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HomeMy WebLinkAbout052319 EDC packet%00ouncll Economic Developmem Committee 2nd Floor Conference Room City Hall May 23, 20% •r 1:30 Members: Staff: Others: Chairman White Sara Watkins, Assistant City Attorney Councilmember Gutierrez Joan Davenport, Community Development Councilmember Cousens Director Cally Price, Assistant to the City Manager 1. Minute Approval a. Review May 2 draft minutes 2. Discussion a. Downtown destination b. Economic Development Plan — need updates for timeline i. Competitiveness 1. Private sites — no report 2. City sites — no report 3. Mill site — update from Joan 4. Public Port Authority — update from Verlynn Best 5. Incentives — Yakima Airport Alliance (move to June meeting) 6. Education Alignment — update from Jonathan Smith 7. YKM — no report 8. Convention Center — update from John Cooper ii. Traded Sector 1. YKM —no report 2. Clusters — no report iii. Community pride — no report 3. Staff and Partner Announcements a. Draft Vacant Building Ordinance — Sara Watkins b. YCDA and City GIS systems c. Arts District 4. Future Agenda Items 5. Other Business 6. Audience Participation Council Economic Ou""evelopment Committee 2nd Floor conference Room City Hall MA . Members: Staff: Council member White Sara Watkins, Assistant City Attorne) Council member Gutierrez Rob Peterson, Airport Director Council member Cousens Cally Price, Assistant to the City Man White called the meeting to order. Others: Jonathan Smith Andrew Holt Joe Mann Connie Upton 1. Review draft minutes from February 28, 2019 meeting: The February 28, 2019 meeting minutes were reviewed. Gutierrez motioned to accept the minutes as presented and Cousens seconded. Motion passed. 2. Discussions: a. Downtown destination — Watkins provided an update on the vacant building ordinance that committees members discussed. Items that could be included in the ordinance include, no boarded up buildings in the Central Business District, active marketing efforts for selling vacant sites, assessing fees for vacant buildings, decreasing the time of vacancy, etc. Gutierrez motioned to move the vacant building discussion to the full Council and Cousens seconded the motion. Motion passed. White asked that the vacant building ordinance be a standing item on the agenda. Watkins suggested that staff and committee members work with DAY and YCDA. b. Economic Development Plan i. Competitiveness 1. Private sites — Smith reported that vacant sites are listed on YCDA's website. The SIED Board approved funds for expanding the GIS capabilities on YCDA's website. Committee members suggested that the City work with YCDA to enhance what the city offers. Gutierrez stated that we need to ensure that large businesses looking at expanding are not brining pollution. 2. City sites — This item was covered above. ii. T 3. Mill site — Watkins reported that the full Council will be receiving an update at the May 28th City Council agenda preview meeting. 4. Public Port Authority — Peterson reported on the luncheon that the Chamber hosted and gave background information on when the City had tried to establish a Port District in the past. The Chamber of Commerce will be forming an exploratory committee and invited Peterson to be a member. Cousens stated she believes Peterson would be an asset to the exploratory committee. Gutierrez asked if there was any interest from municipalities. Peterson replied that Union Gap was the only municipality that provided funding to assist with airport marketing efforts. 5. Incentives — Peterson reported that the Council can pass a resolution creating an Airport Alliance that would allow incentives for airlines looking to expand into Yakima. Smith added that more programs are available to help businesses become more competitive. 6. Education Alignment — Smith reported that the committee members will be meeting soon to review the career programs list that will be available to kids from 6th, grade through college age. 7. YKM — Peterson shared that a local business was looking to expand its manufacturing at the airport. j purchase the 51,000 SF buildi storing a helicopter at the Yak 8. Convention Center — Upton re review qualifications. Council architect and the timeline will'I construction could begin in sp 3 -lease was signed with an option to Another company is looking at Airport for the upcoming fire season. Bd;that a committee was formed to roved an agreement with the ialized soon. It's anticipated that 2. Clusters -Smith stated that he will be attending the Pack Expo Show in September. The focus is on foil bagging/packaging. Community pride — Holt reported that several events will be taking place in downtown Yakima and highlighted some of the other signature events. Planters will be planted this weekend and the hanging baskets should be going up in the next couple weeks. 3. Staff and Partner Announcements a. Downtown infrastructure criteria — Holt met with City staff to discuss standards. He has a student that will help inventory the needs and research grant funding opportunities. b. Main Street Conference report — Holt highlighted some major takeaways from the Main Street Conference (importance of an Economic Development person and revitalization). Cousens added it was interesting to see how spaces are being used (such as alleyways). The most important thing White learned was the importance of public spaces and cities doing more with less. He would like to see Naches Parkway used as a downtown destination. He also would like to see more opportunities available for multi -use spaces. White and Cousens asked to have staff members that attended the conference submit to Council what they learned. 4. Other Business Cousens stated that she attended the Partnership Committee meeting when they were discussing affordable housing. She believes that if the discussion of affordable housing expands to include builders and developers that Council should consider moving that to the Economic Development Committee. Gutierrez expressed concern with the procurement process and the use of E -Verify and that she would be bringing her concern up at the next Council meeting. 5. Future agenda items a. Incentives — Yakima Airport Alliance b. Draft Vacant Building Ordinance c. YCDA GIS information — linking with the City d. Arts District 6. Audience Participation Mann asked a couple questions about the vacant building ordinance, affordable housing/remodeling, and where CWU was at with expanding its aviation program. Jason White, Chair