HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/15/2012 Study Session .3.1,3
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Y AKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
November 15, 2012
Council Chambers -- City Hall
11a.m. Special City Council Meeting and Study Session regarding Downtown
Development and Retail Opportunities
MINUTES .
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1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Maureen Adkison, Council Members
Sara Bristol, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager O'Rourke and City Clerk Claar Tee
Absent: Council Member Kathy Coffey (excused)
2. Presentation on Downtown Development and Retail Opportunities by Ian Thomas, Consultant
City Manager O'Rourke introduced Ian Thomas, of Thomas Consultants Inc. Mr.
• Thomas presented a PowerPoint on downtown retail development opportunities. He stressed
what the City is attempting with downtown revitalization has been done many times in other
cities, indicating most revitalization projects are about selecting successful portions from other
cities and tailoring them to fit your city. He advocates thinking globally and acting locally by
finding your inherent strengths and creating that atmosphere in your downtown.
Mr. Thomas suggests the City reinvent itself, develop a brand and bring people together by
creating a multipurpose area downtown. Council Member Bristol noted most of the examples
shared are shopping malls with a single planner. Discussion took place on how to involve
individual tenants in the master plan and creating a vision.
Council Member Lover mentioned his concerns about imported poverty and the "homes" the
State considers "family homes" that can house 16 -18 people. He feels this needs to be dealt
with, along with the gang activity, so big businesses are not discouraged from coming to this
area. Mayor Cawley agreed this is a valid concern and it will take effort by the City to change
things. Assistant Mayor Adkison strongly suggested the need to change our attitudes and be
positive when speaking about our community.
City Manager O'Rourke noted our City is the 5th largest agricultural area in the nation, that we
are the "Fruit bowl of America ", and we should capitalize on this. He stated staff will bring a
development road map to the December 4, 2012 council meeting. Mr. Thomas
suggested having a competition to solicit one good "main signature event."
3. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 12:29 p.m. to the next Council Business meeting on November 20,
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2012 at 6 p.m.
Motion: Adjourn, Carried 6 -0. Council Members voting Aye: Adkison , Bristol , Cawley , Ensey ,
Ettl , Lover . Council Members Absent: Coffey .
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