2016-09-21 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
September 21, 2016
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Stephen Clifton
Jamie Reece
Matthew Waldron
Mary Monroe
George Bennett
Nicole Hughes via phone
Aseem Prakash
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio
Nathan Monroe, Planning Board, ex officio
Michael Schindler
Darrol Haug
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio
Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Cindi Cruz, Program Coordinator
ALSO PRESENT
Dave Teitzel, Councilman
Bob McChesney, Port, Executive Director
1. The Economic Development Commission meeting was called to order at 6:0 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda. Mary moved to approve agenda as presented. Aseem seconded;
motion passed.
3. Approval of 8/17/16 EDC Minutes. Matt moved to accept minutes as written. Mary
seconded; motion passed, George abstained.
4. Audience Comments No comments
5. Debrief of Council Presentation
Jamie gave presentation to Council on 8/23/16. General consensus was the presentation was well
received and a good representation of what the commission is and plans to work on in the future.
Nicole joined via phone attendance at 6:15.
6. Report from three subgroups:
a. Civic Field Master Planning Process: Patrick gave presentation that was also presented to PB
on 9/14/16 and at Open House. Jamie thought open house process went well. Went thru
PowerPoint presentation, which was created based on responses received at open house: public
interests, things included in public wish lists, design options included accommodation of events,
passive uses, active recreation use, etc. Where is the parking going to be? Petanque group was
well represented expressing a need for more courts. Why is Civic Field not looked at as a part of
downtown as a whole? Could and should be an economic engine for downtown. It was noted how
very accessible it is to downtown businesses from Civic Field for shopping, dining, etc.
Civic Field sub -group comments; Stephen & Nicole & Darrol: reviewed plans and created
discussion notes. Option 2 has a bigger concern about parking impacts with a more active plan,
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Economic Development Commission
September 21, 2016
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potential to draw larger attendance numbers downtown, option 1 a little too passive and some
underutilized space. Preference would be a hybrid of the two options including: path around field
marked with mileage, too many petanque courts, expand the plaza for a farmer's market, option 1
gave more flexibility, ensure adequate lighting, could make option 1 a little more active and still
maintain the park setting tiered seating along 7th Avenue would require more height but then
could create view blockage and/or a wall along the street, and support commerce and activity.
Boys & Girls Club breaks up the space on one side, the building may be redesigned, moved,
create space for vendors, restaurant space, combo spectator lounge areas combined with active
space, a food option needed that is more than a wall of vending machines, paid parking could be
potential, shave 8 feet off the west side of 6 h Ave. for parallel parking, Boys & Girls Club could
be located in corner of site. Changes to memo need to be discussed tonight for incorporation into
the October 12 plan. Hybrid version should attract a broad range of users so there is appeal to all.
A redesigned park will bring more people to downtown. Could food trucks park on site? Option 1
could be more activity all day long rather than focused use at specific times. Look at actual
numbers of users. Wider paths and allow for dog walkers. More regional (surrounding Edmonds
area) draw for different events then attendees have options to go to shops, restaurants, etc. Could
petanque courts be incorporated into use by other activities, such as a farmers market, pavilion
use, tournament use for petanque could be shared use, need more data on specific uses. Hybrid
would have more activity than Option 1 but less than Option 2. Comments to Parks/City Council
due by 9/30/16.
Nicole: Next open house in October and group (Project Advisory Committee PAC) working
parallel in process. There will be more comments. Jamie: preferred master plan will be presented
next. Will this be only opportunity for EDC to provide comments? Could there be an opportunity
to combine with PAC?
Aseem moved to revise comments for submittal. George seconded; motion passed
unanimously.
b. Highway 99 Subarea Planning Process: Have not met. Patrick reported there has been a lot
of work on process, meeting with consultants, property owners, and stakeholders last week. Work
will be presented possibly by end of October/November for reveal of draft. Focus on activating
redevelopment and what would make property owners redevelop. Potential for affordable housing
developers.
c. Downtown Parking: George reported, all parking is only as good as enforcement, 514
employee parking passes, information regarding these is 514 are all active, once a year fee for
$50, could be higher if reviewed by council and approve an increase. Parking lot behind
Chanterelle's is monthly parking 14 stalls at $113 per month, all paid for no waiting list, is that
the best usage of space? — predominately ferry parking and should it be used for shoppers. BID
report focuses on 4"' Avenue and creating angled parking on one side, net space gain is less but
angled parking is more efficient. Parking enforcement is combined with animal control — parking
has not been high focus. Could the City contract parking enforcement? Two hour parking limit vs
three hour limit in certain zones, shifting employee parking out from downtown core, shifting 3
hour zones out, employee parking is very close in to 5th & main. Come back with 4-5 items for
next meeting: enforcement, monthly parking & employee parking. City Council is united on
parking enforcement improving. Are there statistics for how much business you lose by having no
parking in front of door?
7. Report from Liaisons:
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a. Council: Neil — had no comment
b. Planning Board: Nathan no comment
c. Port: Bob McChesney reported that whale watching has been good for tourism and they will
be back next year.
d. Chamber of Commerce: Greg was absent
8. New Business:
a. Increasing profile of EDC (meeting notices in MEN, Beacon, Op/Eds, etc.): column every
three months could come from chair, could agenda come out earlier, would it get more interest,
put out information earlier than Friday before. Send out press release. George moved to allow
Chair to write a column. Aseem seconded; motion passed unanimously.
b. Future agenda items, speakers, etc.: Broader discussion for 45 minutes and a debrief of Civic
Field open house on 10/12 at next meeting.
9. Commissioner's Corner Stephen — encouraged attendance to see the show currently at the
Cascadia Art Museum and commented how Salish Crossing is becoming a true economic engine.
All the businesses that have opened are quite exciting. Jamie - Cascadia Art museum
representative spoke at Rotary describing Marvel -Marble will be torn down and redeveloped site
for mixed -use building to support art studio space, lofts, and actual living quarters for artists. Post
office site is going to house a bank.
10. Adjourn: 8:00 p.m.
Next regular meeting: October 19, 2016, 6 PM
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Economic Development Commission
September 21, 2016
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