2018-09-19 Economic Development Commission Packet'fl c. 189,J
AGENDA
Edmonds Economic Development Commission
Edmonds City Hall
Brackett Meeting Room, 121 5th Ave N
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
6-8PM
6:00 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER
Call to Order
Roll Call
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of July 18, 2018 Meeting Summary
3. Audience Comments (3 minutes per person)
40 min. 4. New Business:
Strategic Action Plan update
Revenue review by sources
Discussion on topics/speakers for future EDC meetings
40 min. 5. Subgroup updates:
Development Feasibility
Arts/Tourism
Dayton Street Project - Review of Draft memo
Business Attraction
6. Liaison Updates (5 minutes per person)
20 min. 7. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons)
20 min. 8. Adj ourn
Next regular meeting: October 17, 2018, 6 PM
CITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
July 18, 2018
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mary Monroe, Chair
Kimberly Koenig
Scott Merrick
Darrol Haug
Matthew Waldron
Nicole Hughes, Vice Chair
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio
Phil Lovell, Planning Board, ex officio
Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Michael Schindler (excused)
Jamie Reece (excused)
Aseem Prakash (excused)
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio
GUESTS: None
STAFF PRESENT:
Patrick Doherty, Econ. Dev & Comm. Serv. Dir.
Cindi Cruz, Program Coordinator
Carolyn Douglas, Communications
Economic Development Commission meeting called to order by Mary at 6:01 p.m.
Roll call and excuse absences: Mike Schindler and Aseem Prakash are excused for work reasons,
Jamie Reece is excused for illness.
1. Approval of Agenda: Approved.
2. Approval of 06/20/18 EDC Minutes: Scott moved to approve minutes, Kimberly seconded;
motion passed.
3. Audience Comments: No comments.
4. Liaison Updates: 1. Phil discussed the Housing Strategy that has been before Planning Board and
the meetings that have occurred. There will be some revisions done to the strategy based on
feedback from public meetings. Strategy has not been well received by some members of the public
and there have been objections raised to low-income housing and homelessness remedies included
in the strategy. Revised strategy will be forwarded to the City Council for public hearings. City
Council hearing dates July 24, August 21 & 28. Memo went to PB and will be forwarded to City
Council. Once the strategy is approved it will be a roadmap for what will follow and elements could
be singled out for further work. 2. Neil discussed buildable lands report should be updated and
relate to housing strategy. Will bring quarterly report indicating biggest sources of revenue for City.
Will provide information for economic development and where the sources are. Increase in ceiling
of retail revenue from $5.5m to $7+m. Review Strategic Action Plan to determine what has been
accomplished and where the plan stands. EDC could reserve an hour for discussion. Patrick stated
that he produced quarterly updates of SAP but that they have not been produced this year since
there was very little to report at this point given that most of the SAP action items have been
completed, are long-term and/or under way, or in the case of a small number, are not moving
forward due to lack of money, consensus or ownership of the item. Neil suggested it may be time
to provide a final update regarding implementation of the SAP items. Housing Strategy process has
been very robust but concerns about keeping process on track due to public concerns. How does
the information get out to public? Need better way to provide information to the citizenry. 3. Bruce
stated Port is starting budget process for 2019. Reviewing infrastructure needs, moorage rates,
maintenance needs for coming year. Tax rate should come down beginning in 2020 due to the need
for only funding for capital improvements. Looking for another marine -related businesses,
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Economic Development Commission
July 18, 2018
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potentially a boat dealer. Puget Sound Express is doing well with two boats operating out of
Edmonds. Exploring potential for parking garage across from Arnies restaurant. Environmental
policy being developed for Port. Update on advertising campaign in Denver area aided by grant
from Port of Seattle with contributions of City and PSE to encourage travel to Edmonds region.
Should have statistical data within the next couple of months.
5. New Business:
Sub -committees will give update on 2018-2019 priorities and update any previous progress
on past objectives:
Development Feasibility: Nicole stated this group was not able to meet. Meeting date may
change and will work on reviewing development codes and identifying barriers to
development. Will collaborate with PB.
Arts/Tourism: Kimberly provided update on Lynnwood which has 1800 hotel rooms
available and would like to explore partnership. Intention to get information to Whale
watching excursions (PSE) about things to do in Edmonds. Requesting demographics from
PSE. Planning department amendment to zoning codes could allow hotels on waterfront or
office building that could be converted. E-cart conversation for shuttle such as Pt.
Townsend has to make downtown and Port area more accessible to each other. Creative
District will be in application process after resolution has been approved by City Council
and will be coming to Council in the next few weeks. City will need approximately 30
support letters to be included in the Creative District application process. Edmonds will
probably be the first application to the state and could be the first awarded. Question asked
on how to capitalize on the ferry line and how to reach out to the traffic in line and one
suggestion is podcast to learn about Edmonds.
Affordable Housing: Patrick updated that memo has been forwarded to PB.
Dayton Street Project: Jamie is ill and memo will be brought forward next month.
Business Attraction: Will replace Affordable Housing and Darrol, Matt, Scott, and Nicole
are on committee. Patrick will start e-mail on meeting dates.
6. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons): Scott asked if a change in
terminology on affordable housing could be to provide housing for people to work and live in
Edmonds. Phil commented that nothing will happen until a property owner wants to do something
with their property which is basic marketplace realities. Darrol spoke about the redevelopment of
6t' and Main Street property and related to first floor height issues that could allow different types
of redevelopment in the BD 1 zoning area. Should Edmonds have a preservation district? Patrick
updated on presentation of civic facilities memo to City Council last night by Matt. Was not
supported by majority of Council. Possibly by looking at Police as individually moving could bring
more support for study. July 26 at 6 p.m. is a public open house on Edmonds Street Waterfront
Connector project in Brackett meeting Room. Spoke to Ace and Rotary over the last two weeks.
City has begun budget process. Tourism collaboration meeting will be held in the next few weeks
to discuss tourism and how to unify marketing and collaboration. Gateway sign process is going to
be starting over. Mary discussed skipping August meeting Matt moved and Darrol seconded to
skip August motion passed unanimously. Nicole thought the Affordable Housing committee
should not be winding down now. Inventory in Edmonds does not support movement into the City
and could make people leave City. Could still review strategies for this support and how to also
support homeless families that do live in Edmonds. Sub -group could be renamed Housing
Strategies and review those issues. Phil would like to see more public input and what do the citizens
want. Discuss as a whole commission. Put on as an agenda item to discuss. Kimberly stated that 15
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July 18, 2018
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downtown businesses have supported children's area at Taste Edmonds to provide some free
events. Matt stated some of the positive feedback from Council for supporting review of a catalyst
project for Hwy 99 related to moving civic facilities. Neil liked new sub -groups that are forming in
the EDC.
Adjourn at 7:53
Next regular meeting: September 19, 2018, 6 PM
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Economic Development Commission
July 18, 2018
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