HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-2010 Special
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
CIT'Y_OF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
* WASHINGTON June 22, 2010
MINUTES
SpecBal Meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in Annex Conference Room
1 located on the second floor of One Main Building, 1 East Main Street, Aubum; WA.
Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and
Member Rich Wagner.
Councilmember Partridge was also in attendance as an audience member.
. Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Deputy Mayor Singer, Planning Director Kevin Snyder, City Attomey Heid, Finance Director Coleman, Information
Services Director Rempher, Public Works Director powdy, Pfanning Manager
Chamberlain, Building Official Hopkins, Risk Manager Roscoe; Environmental Manager
Anderson, and Administrative Support Clerk Kriss..
IL ACTION .
There were no Action Items for this agenda. III. DISCUSSION and INFORMATION
A. EnvironmentaUEconomic Development Initiatives and Planning
Deputy Mayor Singec presenfed on ACSENT - Aubum Scientific Center for Emergent
New Technologies.
, Deputy Mayor Singer explained she and Councilmember Wagner have been working
on populating the Green Zone with environmentally friendly business, this being a
City Vision 2016 goal. The original concept provided for:
1. ' Producing green.collar jobs in the Puget Sound Region;
2. Connecting research universities to the private sector; _
3. Providing incubation services to assist them to the commercialization by
connecting them.with Green River Community College
Mayor Lewis asked if WSU's project was a sub program of ASCENT. Deputy Mayor ,
Singer stated thatASCENT.is a member of the gcoup._ Deputy Mayor Singer
explained ACTIA,,Alliance for Clean Technology Incubafors and Accelerators is
intended to provide regional support.
Mayor Lewis stated the 16 Challenge Grant is something that helps ACENT Phase 1,
ACTIA and the Aubum Innovation Center Pfiase 2.
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes June 22, 2010
Deputy Mayor Singer presented and discussed the five concurrent projects that are
part of ASCENT:
1. WSU Sustainability Project;
2: ASCENT Incubator, Phase 1;
3. ACTIA Partnership;
4. $1 M 16 Challenge Grant;
5. Aubum Innovation Center witfi Phase 2 of ASCENT
Deputy Mayor Singer tumed the report over to Councilmember Wagner to present
the WSU Sustainability Projects.
Councilmember Wagner directed the attention of the committee to page 6, of the
Project ASCENT Incubator handout and discussed the Washington State University
_ Sustainability Projects.
Councilmember Wagner referred to the map on page 6 pointing out Phase 1 and 2 in
, green and highlighting the blue Environmental Park District, Clean Tech
Deyelopment Area. A proposed Transit-Oriented Multi-Family & Mixed-Use Commercial Area is highlighted in yellow.
Deputy Mayor Singer directed the Committee's attention to page 7, discussing the
status and needs of Incubator ASCENT Phase 1:
Members asked the size of the former Information Services building. Deputy Mayor
~ Singer answered stating she believes it is approximately 1,100 square feet and only
, the current members ofASCENT would be housed in the building. All other virtual
clients will not be tenants of the building but be served offsite.
Members asked if the City would have liabilities with the virtual clients or connections
it would coordinate. Deputy Mayor Singer did not feel there would be any legal
liabilities due to legal agreements that would be executed between the City and
anyone interested in incubation.
Member Backus asked if the CBDG funds would be repaid and if we would receive
_ more CBDG funds than the City received in the past from this fund: Deputy Mayor
Singer replied the CBDG grant would be a separate economic development,fund -
from years past with no match or loan, she stated she has been informed the City is
eligible for these funds.
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Depufy Mayor Singer explained it would cost less than $25,000 for Phase 1. Mayor
Lewis explained the nanotech scientists will get 1 M-$3M in federal grant starter
money but need to take their product to the commercial level, and this would be an
opportunity to seed an industry with a modest start.
Deputy Mayor Singer directed attention to page 8 of fhe presentation, and
specifically "What Clients Get" and discussed the nefinrorking services they would
receive.
Members asked who would be liable from any legal advice provided by ACTIA.
Deputy Mayor Singer replied that ACTIA wilf have one of the largest patent attomeys in the region working with it that is willing to provide $20,000. in legal services up
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes June 22, 2010
front to clients of ASCENT. She stated that an agreement would be signed by the
attorneys and clients so the City would not be liable. Deputy Mayor Singer noted that because the patent attorneys would be part of the,
ACTIA nefinrork providers they would provide their service up front and expect to get
paid in the next layer of funding. '
Deputy Mayor Singer directed the Committee's attention to page 9 of the
presentation, and briefed Committee on "What Aubum Gets° in return for office
space and services. . Member Backus asked if.ASCENT members would be required to sign an agreement
keeping their business and_ manufacturing in the City of Aubum. Attomey Heid
tesponded and suggested language that promotes or encourages members to do so
could be placed in the agreements. Deputy Mayoc Singer refeRed to page 12 of the presentation, showing a list of
parties who have committed their support or desire to partnership with ACTIA and
gave brief information about each party and discussed the specifics of ACTIA.
Deputy Mayor Singer next discussed the I-6 Challenge Grant and explained to the
Committee the money would go directly to the Small Business Assistance Center
and the funding would be $37,500.00 with the additional $50,000.00. SBAC would
be the project manager to get the Aubum Innovation Center built.
Mayor Lewis suggested putting the Small Business Assistance Center grant funds in
the City budget and hire a contract individual from the grant to do the work. Mayor
Lewis stafed the first task is performing the work Small Business Assistance Center
already provides and the second task s having an individual carry us through
Phase 2.
Committee asked if.there would be alteration costs for ventilation or tenant
improvements af the IS building. Mayor Lewis answered stating if the building is
altered by putting in fans, hoods ot other items the cost of improvement would be
shared by the ASCENT.paitnership but the improvements would stay with the City
• upon vacancy. ASCENT partnership would pay for altemations and/or all lab
equipment, tabletops or othet fixtures but would retain those items upon vacancy.
Mayor Lewis explained this is a planning grant to position the City to plan to go
forward and Mayor Depufy Singer would need the consensus of Council that it would
be ok for the City to move forward with the grant: Council still has the ability to make
a decision if any City funds are confemplated to be used.
Members asked if the City would be required to repay fhe grant money if it was used
and planning occurred over several years and then the City decided not to move
' forward. Mayor Lewis responded yes.
Committee asked if the City needed the IS building what would happen to the tenant.
Deputy Mayor Singer stated the tenant would move and if another City facility was
available the City could provide it. Mayor Lewis concurred.
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Mayor Lewis clarified that the idea is to go forward if Council is supportive of Phase
1, allowing ASCENT to use the former Information Services space in the Chamber
building and apply forthe grant. If the grant is awarded ASCENT moves to the
planning process for the next two years anticipating the use of the City land in the
Environmenfal Park fo build a facility without cost to the City, as long as Council is supportive. If City land is used to build a facility in the Environmental Park with cosf
- to the City it wilf need to be brought before Council for approval. Mayor Lewis asked City Attorney Heid can the Committee give consensus. Mr. Heid
stated the Committee can indicate individually how they ace willing to proceed:
Chair Norman requested items go through City Attomey Heid and Risk Manager
Roscoe. .Committee members asked what other staff support and oversight would be needed
and would it be a full-time employee? Mayor Lewis clarified that the.following was needed:
1. Consensus to move forward with Phase 1, the i6 Challenge Grant; and,
2. Consensus that moving forward with ASCENT as a program of the City. '
Mayor Lewis added administration would decide on the programs and staffing;
PCDC first, and then Council would need to give consensus for the Mayor to set up a
program called ASCENT and work on appropriate staff support. Next, City Attorney
Heid would draft appropriate legal agreements for the City to join ACTIA.
City Attorney Heid explained either Mayor Lewis could recommend to City Council
Deputy Mayor Singer's appointment to the Board of Directors of ACTIA or City
Council would recommend the appointment depending on how it is set up.
Committee members asked fDeputy Mayor Singer if she is already on'the board.
Deputy Mayor replied yes.• Mayor Lewis explained to fhe Commiftee that Deputy
Mayor Singer would be acting as a private citizen on the board but is waiting on
appointment. -
Chair Norman asked Cify Attomey Heid if -he can work on a resolution that will wock
for both parties. Attomey Heid answered yes and fie will meet with Deputy Mayor
Singer.
Member Wagner stated he would strongly support if the 16 Challenge Grant but only
if the Committee is not making a commifinent for $100,000 -$160,000 per year.
MemberWagner stated he would like to address any`financial commitment on behalf •
of the City at a latertime.
Member Backus stated she is supportive of going foiward with the grant only, but
based on the information provided tonight is not supportive of any financial commitment on the part of the City; she stated she is open to this being brought -
before Commiftee at a lafer time. ~
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Member Wagner stated he is supportive of the potential use of City land in the
Environmental Park for a future facility on a personal level but would like to have this
brought before the Committee again at the end of the planning period to make the
land available.
Deputy Mayor Singer asked Member Wagner at what level of planning he would
want to continue on this project. Member Wagner replied he is supportive going
forward to appfy with the 16 Challenge Grant and providing $50,000 per year if we get
the 16 Grant.
