2022-02-16 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING
February 16, 2022
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Nicole Hughes, Chair
Darrol Haug
Kevin Harris, Vice Chair
Carrie Hulbert
Keith Hamilton
Jay Hoag
Kevin Smith
Charlie Lieu
Evan Sittauer, Student -Rep
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Scott Merrick - excused
LIAISONS PRESENT:
Roger Pence, Planning Board, ex-officio
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex-officio
Susan Paine, Councilmember, ex-officio
LIAISONS ABSENT:
Angela Harris, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
GUESTS:
None.
STAFF PRESENT:
Doug Merriman, Interim Director CS/ED
Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator CS/ED
Economic Development Commission meeting conducted via ZOOM and called to order by Nicole Hughes
at 6:03 p.m.
Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement
1. Roll Call and Recognition of Approved Absences:
2. Approval of Agenda: Charlie moved to approve the agenda; Kevin Smith seconded; motion passed.
3. Approval of January 19, 2022, Meeting Summary: Darrol Haug moved to approve the meeting
summary; Jay seconded; motion passed.
4. Audience Comments: None.
5. Breakout debrief from 1/19: Nicole explained that time ran out at the January meeting and didn't allow
for a debrief of the discussion topics at the last meeting, she would like to go over what the groups
discussed tonight.
a. Food Truck/Vendor Spaces Group: Kevin Harris shared that the group (Keith, Angela, Greg,
Roger, Evan and Kevin H.) had a good brainstorm session. They focused on the vision and how to
enhance the food truck presence in Edmonds. It was nice to have Evan's youth perspective in the
group. Evan added that food trucks are more affordable for young people. Greg suggested
checking with Megan for a list of vacant lots. Olympia has a food truck model to research as does
Portland. How can we boost livability in certain areas in Edmonds? As a follow up, reach out to
Scotty's, Shubert and other festival vendors to gain their perspective. Carrie suggested making
food truck events. Kevin Smith suggested a food truck near the hospital as it could provide a
stable customer basis as well as having a Hwy 99 presence. Darrol suggests a presence at parks.
Carrie pointed out that near the hospital could also lend to the high school demographic. Greg
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Economic Development Commission
February 16, 2022
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shared that Shubert's issues were profitability. A steady customer base is key for the success of
food trucks.
b. Hwy 99 - City Facilities and Activities along Renewal Zone: Nicole, Darrol & Susan discussed
opportunities on Hwy 99. Susan shared that over the next 5-10 years our Hwy 99 presence could
shift and the need for car lots may not be necessary. Darrol and Susan discussed the future of car
purchasing and how the needs may shift in the future. Darrol shared that he sees the goal for
Hwy 99 to make it vibrant and attract non-residents to Hwy 99 zone. Susan suggests envisioning
people's needs and what they might want if they're getting off public transit in this area. Nicole
shared that the discussion led to a live -work -play neighborhood discussion. Ideas consisted of
enhancing nightlife, shopping, and living in this neighborhood. Keith explained that the time
frame for car dealerships shifting away from needing lots is more like 20-30 years. Darrol
highlights that the Hwy 99 neighborhood needs to be engaged and seek input from the current
neighborhood.
c. Walkable City Concepts: Carrie shared that they first focused on what people liked about
Walkable Main; they felt it was the sense of community. They like the idea of incorporating
different cultures in Edmonds. Doug shared the socialization aspect of the events was a strong
pull for engagement. Carrie felt it aligns with the food truck idea and with the Hwy 99
enhancement efforts. Susan wants to make sure that we have access to arts through the
community events. Darrol included that the Mayor highlighted walkability in his State of the City
address. Roger shared that it's helpful when these events come into fruition organically. The City
should provide framework for events.
6. Discussion: Economic Development Idea Heatmap w/ Breakout Discussions
a. Parking Solutions: (Keith, Kevin Smith, Evan, Darrol)
As more people come to enjoy our Downtown areas: Central Business/Shops/Resturants District,
Arts Corridor, Performing Arts Center, and City Hall we will continue to put pressure on our
existing parking stall inventory. Competition for parking included, Employees, Residents in DT
area, and customers and visitors in general.
