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2024-12-18 Economic Development Commission Packet'nc. 1 Rye AGENDA Edmonds Economic Development Commission Wednesday, December 18, 2024 6PM — 8PM HYBRID MEETING The Economic Development Commission members will be meeting in person and/or remotely for this meeting. The public may join at the physical location or join through zoom. PHYSICAL LOCATION Brackett Meeting Room, Edmonds City Hall — 31 Floor 12151 Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020 REMOTE MEETING/ZOOM INFORMATION: https:Hzoom.us/j/98696685791?pwd=RytOZj VuK3ZCNON4Q lRrMHZgSWpyQT09 Meeting ID: 986 9668 5791 Passcode: 901513 6:00 PM Call to Order 1. Roll Call and Recognition of Approved Absences 2. Approval ofAgenda 3. Approval of November 20, 2024 Meeting Notes 4. Audience Comments (3 minutes per person) 5. The Short -Term Future of the Economic Development Commission a. Discussion b. Next Steps? 6. Highway 99 Development Council project — Case Study: Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (see attachments) 7. Virtual exploration of the Highway 99 corridor — a first step in familiarizing the EDC with the area as a foundation for future action 8. Liaison Updates a. City Council — Councilmember Eck b. Port of Edmonds — Selena Killin c. Chamber of Commerce — Ryan Crowther d. Planning Board — Lee Hankins 9. Roundtable Discussion 10. Adjourn 8:00 PM Next Regular meeting: TBD CITY OF EDMONDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING November 20, 2024 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: LIAISONS PRESENT: Matt Cox, Chair Chris Eck, Councilmember, ex-officio Darrol Haug Selena Killin, Port Commissioner, ex-officio via Carrie Mandak Zoom Natalie Seitz Kevin Harris LIAISONS ABSENT: Nick Perrault Lee Hankins — Planning Board, ex-officio Pete Spear via Zoom Ryan Crowther, Chamber, ex-officio GUESTS: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. Allan Townsend, Vice -Chair - unexcused Nicole Hughes - excused STAFF PRESENT: Kate Nolan — Student Representative Todd Tatum, Director CCED Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator CCED Economic Development Commission meeting called to order by Matt Cox at 6:00 p.m. Call to Order 1. Roll Call and Recognition of Approved Absences: Allan's absence is unexcused. Nicole is absent due to a work conflict but will try to join the meeting in progess, her absence is excused if she is unable to join. 2. Approval of Agenda: Nick motions to approve the agenda; Natalie seconds; motion passes. 3. Approval of October 26, 2024, Retreat Notes: Kevin motions to approve the agenda; Natalie seconds; motion passes. 4. Audience Comments: None. 5. Economic Development Workplan — Todd Tatum: Todd shares a PowerPoint presentation (Attachment A — note that the asterisks are to signify areas where the EDC could participate on the development of programs) outlining his department work plan for 2025 and the need for a strategic shift in the city's economic development. The discussion emphasizes diversifying the tax base. Plans are robust for Communications next year. Culture & Arts has a large positive impact on Economic Development. Real Estate Development and Redevelopment Program needs to be lifted from the ground up. There is an opportunity to develop stronger relationships with our regional partners as well as with the Hwy 99 property owners. Business attraction goals are to connect with the businesses about their needs and gather information that is important for a business owner. Natalie asks how the Comp Plan will affect the workplan. Todd explains the Tourism Marketing & Destination Development is mature and is not an area of focus of the Comp Plan. The other programs (real estate DRAFT Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 20, 2024 Page 1 development & redevelopment) that need to be lifted will support the vision of the Comp Plan. She asks if it would be helpful for the EDC to look at the Comp Plan and the workplan and develop ways to marry the two. Kevin asks if these focuses are reacting to the revenue crisis we currently face. Todd says no, this is not reacting to a short-term revenue issue but rather a large long-term growth/revenue generation need. Natalie asks if there is a business type we're targeting? Todd explains that this is a question that needs to be explored. There is no specific business in mind. A discussion unfolds about grant procurement and management. 6. Retreat Follow-up: Matt opens the item by explaining that time ran short at the retreat for the below. a. Refine and Review our Top Priority Project: Kevin highlights the need to stop approaching Hwy 99 as a monolith. There are distinct areas along the Hwy 99 corridor. The notes below are taken straight from the meeting, Matt's hope is to have these notes distilled down into something that can be worked on: • Hwy 99 Development Council • Guidance and consult on refreshed neighborhood hubs • Focused engagement on Hwy 99 and Hospital District initiatives • Work on aspects of Hwy 99 development, and neighborhood hubs and centers • Revisit how to preserve small business / DT Preservation Zone • Revisit Neighborhood Business Districts (5 Corners, Firdale, others, pros and cons of development and redevelopment • 'These were all clustered together on the board, and that cluster got 16 points Natalie feels the city is not going to listen to residents as was reflected in the Landmark Project. The residents expressed their desire to not open the road, but the Comp Plan is reflecting the opposite. Darrol suggests that you jump in your car and drive north from the south end Hwy 99, through