Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shoreline council adopts 2025–2029 economic development strategy, shifts focus to small businesses
Summary
The Shoreline City Council unanimously adopted the 2025–2029 Economic Development Strategy, emphasizing small-business support and de-emphasizing large-employer recruitment. Council asked for ongoing placemaking data and monitoring of park visitation trends.
Shoreline — The Shoreline City Council unanimously adopted the city’s 2025–2029 Economic Development Strategy on July 28, directing staff to prioritize small-business support and de-emphasize large-employer recruitment.
The plan, presented by staff member Nate Down, was approved following a motion by Councilmember Muscovy and a second by Councilmember Pobey. Councilmembers voted aye on the motion; the vote was unanimous.
City staff said the approved strategy narrows the city’s economic development emphasis away from recruiting large employers and toward supporting small businesses and placemaking. "The primary focus is on small business," Nate Down said, adding that staff removed references to specific target industries after council feedback.
Councilmembers praised the work during the discussion. Councilmember Robertson asked about the city’s placemaking data and how to access it; Down said the city’s subscription allows staff to pull data back to 2017 and that council members may request specific dates. "As long as we’re a subscriber you can email me a date tomorrow or tonight and I’ll tell you what I can about it," Down said.
Councilmembers noted that park visitation figures appear larger than previously estimated, and discussed parks’ role in economic activity — for example, visitors to city parks patronizing nearby businesses after recreation. Councilmember Muscovy, who moved adoption, thanked staff for incorporating council priorities into the revised draft.
The adopted document was described in the staff report as reflecting "minor revisions" from the draft presented at an earlier meeting; staff also said only small, technical edits remained. The council did not amend the strategy at the July 28 meeting.
The ordinance vote concludes the council’s review of the strategy; staff said they will continue to coordinate placemaking metrics with partners such as the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and other departments.
For details on the adopted document, the staff report references "Attachment A" as the version approved by council.
