2017-04-19 Economic Development Commission Packet"7C. 189.,
AGENDA
Edmonds Economic Develoament Commission
Edmonds City Hall
Brackett Meeting Room, 121 5th Ave N
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
6-8PM
6:00 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Agenda (2.5 minutes)
3. Approval of March 15, 2017 Meeting Summary (2.5 minutes)
4. Audience Comments (5 minutes)
5. Presentation & Discussion with Bob McChesney, Port of Edmonds (30 minutes)
6. Subgroup Reports (30 minutes):
• Subgroups on Standby:
a. Highway 99 (awaiting further Planning Board & Council action/feedback)
b. Signs (awaiting further Planning Board & Council action/feedback)
c. Parking (awaiting further Planning Board & Council action/feedback)
d. Five -Corners (awaiting further Planning Board action/feedback)
• Future Priorities
• Development Feasibility (Update on progress and upcoming objectives)
7. Old Business:
2016-2017 EDC Summary Report (10 minutes)
8. New Business
Communication, Momentum & Stakeholder Feedback (15 minutes)
Small Business Forum (10 minutes)
9. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons) (10 minutes)
10. Ideas for May Agenda (5 minutes)
Housing Affordability. Tourism Presentation?
11. Adjourn
Next regular meeting: May 17, 2017, 6 PM
DRAFT
CITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
March 15, 2017
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Jamie Reece, Chair
Darrol Haug, Vice -Chair via phone call
Matthew Waldron
Mary Monroe
Stephen Clifton
Nicole Hughes
Aseem Prakash
Nathan Monroe, Planning Board, ex officio
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio
Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Michael Schindler
George Bennett
GUESTS:
Terrie Battuello, Port of Everett
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 6:02 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda: Approved as submitted.
3. Approval of 02/15/17 EDC Minutes: Matt moved to approve minutes as written, Nicole
seconded; motion passed.
4. Audience Comments No comments.
5. Presentation by Terrie Battuello, Port of Everett: Discussed work done by City of Bremerton to
come out of recession. Redevelopment process: including Port Gardner work plan, persistence to
complete projects, disinvested real estate. Highway 99 planning project is an example in
Edmonds and is comparable to Bremerton's redevelopment process. False starts were frequent
and not unexpected. Part of the project was to figure out how to make Bremerton something else
— but the entity needs to embrace what you are. A Navy town, unique and need to find your story.
Public investment is necessary, Public Facilities District funding is an example of public funding
opportunities. Lessons learned — include strategic bursts of excitement and private partners are
key to generating enthusiasm.
At Bothell: McMenamin's/Anderson school development — partnership with Northshore school
district allowed development of Anderson school to McMenamin's with a public/private
partnership, created employment opportunities, close to commuting corridors, high cost of living
in adjacent cities draws residency with cheaper housing, residents did worry about loss of
downtown. Branch campus of UW is a big draw also. Important to Bothell to not locate any big
box development in downtown core. City worked well with development community.
Questions: What is relationship between Port of Everett & City of Everett? The Port of Everett
works hard to have relationships with City at every level. Ports can host and cities cannot — Port
can throw reception and cities could not do that. Port can and does bring in employers. Port
schedules 3 staff meetings with City of Everett per year, Mayor meets directly with Port officials.
Draft Meeting Summary
Economic Development Commission
March 15, 2017
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DRAFT
The Port is reinforcing and focused on economic development. The Port of Everett and City of
Everett have a good working relationship.
Patrick — What thoughts does Ms Battuello have about a City/Port purchasing or optioning
property or creating partnerships with private owner? Needs commitment, equal partnership,
respectful treatment is necessary. As to an option, it has to be long enough to allow for the
process to seek developers and get their commitment. You may just bbe able work with and help
private property owners with marketing their properties for developers.
6. Subgroup Reports:
Subgroups on Standby (10 minutes)
a. Highway 99 — nothing to report.
b. Signs: Neil advised there would be public hearing at City Council next week. Neil would like
EDC thoughts on reducing the square footage of signage on the building to allocate more
square footage for pedestrian signage.
Discussion: Blade signs do not count against square footage. Should square footage allowed
for blade signs be considered? Changeable signs for messaging is desired to make a more
interesting pedestrian experience. Signage existing could be grandfathered. Value to
merchants for signs is immense. Virtual way -finding is the way of the future and could be
cheaper option for merchants. The Sustainable Cities partnership with WWU is creating a
wayfinding mapping app. Could sign committee look at this before cc hearing next Tuesday?
