2016-12-14 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
December 14, 2016
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Jamie Reece
Darrol Haug
Matthew Waldron
Mary Monroe left meeting at 7:00
Stephen Clifton left meeting at 6:30
George Bennett
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Michael Schindler
Nicole Hughes
Aseem Prakash
Nathan Monroe, Planning Board, ex officio
Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Cindi Cruz, Program Coordinator
1. Economic Development Commission meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda. Approved as submitted.
3. Approval of 11/16/16 EDC Minutes: Mary moved to approve minutes as written, Stephen
seconded; motion passed.
4. Audience Comments No comments.
5. Subgroup Reports:
a. Civic Field The proposed project will go to council for approval after first of year, the
remaining few issues that were raised at the last meeting will be incorporated or resolved. Will let
the commission know if there are any significant changes; otherwise the plan should go for
approval. Stephen moved to temporarily suspend the Civic Field sub -group; George
seconded: motion passed.
b. Downtown parking. Darrol discussed the residential permits that are issued over the counter
on a regular basis. There is no way to know how many are actually used. Patrick, Chief Compaan,
Shane Hope, Pam Stuller, Darrol, and Phil Williams are part of an interdepartmental, City parking
team formed to discuss solutions to City/downtown parking issues. There are currently two staff
for enforcement— 30/70 split for parking/animal control — one position is filled, they are working
on filling other position, and Council has approved in the budget a half time enforcement staff
person starting in 2017. Currently Debbie Dawson has been working 20 hours a week and issuing
15 tickets a day but that number is coming down as there appears to be more compliance. Tick
marks could be added to existing on -street parking to designate the parking spaces more
specifically to encourage more efficient parking. Will review and make recommendations.
Question raised about the parking lot on 4`h. The property has been sold by auction as of last
week. There are 24 spaces — 14 are leased out monthly and other 10 are 3 hour limit spaces.
Could it be opened up to more than just monthly spaces? Issues coming out of parking team: new
enforcement and/or softer version of enforcement, research residential parking and employee
parking zones. Within 1st quarter go back to Council on these first four issues and present
recommendations. In addition, recommendations on good neighbor parking program could be a
BID project to help owners of private parking lots provide off -hour parking to the public. Signage
Approved Meeting Summary
Economic Development Commission
December 14, 2016
Page 1
is critical to indicate where parking is located. Value of space is a topic of discussion with
interdepartmental parking group. Darrol moved to temporarily suspend the parking subgroup
until needed further, Mary seconded, motion passed.
c. Highway 99: Mary will be going to Planning Board hearing tonight. Mary quoted some
statistics from report. Stephen suggested that Mary could report on behalf of EDC and provide
input. The EDC will be providing input in the future after reviewing report and any outcome from
tonight's Planning Board meeting. Schedule sub -group to meet first part of the year and meet
after the Planning Board provides recommendation as a result of the hearings and will provide
additional comments from EDC to Council regarding Highway 99 project. Darrol moved to
authorize Mary Monroe to speak for the commission, Stephen seconded, motion passed.
d. Future Priorities (memo attached). George discussed conference call that he participated in
with sub -group and which future topics could be worked on and which should be moved to the
backburner. Areas/districts to review: Firdale, 5-Corners, and International District. What can
enhance development opportunities, downtown development regulations for hotel and/or 3-story,
mixed -use development? Height limits in different zones could be a discussion item for the future
and what could entice development within existing height limits. Old studies should be updated
regarding height and economics. Education sessions on different regulations and subjects that are
difficult to understand such as GMA,. Port of Edmonds role in economic development for the
City, etc., should be scheduled for up to 45 minutes. Could height discussion be more effective if
it is geared to what it means to the City regarding revenue and economic impacts?. Suggested that
5-Corners be the first educational subject and use it in relation to the zoning limits regarding
height. Darrol moved to review 5-Corners as the first educational opportunity, George
seconded, motion passed. Request that planning department come and give an update on the 5-
Corners project in January, 2017.
6. Old Business:
a. Sign Code: City Council passed a suspension of enforcement at the end of November for 120
days, this suspension will be up in March. There probably won't be much happening until next
year. Edmonds Downtown Alliance is very interested in outcome and what will happen. Right-of-
way signage is an issue for A -boards and enforcement. Directional signage would be optimum for
businesses on side streets. George read comments from BID: Is A -board signage really a
problem? Mary moved that there should be a sign sub -group, Matt seconded, discussion
EDC can bring a slightly different slant to the discussion of sign code. Motion passed. Mary,
Jamie, Matt, Greg have volunteered for sub -group. Patrick will convene a meeting.
7. New Business: none
8. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons): Mary encouraged rest of
commission to review Highway 99 recommendations.
9. Ideas for January Agenda
10. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 7 p.m. due to loss of quorum.
Next regular meeting: January 18, 2017, 6 PM
Approved Minutes
Economic Development Commission
December 14, 2016
Page 2
MEMORANDUM
</Ic. 189v
TO: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
FROM: GEORGE BENNETT, STEPHEN CLIFTON, DARROL HAUG & NICOLE HUGHES
SUBJECT: PROPOSED NEXT WORK ITEMS FOR EDC
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2016
At the November EDC meeting a subgroup was established to convene and discuss next work
items for the full EDC to take up. The subgroup met on 11/22/16 and studied the priorities
established by the EDC earlier this year, proposing the following:
Continuing Education
As a way of providing a continuing source of education, familiarization, etc., to members on
important topics, the group recommends that presentations, updates, and other forms of
"continuing education" be made at each/most EDC meetings moving forward, possibly starting
at the next available meeting with a primer on GMA and its status. After that we could hear
from the Port about its role in economic development and its plans, etc. (probably hold off until
things settle on the SMP issues). Another topic would be to have a presentation about the
development regulations in different districts.
Possible Subgroup Topics
After reviewing the short-term (urgent and non -urgent) and long-term (urgent and non -urgent)
priorities offered by the full EDC earlier this year, the group recommends that the following
topics be considered for subgroups moving forward:
Five Corners planning and development. This may include a study of the current development
standards and how they might be discouraging appropriate redevelopment.
Identify and study redevelopment sites. Instead of the 50 sites suggested in the EDC's original
memo, the thought was to identify two or three key sites in one or two commercial districts,
study them and identify what the potential is and barriers are to redevelopment, reporting back
after each study, and then move onto another area(s) and two or three sites.
Downtown development regulations that might be barriers to redevelopment, especially for a
hotel and/or for 3-story, mixed -use development. The EDC memo offered the issue of the
ground -floor retail requirements perhaps needing another study and reconsideration at this
point (especially the 15' required ground -floor ceiling height).
Approved Minutes
Economic Development Commission
December 14, 2016
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