2017-04-19 Economic Development Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
April 19, 2017
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Jamie Reece, Chair
Darrol Haug
Matthew Waldron
Mary Monroe, Vice -Chair
Stephen Clifton
Nicole Hughes by phone
Michael Schindler
George Bennett
Aseem Prakash
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio
Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Nathan Monroe, Planning Board, ex officio
GUESTS:
Bob McChesney, Port of Edmonds
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Cindi Cruz, Program Coordinator
1. Economic Development Commission meeting called to order by Chair Reece at 6:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda: Approved as submitted.
3. Approval of 03/15/17 EDC Minutes: Mary moved to approve minutes as written, Stephen
seconded; motion passed.
4. Audience Comments No comments.
5. Presentation & Discussion with Bob McChesney, Port of Edmonds: Director McChesney
discussed Port activities and how they relate to economic development. What a Port can do that
Cities cannot do. The Port is basically a collection of capital assets managed by Port commission
and administration. Entity is created by state statute. A Port can issue bonds, take on debt, and
can tax their citizens within the district. Economic development programs are a port's mission.
Not county wide but boundaries include a portion of Edmonds and Woodway. Map attached to
handout and aerial photos show the boundary. Income is invested back into Port. The
commissioners are very disciplined in fiscal management and do not want to add to citizen tax
burden. Bruce Faires: discussed history and what the structure is based on state law. Business
development can be uniquely done by Ports; for instance, there is an example in the middle of
state not near water but created water treatment plant to attract farm producers. The Port of
Edmonds was established in 1948. The boundaries include the Town of Woodway as well as a
portion of Edmonds. A Port cannot build parks, cannot build residential, they must find developer
to lease property and they in turn can develop residential opportunities. Residential can come out
of redevelopment also. Economic impact on community surrounding port is always an important
factor in Port decisions. Bob: The Port can buy and sell property and can condemn. The Port is
always concerned about environmental issues and how their decisions affect the environment.
The Port is cautious about competing with private sector, Partnerships are the goal with city,
private developer, etc., and how those partnerships can create opportunities that benefit economic
development. That was the goal with the Harbor Square redevelopment. The Port of Bellingham
has done good job with partnership with City. But partnerships have to be viable and good for the
community before the Port will participate. Edmonds is different in there is virtually no industry
such as mills and manufacturing on the water when comparing to Everett, Bellingham, etc. The
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April 19, 2017
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Port of Edmonds was just notified they have received grant to work on tourism promotion and
partnered with City. PSE whale watching brings people to town the first year was 5,000
passengers, last year was 11,000, this year 18,000 are anticipated, and they plan to have a boat
that's twice as big next year for tours.
Discussion: How to add to economic viability in community - several ideas were part of
brainstorming session with commissioners suggesting potential projects that could be partnerships
with the Port. There are space constraints that would inhibit some projects within the Port
property and by a commission philosophy; all projects that the Port undertakes should be self-
supporting therefore not requiring an increase in the tax rate for residents within the district. A
Port can issue General Obligation (GO) bonds by leveraging taxing capacity and can be done
without a vote of the people. This action must be supported by rational argument that it benefits
the public. Redeveloping at Harbor Square could be inhibited by the increase in buffer for the
Edmonds Marsh.
6. Subgroup Reports:
Subgroups on Standby (10 minutes)
a. Highway 99 —.nothing to report
b. Signs —Council has adopted proposed changes, DEMA and BID are in agreement with
changes. How to provide commercial wayfinding signage for businesses off main streets in
Edmonds is still being discussed. Internal group will be meeting tomorrow to set
parameters for signage. The focus will be discretion and avoid visual clutter.
c. Parking — City Council has adopted some of the parking recommendations. Staff will
monitor and see how these things have improved parking availability in downtown
Edmonds. The PD has received 53 applicants for thel/2 time position in parking
enforcement. Two animal control officers spend 25-35% of their time on parking
enforcement. Within the next 6 weeks parking enforcement should be up to full time but at
a minimum'/2-1/3 time. The City staff will be placing parking tick marks at 20' intervals
for a pilot project to increase parking efficiency. These efforts will be assessed and
potentially there will be some other parking fixes to consider after seeing how these work.
d. Five -Corners — George reported money has been set aside for feasibility study no report at
this time.
e. Future Priorities — George reported on robust discussion see attachment for notes. Items for
subgroup topics include: affordable housing, Firdale development, arts community projects
such as music/concerts in park venues or festivals, civic facilities locations,
Suggestions for further information gathering and discussion: Have Shane Hope present at
an EDC meeting to discuss affordable housing definitions and methods to work with
developers to advance affordable housing. This could be done to fully understand the ideas
of affordable housing, low-income housing and other ideas for less expensive housing.
The EDC can help with educating the public on these definitions and the opportunities of
this type of development in Edmonds. Westgate development is the first area in Edmonds
that will be using new incentives to reduce costs of development that support lower price
housing. What is the economic development proposition related to affordable housing?
Mixed -use development first floor retail 3 levels of housing above. When you open up
affordability you encourage living, working, in the community this opens up diversity of
population and affordability to provide working opportunities.
Playing live music can infringe on copy write laws. Individual restaurants and bars and
other venues including the city who want to host live music pay a fee to the musical
organization that supervises copyrights. In order to advance the arts through music it is
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suggested we find ways to have sections of town designated as venues and copyright fees
would cover all locations in the area. They could include indoor and outdoor location. An
example of this is Everett's Fisherman Music Festival.
Firdale Village has been rezoned and it would be beneficial for the EDC to have an update
possibly from Shane as to the components of the rezone and begin to understand and work
on how to get this development potential jump started.
