Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2021 02 19

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Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes January 15, 2021 Page 2 of 4 alternatives to consider. He emphasized that some group representing the business voice should exist. Barbara Butterworth, Secretary for the BRaD Committee, said that there is a very narrow business voice that needs to be broadened. She expressed support that business representatives on the EVC might be one solution. Mayor Pro Tern Maloney said the solution is meant to be a step forward and that the EVC has been successful in serving its purpose and bringing recommendations and programs to Council in a timely manner. He agreed that the business community is not being cut-out of decision -making. He indicated he was not interested in a merger of the EVC and BRaD and that he also did not desire to defer this decision. He suggested the EVC in its current formation with a standing group of business representatives as a solution. Mr. Oberholzer stated it would be important to determine what happens to the work that BRaD performs if there is only a standing group of representatives. Councilmember Leh engaged in a dialogue about how representatives would be selected. He said it was fundamental to consider who represents the business community as well as how that community is defined. He questioned whether businesses would be interested in participating if they did not have a voting membership. Chair Dickinson, with Mr. Oberholzer, discussed how voting would influence participation. It was suggested that there would be two to four business representatives, but those would not include the Chamber of Commerce or Downtown Business Association (DBA). The Chamber and DBA should determine their own representatives and participate as a means of engaging on important issues. The Committee discussed how the particular work items might influence the businesses that should serve as representatives as well as how to recruit businesses and handle an application process. While members felt it would be helpful to have businesses with interests in particular policy decisions participate, they also discussed the importance of having some continuity for ongoing Committee work. Members considered that possibly business representatives could have shorter terms, like a year, so the appointments were more targeted to planned policy discussions. Councilmember Leh and Chair Dickinson discussed the possibility for a "business advisory council" that would not be a public body. Businesses could act on their own to create a voice that is outside City control. Chair Dickinson and Mayor Pro Tern Maloney then reviewed potential membership numbers and how the future EVC would or would not look like past Agenda Packet P. 3