Edmonds to Keelers Corner. Some of the development was planned and some were developer driven. Do we need to develop a comprehensive strategy? It's unlikely we'll get what we want if we do nothing. We've done neighborhood studies Westgate, Firdale, it's challenging to do that for a five -mile span, you break it up by hubs and/or centers. How do we apply what we know about those studies to sections of Hwy 99? Kevin shares some work the Commission has done in the past around the Health District and meetings with stakeholders. It was asked at that time, what problem is trying to be solved? He felt the conversation was premature, there was not a clear answer at the time. Natalie adds to Darrol's point about doing nothing, developers want to minimize risk, the CG presents a lot of risk for community and developers, the city should provide limits to make it less risky. Matt asks is this an area the group would like to focus. Natalie would. Nick likes the idea of focusing on Hwy 99 and breaking it down into sections. Pete agrees that distilling Hwy 99 down to sections is a good approach. He would also like to see the formation of a Hwy 99 Development Council. Darrol highlights the tax implications for development are positive, it takes pressure off the existing tax base, there are models to determine what all the tax implications would be. There are tools that could be utilized for redevelopment that we haven't used. For example, the city can condemn property to be used for public space. One of the first steps is to assemble the tools that could get redevelopment lifted. Natalie could try and work her contacts to get the International District Development Council from the City of Seattle to come and DRAFT Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 20, 2024 Page 2 give a presentation to the Commission. She will start the conversation and connect them with Todd. b. Steps for success: How to create a Hwy 99 Development Council? Any volunteers? Do we look outside the Commission? Natalie will sus out the contact and get a formula for how this has been done by a group that has done this. Todd suggests getting familiar with the area before looping in partner organizations. Megan will look into a SharePoint site for the Commission. c. Changes to EDC practices? Ran out of time. 7. Liaison Updates: a. City Council — Councilmember Eck: They've been focused on budget and Comp Plan. They're hopeful of having the budget adopted before the end of the month. Feel free to reach out to her if you have any questions. b. Port of Edmonds — Selena Killin: The Port has been working with a consultant about business development. She can bring some info back to the next meeting. She shares that The Port has been presented a possible hotel that would like to come to one of their properties. She's wondering if this body would be interested in discussing the possibility of adding a floor to the building, it would bring significant revenue to the City. Todd likes the idea of discussing this since there's an actual case study to discuss. Natalie is ok with it if there is a specific call to action. Nick would like to discuss it. Selena has not fleshed out a specific request but she's thinking that a letter of support on behalf of the Commission to support the possible revenue. c. Chamber of Commerce — Ryan Crowther: Absent. d. Planning Board — Lee Hankins: Absent. 8. Roundtable Discussion: Darrol points out that you can do a google earth tour of Hwy 99 to get a good feel of the area. Natalie wishes everyone happy thanksgiving! 9. Adjourn: 8:01 p.m. Next meeting: December 18, 2024, 6 PM location Hybrid — Brackett Room & Zoom DRAFT Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 20, 2024 Page 3 ATTACHMENT A CCED Work Plan Overview to EDC 11/20/24 Todd Tatum, Director Community/Culture/Economic Development Departmental, but not ED Lobbying and Grant Writing • State • 2025 legislative agenda • Jan -Jun • Federal • G ra nts • Needs assessment • Funding guide • Execution/writing OF E DMo�O r Departmental, but not ED Communications and Community Engagement • Fire Services support • Potential levy support • CRA and TIF • Email consolidation and digital newsletter • City Chat column • Social content & engagement strategy • Accessibility assessment OF E DMo�O r Departmental, but not ED Culture and Arts • EAC 50t" Anniversary • Planning and tie-in with Creative District • Community events — Collaboration with EHM in August • PR efforts tied to Econ Dev and Creative District • Write on the Sound 40th anniversary first weekend in October (3-5) • Art projects on the ground • Gateway project — Anway • Highway 99 banner • Manage ongoing art programs • (Tentative) Cultural Access Sales Tax support OF E DMo�O r Departmental - Boards and Commissions Boards, Commissions, and Committees support • EDC • JAC • Creative District • Ed! — ex off icio • Chamber — ex officio • DEIA • EAC OF E DMo�O r Economic Development C� �y OF E DMo�4 Real Estate Development and Redevelopment • Program development - local and regional • Property owner engagement • Revenue modeling —commercial, mixed use, housing, retail* • Tax Increment Financing* • Community Renewal * OF E DMo�O r Business Retention and Expansion • Program development • Data gathering & business owner engagement* • Business attraction — marketing* • Create action groups* • Creative District efforts • Public Relations OF EDP r Tourism Marketing and Destination Development • Ed! reinitiation • (Tentative) Cultural Access Tax • World Cup planning (partner -led) • Grants • Creative District efforts OF E DMo�O r Special Projects Revenue generation OF E DMo�O r QUESTIONS?