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Council debates economic development work plan and whether to revisit urban renewal
Summary
Staff proposed a focused economic-development work plan and reconstituting an advisory commission; councilors discussed urban renewal as a funding tool, downtown and arts-focused projects, the trade-offs between industrial land and housing, and asked staff to revisit commission quorum rules and return with ordinance amendments.
City staff presented a proposal on July 3 to develop a near-term economic-development work plan and reconstitute the city's economic development commission to advise on priorities such as downtown connections, arts-led development and potential use of urban renewal dollars.
"The city currently doesn't have what one would call an economic development plan," staff member Steph told the council and recommended starting with a focused work plan and a reconstituted commission to advise on a prioritized list of projects rather than producing a single, sweeping plan.
Councilors generally supported the approach and spent much of the discussion on whether the timing is right to revisit urban renewal as a funding tool. Councilor Pernemeroff said the jurisdictional tax situation has improved since the post-fire period and that fire-district leadership indicated urban renewal can work when done in coordination with overlapping jurisdictions.
The council also discussed specific property opportunities and trade-offs. Staff flagged several sites (including a former Walmart building and a property sometimes discussed as the "microtrains" site) and said the city’s most useful role is cataloging property constraints and opportunities and sharing that information with regional partners who do business recruitment.
Members debated whether bringing a parcel currently designated light industrial into the city as industrial would enable affordable housing. Staff said the rules are complex: certain residential uses can be allowed on some industrial-designated land under state law, but whether a buildable-lands inventory or an Economic Opportunity Analysis is required depends on the intent for the land and the statutory pathway chosen. Staff recommended further technical analysis and consulting planning staff (Josh) about the "path of least resistance" for housing in that area.
Councilors raised governance and practical questions about the proposed commission. Councilor Pernemeroff suggested reviewing the ordinance's quorum requirement (currently four voting members) to ensure the commission can function if vacancies occur and asked staff to consider aligning quorum language with other committees to allow continuity.
Staff said they will lead the initial work and lean on other department heads and community-development staff as needed. Council asked staff to bring an ordinance amendment back for consideration and to schedule study sessions with the planning commission where relevant.
Next steps: staff will refine the proposed work plan, review the commission ordinance (including quorum language), return with recommendations and coordinate study sessions with the planning commission and other partners.
