HomeMy WebLinkAbout122018 EDC minutes; Aft "I Economic Development
Floorouncl
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City Hall
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Members: Staff:
Council member White Cliff Moore, City Manager
Council member Gutierrez Ana Cortez, Assistant City Manager
Steve Groom, Finance Director
Rob Peterson, Airport Director
Joan Davenport, Community Development
Director
Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Cally Price, Assistant to the City Manager
White called the meeting to order,
Others:
Luz Gutierrez
John Cooper
Jonathan Smith
Jerry Mallen
Collette Keeton
Sara Allen
Greg Lybeck
1. Review draft minutes from November 15, 2018 meeting:
The November 15, 2018 meeting minutes were reviewed. Gutierrez motioned to accept the
minutes as presented and White seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as
presented.
2. Discussions:
a. Strategic Priorities per Plan
i. Main arterial development — nothing to report
ii. Downtown Plaza
Cortez provided a short background on the plaza and stated the committee
and council need to determine, what, if any next steps the committee would
recommend now that the plaza vote has been taken and the City is not
moving forward with the downtown plaza.
Groom provided some financial background and indicated that finance will
continue pursing revenue options, monitoring income, limiting expenses, and
advocating for new revenues. The City needs to provide a healthy
environment for businesses to survive.
Cortez reminded the members that the Council needs to go through the policy
issues of the Downtown Master Plan and frame its future discussion. The
keys to the Downtown Master Plan are addressing what's, how's, and why's.
What — how the downtown can be vibrant, providing streetscape and
sidewalks, developing strong retail strategies and making it walkable.
How — need input from stakeholders, use downtown as an economic
development agent, modify land uses, create business modules, increase
circulation, and offering projects.
Why — address parking concerns, physical components and reasons for
people to want to be there.
White stated that tree removal is happening in the downtown area and
identifying other streets that need to be addressed (tree removal, street
repairs, etc.). He wants to know what work is underway so we can address
the basic needs before identifying next steps of the Downtown Master Plan.
Gutierrez supports the infrastructure needs, however, would like clarification
on the Downtown Master Plan projects. Specifically she would like the
Downtown Master Plan to address land uses to restrict the number of
financial institutions in the central business district. She believes that
reducing the number of lanes on Yakima Avenue from four lanes to two
should be explored.
White asked that street grade criteria be discussed at the January 12 City
Council strategic planning session.
b. Economic Development Plan
i. Community Pride — nothing to report
c. Competitiveness
i. Private sites — nothing to report
ii. City sites — nothing to report
iii. Mill site nothing to report
iv. Public Port Authority — nothing to report
v. Incentives — nothing to report
vi. Education Alignment — nothing to report
vii. YKM
Peterson reviewed an airport PowerPoint and discussed how the airport can
be used as an economic development agent for the City. It creates economic
impact through the use of airlines, car rentals, and businesses around the
airport property. This item will be discussed further at the January meeting.
viii. Convention Center — nothing to report
d. Traded Sector
i. YKM — nothing to report
ii. Clusters — nothing to report
e. Council policy requests
i. Vacant Building Ordinance — DELAYED UNTIL JANUARY
ii. Central Washington State Fair Report on Goals to increase use of Sundome
Greg Lybeck distributed a PowerPoint regarding the Sundome, the number of
events, hotel nights generated, and economic impact generated by events at
the Sundome.
3. Staff and Partner Announcements
Nothing to report