pages: Mayor'sEconomicDevelopmentAdvisoryPanel/EconomicRecoveryTaskForce/2016-07-20.pdf, 7
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Mayor'sEconomicDevelopmentAdvisoryPanel/EconomicRecoveryTaskForce | EconomicRecoveryTaskForce | 7 | Panel member Grunt agreed. They chose to build their new office on Harbor Bay, after an initial decision to grow in Pleasanton. They rethought the decision during the recession, when Alameda become more competitive in price. Harbor Bay makes sense to pull employees from a lot of directions in the Bay Area. Alameda Point has a lot of potential to offer the same thing. Panel member Laguerre commented as a non-islander, the island has a very nice friendly feel, which can be attractive to some businesses. One does not hear of crime and the schools are considered good. There is an excellent community college, which has land to grow. The faculty and staff of Alameda are different from other faculties-in that they care a lot about Alameda and what happens on Alameda. There is a sense of family, when looking at Alameda from a distance. The college draws from the region to a certain extent and draws other people to Alameda. The recruiters go out of the way to draw people from outside the island. The college has a workforce development center in partnership with the County Workforce Development Board. They have training centers that could be attractive to industries, such as automotive, maritime, and other industries. They work with Bay Ship & Yacht. Ms. Srivastava asked the Panel, what are the key priorities or pressing concerns that the EDSP should address? Panel member Chubb answered that he is interested in living and working in close proximity. Also, Alameda is a very bikeable community. The City just put in a beautiful bike path down by the beach. Panel member Elsesser said that the concept of living in Alameda is pretty magical. There are very few communities left that have the same current feel (warm, welcoming small town, quirky beach town feel) that the residential part of Alameda has. As you add businesses, it is critical to add them in a way that doesn't mess this part up. At the same time, we want a thriving business environment, and that brings with it the challenges of getting people on and off the island. An increasing number of employees are living in Alameda. The economics of living here are still accessible at least for part of its employment base. He emphasized doing economic development in the right places and in the right ways, not just for the sake of economic growth. He would like to know why there are a lot of shuttered retail spaces in the neighborhood stations. There are opportunities there. Panel member Grunt commented that Alameda is not on the path to anywhere. You only come here if something brings you here. It is pretty unique, cut off from the rest of the world and you know that you are in a different place. It has been incredible to watch Alameda blossom over the past twenty years. It is like a shrub or tree: cut the dead branches and it comes back stronger. We need to look for the dead branches and trim them to allow new things to happen. We can be selective. We have a hugely diverse community and lot going for ourselves. Draft Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 9 July 20, 2016 | Mayor'sEconomicDevelopmentAdvisoryPanel/EconomicRecoveryTaskForce/2016-07-20.pdf |