2014-12-17 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
December 17, 2014
The Citizens Economic Development Committee meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Chair
Witenberg in the Brackett Room, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Bruce Witenberg, Chair
Kevin Garrett, Vice Chair
Jenny Antilla
Nicole Hughes
Jamie Reece
John Rubenkonig
Michael Schindler
Rich Senderoff
Douglas Swartz
Teresa Wippel
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
John Dewhirst
Darrol Haug
Roger Hertrich
Debbie Matteson
Doug Purcell
Darlene Stern
1. OPENING REMARKS
PLANNING BOARD LIAISON
Phil Lovell
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Councilmember Kristiana Johnson
PORT OF EDMONDS LIAISON
David Preston
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Cindi Cruz, Program Coordinator
Rob Chave, Planning Manager
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
PUBLIC PRESENT
Jeff Sherrer
Chair Witenberg introduced new Commissioner Jenny Antilla and she described her background and
interest in the EDC.
Chair Witenberg announced Commissioners Dewhirst, Matteson and Stern have excused absences.
2. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA - NONE
3. APPROVAL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 19,
2014
COMMISSIONER SCHINDLER MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER REECE, TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 19, 2014. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. STATUS OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE AND
CIP/CFP
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Planning Manager Rob Chave Council reported the Council approved the Capital Facilities Plan/Capital
Improvement Program and the 2015 budget at last night's meeting. Of note to the EDC, the Council
authorized $100,000 to match funds they are requesting from the legislature for an alternatives analysis of
ferry/emergency conflicts. The Council also included $100,000 in the budget for a Planned Action on
Highway 99 which would fund planning work and ultimately environmental review of land use and
transportation improvements on Highway 99. That effort, coupled with recent changes the Council made
to encourage more housing on Highway 99, will position Edmonds to capture development occurring in
the region.
The Council also authorized an $110,000 contract with a team of consultants led by Makers to work on
the development code update during 2015. The code update is a multiyear project; the City Council will
consider providing additional funds at the end of the year to complete the code update. The consultants
have already begun work.
Mr. Chave reported the Planning Board is currently reviewing the Land Use and Utility elements. The
City Council is reviewing the Housing Element followed by the Land Use and Utilities Elements and is
holding hearings on each element.
Chair Witenberg reported the City Council left downtown restrooms in the CFP but did not appropriate
any funds in 2015 for temporary downtown restrooms.
5. DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Economic Development and Community Service Director Patrick Doherty explained the previous
Economic Development Plan has not been updated since it was adopted in December 2006. The deadline
for updating the entire Comprehensive Plan is June 2015. Due to the constrained timeline, staff is revising
elements rather than starting over. The Economic Development Element is a policy document, the
background for the regulatory framework.
Mr. Doherty recalled the EDC agreed the Business Enhancement Subgroup would provide initial
revisions to the goals and policies. The draft provided to the EDC includes his and the subgroup's
proposed revisions as well as additional input from Commissioner Senderoff. Following tonight's
meeting he will prepare the entire element which includes the goals and policies as well as the narrative
and implementation. The element will be presented to the Planning Board for review and public comment
at their January 28 meeting. Commissioners can comment on the Economic Development Element as
individuals to the Planning Board.
Commissioners reviewed the goals and policies and provided the following suggestions/comments:
• Add fiber optics in Strengths
• Add shortage of tourist facilities/lack of infrastructure to support tourism (accommodations,
restrooms, wayfinding) to Weakness
• List of Weaknesses is short, there may be additional items in the narrative
• Add specialty retail and restaurants to International Business Community in Strengths to indicate
why it is a strength and identify concentration on Highway 99
• Determine whether to use intermodal or multimodal throughout document
• Add free parking to Strengths
• Add "recognized" to events and festivals under Strengths
• Add electric car charging station to Strengths
• Concern the wording of some opportunities are policy language versus action
• Add opportunities on Highway 99 such as big properties, good visibility due to traffic volume,
transit
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• Add opportunities provided by ferry traffic on SR 104 to Opportunities
• Add glossary of terms
• Add Port of Edmonds as partner in economic development to Strengths
• Add policy recognize Port's role in economic development
• Add accessible public waterfront and pedestrian connections to Strengths
• Add waterfront amenities to Strengths
• Add continue to make waterfront more accessible as a goal
• Identify business districts in narrative
• Add parks to Strengths
• Add Dive Park to Strengths
• Consider whether to include 0 Avenue Corridor in Policy 2f
• Expand language in Policy 5g
• Reword Goal 4
• Add quality of life to Strengths
• Consider referencing impeded access to waterfront from increase in train traffic in SWAT
analysis
• Rephrase 4e to address economic development
• Add to Policy 2c accommodating a wide range of housing options to enhance use of commercial
• Add flowers as a Strength
• Include parks and recreational facilities in 5f
Commissioners and staff discussed signage on SR 104 for restaurants near the ferry holding lanes,
services provided by fiber optics versus cable, Comprehensive Plan as a vision with broad categories,
concern with use of the word "appropriate" in the document, whether 4 b Avenue Corridor is a business
district, and revisions that have been made to B&B regulations.
