2. Approval of the Minutes – February 15, 2007 EDAC Meeting
EDAC Commission members discussed the draft minutes of the February 15, 2007 meeting.
Motion: Scott Marsters moved and Geoffrey Stern seconded that the minutes be approved as submitted.
Action: The motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting was approved by a unanimous vote of the Commission.
3. Election of EDAC Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary
The appointment of a new EDAC Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary was the first order of business.
Motion: The Outgoing Chair, Connie Barton Barba, called for nominations of an Incoming Chair. Geoffrey Stern nominated Scot Marsters, which Hal Schuette seconded.
Action: Scot Marsters accepted the nomination of Chair. Scot then called for nominations for Vice Chair. Gary Wiessinger nominated himself. Geoffrey Stern seconded the nomination. Scot then reaffirmed the nomination of Laura Battaglia as EDAC Secretary and Connie Barton Barba seconded the nomination. All offices were approved by a unanimous vote of the Commission.
4. Status Report - Economic Development Plan Process and Community Meeting with RSG
The Rosenow Spevacek Group (RSG) facilitated the Economic Development Plan meeting with the community on the evening of February 28, 2007. Four different parts of town were separated for discussion: Laurel Street, El Camino Real, the East Side, and Harbor Industrial Area (HIA).
RSG will take the ideas from the attendees and use them as a basis for their upcoming Economic Development survey of San Carlos residents, businesses and visitors. Brian Moura will ask RSG the timing of the Economic Development survey and work with RSG to promote the survey in the community.
After the Economic Development Survey is complete, RSG will analyze the results and use this information as part of their Economic Development Plan. That document will go to the City Staff in draft form in April and then to EDAC for review and comment in May followed by a report to the City Council. This timeline will hopefully allow for the plan elements to be put into the upcoming City budget process so that potential improvement suggestions can be funded.
Geoffrey Stern shared with the Commission his observations from the public meeting. He shared concerns about conversations dominated by a few participants, people lingering at one table only and a lack of structure with questions. Geoffrey will get a copy of his notes to Brian for distribution to all EDAC members and to RSG.
Laura Battaglia shared her observations regarding the need for better facilitation skills and basic City knowledge needed at the break out tables. She suggested an EDAC Commissioner at each table if this kind of presentation occurs in the future.
Gary Wiessinger talked about people enjoying the San Carlos home town feel and the desire for mid and big box retailers along the East Side of the City. Other issues mentioned by residents and business owners included wanting a brew pub, providing better egress into the City, widening Holly Street, and City Hall being “business unfriendly”.
Pat Bell of San Carlos said she would like to see mixed-use projects along Industrial Road with eco designs that used green building materials. She said that Jeffrey’s Hamburgers plans to open a second restaurant in Menlo Park. This business did not consider San Carlos as a potential location when planning their next outlet.
Pat Potter of San Carlos is interested in fostering small local green businesses in San Carlos. She suggested that EDAC contact an organization specializing in developing smaller businesses of this type known as the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), a company based out of San Francisco.
5. East Side and City-Wide Economic Development Priorities, Strategies and Principles – Discussion, Development and Adoption of Report from EDAC
Scot Marsters asked the question, where do we go from here? Geoffrey Stern provided some information regarding the Chamber of Commerce starting an Economic Development Committee. Geoffrey agreed to act as the liaison between EDAC and the Chamber’s new committee.
Scot Marsters made a motion that we create an EDAC sub-committee to work with the Chamber. The sub-committee members will be: Geoffrey Stern, Hal Schuette, Mark Lockenmeyer and Gary Wiessinger. Connie Barba seconded the motion to create this sub-committee.
Scot Marsters nominated and Laura Battaglia seconded the motion that Mark Green be nominated as Lead for the Chamber Liaison sub-committee. Mark asked what the deliverable shall be from the meetings with the Chamber Economic Development Subcommittee and the EDAC Subcommittee. Scot Marsters said he sees the deliverable as having one meeting to introduce the concept of creating a definition of Economic Development and then to create a matrix for new businesses. He also suggests integrating the review of the Economic Development Plan being prepared by RSG when it is available to this newly formed committee.
