2014-10-15 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
October 15, 2014
The Citizens Economic Development Committee meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m. by Chair
Witenberg in the Brackett Room, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds without a quorum.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT PLANNING BOARD LIAISON
Bruce Witenberg, Chair
Kevin Garrett, Vice Chair
Roger Hertrich (arrived 6:09 p.m.)
Debbie Matteson
John Rubenkonig (arrived 6:47 p.m.)
Michael Schindler
Douglas Swartz
Teresa Wippel
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
John Dewhirst
Darrol Haug
Nicole Hughes
Doug Purcell
Rich Senderoff
Darlene Stern
Finis Tupper
1. OPENING REMARKS — NONE
2. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Phil Lovell
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Councilmember Kristiana Johnson
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Shane Hope, Development Services Director
Rob Chave, Planning Manager
Frances Chapin, Arts & Culture Program Mgr.
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
PUBLIC PRESENT
Victor Eskenazi
Vice Chair Garrett relayed as there is not a quorum, the Commission cannot take any action. At least one
more Commissioner is expected. Items may be deleted from the agenda if a quorum is not established.
4. PRESENTATION BY DR. DAVID JAFFE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SWEDISH-EDMONDS —
66SWEDISH/EDMONDS HOSPITAL: RECENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND FUTURE
PERSPECTIVE"
Development Services Director Shane Hope introduced David Jaffe, CEO, Swedish -Edmonds Hospital.
Dr. Jaffe advised this is the 50th anniversary of the hospital. The hospital has had a long tradition of
providing care in the community. The relationship between Swedish and the Hospital District (now
Verdant) dates to September 1, 2010 when the District entered into a long term agreement with Swedish
to manage the facility. The buildings on the campus belong to the District and Swedish occupies the
buildings and manages campus. Dr. Jaffe provided examples of what has occurred at Swedish -Edmonds
since 2010, some of which would not have been possible without Swedish's involvement:
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• $12 million investment in electronic medical records system, Epic, which allows patient records
to be transferred electronically
• Acquired a new linear accelerator for the radiation oncology unit on the Swedish -Edmonds
campus
• Built a new Cancer Center on the Edmonds campus that opened a year ago April
• Acquired a $3 million da Vinci robot that enables surgeons to access to areas that are difficult to
reach with traditional surgery.
Dr. Jaffe described why this $63.5 million project is needed.
• Aside from some renovation work, the campus has not been touched since mid to late 1970s and
is in desperate need of an upgrade
• The agreement states Swedish will invest a minimum of $60 million in a facilities upgrade within
10 years
• Swedish -Edmonds' top priority is the patient. This project epitomizes that.
He displayed an architectural rendering and described the new 77,000 square foot facility:
• New emergency department
o Existing emergency department built for 25,000 visits/year; currently seeing in excess of
43,000 visits/year
o New facility will provide the ability to see upwards of 55,000 visits/year
o Will meet growing needs of the community and provide more efficient operation, patient
flow and greater level of patient satisfaction
• Swedish wants to provide the ultimate patient care experience, not just medical care
• Urgent care center for urgent needs that are not an emergency such as a fever
o Goal is right setting, right care and most efficient care
o Intended to bring down the cost of medical care
• New outpatient imaging center
• 9-bed observation unit
• Building has a glacial theme, texture of building skin is uneven, feeling of movement, natural
richness
• 37,000 square foot shell on the second floor for future expansion
o Envision as home of surgical suites and recovery in future.
• Lobby with 25-foot ceilings
o Natural light
o Local artwork
o Seating area
o Multipurpose room with exercise, nutrition, and cooking classes
o Starbucks with indoor/outdoor seating
• Atrium with 25-foot ceilings
o Seating area with reclaimed driftwood wall
o Wood cuts of historical photographs dating back to late 1800s
o Gas fireplace,
o Stones with fossils
o Components will have plaques identifying whose generosity made it possible
• 368 space multilevel parking garage that will improve accessibility to the campus
• Wellness trail with indigenous and pre -glacial plantings
Dr. Jaffe summarized this is an incredible step for Swedish -Edmonds and the community. He responded
to questions regarding the timeframe for construction, anticipated general growth for this facility versus
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the new Providence facility in Everett, providing off campus services for employees and housing for
patient families, economic development potential on Highway 99, expanding negative pressure rooms,
and enhancing the entry to the campus from Highway 99. Commissioners' and the public comments
included satisfaction with care at Swedish -Edmonds and the importance of Dr. Jaffe's leadership.
