2022-01-19 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING
January 19, 2022
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Nicole Hughes, Chair
Darrol Haug
Kevin Harris, Vice Chair
Scott Merrick
Carrie Hulbert
Keith Hamilton
Evan Sittauer, Student -Rep
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Jay Hoag - excused
Kevin Smith - excused
Charlie Lieu — excused
LIAISONS PRESENT:
Roger Pence, Planning Board, ex-officio
Angela Harris, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
Susan Paine, Councilmember, ex-officio
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex-officio
LIAISONS ABSENT:
GUESTS:
STAFF PRESENT:
Doug Merriman, Interim Director
Economic Development Commission meeting conducted via ZOOM and called to order by Nicole Hughes
at 6:04 p.m.
Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement
1. Roll was called with individual introductions, and the following excused absences noted: Jay Hoag,
Kevin Smith, Charlie Lieu.
2. Approval of Agenda: Darrol Haug moved to approve the agenda with this addition - include follow up
discussions on Streateries, Parking and Unocal Property developments, Scott Merrick seconded; motion
passed. Items will be added as 5.5 on agenda.
3. Approval of December 15, 2021, Meeting Summary: Darrol Haug moved to approve the meeting
summary; Carrie Hulbert seconded; motion passed.
4. Audience Comments: none
5. Introductions and Liaison Changes: With the retirement of Patrick Doherty, the city has hired Doug
Merriman to serve as interim director. Port Commissioner Angela Harris will serve as the commission's
liaison to the Port and Councilmember Susan Paine will serve as the liaison to the City Council.
5.5. Follow Up Discussions (items added to agenda) wanted to have a deliberate discussion on these
topics and possibly add them to the discussions break outs for future meetings.
a. Streateries: Haug —follow up about streateries. Merrick — 41" Ave cultural corridor could be
helpful to move forward streateries and public space objective. K. Harris — Interested in exploring
ways that using public spaces can add to the Edmonds experience. Hamilton — Streateries could
continue to be a feature downtown. Paine — utilizing our usable public areas can help to create
neighborhood destinations and help the city better define experiences which might support
subarea planning. Hughes — interested in keeping the topic focused more broadly around utilizing
public spaces for engagement — not just downtown streateries. Have discussion topic "leveraging
Meeting Summary
Economic Development Commission
January 19, 2022
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best parts of walkable main" planned for discussion.
b. Parking: Haug —follow up about parking, want to capture ideas. Hulbert —would like to explore
and forward solutions for parking. Hughes — will include this topic as a breakout discussion for
future meeting.
c. Unocal Property: Haug — on the idea list, ok to wait to discuss in breakout
6. Discussion: Economic Development Idea Heatmap w/ Breakout Discussions Three breakout groups
were created; summarized notes are included in Attachment A -Economic Development Ideas document
and in detail below. This document will be attached to the EDC monthly meeting summary going forward
as a way to provide a current copy to all commissioners, make it visible to the public, councilmembers and
mayor. Additionally, the commission will work on a strategy to create a discussion and feedback loop with
the Council and Mayor to help guide our work.
1: Hwy 99: City facilities and activities along renewal zone (Haug, Hughes)
- New look at the 99 corridor amenities and offerings
- City Services that matter to residents living in the area
- Transportation Issues
Describe the Idea — what would it look like if realized? 5/10/20 years
A vibrant live -work -play neighborhood.
Discuss Goals/Objectives of the Idea — list top two or three objectives of the Idea. Why would
this benefit Edmonds and our citizens?
Support and expand business growth/new businesses in the area.
Create city presence/access to services in the area.
Create a neighborhood vibe that attracts visitors (shopping, living, recreation)
List the steps, actions or tasks that might need to be accomplished
Roundtable/open house events of residents living in area, potential visitors to area
- Need multiple locations, times, polling, mechanisms for feedback
- Use 5 corners study as a model and pull ideas
Strengthen support to business community
Engage experts who live in the area
Evaluate city services which could be provided and fund (building and people) — exploring non-
traditional office hours
2: Food truck/vendor spaces in unused lots/locations (A Harris, Sittauer, Urban, Hamilton, K.
