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<br />141 . <br />Regular Meeting <br /> <br />October 18, 2005 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />Mr. Diaz asked Mr. Jim Aanstoos what he considered his greatest <br />professional accomplishments. Mr. Aanstoos stated his greatest <br />professional accomplishment was in the Governor's Office of Tourism, <br />Economic Development Department managing the business programs. Mr. <br />Guerrero asked Mr. Aanstoos his biggest area of development and what it <br />will bring to San Marcos. Mr. Aanstoos stated he was innovative and was <br />not limited by facts, but he is more concerned with results. He also <br />stated he feels he has strong visioning power and the ability to bring <br />stakeholders together. Mr. Mihalkanin stated he is concerned with Mr. <br />Aanstoos not being a resident of San Marcos. Mr. Aanstoos stated he is <br />looking for a home and will be moving to San Marcos soon. Mr. Bose asked <br />what Mr. Aanstoos sees for the future of San Marcos. Mr. Aanstoos stated <br />he feels since 9-11 the United States the economy has decreased and <br />manufacturing has suffered, which is still rebounding. He stated he feels <br />San Marcos should be a component to Toyota. He also stated San Marcos has <br />several resources in their favor, which should be used to attract <br />businesses and jobs. He stated he feels San Marcos should capture the <br />fall-out business of Toyota, and he wants to bring higher paying jobs to <br />San Marcos. Mr. Thomaides asked what incentives will be used to attract <br />businesses. He asked what philosophy and recommendations. Mr. Aanstoos <br />would employ. Mr. Thomaides inquired at what point do incentives become a <br />give away, and does location mean more to a company trying to locate. Mr. <br />Aanstoos replied incentives are a necessary tool to attract business in a <br />competitive marker. Incentives are 20%, and 80% is what we have in our <br />location. Incentives should be the last criteria, but to be a contender, <br />incentives are needed. The City needs to do business in a smart way and <br />look at the investment. There needs to be a performance based contract to <br />protest the investment. Mr. Taylor asked the number of economic <br />development prospects Mr. Aanstoos had brought to other entities. Mr. <br />Aanstoos stated economic development is a team effort and has had major <br />involvement in dozens of prospects from concept to reality. Mr. Diaz <br />inquired to why Mr. Aanstoos feels companies decide to locate in a certain <br />area. Mr. Aanstoos stated he feels a company will decide on certain areas <br />because of strategic location, the proximity to market, workforce and <br />suppliers. He stated he feels this is when incentives help. Mr. Diaz <br />inquired how important education is to companies. Mr. Aanstoos stated he <br />feels a skilled workforce is extremely important to attract companies, and <br />he feels San Marcos has a lot to offer with Gary Job Corps, Texas State <br />University and San Marcos High School. He stated academia and the <br />workforce need to be brought together. Mr. Guerrero inquired as to the <br />different jobs Mr. Aanstoos has had since 1998. Mr. Aanstoos stated he was <br />employed by Texas A&M for 16 years. He stated his position at Texas A&M <br />was eliminated so he began doing contract work. He stated he then went to <br />work for the State of Texas and was there for 10 years. Mayor Narvaiz <br />inquired how Mr. Aanstoos plans to move San Marcos forward and how Mr. <br />Aanstoos will engage people who were not in favor of this change. Mr. <br />Aanstoos stated he is familiar with turbulence coming in. He stated we <br />