03/14/2016 - MinutesCity of Port Orchard
Economic Development and Tourism Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, March 14, 2016
Committee Members Present: Council Members Bek Ashby, Fred Chang and Clancy Donlin.
City Staff: Development Director Nick Bond, City Clerk Brandy Rinearson, Associate Planner Keri Sallee.
Guests: Kathy Cocus (Kitsap Economic Development Alliance), Matt Murphy (Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce), Bobbie Stewart (Port Orchard Bay Street Association), Sheila Cline (Moondogs). The meeting was called to order by Chair Ashby at 9:07 a.m.
Discussion: Signage Needs. The Committee discussed business signage needs and potential sign code changes, with input from the Committee’s invited guests representing Port Orchard business interests. A draft sign code update will be presented by Development Director Bond at the next EDT meeting. The update will then be made available to the public and an ad hoc committee will be formed to review it and provide recommendations to City Council.
Presentation: KEDA. Kathy Cocus with the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) gave a broad overview of business needs and tools, economic development strategies, and future employment trends in Kitsap County.
Discussion: Public Event Tool Kit. City Clerk Rinearson presented the draft Public Event Tool Kit, which will be finalized and then made available online as a one-stop resource for event planners.
Discussion: Property Tax Exemption Programs. Bond discussed options in RCW Ch. 84.14 that allow local governments to establish tax exemption programs benefitting projects with multi-family housing, including low and moderate income housing. The Committee requested that Bond prepare draft code and supporting documentation for discussion at a future Committee meeting.
Discussion: Waterfront Parking for Events. The Committee discussed the potential closure of the waterfront paid parking lot (commuter lot) for special events. The City loses approximately $2,000/week when this lot is closed, and agreed that the loss needs to be made up in some way. The impacts to daily commuters should also be considered. The issue will be discussed with the full Council.
Update: YMCA Meeting. Council Member Donlin summarized a meeting he recently attended with the School Board, Kitsap County, YMCA representatives, and consultants regarding the potential South Kitsap YMCA.
Discussion: Economic Development Element. Ashby said that she still has some concerns about language and policy guidance in the draft Economic Development element of the comprehensive plan. She requested that Bond send the most recent draft to all Council members with a request for comment, and then bring the element back to the Committee’s April meeting for further discussion. Ashby adjourned the meeting at 11:38 a.m. Next Meeting/Location: April 11, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers.