Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2024 05 17

Home Browse Search

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes April 25, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Chair Dickinson asked for clarification regarding the RSVP process and how it may impact certain locations that may not hold as many people. Manager Zarate responded that staff will request RSVPs for each of the meetings and that the meeting location can be updated to better accommodate the anticipated attendance. Manager Zarate asked for feedback regarding the proposed dates and times. Chair Dickinson responded that he can make all of the dates work and does not have any issue with most of the mornings occurring in the morning. Councilmember Bierman added that mornings could be a challenge for him but he will try to attend as many as he can. Councilmember Fahey asked whether businesses such as coffee shops would be able to attend the morning meetings. Manager Zarate responded that there is not time that is perfect for all businesses, but that staff will listen to feedback and attempt to make meetings accessible to as many businesses as possible. The Committee asked who would be leading the meetings. Manager Zarate confirmed that Economic Vitality staff will generally be leading the meetings and facilitating the discussion. Councilmember Fahey asked whether the City Manager will be in attendance. Manager Zarate responded that staff will invite the City Manager to meetings, as well as relevant City staff. The actual staff invited or attending the meeting will be adjusted based on the audience for that meeting. City Manager Durbin added that even if a certain City Department is not represented, it will be helpful for businesses to communicate with Economic Vitality. EV staff can then present the issues to the appropriate Department. Manager Zarate asked for feedback regarding the name of the meetings. EV Listens was proposed in the packet, but staff asked for recommendations from the Committee. The Committee gave staff direction to develop a name, but recommended that the name communicate the purpose of the meeting, identifying why a business would to attend. Staff confirmed that they will work with Communications to finalize a name. b. Economic Development Week: Manager Zarate gave an overview of Economic Development week (May 6-10), as well as several items that staff is proposing during the week. Chair Dickinson thanked Manager Zarate for the background and commented that he had never heard of Economic Development week in his five years with the City, but that he is excited for the City to make the ED week proclamation. Since this is the first ED week proclamation, City Manager Durbin recommended that the item not be on the consent