2019 May 15 - CC MIN SPCSPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE EL SEGUNDO CITY COUNCIL
& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
MAY 15, 2019 4:30pm
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Al Keahi called to order the Joint Meeting of the El Segundo City Council and Economic
Development Advisory Council at 4:35PM on Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 at R6 Distillery 909 E.
El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245.
ROLL CALL
The following El Segundo City Council members were present:
• Mayor Drew Boyles
• Mayor Pro Tem Carol Pirsztuk
• Chris Pimentel
The following El Segundo City Council members were not present:
• Dr. Don Brann
• Scot Nicol
The following El Segundo City Staff were present:
• Greg Carpenter
• Barbara Voss
• Tracy Weaver
The following Economic Development Advisory Council members were present:
• Al Keahi
• Vanclad Espahbodi
• Alex Abad
• Shar Franklin
• Spencer Bauer
• Richard Lundquist
• Lily Craig
• Lance Rails
• Rob Croxall
• Lance Giroux
• Jim McCaulley
The following Economic Development Advisory Council members were not present:
• Bob Healey • Tim Harris
• Gary Horwitz • Corinne Murat
• Rick Yuse • Matthew Tompkins
• Michael Mothner
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
A. Keahi thanked Rob Rubens for hosting the EDAC meeting at R6 Distillery.
A. Keahi announced the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in El Segundo on May 18th, 2019
Michael Kreski from the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee provided an overview of
the Cultural Development Fund (1% Fee for Arts)
o The proposed fund would allocate funds for arts and cultural projects in El
Segundo
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTIONED by Jim McCaulley and SECONDED by Lance Giroux to approve the minutes of the
March 20th, 2019 and April 17th, 2019 meeting.
PRESENTATION
Meaghan Downs, Social Media Strategist, Irma Vega, Account Supervisor, and Rebecca
Steadly, Public Relations Coordinator — 9t' Wonder Marketing Firm
• M. Downs presented social media highlights for new business, hospitality and tourism
• Instagrarn and Facebook are platform priorities for marketing El Segundo
community events, insider tips, attractions and activities.
• The chef's series on Instagrarn has been very effective in featuring local chefs
and reinforcing El Segundo as a dining destination.
• LinkedIn targets the city's new business and economic development
• V. Espahbodi commented on partnering with the online restaurant reservations
platform Resy to advertise restaurants in El Segundo
• D. Boyles commented on the lack of El Segundo restaurants listings on TripAdvisor
• M. Downs responded there are unique online applications where search and social
media meet. M. Downs agreed there are opportunities to explore with these companies
in addition to social media platforms.
* 1. Vega discussed newly launched animated ad campaign "Stay Here/Savor Here" and
"Indulge Here/Escape Here" targeting LAX visitors
* S. Bauer suggested also targeting LAAFB visitors
* S. Franklin shared that according to Expedia's recent quarterly review, Downtown Los
Angeles is expected to offer very competitive prices compared to the South Bay hotels
and will be heavily investing in travel ads during the coming months as the city prepares
for a slow season due to a lack of events.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
EDAC Work Plan
0 B. Voss presented the updated work plan and re -confirmed sub -committees:
• Hospitality & Tourism — L. Craig (Chair), S. Franklin (Co -Chair), R. Croxall, and A.
Keahi
• Business Retention & Expansion — J. McCaulley (Chair), S. Bauer, C. Murat, and L.
Rails
• New Business Attraction — L. Giroux (Chair), V. Espahbodi, T. Harris, and M.
Mothner
• Strategic Forward Planning — M. Tompkins (Chair), A. Abad, B. Healey, G.
Horwitz, R. Lundquist, and R. Yuse
• B. Voss provided an overview of how progress for specific tasks will be tracked and
reported on the work plan
COUNCIL MEMBER/EDAC COMMENTS
• Al Keahi encouraged City Council to share thoughts on how EDAC can help achieve the
city's goals for economic development
• B. Voss announced the Creative Economy Report is on ElSeguncloBusiness.com
• A. Abad announced Olympic gold medalist, Kerri Walsh Jennings opened an office in El
Segundo.
• V. Espahbodi announced Starburst Space Accelerator Program will kick off in July 2019.
• A. Keahi announced an honoree has been selected for the Champions of Business Award
o A. Keahi asked for keynote speaker recommendations
• A. Keahi asked City Council for an update on Topgolf
o C. Pimentel responded an update is not currently available
• A. Keahi shared his thoughts on City Hall real estate opportunities
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
• Deborah Shepard shared information about the services provided by the South Bay
Workforce Investment Board
o Aero -Flex and Bio -Flex programs, geared to helping business with job ready and
workforce pipeline opportunities.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:11pm
Posted on 05/29/2019
Cristina Reveles
Economic Development Coordinator