HomeMy WebLinkAbout012419 EDC minutesCouncil Economic Development
Committee
2nd Floor Conference -
oomCity Hall
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Members: Staff: Others:
Council member White Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney Luz Gutierrez
Council member Coffey Rob Peterson, Airport Director John Cooper
Council member Cousens Scott Schafer, Public Works Director Jonathan Smith
Glenn Denman, Building Official Jerry Mellen
Cally Price, Assistant to the City Manager Verlynn Best
Andrew Holt
Joe Mann
Executive Minutes
White called the meeting to order.
1. Review draft minutes from December 20, 2018 meeting:
The December 20, 2018 meeting minutes were reviewed. Cousens motioned to accept the
minutes as presented and Coffey seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as
presented.
2. Discussions:
a. Strategic Priorities
i. Review new strategic direction approved by Council 1/12/19
The City Council met on January 12 to update its strategic priorities for the
year. The primary change for the Economic Development Committee was
replacing the downtown plaza with downtown destination. This item will be
added to future agendas.
b. Economic Development Plan - nothing to report
Competitiveness
1. Private sites — Smith reported that some private properties have been
added to the opportunity zones website for individuals or businesses
looking to expand in Yakima.
2. City sites — Smith reported that three airport sites were added to the
YCDA online GIS property database.
3. Mill site — Watkins provided an update on the mill site.
4. Public Port Authority — Smith reported that the Chamber is hosting a
lunch in March to talk about Port Districts. Best will send an invite and
more information when it's available.
5. Incentives — Smith reported that a sales tax incentive for developers
may be introduced in the legislature again this year. Developers in
Yakima took advantage of this opportunity in the past. City staff will
contact City's lobbyists to see if this is something they are tracking.
6. Education Alignment — Smith reported that the committee has been
working on a directory of all career education programs in the valley
and will be releasing it soon.
7. YKM -
8. Convention Center — Cooper provided an update on the Convention
Center expansion. The selection committee should have a firm
selected in March.
ii. Traded Sector
1. YKM — Peterson reported that there were 144,000 in/out bound
passengers that traveled through the Yakima Airport in 2018. This
number mirrors 2017. Alaska Airline is offering the fourth flight through
March, will drop a flight in spring, but add the fourth flight back in
summer.
Staff is working with a marketing agency on the FLYYKM campaign.
Currently there is about $80,000 grant funds left for marketing of the
Airport. Union Gap was the only jurisdiction that offered to contribute
to the marketing efforts and included money in its 2019 budget to
assist.
Peterson provide a quick overview on some of the capital projects
needed at the airport and stressed the importance of regional support.
White asked for an update on the recent article about CWU expanding
its program in Yakima. Peterson reported that staff will be meeting
with CWU representatives in the near future to talk about logistics.
The final report is due the end of February.
2. Clusters — Smith reported that YCDA is participating in various
agriculture and food processing and packaging trade shows.
iii. Community pride — nothing to report
Coffey asked that staff update the Economic Development Strategic Plan matrix and
bring it to the next meeting.
c. Council policy requests
i. Vacant Building Ordinance report from Sara
Watkins distributed and reviewed a spreadsheet showing other cities
regulations on vacant buildings. Committee members openly discussed what
other cities do and requested that Watkins contact Everett regarding their
fees and that staff work with DAY to create a list of vacant properties in the
DYBID. Cooper suggested that the Arts Commission be included in the
discussion.
3. Staff and Partner Announcements
a. Utility pole use for cell facility — report from Sara
Watkins reported that the City does not currently have any regulations regarding
wireless facilities and asked that the Committee authorize the planning commission
to review regulations and make recommendations to the full Council. Developing
wireless facility regulations will allow smaller companies an opportunity to compete
with the larger companies.
b. Shipping container ordinance proposal — report from Glenn
Denman read his January 24, 2019 memo (included in the packet). Committee
members asked that staff prepare a draft ordinance for Committee members to
review at the next meeting. White asked staff to determine if the shipping containers
at the Holiday Inn were permitted or are in the clear view area.
c. Pavement Condition Index — report from Scott
Schafer gave an overview of what the pavement condition is, how streets are
identified, and reviewed the 2015 list of streets (latest data available). Some streets
on the list have been identified as part of a project and will be fixed when the project
work is being completed. The City is considering hiring a consultant in 2020 to
update the PCI list but the cost is $80-100,000 and needs to be budgeted. White
would like to have development standards be defined for the downtown core. If the
Committee's focus is making the downtown a destination then there needs to be
standards for the businesses/property owners. Coffey asked staff to work with DAY
to develop a plan to bring back to the Committee at the next meeting.
d. RECON Convention May 19-22, 2019 in Las Vegas
Committee members agreed Yakima would not have a booth at the RECON
Convention this year.
e. Entertainment Facilities Conference May 16-17 in San Diego
Committee members did not think this conference would be appropriate for
staff/council.
Holt added that the National Main Street Conference will be held in Seattle this year.
Discounted rates are available for elected/appointed officials. The dates are March 25-27.
This item will be added to the February 5 City Council agenda for discussion under
committee reports.
4. Future agenda items
a. Review updated Economic Development Strategic Plan timeline
b. Downtown destination
c. Fulcrum presentation
d. Everett abandoned/vacant building ordinance fee
e. Shipping container ordinance
f. Inventory of vacant building/lots in DYBID
g. Filling gaps — information from Holly
h. Develop downtown infrastructure criteria
5. • Participation
Joe Mann suggested that Fulcrum present at the next meeting to talk about some of the
projects they are working •
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Holt stated that DAY has its monthly meeting on February 5 and will be sharing the 2018
Vear-end report.
Jason White, Chair U