for forming task forces of two people from the Red Carpet
42 Task Force to do out of town visiting.
43
44 Councilmember Hutton asked how detailed the information was that would
45 be requested and Mr. McDermott said they ask about the quality of life,
46 education and the most requested information is on unionization aspects
47 including the percentage of organized workers , the doninate union, wage
48 scales, fringes and strike history. Mr. McDermott added that he has
49 developed a report on unionization in the community.
50
51 Councilmember Hankinson asked if the financial situation of the schools
52 is a concern and Mr. McDermott stated it has not been a problem, but could
53 become one if that specific information were requested.
54
55 Councilmember Morris asked how the video was being received and how often
56 it has been used and Mr. McDermott stated he used it as often as possible.
57 He said it is always presented to the Japanese firms, but not always to
58 domestic firms and that it is always well received.
59
60 Councilmember Whitesell asked about efforts on economic planning with the
61 County. Mr. McDermott stated that Hagerstown is well organized and is,"
62 included in the materials sent out. He said that the other cities in the
63 County are not that well organized and it will be some time before barriers
64 between communities can be broken down, but that the Community and
65 Economic Development Board has a committee working on that with Mr. Orville
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Special Meeting Minutes Cont 'd
Common Council
July 21, 1986
Page 2
1 Allen as Chairman.
2
3 Councilmember Morris asked about Gannett funding and assisting with the
4 Master Plan and Mr. McDermott stated that he was working on the funding aspect
5 through a project similar to the Fantas Study and connecting it with
6 strategic planning and the Greater Richmond Progress Committee and a
7 comprehensive plan.
8
9 ADJOURNMENT
10
11 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned on a concensus of
12 the Council.
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15 Richard Bodiker, President
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18 ATTEST: .
19 Mary Merchanthouse, City Clerk
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