Mr. Doherty reported Salish Crossing has signed leases with Top Pot Donuts and Spud Fish & Chips. Top
Pot plans to use a mobile app to take orders.
6. TOURISM AND VISITOR SUB GROUP UPDATE
Commissioner Garrett reported the subgroup discussed downtown restrooms and the position paper
approved by the EDC. Commissioner Dewhirst made a presentation regarding downtown restrooms to a
downtown group who was very supportive. The City's tourism website has been launched; during the first
quarter of 2015, consideration will be given to other opportunities for providing information about the
City to people visiting the region. The subgroup also brainstormed 2015 projects/efforts. The subgroup
meets every other month; their next meeting will be in February.
7. BRAINSTORM IDEAS TO CONSIDER FOR 2015
Commissioners' brainstorming identified the following ideas:
• Leakage: survey current business types and needs, target businesses to recruit (UW study
regarding Westgate had a list of community needs)
• Identify physical areas/business districts that would promote economic development
• Encourage small pharmacy, Doc in a Box
• Strategies for engaging businesses on Highway 99, particularly International District businesses
• Business -oriented website for recruitment and investment
• Analyze how waterfront businesses can be enhanced
• Food trucks — waterfront, Yost Park, City Park
• Downtown gathering place
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• Village green on 4"' Avenue at Dayton to anchor the south end of the 4"' Avenue Corridor
• Targeted code amendments
• UW Green Futures Lab study on Five Corners
• Advocate for a boutique hotel downtown and other lodging facilities particularly near the hospital
• Enhanced effort on liaison program
• Review 25 items in SAP related to economic development and consider how to move them
forward
• Capture ferry traffic tourism
• Talk with WSF about ferry reservation system
• Explore increasing the number of gas stations in the City to increase gas tax
It was agreed to review the ideas at the next meeting and determine which subgroup would pursue them.
8. COUNCIL LIAISONS' COMMENTS
Councilmember Johnson reported on Council activity:
• Adopted CIP/CFP and 2015 budget
o Council allocated $100,000 for matching funds for an alternatives study
o Council allocated $100,000 for Highway 99 planning
• Adopted Legislative Agenda for 2015 which includes $1.25 million for the alternatives analysis
and $10 million to implement a Highway 99 Gateway project
• Adopted Social Media policy
• Reappointed Doug Swartz and appointed Jenny Antilla to the EDC
• Agreed to move forward with a Diversity Commission. A task force is being formed to determine
what the commission should address.
• Approved the Edmonds Downtown Alliance's Work Plan and the LTAC's Work Plan
• Added the Schumacher Building to the Edmonds Register of Historic Places
• Received an update on the SAP
• Completed review of the Shoreline Master Program
• Presentation from PSRC regarding regional impacts of the proposed terminal at Cherry Point
(Commissioner Rubenkonig left the meeting at 7:52 p.m.)
9. PLANNING BOARD UPDATE
Planning Board Member Phil Lovell reported on Planning Board activities:
• Reviewing Comprehensive Plan Elements, currently reviewing the Land Use and Utilities
Elements.
• Identified two Student Representatives; one will finish in 2014 and the second will start in 2015
• Extended agenda includes:
o Economic Development Element (January)
o Transportation and Cultural and Urban Design Elements (February)
o Street Tree Plan and Streetscape Plan (March)
o Transportation Element (March)
o Capital Facilities Element (May)
• Public hearing on entire Comprehensive Plan (June)
• Elected Neil Tibbott as Chair and Phil Lovell as Vice Chair
10. PORT OF EDMONDS UPDATE - None
11. MISCELLANEOUS
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Chair Witenberg reported Councilmember Peterson will be leaving his Council position next month to
represent District 21 in the State Legislature. He acknowledged Councilmember Peterson's contribution
and his support of the EDC. He also thanked Commissioner Purcell for his service on the EDC including
his contributions to the Business Enhancement Subgroup.
12. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Jeff Sherrer commented on the economic impact Edmonds Community College's large student
population has on the City. He suggested partnering with Edmonds Community College on something
that would draw students. He pointed out the Economic Development Element does not mention reaching
beyond the City's borders such as a Sister City Program.
13. ADJOURN
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
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