Goals/Objectives:
Highlights / Notes:
• What to do next:
o Tasked to find some more public input
o Gather more information from employers and employees
o They bring in customers, they have people who have to park for work everyday
o They are a good source of information for what parking needs from a business
perspective of employees and customers
• Darrol's thoughts on what should happen:
o We are trying to bring people here to visit the downtown, the arts corridor, the
shops, the activities, etc.
o People are building bigger facilities to draw in more people, compared to what used
to be in downtown Edmonds
o We are going to end up with a demand problem where demand exceeds supply
o It's not practical for people to walk from their home or take a bus because there
aren't any
o If you want people to come downtown, they have to park somewhere
o Overtime we are going to just have more pressure on where to park
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Key Steps for continuing to assess parking challenges:
• Will the business community be able to improve business with or without a parking
solution?
• Understanding the raw data of employees where they take an alternative mode of
transportation will help us get an idea
• There are 1000 stalls downtown
• Need to figure out how many are occupied by employee parking to see how many are left
for citizens
• People may avoid Edmonds if they have no place to park
• WE NEED DATA TO HELP PROVE THE THEORY.
o With the data we will get a sense of the business community's willingness to pay for
parking and to help solve the problem
o If the employers make their employees park in a new garage, this will help free up
spaces in Edmonds
o It would get them off the streets and open them to more people
• Try and keep parking on the agenda so it stays in the back of the heads of everyone
• We are not looking for proof to build a place
• The business community wants workers and consumers, is parking a problem for them
• Current plan is to try and survey the business community and get input. Basic information.
City was already going to do this as a parking study but they canceled it due to COVID.
• The City could help us put this into motion, Council will most likely support a survey for the
business community because it is cheap and easy to do.
Describe the Idea — what would it look like if realized? 5/10/20 years
A parking garage with solar panels, a walkway to the downtown area so they can interact easily
with the shops and restaurants, if you open up more places for parking you allow for easier
pedestrian traffic
b. HealthTech Corridor Development: (Charlie, Greg, Doug, Nicole)
- Sometimes have an incubator attached
- Typically an obvious area
- Options:
o Healthcare
o HealthTech
o Patient Care
o BioTech
o BioPharma
- Often located near university or hospital
- Need transit stops nearby
1. Describe the Idea — what would it look like if realized? 5/10/20 years
Office complex location housing multiple corporate operations under the category/segment
of HealthTech. Key: one anchoring company with others. Edmonds College (Shoreline CC,
Everett CC, CWU Lynnwood) has curriculum associated with healthtech. Swedish system has
expanded partnership capabilities around tech development and/or clinical research.
2. Discuss Goals/Objectives of the Idea — list top two or three objectives of the Idea. Why
would this benefit Edmonds and our citizens?
Elevated profile for region, draw for high paying jobs, long term growth trajectory of
industry and region.
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3. List the steps, actions or tasks that might need to be accomplished
Explore partnership capabilities —Swedish, Virginia Mason, UW, Verdant (most likely
partner)
Understand land development capabilities in near and long term
Identify potential anchoring company
c. Ferry Reservation System: (Susan, Carrie, Kevin Harris, Megan)
Vision: Capture some increasingly significant portion of ferry line traffic to divert into
Edmonds to extend visitor's stay and spend money on goods and services and improve
visitor's 'Edmonds Experience'. 'Don't waste time in the ferry line!'
Assumptions:
• A ferry reservation system will free up 'bonus' time for people to spend more time and
treasure in Edmonds (may not be true).
• A ferry reservation system is needed to implement the following suggested ideas to
maximize people's time spent in Edmonds (certainly NOT true, which suggests that the
issue might be more accurately described as 'How to better economically capitalize on
ferry traffic').