Mary moved to allow representative of the parking sub -group go to the March 21 City
Council meeting and read memo regarding commercial and pedestrian signage, Matt
seconded and motion passed unanimously.
c. Parking: Patrick discussed: working group from EDC, BID, and the recommendation to
change employee parking exemptions downtown and mark on -street parking spaces at 20 foot
lengths to increase parking efficiency (as a pilot on three blocks); between the two this could
gain approximately 40 spaces.
d. Five -Corners — nothing to report.
e. Future Priorities — nothing to report — have not met.
f. Development Feasibility — Patrick discussed issues related to understanding what obstacles
exist for potential developers in Edmonds. Used Perrinville property as an example. Could
there be an analysis of the project? Meet for discussion to determine why this property has
not been able to develop in the manner the property owner would like to develop. Identify
parcels in downtown area that are more likely to be redeveloped. Properties that seem to
languish and determine what could happen. Look at property in relationship to regulations
and code requirements to identify where development could occur and could barriers be
worked through. Get professional opinions on potential development from an outside source.
7. Old Business:
2017-2018 EDC Leadership: Discuss, nominate and appoint Chair and Vice Chair for upcoming
year. Jamie is willing to remain as Chair. Mary nominates Jamie Reece for Chair for the next 12
months. Vote is called, and Jamie is elected. George has expressed interest in Vice Chair. Nicole
nominated George Bennett. Stephen nominated Mary Monroe. Vote is called, and Mary is elected
as Vice Chair for next 12 months.
Broader Economic Development Strategy: With many of our short term goals accomplished,
what longer term goals and strategies should the EDC pursue? Affordable housing? Development
sites vs. regulations? Future Priorities sub -group will work on this topic. Process would be to
check off what has been done and come back with report from group to EDC. Sub -group has not
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Economic Development Commission
March 15, 2017
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DRAFT
met yet. Continuing education process, redevelopment regulations (refer to December 6 memo).
Patrick/Darrol discussion memos passed out. City Council suggestions — Port partnership.
Organize meeting with George, Darrol, Nicole, Stephen.
8. New Business:
2016-2017 Summary Report: Discussion of annual report summarizing EDC achievements
during the past year, and objectives for the coming year. Jamie passed out draft memo to be
presented to City Council and a list of suggested topics he had received feedback on from Council
members. Increase communication by appearing at Council meetings and reading memos directly
into record rather than sending by e-mail. Communicate directly to Council member who
appointed specific commissioners. Council has expressed desire to have more communication by
EDC members. Bruce discussed that grant that Port has applied for from Port of Seattle to help
increase advertisement possibilities. Take advantage of existing tourists in community.
Walkability is goal of Port; could involve marsh and trail/sidewalk around. Port will be hiring
FTE to work on marketing commercial space at Harbor Square and tourism. There is an app for
self -guided, walking tour that Snohomish County Tourism Bureau has developed for the murals
in Edmonds. Mary moved to accept the draft as amended to present to City Council in April,
Nicole seconded, motion passed unanimously.
8. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons): Bruce — City/Port
difficulties and opportunities (focus on opportunities). Have Port come to make presentation on
opportunities with City and what the Port can do. The Port is working on trying to get second
boat dealer sometime over the next 2-5 years for a location on the south end of the Port property.
Port will make initial investment to encourage potentially sailboat vendor. Greg — Chamber has
sponsored SBC to come once a month and offer appointments with business owners through
May. Patrick — discussed event for home based business workshop on Wednesday, March 22 in
the Library Plaza Room. He encouraged any EDC members to attend. Nathan — Planning Board
is working on code development for Hwy 99. Neil — has noticed more traffic in area. Stephen —
referenced communities he had visited would like to work on gateway project at the south end of
5th Avenue that could be iconic to Edmonds incorporating the arts community. Aseem supported
Stephen's idea for an iconic arts project. Nicole — also supported Stephen's idea for iconic arts
project. Interested in discussing development feasibility project, disinvested properties.
Technology presentation would be good for future meeting. Jamie — Edmonds GIS for map
information is available on the website. Patrick — TedX talks will not be held in Edmonds this
year and moving forward, cannot be sponsored by Sno-Isle and continually be held in Edmonds.
Moving to Mukilteo this year. Sustainable Cities — green business initiation kick start for
businesses. Going to redo the City's tourism website and more responsive to mobile.
10. Ideas for April Agenda: Port presentation on future agenda.
11. Adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Next regular meeting: April 19, 2017, 6 PM
Draft Minutes
Economic Development Commission
March 15, 2017
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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