Margaret Desmond of San Carlos talked about the East Side of San Carlos, and told EDAC that she thinks a “multi-use” project on the East Side may provide a new culture, different from what we have on Laurel Street. Margaret initially didn’t want the potential separation of a mixed-use project, yet now she is thinking that it may be good for the East Side.
Pat Bell of San Carlos discussed the transition of Baby Boomers moving into condos and stated that there are no residential areas in the industrial part of town. She thinks the wave of the future will be mixed use development in the industrial part of San Carlos suitable for daily living. She wants EDAC to maintain sustainability and an environmentally friendly town.
Brian Moura stated that the City is getting younger as home prices increase. EDAC members talked about the need to pay attention to what the demographic trends are in San Carlos. The ERA Market Study suggests that San Carlos will have a demand for more hotel space in 5-10 from now, although other studies suggest that this market may take longer to bounce back.
6. Updates from Staff
Brian Moura provided EDAC with an update on economic development projects and items of interest.
a) Redevelopment and Housing Manager - The City Council approved a change in the position of Economic Development Manager to a new position titled Redevelopment and Housing Manager. Recruiting for the position will begin soon.
b) San Carlos Marketplace (former Bruener’s site) – The developer is doing a good job recycling metal from the tear down of the former Breuner’s building. Of the four retail buildings, Pet Smart will be one of the selected businesses. An announcement of the tenants in the three remaining retail buildings is expected soon. The developer has an aggressive schedule that could lead to the San Carlos Marketplace being opened as early as October, 2007.
c) City Council Strategic Goals Retreat – The City Council and City Department Heads held a retreat on February 26, 2007 in lieu of the second regularly scheduled City Council Meeting in February. Their updated six month Strategic Goals and Objectives will be ratified during the March 12 City Council meeting.
d) Kroger Lease (former Bell Market Site) – The City Council will vote March 12 to extend the emergency moratorium that adds a use permit requirement for any building 2,500 sq. ft or larger at the 800 block of Laurel Street. A second use permit requirement for the balance of the Core Downtown Area (600 and 700 blocks of Laurel Street and 1100 and 1200 blocks of San Carlos Avenue) will be heard by the Council this month. This will enable the Planning Commission and City Council to hold a Conditional Use Permit review of any proposed new tenants at such sites, allowing more control in uses in the downtown area.
e) Wireless Silicon Valley – San Carlos is the first of the two Concept Cities (the other is Palo Alto) to approve the Concept City Agreement. This phase of the project will include construction of a “template” version of the wireless broadband network in San Carlos. It will be placed in a one mile square block area bordered by Holly Street, Howard Avenue, Industrial Road, and Oakhurst Avenue. Equipment for the test zone will be installed in April or May. Initially the vendor will test for 120 days – initially in a closed test phase and then with a small group of 50-100 people. Ultimately the entire city will be covered by the wireless broadband network.
f) Silicon Valley Prospector.Com – Launch event for Silicon Valley Prospector.Com will be held at AMD in Sunnyvale on March 21st. The system cost over $70,000 to develop but the annual cost to San Carlos is only $1,200. Brian Moura gave a sneak preview of how the system works to provide information on available Commercial Properties in San Carlos and throughout Silicon Valley that are available for sale or lease. To view check the website at siliconvalleyprospector.com.
7. Discuss Potential Agenda Topics for Future EDAC Meetings
The April 2007 EDAC meeting will be dedicated to the presentation of the Draft Economic Development Plan by RSG if it is complete by then. If not, we will continue to discuss the EDAC Economic Development Strategy white paper.
We will discuss the four Economic Development Strategies recommended in the “Bill Lee” Real Estate Market Study during a future EDAC meeting. No other potential agenda topics were discussed.
Walter Moeller of San Carlos discussed his new non-profit organization, The Home Preservation Institute. It is designed to help people threatened with home foreclosures. Walter spoke to EDAC to spread the message that his organization is in place to help people and asked our assistance in helping him get in touch with the right people in San Carlos. Brian Moura will follow up with him after the meeting with some ideas for next steps for his plan.
9. Adjournment
The EDAC meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
