HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-26-2018 Economic Development Committee notesCouncil
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Second Floor Conference Room
Yakima City Hall
Committee Members: Staff:
Council Member White Assistant City Manager Ana Cortez -Steiner
Information Systems Manager John Carney
Associate Planner Eric Crowell
Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun
Chief Engineer Brett Sheffield
Economic Dev.Manager Sean Hawkins
Records Administrator Jodi Stephens
Council Member White called the meeting to order at 1:37 p.m.
Absent: Council Members Cousens and Dulce Gutierrez
l. Reviewed the draft minutes from July 5,ZOl8meeting:
There was noquorum atthe meeting toapprove the minutes.
Community members,.
John Cooper
Jonathan Smith
Luz Gutierrez
Kait|in Bain
Andrew Holt
Joe Mann
3. Discussions:
a. Strategic Plan Update
Calhoun presented a PowerPoint presentation emphasizing the Economic
Development Element is one of the primary elements of the Comprehensive Plan
and ismandated bythe Growth Management Act (GK4A).The plan guides
physical development through 2O4Oand was adopted byCouncil onJune 6,
2017.
Crowell reviewed the conditions and trends ofthe demographics, challenges and
opportunities, and goals and policies ofthe plan.
Further discussion took place about options to attract businesses to Yakima and
White asked about aPublic Authority District. Hawkins explained the Public
Yakima's competitiveness, and is created by Council. It does not have taxing
authority and is similar to a Port District.
Calhoun briefed White on the free pre -application review process that connects
the applicants with various City departments and what permits they will need
moving forward.
b. Conduit and fiber assets
Carney reported on the findings from his research conducted on
Anacortes. Anacortes is running conduit sleeves inside of existing
vacated pipes, which cost about $500,000 and they are the size of Selah.
They are using the conduit to bridge communications between
government buildings. Carney reported City staff are currently
conducting an inventory of the City's underground conduit and working
with GIS to create a mapping application to show a visual inventory of the
conduit and targeting 2019 to show the Committee the results. The City
currently utilizes fiber optics here at the City of Yakima to join our
government buildings. Carney also indicated the best part of this process
is IT and Public Works are working more closely together on projects and
are moving toward a dig once approach.
c. Creative District update
White did not discuss this item.
d. Sidewalk and crosswalk pain—White did not discuss this item.
i. Policy
ii. Costs
iii. Recommendation
e, Discussion on vacant building
i. List of vacant building and owners
Calhoun indicated the City of Yakima doesn't track this information;
however, there is a link accessing Yakima County information via the
City's website.
White would like to know what the City of Spokane has done with vacant
buildings.
A North First Street Corridor PowerPoint presentation was added to the agenda, which
Sheffield presented.
This project will begin in spring of 2019.
• Phase 1 is from 'N' Street to SR12
• Phase 2 is from 'I' Street to 'N' Street
• Phase 3 is from MLK to 'I' Street
The North First Street Ad Hoc Committee was created and met several times in 2011. The City
received a SIED Planning Grant of $25,000, and on October 18, 2011 the Council accepted the
North First Street Corridor Revitalization Project Planning Grant final report and brochure. The
Yakima Bikes and Walk group were a proponent of adding the sidewalks in the plan.
After discussion, Cortez confirmed with White he would like to see changes to sidewalks,
landscaping, and the middle of the road.
3. Future CED agenda items
• White would like "other business" as a standing item on this agenda
• Pavement coating
• Discussion on vacant buildings
• Would like North First Street as a standing item until we decide otherwise
White brought up the incorrect cost quoted at the last Council meeting and his concern
if several Council members want to attend the Economic Development Conference in
Ellensburg. Cortez indicated the deadline is July 31, 2018 and she is not aware of any
other requests to attend. White made a request to attend.
4. Audience participation
Luz Gutierrez would like to know if any of the money for the North First Street project
can be used anywhere else in the City. She also thanked Community and Economic
Development Manager Sean Hawkins for all his hard work, his work with LCDR, and
having such a great interest in economic development in our area.
Community member and business owner Joe Mann spoke highly of the YakBack feature
on our website and thanked the staff who responded so quickly and professionally to a
report of a pothole. Mr. Mann also suggested when selling property or land to consider
the long-term interest to the City, and not only accept the highest bidder.
Adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 23, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. in the Second Floor