The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About03132003 Min Ag . . . CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA City Council Chambers, 7:00 pm March 13,2003 1. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Acceptance of Agenda IV. Approval of Minutes - February 27,2003 V. General Public Comment (limited to 3 minutes per person) VI. City Council Liaison Report VII. Unfinished Business VIII. New Business A. "Encouraging Small Businesses" Panel with Kathleen Purdy, WSU Extension Office; Ann Avary with Economic Development Council; Tim Caldwell, Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce Question & Answer Period VII. Upcoming Meeting March 27 IX. Communications IX. Adjournment · · · CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2003 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Cindy Thayer called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. II. ROLL CALL Other members answering roll were Lyn Hersey, Frank Benskin, Alice King, Michael Hyland, and JeffKelety. Richard Berg arrived at 7:50 p.m.; James Irvin and Bernie Arthur were excused. Also present were BCD Director Jeff Randall and Senior Planner Judy Surber. Michele Sandoval represented the City Council. III. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Mr. Benskin made a motion to accept the agenda; Mr. Hyland seconded. All were in favor. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Hersey made a motion to accept the minutes of February 27, 2003 as written; Mr. Benskin seconded. All were in favor. V. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT -- There was none VI. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT -- There was none VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS -- There was none VIII. NEW BUSINESS "Encouraging Small Businesses" (panel) Kathleen Purdy, WSU Extension Office Ann Avary, Economic Development Council (EDC) Tim Caldwell, Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce Questions and answers will follow. Mr. Randall welcomed the panelists indicating the Commission had requested tbis informative meeting. He said there would be no formal action tonight. Handouts covering comments made by Mr. Caldwell and Ms. Avary were distributed. Ms. Ann Avary Ms. A vary thanked the Commission for their invitation stating her comments would be centered around requests in their letter of invitation. She prefaced her remarks by indicating not all of her comments were reflective of the EDC. She elaborated on: What is working -- what are our strengths? What are the barriers/challenges? What are the opportunities? What is the EDC doing? Ms. A vary showed a city map and indicated there is interest in land for siting or expanding businesses, but prices are not competitive, not a good return on investment. Planning Conunission, March 13, 2003 / Page 1 · · · Ms. Kathleen Purdy Ms. Purdy focused on educational opportunities in the area impacting the marketplace. She discussed business coaching that is free and confidential, stressing that time is of the essence to the small business owner. She suggested a database to access statistics and photographs for possible sites, e.g. property that is approved for particular zoning and amenities. Mr. Tim Caldwell Mr. Caldwell commented that education is its own industry. He also said we are our own barrier in what we want. Mr. Caldwell focused on transportation, noting the temporary Hood Canal Bridge closure in 2006 prompted the Chamber of Commerce to make a Five-Year Transportation Goal (2001-2006). He discussed projects they believe will serve to increase alternative transportation access: Jefferson County Gateway Visitor Center and Park & Ride Kingston-Seattle passenger only ferry service Port Townsend Haines Place Park & Ride and Visitor Center Port Townsend-Seattle passenger only ferry service Port Townsend-Kingston-Edwards vehicle ferry service U.S. Customs Office at Point Hudson Port Townsend-Victoria, B.C. passenger only ferry service Jefferson, Kitsap, and Clallam transit inter-agency services Questions raised included: Securitv around the~, Coast Guard impact to businesses in those areas. Ms. Avary said small businesses in those areas are doing okay, but it would be a significant challenge to relocate. Affordable housing, impact to businesses. Ms Avary indicated ideally they are wanting to assist people who want to work with local people. Preparation for work, Mr. Caldwell spoke of the Job Fair and Work Source preparing people for interviews, how to dress, how to make a resume. There is a large segment of people not prepared to go to work. Data Base, assessment of land. Ms. A vary spoke of very limited supply and affordability of light industrial land that is appropriate for building. Zoning. Ms. Thayer suggested they could zone more land and might make it affordable, but where? Wish list. Ms. A vary suggested in talking with people -- practical, suitable land south of Sims Way, zoned light industrial; some is not affordable with grading work that needs to be done. Raises issues of competitiveness. Need a baseline review of suitability, but not sure of alternatives. Mr. Caldwell spoke of need for infrastructure. Education. Survey of Port Townsend High School, 40% not planning higher education. Ms. Purdy asked of those that go away for education, are there enough jobs here to bring them back? There needs to be a systems view; you can't just look at one factor. You have to have jobs for less skilled people. Family wage iobs, two family incomes. Are there incentives here? Planning Department barriers. Ms. Purdy suggested barriers may be business owner's problem, not wanting to do such things as planning. Ms. Hersey noted things had improved with BCD within the last 5 years. How can we hel" promote economic development? We are advisory only and can only recommend. Ms. Avary said reviewing property for true suitability could have a big impact. Mr. Caldwell did not know the Planning Commission charter, but suggested tasking a land inventory, also caring and nurturing. Ms. King suggested they could take their ideas to Council for decisions. How do we provide affordable housing for low income iobs ~ tourism? Mr. Caldwell said you have to throw in the marine trades, but suggested you have to also take into account accommodations and benefits along with salaries. Ms. Avary talked about family wage jobs regarding affordable housing, that their business incubation and innovation program is designed in part to address local businesses staying here and growing, that retention and expansion is key. Ms. Sandoval spoke of poverty in relation to education; inadequate affordable housing not attracting business; the cost of technology in developing websites. She said this is a mill town, and indicated the smell of the mill might preclude anything but light industrial in those areas. She talked about disparities in housing that are being driven by the market allover the country, and cost of living impacts of deed restrictions on property in lieu of wages. Planning Conunission, March 13,2003/ Page 2 · · · Ms. Avary answered Mr. Kelety's comment regarding light manufacturing job opportunities dropping in the State of Washington, that this area enjoys niche industries, i.e. fabrication jobs, technical applications, and that we need to continue to tap into and nurture them. They could locate anywhere, but have made a life-style choice to be here. Ms. Purdy stated we don't need that many businesses, spoke of growing our own and not being impacted by the national decline. Mr. Caldwell talked of migration, that most are here to retire and don't need a large manufacturing business. Mr. Benskin thanked the panel. He again mentioned ferry safety and that people from the Marine Safety Office would be willing to come over and talk to the community regarding survival. Chair Thayer also tllanked the panel and said how much she had learned from this discussion. VIII. UPCOMING MEETINGS March 27, 2003 -- Continuation of Tree Ordinance Mr. Randall noted he would be attending an out-of-town meeting on the subject, and packets might be distributed Friday or Monday preceding the March 27 meeting. IX. COMMUNICATIONS Chair Thayer reported there had been concern among Planning Commission members regarding the letter of invitation Mr. Kelety had sent to the panelists making a comment representative of the Planning Commission. There was disagreement with the comment, and Mr. Kelety was asked not to represent the Commission without their consent. Mr. Kelety took note and agreed. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Hersey and seconded by Mr. Benskin All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ~~ Sheila Avis, Minute Taker Planning Conunission, March 13, 2003 / Page 3