2010-01-13 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
January 13, 2010
The Citizens Economic Development Committee meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Frank
Yamamoto in the Brackett Room, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds.
ECON. DEV. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Stacy Gardea
Don Hall
Darrol Haug
Betty Larman
Beatrice O'Rourke
Evan Pierce
David Schaefer
Rich Senderoff
Kerry St. Clair Ayers
Rob VanTassell
Bruce Witenberg
Rebecca Wolfe
Frank Yamamoto
Marianne Zagorski
ECON. DEV. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Bruce Faires
Bill Vance
PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Phil Lovell
Kevin Clark
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
None
STAFF PRESENT
Stephen Clifton, Community Services/Economic
Development Director
Rob Chave, Planning Manager
Frances Chapin, Cultural Services Manager
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
1. INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTS BY CHAIR — None
2. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA — None
3. APPROVAL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16,
2009
COMMISSIONER ZAGORSKI MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16,
2009. COMMISSIONER GARDEA SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
4. JANUARY 19, 2010 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
a. Annual Report from Economic Development Commission and Planning Board
Mr. Clifton reported comments received up until 5:00 p.m. today had been incorporated into the report.
Commissioners reviewed a strikeout draft of the report and made several additional revisions.
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January 13, 2010
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Discussion followed regarding community meetings held in Five Corners by former Economic
Development Director Jennifer Gerend, zoning changes accomplished for the Firdale Village property,
the Planning Board's role in economic development, past economic development reports that the Council
has not acted upon, the Council's invitation to Chair Yamamoto to provide an overview of the EDC's
efforts at their retreat and Mr. Clifton's plans to address the Council at the retreat regarding economic
development, and whether the Council liaisons to the EDC should be the same Councilmembers that
participate on Economic Development Committee with Mr. Clifton,
It was agreed to include the Commission's February 17 meeting in document as the date for the Council
to provide feedback. It was also agreed to request the City Council appoint two Councilmembers not
currently serving on the City Council Economic Development Committee to the EDC.
COMMISSIONER WITENBERG MOVED TO APPROVE THE REPORT AS AMENDED.
COMMISSIONER VANTASSELL SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Chair Yamamoto reviewed the PowerPoint that will be presented to City Council at their January 19
meeting and Commissioners made several minor revisions. The PowerPoint addressed the following:
• The Challenge
• Graphs with data illustrating increasing deficit and tax increase per household
• Formation of EDC
• Membership and charges of EDC
• Four primary goals in the City's Economic Development Plan
• Required Annual Report and the Commission's sunset date of December 31, 2010
• What is Economic development
• Why we should all should care about economic development — impacts quality of life
• Your quality of life is threatened when afraid of change, unaware of surrounding competition,
failure to work on a plan, ignoring past history
• Immediate action items
• Process to date — what have we been doing
• Additional EDC findings and observations necessary for a successful economic development
process
• Summary including the EDC looks forward to hearing the Council's response at the EDC's
February 17 meeting.
Discussion continued regarding a suggestion to include a slide in the PowerPoint listing cuts made to the
budget in the past, concern that citizens' quality of life has not yet been directly impacted by cuts, a
suggestion to pause on the qualify of life slide to emphasize the importance of economic development, a
suggestion to add as a benefit that strengthening commercial development slows the growth of property
taxes, and funds that could be generated via a levy.
Mr. Clifton advised the final edits would be made to the report and the report would be submitted by noon
tomorrow, the deadline for inclusion in the Council packet. Commissioners thanked Chair Yamamoto
and the Focus Group for their assistance with developing the report and the PowerPoint.
COMMISSIONER SENDEROFF MOVED THAT THE EDC NOT MEET NEXT WEEK DUE TO
THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL MEETINGS HELD RECENTLY. COMMISSIONER PIERCE
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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January 13, 2010
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A brief discussion followed regarding the Commission establishing/adopting a policy regarding a time
limit and interaction during audience comments.
5. FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS
It was suggested the Commission the roles and responsibilities for the Economic Development Director
position.
6. MISCELLANEOUS - None
7. AUDIENCE COMMENTS — None
8. ADJOURN
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
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January 13, 2010
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