RDA Min 1996-11-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Church presented the staff report which documented that $30,000 had been included in the 1996-97 Agency budget and the proposed agreement is a mechanism to disburse these funds. In response to Director Ruskin's questions regarding measurable outcomes fTom the rust year's operation, Former Mayor and current Coordinator of Redevelopment And Economic Development for Canada College Jack Greenalch advised there were 230 inquiries for information to the Center which led to referrals. "During the Spring semester the courses were all offered at least one time that are listed in the agreement for this year. Some of them had as many as ten students and others only had five students in them. That is the outcome fTom the first year..... There will be an additional class that will be put in which will be Business 680.... allowing people to come in as individuals rather than as members of a class to develop their small business plan." He described changes made and proposed to measure results, including offering classes in the evenings and on Saturday. In response to Director La Berge's questions, Coordinator Greenalch described the Chamber's support and promotional efforts of this program. He described the Center's efforts to get SAMCEDA to refer people to the Center. MIS: BUCHANIHOW ARD. TITLE READ. RESOLUTION NO. RD 96-17 OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR OPERATION OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER; Director Leipzig stated his reasons for voting "no." He cited the goals of the Center as presented in the agreement, and said "a few years ago those were the goals of the Chamber of Commerce, and I think we are getting off course again. $30,000 to promote this project, is I think, not the best use of taxpayers funds." Director Ruskin responded to Director Leipzig's comments, and said he had also been concerned about how the money was being utilized, the entire $200,000 budget. Director Ruskin said he made an analysis of the teaching hours involved and found the salaries were actually quite moderate, and believed the money was being well utilized. Director Ruskin said he believed this type of effort was, in the long run, better done by an educational institution in cooperation with business, rather than directly by the Chamber. Chairman Hartnett said his experience as past president of the Chamber and a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber has led him to believe that "the role of the Chamber has not been defined as broadly as was listed in the" goals cited by Director Leipzig. ADOPTED BY TIlE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE. YES: DIRECTORS BUCHAN, HOWARD, LA BERGE, RUSKIN AND CHAIRMAN HARTNETT NOES: DIRECTOR LEIPZIG ABSENT: DIRECTOR CLAIRE SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 1996 MINUTES MINUTE BOOK NO.1 PAGE 2 Page No. 330