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2023-11-15 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING November 15, 2023 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: LIAISONS PRESENT: Nicole Hughes, Chair David Preston, Port Commissioner, ex-officio Kevin Harris, Vice Chair Vivian Olson, Councilmember, ex-officio Darrol Haug Ryan Crowther, Chamber, ex-officio (via Zoom) Jay Hoag Natalie Seitz LIAISONS ABSENT: Matt Cox Vacant —Planning Board, ex-officio Kevin Smith Allan Townsend GUEST: Deborah Arthur COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Roger Pence Nick Perrault - unexcused Kate Nolan — Student Representative STAFF PRESENT: Todd Tatum, Director CS/ED Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator CS/ED Economic Development Commission meeting 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: Nick is absent; his absence is unexcused. Kate is also absent. 2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda has listed the next meeting date incorrectly, with that correction, Darrol moves to approve the agenda; Jay seconds; motion passes. 3. Approval of October 18, 2023, Meeting Summary: Natalie requests an edit to Item 5; she asks that following be added to the fourth sentence from the bottom: "the Highway 99 redevelopment will displace...". With the addition, Natalie moves to approve meeting summary; Allan seconds; motion passes. 4. Audience Comments: none. 5. Landmark Advisory Committee and Workgroup Update: There was a meeting held on November 6tn The meeting was well attended by the Advisory Committee, made up of representatives from the Economic Development Commissioners, the Planning Board, Councilmembers, City Directors, Todd Tatum, and Susan McLaughlin, as well as the consultant team. The consultant presented project information including suggested models and renderings of how vehicle and pedestrian traffic could move through and around the property. The models will be shared with the public at the public meeting on November 18th at Edmonds Woodway High School. The consultants take all public input into account. City staff are approaching this as a partnership project. Allan would like to see a heat map of the public input from the first public meeting. Staff are seeking input from developers to gauge partnership interest. Todd explains details of other successful public/private partnerships in the region. To determine the city's funding, there will need to be more information from a developer. If the project is voted down the $100,000 will be returned before the end of 2023. David asks about comparable properties in Edmonds; Todd explains there are not many if any that are the same size as this lot. Natalie shares that the community input from the area where this project is being proposed Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 15, 2023 Page 1 is a much different demographic than other areas of the city. Councilmember Olson adds that only one model that was shared in the meeting is consistent with what her table at the I" public meeting was interested in. There is a desire to limit traffic on side streets. She also explains that the message the Council has received from the community is mixed. She would like to see the property redeveloped without city involvement. She would prefer to focus on the international district. 6. Comprehensive Plan — Planning Board Joint Meeting Review: This is an opportunity to discuss the questions that were asked at the joint meeting last week. Tonight's focus is the Economic Development Element. The group is asked to identify their top three to five goals. The Commission pairs up to discuss and then shares with the whole group to develop a comprehensive list of goals (attached). 7. Liaison Updates: No updates; previous items ran longer than expected. a. City Council (Vivian Olson): b. Port of Edmonds (David Preston): c. Chamber of Commerce (Ryan Crowther): 8. Roundtable Discussion: No notes; previous items ran longer than expected. 9. Adjourn: 8:02 p.m. Next meeting: December 20, 2023, 6 PM location Hybrid — Brackett Room & Zoom Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 15, 2023 Page 2 Notes from 11.15.23 EDC Meeting Topics that should be added to EDE/Comp Plan • Get port engaged with development • Fast Track Permitting • Build Equity— invest across diverse communities • Seek to build collaboration between Economic group to align efforts with other city efforts • Healthcare District Branding • Business attraction: Attract EV car delivery location in Edmonds • Call out DEIA principles in Economic Development • Help planning department coach businesses through process so openings can be filled quickly • City programs should act like independent business • Resilient Communities —expand blue collar employment • Have a strategy for fire district escalating costs Changes to Definition of Economic Development • Expand tourism to all revenue generating sectors • Eliminate wording redundancies • Delete Quality of Life • Need a wholistic view of a plan • Be the city people want to come to to spend their money • Change "find a way to monetize tourism" —too disneylandish • B —add Build Connections between districts Important to Keep • C — maximize spending local • Tourism/outside dollars • Appropriately growth • Be poised to act at Firdale village • More traffic, less parking Top 3 • Zoning— Intentional housing and business to manage displacement • All zoning code review • A Housing near amenities • Increase tax revenue from housing • B — Right- size business districts with resources • Community centered business • Need to include equity focus between different biz districts • C— Diversity Economic makeup —tech, healthcare, development Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 15, 2023 Page 3 • Diversify and grow city makeup • Attract high income jobs • Attract/ask for what we want here • Diversify tax base — industries — include fast track permitting • B — prioritize the whole thing — enhance business districts • B— Revitalize and enhance Business Districts • B Revitalize Firdale, Perrinville • Foster Business Community • Int'I District connect to esp park, create infrastructure that increases character and appeal • D — Quality of life — be the city people want to come to and spend money • D — support community health with walkable, safe business districts — mitigate harm Questions and areas to explore • How do these broad goals get translated into measurable action items? • Reduce wording in A— E • How do we stimulate the chages we want to see • What implements the GMA • Need to understand ripple effects of leveraging existing CIP/PROS/CAP/CRP and holistically understand unintended risks • Is car sales revenue owned by 99 districts — should it be? Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission November 15, 2023 Page 4