Harris, Pence)
Vision:
• Create a vibrant food -truck culture and reputation in Edmonds that:
• Appropriately supplants unused space (on a temporary or longer -term basis, depending
on many factors)
• Complements events and/or resident or visitor experience
• Helps contribute to 'livability' in areas of Edmonds outside of the downtown core
• Complements the waterfront
• Doesn't 'compete' with existing restaurants
• Provides affordable dining options
Goals/Objectives:
• Create pockets of econ dvpt in areas that are lacking
• E.g., Firdale has one restaurant
• Activity via mini -events (small arts & crafts fairs) or food trucks/ice cream truck
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Economic Development Commission
January 19, 2022
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• Create reliable, sustainable outside food options: Marina Beach, dog park, car wash, other
potential sites
• Hospital district options, since one of Edmonds' largest employers only offers hospital
cafeteria as a convenient option
• Give smaller biz/entrepreneurs a chance to participate
• Complement/help promote local events/activities
• E.g., soccer tournaments, around high schools
• Provide outside dining options for larger Edmonds events
• Make non-DT neighborhoods more desirable/more unique
• Contribute to walkability/promote community health
• Give teens/youth something more affordable to spend time/hang out
• Portland model
• Bathrooms available, common seating/picnic tables, parking lot of tavern (serves beer out
the window to vendors/customers)
• Good interim use of property/commercial zone to attract biz to city
• Olympia model
• Used vacant lot (decommissioned gas station) downtown, four 'regular' food trucks in
place, very successful, no restaurants nearby.
• Partnership opportunities with taverns, other complementary businesses supporting each
other
Draft Steps:
• Evaluate: Current food truck inventory and city ordinance restrictions
• List of vacant lots (Used to have from way back — Greg to check and will ask Megan if she has
older list) and other potential sites
• Talk to Scotty's/Shubert Ho re: barriers/restrictions
• Interview: why did Shubert get rid of his food truck?
• Talk to non -Edmonds operators
• What opportunities/barriers are perceived re: coming into Edmonds?
• Speak with food trucks who come regularly to Edmonds events
• What new type of creative models might make their P&L work?
3: Leverage best parts of Walkable Mainstreet (Hulbert, Merrick, Merriman, Paine)
Things that were liked about Walkable Main Street:
1. Scott Merrick — Liked the "cultural corridor" for incorporated multi -cultural aspects to the
event. While many activities are "in the bowl", bringing in vendors from the larger are of
Edmonds widens the activities to include vendors from outside the downtown core.
2. Carrie Hulbert — Would like to see the use of open spaces for events and festivals.
3. Susan Paine — Likes the idea of walkable spaces to enjoy, especially long the Highway 99
corridor. Susan would like to see us develop activities in this area.
The breakout group further discussed the best part of the event being the sense of community
and social connection. The comment was made regarding events bringing people out of the
local neighborhoods to catch up with neighbors and friends who they may not interact with as
much.
Best parts:
1. Multicultural events to celebrate Edmond's diversity.
2. Structure the events to enhance socialization in all areas of the City.
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Economic Development Commission
January 19, 2022
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7. City Update: Director Merriman is getting settled in new role and looking forward to working on city
projects.
8. Liaison Updates
a. City Council (Susan Paine) The City's Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) draft plan has
been released and is available for public review and comment.
https://edmondswa.gov/government/departments/parks recreation cultural services/plannin
g prolects
b. Port of Edmonds (Angela Harris) No update.
c. Chamber of Commerce (Greg Urban) Working on 4t" of July plans, civic field isn't available as
the fireworks launch location because of the construction so considering water launch.
d. Planning Board (Roger Pence) No update.
9. Roundtable Discussion: Hulbert: shared the downtown merchants Love Lists will be coming out to
feature special items from shops downtown and a Lunar New Year celebration on the 29t" will take place
at the winter market.
10. Adjourn at 8:05 p.m.
Next regular meeting: February 16, 2022, 6 PM location Zoom
Meeting Summary
Economic Development Commission
January 19, 2022
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