Following the voter approval of a 1/8 of a percent increase to the city sales tax for economic development in the downtown district in May, Friendswood City Council established the board that will advise it on use of those funds.

The Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation, a seven-member committee, will make recommendations on projects that could benefit the downtown district, officials said. City Council appointed the board at its July 11 meeting.

The corporation consists of city residents and leaders, including former Council Member Patrick McGinnis and Friendswood ISD trustee Rebecca Hillenburg. Ronald Cox, Arden Hill III, Elmer Johnson Jr., Paul Marx and Alton Todd round out the board.

Although official dates and times have not been determined, meetings will begin soon after the certificate of formation is filed, Assistant City Manager Morad Kabiri said. The frequency of meetings will be established when the board adopts its bylaws and rules of procedure, he said.

Any distribution of funding recommended by the board must be approved by City Council, according to Kabiri.