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Home My WebLink About041615 Final Minutes - Economic Dev COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKGROUP MINUTES DATE: START TIME: LOCATION: April 16, 2015 1:02 p.m. City Hall, Conference Room 3 Members Present: Larry Crockett (Port of Port Townsend), Heather Dudley-Nolette (YPN), Doug Frick (Planning Commission), Mari Mullen (Main Street Program), Peter Quinn (EDC), Dave Robison (Fort Worden PDA), Deborah Stinson (City Council), Teresa Varraes (Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce) Guests: David Berrian, Debbie Jahnke, Rick Jahnke (Planning Commission), Viki Sontag Staff Present: Judy Surber (Planning Manager), Lance Bailey (Community Services Director), Amber Long (Deputy Clerk) Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) Welcome & Introductions Comprehensive Plan Overview Judy Surber discussed the Comprehensive Plan update process and the role of the five workgroups. She described the four fundamental concepts of the Comprehensive Plan: maintaining small town character, achieving better balance between jobs & housing, accommodating the City’s share of county-wide growth, and providing public facilities & services within the City’s financial resources. She noted that the scope of work includes “state-mandated” revisions and, resources allowing, optional amendments selected locally. The workgroups need to identify any additional optional themes. Changing Circumstances & Emerging Trends Ms. Surber reviewed trends data detailed in the meeting materials. Optional Amendment Themes Ms. Surber discussed the preliminary optional amendment themes: planning for transition and community resilience, revisiting the mixed-use center designations, policies & capital improvements that support families & youth, and reviewing Howard Street zoning. She noted an additional theme, “jobs-housing balance,” has emerged through the workgroup meetings. Ms. Surber stated that the end 1 Revised 5/12/15 Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) result may be a hybrid of various themes and the update process could include “placeholders” for future action on other optional themes. Why Are We Here? Ms. Surber reviewed the overall goals of the economic development workgroup and solicited input from the group members. Forming a Scope of Work – Group Exercise During discussion, members made suggestions Members expressed the following concerns: including: -Housing availability for young families and the tie between housing and the -Sustainable infrastructure for newly emerging economy economies (project-based economy, -How to make living in the city (as opposed to the county) more attractive and telecommuting, tech-based economy) affordable-Tiny houses – create industry involving School -New economies—more people working from home of Wooden Boat Building, which could create -Need to simplify and reduce number of ordinances and regulations jobs for youth -Need to be business-friendly without deviating from the community’s vision -Need to expand variety of housing stock (tiny -Shortage of funds for capital improvements. houses, live-work, boarding homes, ADUs, -Contentious issues from 1996 that continue to be issues today include: the future of multi-family). Glen Cove and tendency for ADUs to be tourist homes rather than long-term rentals. -Broadband as community-shaper—ensure -Perception of the community as business-friendly (or not) adequate broadband coverage for residential -Permitting needs to be timely/fair/predictable (Policy 12.1) areas, as well as businesses -How can the City promote private investment -Simplify policies and streamline processes -Pros and cons to food trucks and make predictable to help -Seeing the people behind the projects entrepreneurs/builders/business owners “get -Demographic bulge of baby boomers as they retire to yes” -Effect of climate change on population growth -Look at other communities that have qualities/processes we would like to mimic Ms. Surber noted a new theme seemed to be taking shape -- “Simplify Policy and (e.g. Portland’s boroughs are like “mini-Port Development Regulations.” Members agreed and noted code should be sustainable, Townsends”) business-friendly, City as partner in seeing projects come to fruition, low impact. Look -Coordinate with County on growing industry to the City/Port Economic strategy. in Glen Cove. -Foster partnerships among community 2 Revised 5/12/15 Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) Group members generally agreed that a new optional theme could be a focus on groups and with government appropriate business-friendly development policies that are enacted in a fair, -“Right-size” capital expenses (i.e., getting by humanized, and efficient system. on less; low-impact living) -Manage expectations—make sure that people are aware of what PT has (and doesn’t have) to offer business owners and citizens -Foster true involvement & trusting relationships between builders and those who issue permits -Comprehensive Plan should focus on broader policy, such as diversified manufacturing and small business strategy as driver for economic development, not specific projects such as Howard Street Public Comment Viki Sontag spoke of the City’s strengths as its resiliency and craft production/artisan economy. She encouraged taking a holistic view (don’t buy into community vs. business) and stated that the City needs to tackle harder issues like climate change and economic inequality (young people stuck in service economy). She stated that City’s plans are not easily accessible and she found it difficult to identify opportunities for community engagement. David Berrian stated that he is pleased that resiliency and flexibility are being discussed. He would like to see more in the Plan about finance (e.g., strategies for how the community will respond to another financial institutions meltdown). He noted that community wealth is measured not only in jobs but in the willingness of citizens to be productive, to participate/volunteer. Debbie Jahnke spoke of her appreciation for the other comments from the public. Next Steps: Judy Surber described the process for developing a scope of work, including a 3 Revised 5/12/15 Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) Town Meeting and hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. Next Meeting: To be determined Adjourn: The meeting ended at 3:14 p.m. 4 Revised 5/12/15