HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-16 Economic Development Committee MinutesCouncil Economic Development
Committee
Council Chambers
City Hall
July 28th, 2016
1:30 p.m.
Members: Staff: Others:
Council Member Coffey
Council Member Cousens
Cliff Moore, City Manager
Rob Peterson, Airport Manager
Colleda Monick, Economic
Development Assistant
Jon Smith
Maria Rodriguez
John Cooper
Verlyn Best
Allison Larsen
Executive Minutes
Coffey reviewed the minutes from the June 30th Council Economic Development Committee
Meeting.
Economic Development Plan Steering Committee Recommendation and Project Next
Steps
Moore reviewed the recommended steering committee as presented by TadZo
Consulting.
Coffey and Cousins approved the recommended committee structure.
Next steps are to request the selected organizations to submit the name, position, and
contact information of the participating party and to schedule a kick-off meeting. Monick
and Larsen to coordinate kick-off meeting date.
Yakima Air Terminal mid-year report
Peterson reviewed the January – June 2016 Yakima Air Terminal passenger report with
council.
Former Montgomery Ward SIED Application
Coffey and Smith provided a brief update on the SIED application process noting that
the SIED board unanimously approved the application and it is currently wait ing for
review at the County Commissioner level.
Coffey requested permission to include the following ad ditions to the agenda; Incubator Funding
Update; Convention Center Expansion update; DRYVE & TRANS-action Plan; and a RECON
Update. Cousens approved.
Incubator Funding update – Economic Development Department will be working on applying for
a CERB Panning Grant to assist with costs associated with incubator locations, schematics and
estimated construction budgets. Next round of CERB applications are due in mid-September. ED
will be providing a completed application for full Council review in late August or early September.
Convention Center Expansion update – Cooper shared Kidder Mathews
recommendations/insight regarding what is needed or missing from Yakima’s current convention
center to be competitive in today’s market;
1. Lacking a quality headquarter hotel
2. W ould benefit from 50,000 sq/ft expansion to include exhibit hall, bre ak out rooms, and
expanded kitchen
The Convention Center recently lost out on three long standing groups because of lack of quality
lodging and space needs. Kennewick is currently voting on an initiative to expand and connect
their Convention Center and Toyota Center along with adding a brand new hotel.
DRYVE & TRANS-action - Coffey, Smith, and Best gave a brief overview regarding the
transportation freight initiative to bring passenger and freight transportation via rail to the area
through the efforts of All Aboard Washington. Coffey and Cousens were both interested in the
feasibility study timeline and Coffey requested this be added to the Economic Development Plan.
Best to alert Coffey to future DRYVE meeting dates.
RECON – Smith is still engaging with Kidder Mathews regarding the Mill Site and will be
scheduling an upcoming site tour with them in the near future.
Meeting adjourned