Former EDC vice chair testifies FEMA changes were not "new" and opposed $2 million award

Dr. Brian Gulley, who said he served on the CCREDC and recalled being vice chair, testified that he was present for the November 9, 2023 EDC meeting where the Homewood Suites incentive award was debated and that he opposed the $2,000,000 request. Gulley told the panel he considered the project "way too much money for one private project" and said hotels were typically lower-priority economic‑development investments because of low wages.

Gulley also testified he had informed Philip Ramirez earlier that raising base‑flood elevations would be an issue for redevelopment and that the FEMA rules cited by proponents were not newly released in 2022; he said he made that point during the November 2023 EDC discussion. He described a vigorous internal debate over whether to recommend roughly $1,043,000 (the modeling figure) or the $2,000,000 request. Gulley was examined on his direct knowledge of the meeting, his contacts with project proponents and his view that the slide and the "FEMA narrative" were not novel.