2013-05-15 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
May 15, 2013
The Citizens Economic Development Committee meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Evan
Pierce in the Brackett Room, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Evan Pierce, Chair
Bruce Witenberg, Vice Chair
John Dewhirst
John Eckert
Kevin Garrett
Darrol Haug
Roger Hertrich
Nathan Proudfoot
Doug Purcell
John Rubenkonig
Gail Sarvis
Rich Senderoff
Darlene Stern
Evelyn Wellington
Teresa Wippel (arrived 6:15 p.m.)
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Marc Knauss
Debbie Matteson
1. OPENING REMARKS
PLANNING BOARD LIAISON
Phil Lovell
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Councilmember Joan Bloom
STAFF PRESENT
Stephen Clifton, Community Services/Economic
Development Director
Cindi Cruz, Executive Assistant
Frances Chapin, Cultural Services Manager
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
PUBLIC PRESENT
Council President Lora Petso
Sally Merck
Chair Pierce reported Commissioners Matteson and Wippel have excused absences. He encouraged
subgroups to use and submit the reporting forms to him or Vice Chair Bruce Witenberg so they can
compile them in a report for distribution.
2. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Commissioner Haug requested a discussion regarding the City's email system and other communication
issues be added under Miscellaneous.
3. APPROVAL OF APRIL 17, 2013 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES
COMMISSIONER PURCELL MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 17, 2013.
COMMISSIONER STERN SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
DISCUSSION
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Economic Development Commission
May 15, 2013
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4. SUB -GROUP UPDATES & STATUS
a. Technology Update
Commissioner Haug advised of a fiber connection with Averetek, a business application software
company, that is very supportive of the community and as well as interested in bringing other tech
companies to the City. Bids are going out to connect two additional customers, one in the Walnut area and
the other on 2nd Avenue. Mr. Clifton explained Averetek moved to Edmonds over a year ago from Bothell
because they liked Edmonds; they were unaware of the availability of fiber.
Commissioner Senderoff suggested keeping track of the number of new jobs that new businesses or
expansions create which may help attract other businesses. Mr. Clifton advised City staff does that and
businesses indicate the number of employees on their business license application.
Commissioner Haug reported a second meeting was held with several businesses in the City interested in
creating incubator space for start-up, entrepreneurial businesses.
b. Tourism Update
Commissioner Garrett referred to the Tourism Subcommittee Update form attached to the packet,
explaining the subcommittee discussed opportunities to expand marine tourism. These include Port
activities and the Port providing information/outreach via their website to Port stakeholders (property
owners and businesses within the Port District), boaters, and dry-landers. The subcommittee is seeking
the EDC's endorsement to move forward with talking to the Port about the subgroup's findings and
suggestions.
Discussion followed regarding informational conversations with the Port to -date, encouraging the Port to
utilize social media, adding a festival near Labor Day, the Rotary's Waterfront Festival, intent to make an
informal presentation to the Port, the Port's Destination Edmonds program, other incentive programs the
Port can offer, attracting food trucks to the Port and/or designating a space at the Port for food trucks.
It was the consensus of the Commission for the Tourism Subcommittee to pursue the matter further and
discuss it with the Port.
Commissioner Dewhirst reported the Washington State Travel Alliance's mobile app, Visit WA, has
potential for Edmonds. Edmonds is a member of the Alliance but there is no one at the City to create the
mobile app. The Alliance suggested utilizing a college intern. Mr. Clifton has provided contact
information for interns at Edmonds Community College. There are two primary target markets for Visit
WA, 1) those under 45 who are looking for something to do, who use social media on average 120/day,
and 2) visitors to Seattle and Boeing tours - Edmonds is strategically located between the two; visitors
need to be given a reason to come to Edmonds such as the waterfront, sandy beaches, free parking, dog
park, incredible views, trains, ferries, and walkable downtown with restaurants, shopping, etc.
Commissioner Wippel reported on her research regarding Bed & Breakfasts; there are two in Edmonds,
one has existed for some time and there is a newer one that has one room. The owner of the newer one
indicated the biggest disincentive to opening a B&B was in the past the City's regulations were not
friendly toward B&Bs; the regulations were recently changed but word has not gotten out that it is easier
now to meet the requirements to open a B&B in Edmonds. The subcommittee discussed the importance of
getting the word out that the City welcomes B&Bs. She offered to write a story for My Edmonds News
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about existing B&Bs and that the City welcomes B&Bs. She reported the one B&B has been in business
20 years and is very successful; the new one indicated they are booked solid.
Another suggestion was made for a My Edmonds News article; free things to do in Edmonds or doing
Edmonds on less than $20/day.
c. Land Use Update — Incentive Zoning, Train Mitigation
Commissioner Rubenkonig reported the subcommittee continues to collect articles about the train issue.
As Port Commissioner Faires mentioned at the last meeting, the issue is not just coal trains but the
continued increase in train traffic. He referred to two recent articles:
1. A UW Bothell professor is launching a study regarding the difference between diesel and coal
particulates. If sufficient funding can be obtained, the professor plans to install a monitoring
station on the Columbia River. Several coal producing states have expressed interest in the study
results.
