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2019-06-19 Economic Development Commission Packet'fl c. 189,J AGENDA Edmonds Economic Development Commission Edmonds City Hall Brackett Meeting Room, 121 5th Ave N Wednesday, June 19, 2019 6-8PM 6:00 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER Call to Order 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Roll Call and recognition of approved absences 3. Approval of May 15, 2019 Meeting Summary 4. Audience Comments (3 minutes per person) 20 min. 5. Edmonds Downtown Alliance — Ed! Presentation 6. Old Business: 10 min. SAP draft memo review (see attachment) 7. New Business: 10 min. 8. Work -group updates —Leads to provide goals and work steps to achieve them: 50 min. Development Feasibility Arts/Tourism Business Attraction 9. Liaison Updates (3 minutes per person) 20 min. 10. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons, 3 minutes per 10 min. person) 11. Adjourn Next regular meeting: July 17, 2019, 6 PM DRAFT CITY OF EDMONDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION May 15, 2019 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Mary Monroe, Chair Nicole Hughes Scott Merrick Jamie Reece Darrol Haug Kevin Harris, Vice Chair Kimberly Koenig Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Margaret Safford (unexcused) Guests: STAFF PRESENT: Patrick Doherty, Director Cindi Cruz, Program Coordinator Economic Development Commission meeting called to order by Mary Monroe at 6:00 p.m. 1. Approval of Agenda: Scott moved to approve agenda, Nicole seconded, motion passed. 2. Roll Call and recognition of absences: Mary acknowledged that Margaret Safford is unexcused for a vacation less than 2 weeks. Aseem Prakash has resigned and the vacancy has been advertised. 3. Approval of 4/17/19 EDC Minutes: Kimberly moved to approve minutes, Scott seconded, motion passed. 4. Audience Comments: None 4. Old Business: Patrick provided information on absences: let the Chair, Patrick, or Cindi know in advance of the meeting either by phone call or e-mail. An excused absence would be if you are ill, on a vacation longer than 2 weeks, or a work related absence. The Chair will acknowledge at the meeting the excused absence. Must attend 70% of the meetings per year but excused absences do not count against you. It is difficult to keep up on what is being worked on either at the regular meetings or in the sub -committee work if you are unable to attend the meetings. Darrol thanked Mary for her presentation to the Council last month on EDC priorities. Some concern over the Council not being clear on what the EDC has accomplished. Could the EDC provide a synopsis of previous letters to remind Council of what has been accomplished? Some clear direction by the Council on what they would like the EDC to work on. It was an acceptance memo to Council they did not need to vote on it. There is no intention to write or rewrite the development code. Perhaps could ask for a vote in the future of what Council would like EDC to work on. Neil thought the memo provided clear and specific objectives from the commission. Provide quarterly updates to Council when there is something substantial to report. Can ask Neil to update Council on specific items the EDC is working on. Provide specific list of accomplishments to Neil. Darrol would like to know if SAP progress is going to be provided to Council. Patrick will provide an update on the remaining SAP items based on the spreadsheet summary that he, Neil, Phil, and Darrol had worked on. Patrick will bring update to next meeting. 5. New Business: Neil discussed General Fund First Quarter 2019 financial report. (See attachment 1). Discussion ensued about the report. There was comparisons to 2018 and the increases and decreases in the different sectors. Provide next quarter in addition to this year accumulating the year to date information on revenue and expenses. Is there value in a longer look back to potentially 2001 and what the trend has been over that period of time? Medical industry numbers could be DRAFT Meeting Summary Economic Development Commission May 15, 2019 Page 1 DRAFT informational as that is a recession proof industry. General Fund Revenues are heavily dependent on taxes as indicated on page 3. Greg Urban stated that he had been asked by a restaurant owner about a less obtrusive sidewalk/outdoor dining demarcation rather than stanchions, fencing, and/or ropes and wide bases that are a trip hazard. Research to determine what code and permitting changes would be required. Could be put on the BID agenda for them to bring to Council attention. 