pages: CityCouncil/2015-01-21.pdf, 17
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CityCouncil | 2015-01-21 | 17 | Mayor Spencer inquired whether the three principles will be considering along with other assumptions, to which the Assistant City Manager responded in the affirmative; stated staff is going to define and evaluate the principles. Mayor Spencer stated the language is intentionally broad; she expects staff would have done so without the referral; the referral is not necessary to have staff do so; Council will work with staff; she will support the motion but thinks it is redundant. On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Dayosg, Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese and Mayor Spencer - 4. Abstention: Councilmember Oddie - 1. (15-076) Consider Directing Staff to Re-establish the Economic Development Commission (EDC). (Vice Mayor Matarrese) (Continued from January 20, 2015) Vice Mayor Matarrese made brief comments on the referral. Mayor Spencer stated that she would like to hear from staff about the history of the Commission. The Assistant City Manager stated the matter was presented to Council on October 1, 2013; the report discussed the reasons the Commission should be eliminated and what should be used in its place; a more nimble process was proposed to take the place of the EDC; the Council should have the benefit of a conversation with the Economic Development Manager who has done a lot of leg work on economic development, as well as the Community Development Director; the discussion should come back. Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she reviewed the previous Council vote; a lot has occurred since the EDC was created; Vice Mayor Matarrese was one of the EDC founders; she briefly served on the Commission; the roll of the EDC was greatly reduced after redevelopment money was lost and a lot of projects in the pipeline were taken away; fortunately, projects, like the theater, were completed; by January 2012, the EDC had already reduced meetings to six times a year and was not doing much; by October 2013, two of four meetings had been canceled; a staff member and an attorney attend commission meetings; the Economic Development Manager's work on recruiting and attracting business would be interrupted to prepare reports and staff EDC meetings, which may not be the best use of time; the City has seen some good results in recent years from the use of ad hoc committees and task forces, such as the Fiscal Sustainability and Americas Cup committees; discussed business attraction strategies and provided examples; further stated the reasons the EDC was discontinued are still valid; there are other things the City might do short of revitalizing the Commission. The Assistant City Manager noted another reason the Commission was disbanded was because City staff attends various business organizations monthly meeting and meets regularly with the same people that would occasionally be scheduled for an EDC Special Meeting Alameda City Council 17 January 21, 2015 | CityCouncil/2015-01-21.pdf |