Goals/Objectives/Potential Barriers:
a. Entice ferry travelers to spend more time in Edmonds, either on the outbound or inbound
portion of their ferry trip.
b. Target restaurants and other venues that attract visitors.
c. Use the ferries to promote Edmonds services using 21'T century media.
d. Increase the quality of the 'Edmonds Experience', to create a virtuous cycle of return
visitors and 'word of mouth' referrals.
e. Barriers (relayed from Patrick): WSDOT gave Patrick a negative response, noting that the
ferries run too frequently on the Edmonds/Kingston run to make a reservation system
worthwhile. Also, that the physical layout of the ferry lanes wouldn't permit 'reserve and
park' capacity to enable a ferry reservation system.
Mitigating point: Susan noted that there are upcoming WSDOT plans to reconfigure the
existing ferry lanes, to make them broader by about six feet. Worth an update from WSDOT
to see if they still believe in their noted barriers, or have changed their minds.
Potential Work Steps:
a. Meet with WSDOT to discuss (see above). Susan has contact with John Vizina, WSDOT's
Governmental Affairs representative.
b. Contact City/Chamber folks in Anacortes to learn from their experience with ferry
reservations and impact on econ outcomes in their town. Do they have shuttle operations
to take visitors who are holding in the ferry lanes to their downtown area? Or is that
necessary in Anacortes?
c. Create solutions for better promotion of Edmonds on board the ferries
- Distribute new Edmonds Visitors Guides on board and in terminals
- Hire entertainers/story-tellers to ride the ferries during the summer months to promote
Edmonds history/services/etc.
- Use of QR codes or other promo spots ('What's happening now in Edmonds')
- Use geofencing to target ads to people on the ferry and in the line; the city currently has
an agency contracted that can do this type of work, and may already be
d. Create solutions for better sign age/artwork/etc. directing people to Edmonds after the
inbound trip ends and people depart (to leave people with a positive impression of
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Economic Development Commission
February 16, 2022
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Edmonds as they drive through DT or up Edmonds Way to get home). This may entice
people to spend more time in Edmonds on their next ferry trip.
Public artwork at street level; strategically placed at ingress/egress to Edmonds
Different signage/banners.
- Messaging to stop at a restaurant and pickup food (from DT, other districts, Highway 99,
food trucks) to take home after their long trip. Is there a way to digitally post restaurants
and their specials on board the inbound ferry?
Many of these ideas tie into the prior brainstorming re: Puget Sound Express/whale
watching and other waterfront activities.
Doug noted that new Creative District signage on 1-5 will improve showcasing of Edmonds.
Is there a way to include a URL reference on that signage that steers visitors to 'What's
Happening Now in Edmonds' type of site?
7. City Update: Doug shared the satellite office is getting close to opening. The sign should be in place in
approximately three weeks; furniture now is going in now; PD is about ready to move in. He submitted a
grant application for 4th Ave Cultural Corridor project to ArtsWA.
8. Liaison Updates
a. City Council (Susan Paine) not much to report. Council is reviewing the 2022 budget. Public
Hearing for electric vehicle standards is coming up.
b. Port of Edmonds (Angela Harris) via Megan: continuing to move forward with new
administration building which will create open space where current building is, as well as seawall repairs
and boardwalk improvements.
c. Chamber of Commerce (Greg Urban) trying to get feedback from the City on the 41h of july
event. Working on other scheduling other events for the year. The Chamber is partnering with L&I to
provide workshops to businesses. The Salish Sea Brewing Boathouse ribbon cutting is planned for March
16th
d. Planning Board (Roger Pence) Planning Board has its annual retreat on March 9th. Let Roger
know of any issues they should be considering this year.
9. Roundtable Discussion:
Carrie: Gave a brief update on what Ed! is currently doing.
Kevin Harris: Biz Booster 2.0 has been launched. Thanked Carrie and Scott, a lot of work and effort went
into it. Thanks to Greg, Patrick, Doug, and Megan as well. Also, thanks to Kelsey Foster for the assist on
the Media Release.
Darrol: having dinner in Edmonds to celebrate anniversary!
Kevin Smith: congrats on Biz Booster. Niles Peacock Pizza best in the City!
Keith: good job on the biz booster!
Evan: good work and good meeting!
Nicole thanked everyone!
10. Adjourn at 8:09 p.m.
Next regular meeting: March 16, 2022, 6 PM location Zoom
Meeting Summary
Economic Development Commission
February 16, 2022
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