Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority

Executive & Government Relations Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: Tamara Battles, Chair; Michael Caffery, Vice-Chair; Paula Nelson, Secretary/Treasurer

Absent: None

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Executive & Government Relations Committee was called to order by Commissioner Battles 8:02 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

Heather Smoak Urena, Executive Director of Kisatchie Delta gave a presentation to the committee on the mission of Kisatchie Delta and the possibility of collaborating with GAEDA in the near future. A discussion was held. Clifford Moller, GAEDA Executive Director commented that GAEDA will continue talks with Ms. Urena and bring a recommendation before the committee in the coming months.

Tonya Crawford of the City of Alexandria Community Service Division, gave a status report on the city’s 2020 annual festivals. Ms. Crawford stated that all festivals and events are on hold until further notice. Clifford Moller, GAEDA Executive Director inquired about a request from Commissioner Caffery regarding the Johnny Downs Complex. A discussion was held. Commissioner Caffery requested that Cam Hallman be invited to the next meeting to give a report regarding the complex.

Clifford Moller, GAEDA Executive Director, reported to the committee that he has had initial collaborative conversation with Stephanie R. Hartman, Director of Small Business Services for Louisiana Economic Development (LED). He further stated that this initiative was an action item of our 2017 Strategic Retreat. A discussion was held. Mr. Moller also commented that Ms. Hartman stated the following, “With the outreach to LED from GAEDA and our initial collaborative conversation, LED looks forward to working with your organization and coordinating with other regional partners to strengthen the support of small business in Central Louisiana and Alexandria.”

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 a.m.

Human Resources Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: Paula Nelson; Tamara Battles

Absent: Zebulon Winstead, Chair

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Human Resource Committee was called to order by Commissioner Nelson at 8:30 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

There being no business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32a.m.

Administration & Legal Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: John Carroll, Chair

Absent: Jay Sharplin

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Administration & Legal Committee was called to order by Commissioner Sharplin at 8:32 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was not present.

The Committee heard a report from Knight Masden CPA, regarding the June 2020 financial statements. A discussion was held.

John Theriot, Knight Masden CPA, gave a status report on grants and funding affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to date. A discussion was held.

Clifford Moller, GAEDA Executive Director, asked that the 2019 Annual report be postponed until next month. A discussion was held.

Clifford Moller, GAEDA Executive Director, informed the Committee that GAEDA has received an “unqualified” opinion on the audit of financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. A discussion was held.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 a.m.

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: Paula Nelson, Chair; John Carroll

Absent: Jay Sharplin

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Economic Development Committee was called to order by Commissioner Nelson at 8:35 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

Willie Spears, Executive Director of the GAEDA Revitalization Corporation (GRC) gave a detailed status report on the Federal Home Loan Bank Rehabilitation grant and GRC’s progress thus far. It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to recommend approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the GAEDA Revitalization Corporation in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000). A discussion was held. There being no further discussion or public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to recommend amending the dates of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Lake Amphibian Club from March 27-30, 2020 to October 19-October 22, 2020. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

Rusty Reeves of the Louisiana Rural Water Association (LWRA) presented details of the 2020 LRWA Mini Management Conference. It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to recommend approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the LA Rural Water Association (LRWA) in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for the 2020 LRWA Mini Management Conference. There being no further discussion or public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to recommend amending the dates of a Cooperative Endeavor agreement in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) 29th Annual Officers Training Conference to be held August 1-3, 2020 instead of July 20-24, 2020. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 a.m.

Capital Projects Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: John Carrol

Absent: Jay Sharplin

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Capital Projects Committee was called to order by Commissioner Carroll at 9:05 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was not present.

There being no business to come before the Capital Projects Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:06 a.m.

Operations Committee Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: Michael Caffery, Chair

Absent: Zebulon Winstead

The monthly meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s Operation’s Committee was called to order by Commissioner Caffery at 9:06 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was not present.

There being no business to come before the Operations Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 a.m.

Regular Meeting Agenda

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Present: Tamara Battles, Chair; Michael Caffery, Vice-Chair; Paula Nelson, Secretary/Treasurer; John Carroll

Absent: Zeb Winstead; Jay Sharplin

The monthly regular meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority was called to order by Commissioner Battles at 9:08 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the July 2020 Consent Agenda. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Caffery to amend the dates of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Lake Amphibian Club from March 2730, 2020 to October 19-October 22, 2020. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the GAEDA Revitalization Corporation (GRC) in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000). There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Caffery and seconded by Commissioner Carroll of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the LA Rural Water Association (LRWA) in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for the 2020 LRWA Mini Management Conference. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Commissioner Caffery to amend the dates of a Cooperative Endeavor agreement in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) 29th Annual Officers Training Conference to be held August 1-3, 2020 instead of July 20-24, 2020. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Executive Director stated that he would bring the 2019 Annual Report back before the Board once he has had an opportunity to tweak some numbers. He further stated that he is scheduled to give a presentation to the City Council at 3:00 p.m. today.

There being no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m.