(A quorum was established with the arrival of Commissioner Rubenkonig at 6:47 p.m.)
Dr. Jaffe described a 10-ton, 5' x 4.5' erratic rock found on the Swedish -Edmonds campus. A geologic
expert determined the rock is 150-299 million years old and came from Fidalgo Bay outside Anacortes.
Dr. Jaffe offered to provide update on the Swedish -Edmonds expansion project in the future.
3. APPROVAL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17,
2014
COMMISSIONER MATTESON MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SWARTZ TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2014. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. TOURISM AND VISITORS SUBGROUP UPDATE
Vice Chair Garrett referred to a report prepared by Commissioner Dewhirst regarding Downtown
Restrooms and a map identifying public restrooms, none of which are downtown. Strategic Plan
Objective 3, Maintain and enhance Edmonds' community character and quality of life, specifically Action
3a.2(37) ranks downtown restrooms as "very high." The key issue is cost, not construction costs but
funding ongoing operation and maintenance. There is a proposal to include a placeholder for a downtown
restroom facility in City's CFP/CIP. The map identifies two potential locations for public restrooms
downtown, the parking lot south of City Hall or somewhere near Old Mill Town.
Vic Chair Garrett explained the purpose of this paper is for discussion, something tangible to take to
organizations like the EDBID, the Chamber, City Council, or other potential funding partners. Assuming
the absent Commissioners would like to comment on this issue, he recommended delaying formal
endorsement until the November meeting.
Discussion followed regarding the need for more than one restroom downtown, the Planning Board's
recommendation for the Council to consider adding downtown restroom to CFP/CIP, and when the
Council will take action on CIP/CFP. It was agreed to add this as an action item on the November
meeting agenda.
6. BUSINESS DISTRICTS ENHANCEMENT SUBGROUP UPDATE
Economic Development & Community Services Director Patrick Doherty relayed the subgroup discussed
Edmonds' traditional downtown and what, if anything, could be done to strengthen the form, function and
character of downtown. The discussion included the Main Street Program which is administered through
the State Trust for Historic Presentation. That program has two components; the first is physical, whether
the community possesses the characteristics to qualify for Main Street designation. This tends to be based
on the historic character of structures and the urban form. If the first component is met, the second
component is establishment of a program within several guiding principles that include restructuring the
economic base if necessary, a commitment to preservation, marketing and management. The Main Street
Program was created in the 1970s to revitalize historic downtowns that were failing or had failed and
were not capitalizing on the charm and elegance of a historic downtown.
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Mr. Doherty commented Edmonds' downtown theoretically could quality from a physical perspective; the
question would be whether it was needed since the downtown is not failing. He provided an example,
Ellensburg 25 years ago, where old buildings were rehabbed and the downtown economy reinvented with
restaurants, bars, shops, service providers, etc. A separate 501(c)3c organization must be established
whose sole purpose is administering the Main Street Program. The EDBID does a lot of the things that a
successful Main Street Program would do such as promoting the downtown, determining ways to
maximize marketing, hours, etc.
7. STRATEGIC PLAN SUBGROUP UPDATE
Mr. Doherty reported on the October 8 meeting with the Strategic Plan Facilitation Work Group where
the consultant, Cynthia Berne, explained she has identified primary leads for 82 of the 86 actions items; 4
items do not have a primary lead. The Work Group agreed it was okay not to have lead for those at this
time, acknowledging a primary lead may arise in the future.
Ms. Berne will provide a report to the Council on October 28. She will provide a final report in the first
quarter of 2015 that will include worksheets for each primary lead, recommended technical changes to the
SAP document, and roadmaps for several items.