The downtown civic center (city hall and public safety complex) occupies a prime set of
property in downtown. In light of the need to jumpstart economic development on Hwy 99
and 5 Corners the EDC should look at feasibility of moving civic facilities to these or other
locations, freeing up prime, downtown property. City hall for example could be converted
to a hotel and the other civic center properties could be used for parking and other
amenities to support Civic field.
Darrol moved to set up committees to work on the above items. These would include: 1.
Affordable Housing, 2. Engaging the Port, and 3.Arts enhancements. Stephen seconded.
During discussion Jamie proposed an amendment to move the collaboration with the Port
into the Development Feasibility subcommittee. Stephen moved to amend the motion for
committees to include the Port as an economic development partner and that effort would
be included in the Development Feasibility subgroup. Stephen seconded and amendment
passed. Darrol amended the original motion to add a committee to evaluate moving civic
facilities to another site and reuse of current location. Stephen seconded the amendment.
Jamie was concerned that we would have too many subcommittees but it was pointed out
that the existing committees are either complete or at a standstill awaiting further
developments. All motions passed and three committees were approved. Affordable
Housing, Arts Enhancement, Move Civic Facilities. The Port engagement activity will be
folded into the Development Feasibility subcommittee.
Jamie asked that commissioners email their preferred committee assignments
Question was asked if members of public other people could join subgroups, answer is no
due to OPMA concerns about meeting.
f. Development Feasibility —(Update on progress and upcoming objectives.) Information
will be gathered and meet soon.
7. Old Business:
2016-2017 EDC Summary Report: Jamie gave report to City Council (CC) last night. Question
raised at CC meeting regarding outreach to public to include general and socially, ethnic diverse
groups within Edmonds. An example would be outreach to the International District. The EDC is
encouraged by the CC to explore economic opportunities for the city representing increasingly
diverse populations, including more outreach through diverse media.
8. New Business:
Communication, Momentum & Stakeholder Feedback — Mary discussed communication with
each other (commission) difficulty getting subgroup members together, feedback creates
effectiveness. Try to think of strategies to use e-mail without creating meeting issues. Utilize
Skype for meetings. Urged to use phone to set up subgroup meetings. Send messages on private
e-mail to check City e-mails. Define deliverables in EDC meeting for subgroups and report on
deliverables.
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Small Business Forum — Patrick discussed Home Based Business workshop held on 3/22
regarding speakers, planning to have a similar workshop the 3rd week of June for small
businesses. Forum will be no longer than 1.5 -2 hours. Chamber and BID will be co-sponsors and
speakers will include representatives from the Department of Revenue, small business
association, social media, and an insurance resource.
9. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons: Jamie stated that Bartell's
development at Westgate will be phased in and the existing Bartell's and strip mall will remain at
this time. Patrick shared new tourism brochure that had just been printed, French travel writers
coming to Edmonds on Sunday, April 23; they will arrive 8:30 am. for coffee then tour CAM,
whale watch on PSE, and have lunch at Arnie's hosted by the Port. Stephen mentioned new
bakery at Perrinville. Bruce expressed that the Port wants to develop east side of Admiral Way to
entice another boat dealer to move to Port, Waterfront Festival will be more water oriented
education and less festival, and the Port combined with City and Chamber and received a grant
from Port of Seattle to advertise Edmonds. Greg stated the Chamber is encouraging Edmonds
businesses to come to Taste etc., and their desire to bring Edmonds back to Edmonds for the
Taste; happy hours on third Tuesday of month for networking. Neil — there will be a CC
representative for affordable housing alliance. Matt thanked Jamie for presenting the EDC report
to CC. Mary — Open house on Hwy 99 incentives, etc., redevelopment forum of new subarea on
Hwy 99. Patrick mentioned Nathan's e-mail regarding PB issues upcoming hearing on townhome
code amendment to make townhomes in Edmonds legally allowed.
10. Ideas for May Agenda: Housing affordability. Tourism presentation. Darrol would like to invite
a developer to come in (Doug Spee) and have him answer questions on economics of building
square footage and rent cost per square foot, barriers to development, role of residential versus
business only in buildings, how to improve relationships between City and development
community, should be able to provide some good input. Mary would like to see role of tourism as
economic driver and what is being done regionally that affects Edmonds. Patrick advised that on
May 16, the day before next meeting Amy Spain will provide the Snohomish County Tourism
Bureau report to CC. Shane Hope to talk about affordable housing. Arts and music festivals.
George would like to hear from Swedish and future plans for hospital district. Aseem asked about
hotel either downtown or at hospital, Patrick addressed need for hotels around medical entities.
11. Adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
Next regular meeting: May 17, 2017, 6 PM
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
FUTURE PRIORITES SUBGROUP
4/13/17 DISCUSSION NOTES
EDC Members present: George Bennett
Stephen Clifton
Darrol Haug
Nicole Hughes
Observations and comments:
Proposed next subgroup topics from the EDC Future Priorities matrix:
• Explore ways to provide more affordable housing (we would hope to have a presentation in May
from Shane about the City's Housing Strategy, as well as from the Alliance for Housing
Affordability that would help kick-start this subgroup's focus).
• Collaborate with Port of Edmonds as development partner (we hope to have Bob McChesney
next Wednesday and that could help kick-start this subgroup).
• Develop a creative community vision focusing on "arts community" etc
• Civic Facilities — analyze potential for economic development opportunities associated with
relocation of key city facilities by both freeing up existing buildings/land in key locations and/or
energizing locations that need new infusion of development, activity and employees
On -going subgroup:
• Development feasibility subgroup — included in their mission is to study the potential
development feasibility of various key vacant and/or underdeveloped sites around Edmonds,
hopefully leading to identification of barriers, including potential code barriers
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