2020-01-15 Economic Development Commission Agenda'11c. 189'j
AGENDA
Edmonds Economic DevelonmentCommission
Edmonds City Hall
Brackett Meeting Room, 121 5th Ave N
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
6-8PM
6:00 P.M. — Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement: "We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Sdohobsh
(Snohomish) people and their successors the Tulalip Tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken
care of these lands. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred spiritual connection
with the land and water." - City Council Land Acknowledgment
Call to Order
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Roll Call and recognition of approved absences
3. Approval of December 18, 2019 Meeting Summary
5 min. 4. Audience Comments (3 minutes per person)
10 min. 5. Old Business:
10 min 6. New Business:
Reports from Meetings with Appointing Authority
7. Work -group updates —Leads to identify next goals work groups will undertake:
70 min. Discuss 2020 yearly work plan:
Development Feasibility
Arts/Tourism
Business Attraction
15 min. 8. Liaison Updates (3 minutes per person)
15 min. 9. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City, Liaisons, 3 minutes per
person)
10. Adj ourn
Next regular meeting: February 19, 2020 6 PM, Brackett Meeting Room, 3rd Floor,
Edmonds City Hall, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds.
DRAFT
CITY OF EDMONDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING
December 18, 2019
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mary Monroe, Chair
Kevin Harris, Vice Chair (by phone)
Jamie Reece
Scott Merrick
Darrol Haug
Margaret Safford
Nicole Hughes
Jay Hoag
Greg Urban, Edmonds Chamber, ex officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Kimberly Koenig (unexcused)
Nathan Monroe, Planning Board, ex-officio
Neil Tibbott, Councilmember, ex officio
Bruce Faires, Port Commissioner, ex-officio
Guests:
None
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: Nicole moved to approve agenda, Scott seconded, motion passed.
2. Roll Call and recognition of absences: Kimberly's absence is unexcused.
3. Approval of 11/20/19 EDC Minutes: Margaret moved to approve minutes, Jamie seconded,
motion passed.
4. Audience Comments: None
S. Old Business: Will summarize report on SAP during 2020 annual report to Council. Subgroups will
meet and provide information for newly elected Council members to update them. Patrick
updated on his meetings with the newly elected Council members. There has been interest
expressed in the Commissions. Nothing specific about the EDC.
6. New Business:
Darrol apologizes for being misquoted in newspaper. Did not make remarks as indicated.
7. Work -group updates — Leads of each group are to identify next goals work groups will undertake.
Discuss 2020 yearly work plan (30 minutes per group) how to involve the newly elected
Councilmembers at the beginning of 2020. It was suggested to report more than annually as a
Commission to the Council. There will be a new Council liaison after the year begins. And new
appointing authority for several Commissioners. Committee assignments will be on 1/14/20 so
new liaison will be appointed at that time.
Development Feasibility: Patrick stated that survey results have been received. Sent to
sub -group members. Most recurring comment is time involved to receive permit.
Comments were expressed about wrong info given and subsequently had to be corrected.
Largely complimentary regarding staff, concerns mainly on lack of appeal process, and
time involved in receiving permit. Time complexity and cost for small businesses is a
burden. Business improvement, small additions, rehabbing existing space. Questionnaire
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Economic Development Commission
December 18, 2019
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DRAFT
did lack more robust questions about the processes. Could do some follow-up to
respondents that have provided e-mail addresses. What could be done with this
information? Offer to have some Commissioners provide follow-up. Council has approved
a half-time staff person to work on rewriting development code. Process improvement
work could respond to input on survey. Recommend to Development Services to do
follow-up and add input on what the follow-up could be. E-mail list contained 11
respondents. Could ask more detailed questions of the respondents. At next committee
meeting formulate a scope to promote a deeper probe to the respondents. Could ask
more economic development questions in addition to the permitting aspect. More
questions about why they chose Edmonds and would they recommend to others to come
to Edmonds. Potentially the education component would be key to improving permit
process. Considerable discussion regarding what is next step. Develop plan at sub -group
level and bring back to full EDC in January.
Arts/Tourism: Mary provided update. Trolley was funded by Council for 2020. The
process to obtain a trolley and set procedures to operate will take some time. Signs are
up in ferry lanes regarding audio clip but not very visible. Could signs be redone? Played
audio clip for Commission. Development code changes to allow hotel development has
been heard at Planning Board and will now go to Council for hearing and approval in
January or February. Could work on press release when approved.
