ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMITTEE …

1

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 | 6 PM 6th committee meeting

The Committee will meet in the Mauldin City Hall at 5 East Butler Road in the Courtroom at 6 p.m.

The meeting will be available remotely through Zoom. Please visit the City’s website at https://cityofmauldin.org/your-government/meeting-minutes-agendas/ to access the

meeting via audio and videoconferencing.

Economic Planning & Development Committee Agenda M a r c h 1, 2021

Committee Members: Taft Matney (Chair), Jason Kraeling, Diane Kuzniar

1. Call to Order Chairperson Taft Matney

2. Public Comment Chairperson Taft Matney

3. Reading and Approval of Minutesa. Economic Planning & Development Committee

Meeting: February 1, 2021 [Pages 3-4]

Chairperson Taft Matney

4. Reports or Communications from City Officersa. Economic Development Department Director Van

Broadi. Budget Review

Chairperson Taft Matney

5. Unfinished BusinessThere is no unfinished business.

Chairperson Taft Matney

6. New Businessa. Beachin’ Christmas

[Pages 5-12]

7. Public Comment

8. Committee Concerns

9. Adjournment

Chairperson Taft Matney

2

Minutes Economic Planning & Development Committee

February 1, 2021 1st committee meeting

Committee Members present: Taft Matney (Chair), Jason Kraeling, Diane Kuzniar Others present: Community Development Director Van Broad, City Administrator Brandon Madden

1. Call to Order- Chairman Taft Matney

2. Public Comment- None

3. Reading and Approval of Minutes

Economic Planning & Development Committee Meeting: January 4, 2021

Action: Councilwoman Kuzniar made a motion to approve the minutes with Councilman Kraelingseconding.

Vote: The vote was unanimous (3-0).

4. Reports or Communications from City Officers

a. Economic Development Department Director Van Broad

i. Budget Review- The budget is at 54% of an ideal 42% budget.

Mr. Broad wanted to read through a couple of items that Councilman Kraeling asked about several months ago. Keira Heider has tracked information for the cultural center and presented committee with a synopsis of what has transpired over 10 years. From 2010-2015, there was the Public Art Trail, Christmas Tree lighting, BBQ festivals, and civic group meetings. In 2016, Beachin’ Fridays, the Farmer’s Market, and the Greenville Concert Band Series were added. Also added were 12 Days of Christmas, Children and Youth Theatre, Fundraising Dinner, Art Haven School, the Greenville County Marching Band Competition Sponsorship, National Night Out, and many other events. The lobby will be expanded soon and a plaza added outside.

Van addressed the return of investment for the cultural center. Revenue numbers were presented to committee. For example, in 2019-2020, our budget for the BBQ festival and other events was $115,000. $99,000 was expended, and the revenue was $40,000 from sponsorships. The Theater performance budget was $81,250; $88,000 was expended, but the revenues which included two cancelled shows, was $69,000.

Our Marketing department, which does our ads and publications as well as website maintenance had a budget last year of $150,000 and we spent $161,000. We also saw 31,000 people in the Center over the year.

A development group sent a letter to the cultural center and sports center stating these amenities were part of the reason they chose Mauldin. Mauldin is investing in itself and the developer wants to be a part of that growth and investment. This is another measurement. Businesses like to locate where quality of life is available for its citizens and employees.

3

5. Unfinished Business- There is no unfinished business.

6. New Business

Action: Councilwoman Kuzniar made a motion to go into all three executive sessions withCouncilman Kraeling seconding.

Vote: The vote was unanimous (3-0).

a. Motion to enter into Executive Session for consideration of a contractual matter related to theParker Group as allowed by State Statute Section 30- 4-70 (a)(2)

b. Motion to enter into Executive Session for consideration of a contractual matter related toProject PB as allowed by State Statute Section 30-4- 70 (a)(5)

c. Motion to Enter into Executive Session for consideration of a contractual matter related toProject MDC as allowed by State Statute Section 30-4- 70 (a) (2)

Chairman Taft Matney called the meeting back to order. Councilman Kraeling reported no decisions were made and no action taken in executive session.

7. Public Comment

Jim Butcher: Good evening. I simply wanted to ask the question on whether there is an update onthe Bethel Road redirect and whether or not the residents of the Mauldin mobile home park havebeen contacted and informed of the plans for the Habitat for Humanity projects and the other thingsthe Mayor was speaking of.

Chairman Matney said the questions asked would be a DOT matter and the City does not have accessto those answers.

8. Committee Concerns- None9. Adjournment- Chairman Matney adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully Submitted,

Cindy Miller Municipal Clerk

4

ECONOMIC PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY

MEETING DATE: March 1, 2021 AGENDA ITEM: 6a

TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

Economic Planning & Development Committee Community Development Director Van Broad Mauldin's Beachin' Christmas

REQUEST

The EPD Committee is requested to approve an electrical upgrade for the Cultural Center in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to launch Beachin' Christmas, improve the use and coordination of City sponsored festival activities (e.g., BBQ Festival, Summer Market, Beachin' Friday's), and use of the Cultural Center grounds.

BACKGROUND

The City of Mauldin established a Beach Music Series in 2016. The series has grown and exceeded its initial estimate of increasing use and awareness of the cultural center and amphitheater as a connecting point for citizens and tourism. Keira Heider, Center Director shared with staff information regarding a Christmas Beach festival held each year in Jacksonville, Florida. The festival is called, “Deck the Chairs”, and would be a good program to coincide with the Center’s beach music series.

Staff investigated opportunities to launch the festival in 2018 and made considerations again in 2019 but various challenges halted plans. In 2020, with the onset of COVID-19 it was decided to once again put this project on hold. With new vaccines in place, the opening of businesses, festivals and the addition of an event coordinator on staff, it seemed that 2021 might be the best opportunity to tackle the new venture.

ANALYSIS/ STAFF FINDINGS

The Jacksonville festival features 30-40 Christmas decorated and lighted lifeguard sized beach chairs situated along the beach grand strand. Utilizes local business to sponsor a chair and decorate with unique features. The event has over 60,000 visitors throughout the holiday season. Using their festival as a model, Center staff can implement this event during the upcoming holiday season in a coordinated effort with City stakeholders within the business community, including:

• Mauldin Chamber of Commerce• Greenville Woodworkers Guild• GBS Supply/lumber

The electrical upgrade will not only allow for the opportunity to launch Beachin' Christmas, it will also allow better use and coordination of festival activities from BBQ, to summer market and Beachin' Friday's. The electrical upgrades will impact the overall use of the grounds. Beachin' Christmas would be a regional and upstate tourist destination event.

5

FINANCIAL IMPACT The current cost estimate to date from Excel Electrical is $13,824. Three bids will be secured in order to gain best possible pricing for the upgrades. Using cost savings realized this year within the Community Development budget, funding is available to absorb this cost.

RECOMMENDATION It is the recommendation of staff that council to approve an electrical upgrade for the Cultural Center in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to launch Beachin' Christmas.

ATTACHMENTS Excel Estimate Pictures of Jacksonville Deck the Chairs Festival Lifeguard Chair Format Video link of 2020 Deck the Chairs: https://youtu.be/eyRx4SH6ncw

6

7

8

9

10

11

12