Title
Status Report on the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP)
Body
To: Members of the Mayor's Economic Development Advisory Panel
From: Lois RP Butler, Economic Development Manager
Date: Meeting Date
Re: Status Report on the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP)
BACKGROUND
The City has contracted with Strategic Economics to help prepare a citywide Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP), a long-term roadmap for business attraction, retention, and workforce development activities.
During its July 20, 2016 meeting, the Economic Development Advisory Panel members (the Panel) provided initial direction for the EDSP. The Panel gave Strategic Economics its impressions of economic development in Alameda and important issues that the EDSP should address.
At the Panel’s November 2, 2016 meeting, Strategic Economics presented a Background Report, with qualitative and quantitative research and analysis of the local economy. The Panel provided feedback on the Background Report and its findings at the meeting. In addition, several Panel members participated in subsequent subcommittee meetings to further refine the vision statement and draft strategies.
DISCUSSION
During late last year and early this year, the City held a series of meetings on the EDSP. City staff coordinated a subcommittee meeting on November 14, 2016, attended by Panel members Chubb and Grunt, and Planning Board member Zuppan. At the meeting, Strategic Economics presented a draft framework for the EDSP. The subcommittee then determined a need to draft a preliminary vision statement to provide an overarching direction for the plan.
The Background Report, the draft vision statement, and draft framework were then presented for comment to:
• A Community Workshop on December 8, 2016, and
• The Planning Board meeting on December 12, 2016.
Based on the comments received, the City reconvened the subcommittee on January 12, 2017, to revise the vision statement and preliminary strategies. The meeting was attended by Panel members Grunt, Mik, Monteko, and Chubb along with Lorre Zuppan. A byproduct of the meeting was a set of guiding principles for the document.
The Background Report, revised vision statement, and draft guiding principles were then presented to the City Council on February 21, 2017. At that time, the City Council directed staff to broaden the community involvement in creating this important document. At the request of the City Council, staff meet with representatives of organized labor and housing advocacy organizations. Staff has also recruited a 16-member community Task Force to oversee the drafting of the EDSP, with members from specific stakeholder groups and business sectors. (The Task Force includes Panel Members Grunt, Monteko, Mik and Elsesser.)
The Task Force will meet during the next several months to review and reconsider the work done-to-date and to supervise the drafting the EDSP. The City intends to present the EDSP for approval to the Panel, the Planning Board, and, finally, the City Council late this year and early next year.
RECOMMENDATION
This report is presented for information only. No action is requested.
Respectfully Submitted,
By,
Eric Fonstein, Development Manager