8. EDMONDS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS
Development Services Director Shane Hope explained Development Services includes building,
engineering and planning. This department requires a great deal of teamwork and interaction with the
public. She reviewed a graph of building permits and revenue January — August 2001-2014, highlighting
booms and slumps over the past decade and upward trend in recent years. She displayed a comparison of
solar panel permits:
Year
Number of
Permits
Number of Permits
Applied for Online
Number of Permits
Applied for at Counter
2012
3
0
3
2013
6
51
2014 to date
27
23
4
She provided a map identifying key development projects, advising as of last month there were a total of
544 active issued building permits including 52 new single family residence permits. She provided
photographs and described several projects:
• Swedish Hospital 3-story parking garage
o $8.4 million in valuation
o Completed June 2014
• Swedish Hospital Expansion
0 94,117 square foot expansion
o $28 million in valuation
• New Post Office Mixed use Building
0 94,256 square feet
0 43 residential units, post office and retail space
o $7.2 million in valuation
• Community Health Center
0 24,750 square feet medical and dental center
o $2.6 million in valuation
o Completed July 2014
• Salish Crossing
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o Remodel providing five new tenant spaces, museum, parking lot and pedestrian
improvements
o 21,000 square feet
Jacobsen's Marine
o New 10,120 square foot marine services building
o $810,000 in valuation
Prestige Care
o New 48,782 square foot skilled nursing facility on 76th Avenue W
o $6.9 million in valuation
o Demolish old building, construct new building 50% larger
o New approach to skilled nursing - less institutional more livable
5th Avenue Animal Hospital
0 10,561 square foot veterinary clinic
o $891,000 valuation
She advised the Development Services Department is also transitioning to new technology.
9. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS
Councilmember Johnson reported on issues the Council is discussing:
• Reviewed first element of Comprehensive Plan, Sustainability Element
o Council plans to hold a public hearing on each chapter as they are drafted
• Presentation on Social Media Policy
Future proposal to rehab the fishing pier
CIP/CFP and budgeting process through the end of the year
10. PLANNING BOARD UPDATE
Planning Board Member Phil Lovell reported on recent Planning Board meetings:
• September 10
o Forwarded Sustainability Element to Council
■ Considerable discussion available online in Planning Board minutes
■ Staff recommended Comprehensive Plan principles and strategies be as broad as possible
September 24
o Public hearing on CIP/CFP
■ No public comment
■ Forwarded CFP/CIP to Council with recommendation to consider adding downtown
restrooms
■ Will be 1-2 public hearings at Council
o Introduction to Housing Element
■ Presentation by Christina Gallant, Alliance for Housing Affordability on
County housing statistics
■ September 24 Seattle Times article, "Builders Say Land in Short Supply,"
difficulty developing housing in King County due to lack of available land
October 8 — meeting cancelled
Next meeting — continue discussion regarding Housing and Land Use Elements
9. PORT OF EDMONDS UPDATE — None
12. MISCELLANEOUS
Snohomish
describing
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Chair Witenberg reported Commissioners Dewhirst, Haug, Hughes, Stern, Senderoff and Purcell as well
as Port Commission Liaison Faires have excuses absences.
Chair Witenberg reported on the Edmonds Downtown Alliance lunch that Commissioner Dewhirst,
Councilmember Johnson, Ms. Chapin, Mr. Doherty and he attended. The purpose of the lunch was to
learn what organizations in the City are doing, how to collaborate and avoid duplicating efforts. There are
plans to have a meet and greet in early December.
Ms. Chapin reported on the Writers Conference the Arts Commission has put on for the past 29 years,
held during the first weekend in October. The conference was attended by 300 people, the majority from
outside Edmonds including 16% from other 12 states. The conference resulted in numerous hotel nights.
13. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Victor Eskenazi, suggested marketing the public restrooms as an opportunity for manufacturers to
demonstrate an artistic installation, envisioning they would cover the cost of installation and maintenance.
The public restrooms could be part of art walk.
14. ADJOURN
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
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