HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-17 Economic Development Committee MinutesCouncil Economic Development
Committee
Planning Conference Room
City Hall
June 1, 2017
1:30 p.m.
Members: Staff: Others:
Councilmember Coffey
Councilmember Gutierrez
Councilmember Lover
Sean Hawkins, Economic Development
Manager
Joan Davenport, Director of Community
Development
Rob Peterson, Airport Manager
Luz Gutierrez
Jon Smith
Maria Rodriquez
Andrew Holt
John Baule
Steve Zien
Terrie Sanchez
Executive Minutes
Reviewing of the Minutes from April 27, 2017 – reviewed and accepted as submitted
Action Items:
Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District (DYBID) Maintenance Services
Agreement with the Downtown Association of Yakima (DAY)
Hawkins reviewed the December 2016 Downtown Partnership Proposal which included
a number of strategic steps to transfer downtown related activities from the City of
Yakima to the Downtown Association of Yakima. The first of those steps included an
agreement for the City to apply for the full amount of Washington Main Street Tax
Credits in 2018-2020 and a transfer of Downtown Events (Downtown Summer Nights,
Roots and Vines Fest and Blues and Brews Fest) to DAY. The final step of this
proposal, was to move the maintenance services performed in downtown under the
DYBID to DAY when current contractor Block by Block’s contract expires on June 30,
2017. Hawkins reviewed the contract with DAY and explained various details of the
proposal including assessment amounts, the term, the City’s duties and parking
services.
Councilmember A. Gutierrez moved to bring this agreement to the full council at their June 20,
2017 meeting. Lover seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
During discussion on this subject, Council members A. Gutierrez and Coffey asked for a
discussion on parking enforcement, costs and revenues to be placed on the next Economic
Development Committee agenda.
Update Items:
RECON 2017 Follow Up -
Hawkins reviewed the City’s participation in the 2017 RECON Conference in Las Vegas.
While attendance was up to 25% less than 2016, the Yakima delegation made a number of
good connections. Hawkins reviewed the dozen follow ups from the event. Gutierrez and
Jon Smith also attended the conference and worked the booth and provided feedback. The
consensus was to continue attending the conference in future years.
Progress Update – Yakima County Development Association
Jon Smith, the director of YCDA, reviewed the organization’s progress and the variety of
services they provide for the City of Yakima. Smith will provide an update the full City
Council later this year.
Economic Development Plan Update –
Hawkins reviewed a chart updating the progress of the each of the 12 initiatives including
the Yakima Economic Plan 2017-2020. He will provide an update to the full City Council at
their June 6, 2017 meeting.
Local Option Rental Car Tax –
As a follow up to the April 27, 2017 Council ED discussion on a finding a dedicated funding
resource to continue the FLY YKM program after the DOT program runs out, Hawkins and
Peterson reviewed the local option rental car tax allowed by State Law. Cities are not
eligible to add this local option, however counties are but the proceeds must be spend of
public sports facilities or youth facilities. Coffey asked for us to determine how much
annually could be collected under the .01 local option on the county level.
Audience Participation –
Luz Gutierrez and Maria Rodriquez updated the committee on the 2017 Cinco De Mayo
Cultural Celebration