2. A Texas company that was interested in a coal export site in Oregon has abandoned the idea;
there now may be more pressure on a new or expanded facility in Washington. (May 9, 2013
Seattle PI)
Commissioner Purcell reported on business incentives that the subcommittee is discussing:
1. Hotel/motel tax waiver — this incentive has deleted as another city indicated it is not effective
2. Qualified Small Bond Issue Sponsorship
3. Multi -unit housing development tax credit
4. Single source limited tax source general obligation bonds
Other concepts the subcommittee is exploring include: a temporary property waiver for a business
development zone (used by Andrews, Texas, and Forest Grove, Oregon), historic preservation property
tax waiver, and changing the timing of permitting and impact fees. He reported the City has several
existing development incentives; a list needs to be developed and distributed to the development
community. The next step is forwarding the business incentives to the Planning Board and/or Council.
Mr. Clifton reported Mayor Earling asked the City Clerk, Parks & Recreation, Public Works and
Engineering to prepare a matrix comparing Edmonds' fees to other cities' fees. It was suggested the
timing of the fees also be investigated. Mr. Stephen reported he met with a Master Builders Association
representative who reported developers like working with Edmonds staff but do not like the City's
regulations. Discussion followed regarding a "feel -good" newspaper article in the Sunday newspaper
about what Edmonds has to offer, marketing Edmonds via social media, and the media's interest in
something that is fresh and vibrant.
d. Strategic Plan Update
Commissioner Proudfoot reported the subcommittee discussed who will oversee the Strategic Plan, the
EDC next steps, how to assess the best of the 88 Strategic Action Plan topics to show that something is
being done, and the EDC being the guides and cheerleaders for Plan.
Mr. Clifton reported any work done by staff will identify the plan action it is related to and how it
implements the action. For example, the Council packet for the two ordinances regarding the public
market will include reference the plan actions related to public markets. There are many activities already
underway that implement strategic plan actions. It has only been one month since the City Council
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approved the Strategic Plan; efforts are focused on creating a framework to best implement the plan.
Some EDC members have created spreadsheets to track progress on plan actions.
Commissioner Senderoff added the subcommittee also had a lively discussion regarding, 1) plan actions
the EDC was specifically identified as a participant, and 2) how the EDC or Strategic Plan Subcommittee
will monitor and move plan actions forward. There are more plan actions than the EDC can handle at any
one time, and the subcommittee will need to prioritize them based on complexity, time, etc.
Discussion followed regarding a bulletin board/public communication point to illustrate progress on the
Strategic Plan, identifying what plan actions the EDC will pursue and who will monitor/measure the
overall progress on the Strategic Plan, a governmental body not being the best group to oversee progress
on the Strategic Plan, a group of businesses and community members in Chehalis that oversees and
continually updates their Strategic Plan, holding a Town Hall meeting to improve communication, the
EDC's role in oversight/monitoring/championing the Strategic Plan, including a scoreboard regarding
progress on the Strategic Plan in the City's quarterly email newsletter, use of project management
software such as Basecamp to monitor progress, the EDC offering input to the Council on the 14 plan
actions that the Council is the lead on, the EDC playing a facilitator/encouragement role in moving
progress forward, having an independent body with no involvement in implementation monitor and
provide a report card on progress, and inviting the people who provided input to the Strategic Plan to be
involved in a group to oversee progress.
Vice Chair Witenberg suggest the Strategic Plan subcommittee provide a list of the plan action items that
each subgroup needs to discuss and/or rank to Ms. Cruz by the deadline for the next EDC meeting.
Commissioner Senderoff suggested Commissioners review the list of plan actions and inform the
Strategic Plan subcommittee of specific actions their subcommittee should pursue.
e. Communications & Community Outreach Update
5. DISCUSSION OF STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN ITEMS TO BE REVIEWED BY EDC FOR
DIRECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION
This item was discussed under 4b.
6. UPDATE ON ROGER BROOKS MEETING (5/13/13) LIMITING OFFICE USE BD1 ZONE
Mr. Clifton reported on a meeting with the property owners in the BD1. Invitations were sent to over 50
property owners in the zone; 7-8 attended the meeting. He gave a presentation and Roger Brooks
discussed the benefits of limiting office uses on the ground floor in the BD1 zone. There has been
discussion by EDC and Planning Board members about expanding beyond the BD1 zone; Mr. Brooks
agreed it was preferable to start with a demonstration project. None of the property owners objected to the
proposal, some were supportive, and others wanted to continue the conversation but seemed to be in
favor. Mr. Brooks provided examples such as Ashville, North Carolina, Jackson, Wyoming, and Walnut
Creek, and benefits such as increased property values, increased rents, and adding more retail and
restaurants.
Chair Pierce recalled one property owners wanted more height in exchange. The intent of the proposal is
to incentivize business development to create a vibrant, lively downtown and has little to do with building
heights. Mr. Clifton commented if the Council approves the proposal, it will assist him and leasing agents
in targeting specific businesses types.
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Vice Chair Witenberg relayed the owner of Revelations Yogurt indicated their business is open late and
has a considerable amount of traffic. Although the City cannot legislate hours, the property owners can
make a coordinated effort to extend hours.
7. MISCELLANEOUS
Ci , Email
Commissioner Haug commented use of the City's email is cumbersome and using a separate system
makes it difficult to check frequently. He contacted staff with a list of issues and staff is developing an
instruction sheet. When he served on another governmental entity, he was told as long as information on
personal computers was kept in a separate folder, only those folders were subject to the Public Records
Act. Mr. Clifton offered to confer with the City Clerk and City Attorney about folders.
Discussion followed regarding public records requests, purpose of City -issued email addresses to protect
EDC members, and concern with the accessibility of City email.
8. AUDIENCE COMMENTS — None
9. ADJOURN
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
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