Sub -group ideas for 2020: Creative District Committee input on arts and tourism, music
performances blanket permit, ease of work on promoting street performances, change
code to allow sidewalk markers rather than roped off sidewalk dining adjacent to
restaurants.
Business Attraction: Kevin had prepared a memo resulting from most recent meeting.
See Attachment 1. Discussed meetings with groups regarding co -working space and
healthcare initiatives. New initiatives could include senior entertainment and
engagement and family entertainment attraction. Contact Senior Center Director Farrell
Fleming for input. Other potential: expansion of jobs for students, American Cruise Line
which could be within Puget Sound,
Kevin discussed other potential ideas including create smarter connections in 2020. Mary
asked that Commissioners meet with their appointing authority from Council and bring
back input to next meeting. This followed with a discussion about better communications
with Council. Liaison will be chosen by Council president. Could get ideas for work plan
from Council. Darrol mentioned the Council retreat will be early February and that could
be an opportunity to receive direction. Create talking points.
8. Liaison Updates (3 minutes per person):
Chamber: Greg discussed new labor laws going into effect Jan 1, 2020. GSBA doing separate round
table January 23 with networking at Cascadia Museum after hours. RFQ for more L&I outreach to
small businesses. OtherWorld is leaving at beginning year so spot next to Cheese Monger's Table
will be available. Job fair at Nile Country Club on 2/3/20. Leadership Snohomish is moving
Emerging Leaders to Nile for more activities in south end of county. Taste Edmonds will be moving
from Civic Park to Frances Anderson Center for 2020. Smaller capacity. Fireworks will be moved
potentially to north of jetty on waterfront. Working through regulations. Tree lighting went well.
9. Roundtable Discussion (Council, Commissioners, City Liaisons, 3 minutes per person):
DRAFT Minutes
Economic Development Commission
December 18, 2019
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Jay asked about Swedish Hospital's long-term healthcare goals. Nicole stated she and family did
Christmas ship and experience was excellent. Kevin was at holiday market, very awesome, family
loved it. Mary expressed comments from out of town visitors how wonderful events are during
holidays. Patrick invited everyone to come for final market on Saturday. Updated on proposal that
was before Council last night regarding BID collection issue that was not approved and did not
move forward. Darrol mentioned that Cindi had been awarded the 2019 Edmonds Employee of
the Year. Margaret loved all the things going on in Edmonds. Scott updated on Creative District
meeting and how the sub -committee is working on logo and branding. Initial work looks great.
9. Adjourn at 7:54 p.m.
Next regular meeting: January 15, 2019, 6 PM in Brackett Meeting Room.
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Economic Development Commission
December 18, 2019
Page 3
DRAFT
Attachment 1
Business Attraction Committee: 2020 Planning Suggestions (Darrol, Scott, Kevin & Patrick)
I. Continuation of existing initiatives
a. Co -working space/Innovation space: Continue to seek opportunities to promote
common business working space, support innovation and entrepreneurship in
Edmonds, help growing business to scale (attraction -expansion -retention).
• Potential connection with health care initiative (below) relative to
infrastructure/support for health care innovators and entrepreneurs.
b. Healthcare initiatives: Promote Swedish/Verdant core to health care innovators
and small professional firms (providers and others); promote linkages between
healthy communities and economic development initiatives, including
collaborative vision between Swedish/Edmonds, Verdant Health, Premera Blue
Cross, other significant providers and payors and health care innovators; intent
Seattle -based businesses to relocate; encourage
development/redevelopment/improvement of Highway 99 to improve
Swedish/other employee lifestyles with expanded residential options, expanded
food service options.
II. New Initiatives
a. Senior entertainment/engagement: Seek ways to engage Edmonds' senior
population with diverse events (e.g., restaurant/pub events; art walk variations;
new social events).
b. Family entertainment: Research opportunities to build new venues, attract
businesses with expertise/interest in providing options for growing Edmonds
family segment.
III. Other Potential Ideas (still forming)
a. Expand jobs for students (parking study; economic studies for geo zones; trolley
service)
b. American Cruise Line — Grand Puget Sound; Puget Sound & San Juan Island
Cruises
c. Seek greater connections in 2020 with 'internal' and 'external' collaborators
related to programmatic business support/incubator networks.
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Economic Development Commission
December 18, 2019
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