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Keller Economic Development Board Weighs Move to Self‑Chaired, Initiative‑Driven Model
Summary
Board members and staff discussed shifting the Keller Economic Development Board toward a self‑chaired, community-driven model focused on business retention and initiative delivery, including pilot testing the change and recruiting professional representatives to the board.
At its Oct. 20 meeting the Keller Economic Development Board discussed restructuring to make the panel more self-directed and initiative-driven, with members taking the lead on economic initiatives rather than relying primarily on a council liaison.
Board members said a pilot would let the group test a self-chaired model and set measurable success metrics before a permanent change. One board member proposed that the board take on initiative development and execution similar to the parks and recreation board: "That wouldn't ... take away from staff support, but the board should be initiative driven and take things from council and run with it," the board member said.
Discussion centered on prioritizing retention of existing businesses rather than only recruitment. Board members and staff noted a number of local closures and cited landlord decisions, rent levels and gaps in property maintenance as contributors. The group recommended conducting more direct outreach to businesses to understand reasons for closures; that outreach would inform potential policy or program responses, staff said.
Participants reviewed the city's Economic Development Strategic Business Plan, which the group said outlines four objectives commonly described as recruitment, retention, expansion and promotion. Several board members said retention should be the immediate priority and proposed focusing limited volunteer time on one or two actionable items tied to that objective.
Members recommended expanding the types of professions represented on the board or in an advisory capacity. Suggested additions included a commercial broker, a CPA, a commercial banker, a marketing/digital specialist and a nonprofit representative. "Having someone who truly sees the pulse, like the chamber representatives, is where I go to see what they're seeing at their level," one participant said.
Staff provided an update on a planned overhaul of Old Town Keller (OTK) sections of the Unified Development Code (UDC), which the city kicked off with council. Staff said they will do stakeholder input (including at least one public input meeting) and aim to complete code updates before Elm Street construction finishes to encourage redevelopment in Old Town.
Board members agreed to pilot greater board-led initiatives, to conduct district-level outreach to businesses (a task tied to the Open Rewards relaunch) and to return proposed metrics and an action plan for taking on specific retention initiatives to council as needed.
The board also approved the Sept. 15 meeting minutes earlier in the session.