6. Work -group updates — key focus of each group. Outline goals and work steps to achieve: Development Feasibility: Nicole provided an update and discussed feedback from Council and stressed there is no intent to dive into code rewrite but looking at obstacles to development and business wishing to build or locate in Edmonds. The goal is to research and identify obstacles and challenges to development and how to change by creating a roadmap for businesses and developers on how to navigate the process — videos and/or tutorials for guidance. Survey folks who have done projects recently, focus on smaller scale commercial and tenant improvement projects. Approximately ten questions with standard yes/no answers plus room if respondents care to provide additional information and be contacted if they wish. Patrick has discussed with Dev Services Director, Shane Hope and will involve her in the process. Survey questions will be reviewed by Shane. Would like to include up to 50 projects. Include businesses that have recently moved to Edmonds. Why/what/ attraction was there in moving to Edmonds? After receiving data analysis will come back to commission with info. Also reviewing business district promotions on website with the plan to add updates to the information. Darrol mentioned the loss of the book store and the relationship of higher taxes to raising the rents for small retail business in downtown. Could be difficult to attract small retail but restaurants are still viable. Property owners cannot absorb the tax increases without raising rental. Preservation zones are potentially a method hold down property taxes. Could this be reviewed? Jamie discussed the value of selling the experience of shopping in a small downtown to combat the online shopping trends. Add this discussion on June agenda for Business Attraction Sub -committee. Arts/Tourism: Kimberly provided update on ferry line marketing project, identifying recommended locations for signage, continuing to explore URL, have identified some local "voices" to record a message, 3 minute message maximum to provide canned engaging information then a portion of message would change quarterly to provide info on timely events happening within the quarter. Patrick is researching signage placement: "You're not just in line, you're in Edmonds". Trolley proposal for test run in July and August on Saturday. Challenge is inventory for trolleys. Approximate cost is $800 per day. Pilot project would be 9 weeks. EDC budget could provide approximately $10,000, sponsorship opportunities will be explored but potentially go ahead with pilot if a trolley can be located. Provide transportation between downtown Edmonds, Port, whale watching, museum, etc. Pilot project could provide information to determine feasibility for entire market season during 2020. Should it be totally free, sponsorships, or $1 per ride? The pilot this year sets the plan for the future. Still looking into possibility of hotel on waterfront. Workgroups could start providing written reports to EDC prior to regular meeting so there could be more time for discussion at meeting. Business Attraction: Kevin provided update on meeting surveys, it will prove to be difficult to interviews businesses who have left Edmonds. Reviewing business workspace possibilities: community workspace at Westgate Village development which will be a rent DRAFT Minutes Economic Development Commission May 15, 2019 Page 2 DRAFT by the hour on your app approach. There will also be traditional retail at Westgate Village. Healthcare and medical business attraction is one of the discussion items of the sub- committee and involving Verdant Health and other area medical clinics in the discussion to promote the benefits of establishing a presence in Edmonds. Neil asked what buildings would be available for location and Kevin stated there are several around high school and hospital. Determine the location needs and then identify what might be available. At next meeting come back with work steps, goals of work -groups. 7. Liaison Updates (3 minutes per person): Council: Neil had been contacted by business owner about the Edmonds Downtown Alliance (BID/Ed!) and why it was formed and could there be a 5 year evaluation of the benefits to the businesses and which businesses see the most benefit from the BID? A presentation will be scheduled at the next EDC meeting. Planning Board: No representative at this time. Port: Bob McChesney was filling in for Bruce and provided an update. Family Day at Port on June 1 music, yacht tours, boat rides, food trucks. PSE is running 3 whale watching trips per day. Refreshed public access plan for the Port which will include: lighting, landscaping, new railings, all to make the Port more inviting to public. Chamber: Greg passed out Chamber agenda, Teresa Wippel was named citizen of the year. Updated on Taste event, and Decant Edmonds event is 5/25. 8. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City Liaisons, 3 minutes per person): Jamie: Edmonds Jazz Connection on 5/18 all free event in 3 locations around downtown Edmonds. Mary asked that chairs of workgroups submit reports ahead of time for distribution. Patrick updated on Creative District subcommittees: Directory, Branding, Learning Opportunities & Diversity. Encourage applications for EDC vacancy runs thru 5/31/19. Darrol discussed ESD bond needs and plan to not have large property tax increase. He has worked with Finance Committee and Scott James to improve visibility and transparency of data. Hopefully this will be part of next year's budget process. 9. Adjourn at 7:58 p.m. Next regular meeting: June 19, 2019, 6 PM. DRAFT Minutes Economic Development Commission May 15, 2019 Page 3 General Fund First Quarter 2019 'f1c. 18y" ■ General Fund revenues are $42,000 (0.6%) ahead of last year, and $ 3 91, 000 (5.3%) behind budget ■ General Fund expenses are $666,000 (6.7%) ahead of last year, and $1.5 million (13. 1 %) behind budget ■ Overall reasonable results for the first 3 months of the year 1 General Fund 3 Months YOY Sales Tax Composition I�. Q09 $500,000 $450,000 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,0- =M == on�, 1 11 II II p\p�\� So�°5 a�Ga ° a dS pp0 aS°p /°�GoS PGG �pSS at P o J ■ Jan -Mar 2018 ■ Jan -Mar 2019 eo J 2 General Fund Revenue by Category, 3 Months Ended 3/31/18 compared to 3 Months Ended 3/31/19 '(1?C. 1$y" $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 Taxes Charges for Goods and Services ■ Licenses and Permits Intergovernmental Miscellaneous Fines and Penalties ■ 3 Months Ended 3/31 /18 ■ 3 Months Ended 3/31 /19 3 MEMORANDUM TO: MAYOR EARLING AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION VIA: MARY MONROE, CHAIR SUBJECT: CITY OF EDMONDS STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN (SAP) DATE: XXX, 2019 The original SAP was approved by City Council April 2, 2013. On April 7, 2015 City Council approved the updated version of the City of SAP. The SAP identifies short term (3-5 years) and midterm (5-10 years) community strategic objectives along with specific action tasks, including responsible parties and lead participants. The SAP included specific action items and schedules and performance measures to achieve them. The SAP is the result of a collaborative effort. Participants in developing the SAP included elected officials, community organizations, interest groups, property and business owners, employees, business district customers, young adults, the public -at -large and a sample of registered voter households. The Economic Development Commission (EDC), the Planning Board, city staff and Beckwith Consulting Group oversaw the planning process and the final content of the SAP. The SAP specifies 5 Strategic Objectives: 1. Create economic health, vitality and sustainability 2. Maintain, enhance, and create a sustainable environment 3. Maintain and enhance Edmonds community character and quality of life 4. Build a community that balances environmental protection, economic health and social needs 5. Provide efficient and effective delivery of services The 2015 SAP includes a total of 85 Action Items. Of these, 42 were associated with economic development activities. The attached matrix details each of the 85 Action Items and the current status of each. Items associated with Economic Development are highlighted in yellow. Status categories include: • Done (23 Items): Item is completed (or largely completed) and may need no further attention • Ongoing (47 Items): Efforts to accomplish these items are and will be on -going into the foreseeable future • Future (7 Items): Item will be addressed in the future as funding or circumstances allow • Moot (8 Items): Item is not currently relevant Items identified as Economic Development -related issues have been reviewed and considered by the Economic Development Commission and, when appropriate, include a brief note explaining the current status of the item. After detailed review and discussion, the EDC now considers the 2015 City of Edmonds Strategic Action Plan essentially implemented, especially as pertains to those items related to the purview of the EDC and Economic Development Department. We will continue to work to enhance and improve the economic vitality of the City and will always stay mindful of the 2015 SAP as a touchstone. We will continue to pursue economic vitality goals and objectives, proposed by EDC or as they are brought to our attention, now and into the future.