Members stated they would _be willing to move forward with the grant application and
if awarded, the City will, within finro years, have more information and an,idea of what
this means to, the City; the Committee anticipates that the City would be pursuing
additional grant funding for this project also.
Chair Norman asked if there are other comments and members stated there is a lot
of information to digest to make a decision or commitment at this time.
'Mayor Lewis asked if the Committee had reached consensus on whether it would
support the Mayor requesting Council approval to appoint Deputy Mayor Singer to
the ACTIA board and also for Council support for the Mayor to establish ASCENT as
a City program and authorize the use of the former Information Services work space
as work space for the group of clean tech scientists previously discussed.
Committee members asked if Deputy Mayor Singer would be a member on the
ACTIA board on behalf of the City if the City is only partnering with ACTIA. Mayor
Lewis answered the City will not be a member of ACTIA until ACTIA has a stafus
which allows us to do so. Deputy Mayor Singer would be appointed as a private
citizen, and ACTIA could be a potential funding mechanism for Aubum's program.
City Attomey Heid advised the Mayor that he can act within his authority, on a
commitment that would not exceed $25,000, Mayor Lewis concurred stating it is ,
within his authority to expend $25,000 as long as he does not exceed this amount.
City Attorney Heid added Mayor Lewis could designate Deputy Mayor Singer as a
liaison from the City to work with on this partnership and serve in a capacity
compatible as directed by the'separate nonprofit.
Mayor Lewis asked if there was Committee consensus on an individual commitment
by Deputy Mayor Singer to act a liaison from the City to ACTIA. Members all stated
yes as long as it meets our legal criteria.
Mayor Lewis added it is worthwhile to move forward to use the former Information
Services space for the vis'ifing scientists from WSU and the nanotech scientists as
long as they commit to financially providing for any improvements. Mayor Lewis
asked if Committee would commit to this. Committee Members stated yes. Member Backus stated as long as there is an undersfanding improvements made to .
the building will stay with the City if they vacate the building and they will not profit
, from #hose.
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Mayor Lewis stated he does not mind continuing working on the i6 Challenge Grant.
The i6 Challenge grant is a planning grant and as long as the grant does not require
the City to put up a building anrithin the two years, he asked if the Committee would
commit to continue working on the grant.
Member Backus said she does not have a problem with a planning grant but could
not commit at this present time any City funds if #he grant is not awarded to this
project.
Mayor Lewis clarified the commitment is for the use of the rectangular piece of land
only and under the condition the grant is awarded for the project.
Member Backus stated she is ok with the use of the land, not ownership.
Mayor Lewis shared his appreciation for the consensus and stated the Committee
can bring fhis back if fhe grant is not awarded fo the project and see if the Committee
is interested in putting forth the $100,000 -$150,000 per year at a later time.
Committee stated they are not prepared to answer#his tonight because Committee
, can't make a financial decision until you know if you. have the money or where the
money will come from in the budget.
Member Backus stated they have nothing from Finance telling us if this is feasible or
whatthe funding source is and could not commit without that information.
Mayor,Lewis stated they were asked, separate from the other 3 things, if,they would
or would not commit to'providing funds if the grant was not awarded to the project.
Member Wagner stated he would be willing to consent to $50,000 but not $150,000
Member Backus stated she is not saying this isn't a great. idea but feels she would
still like to make a commitment with more solid financial information and a business a
, businessplan or financial plan.
Member Backus feels enough information was provided.to give consensus for the
other three items but wanted to go on record stating she didn't feel she had enough
information to go forvvard with the financial portion and was concemed about the
limited time to make the decision.
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Mayor Lewis asked staff if they felt there was enough consensus with the Committee °
members, directors and staff to carry out the use of the IS building, applying for the
grant and going to Council for the appointment and planning.
City Attomey Heid stated yes he believes he can puttogether an agreement to
accomplish his responsibility for legal documentation to support the City joining
ACTIA. -
Mayor Lewis asked if th"ere is enougfi information to go fonivard to accomplish what :
, needs to be done without the financial commitment for additional funds.
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Members clarified as to whether they were being asked if they were just giving their
opinion tonight. City Attomey Heid stated the Committee is not making a decision for
fhe City Council. Mayor Lewis stated he felt Committee would be interested in
' bringing back the financial portion for discussion at a later time, but this would need
to include additional detailed.information and clarification.
Mayor Lewis explained he felt any commitment for funds in the amount of $100,000 -$150,000 as an alternative to the graht would be a discussion item at
the retreat in the falL
Chair Norman emphasized her concern that major decisions were made from
information provided for discussion and if the intent was all or nothing that would be
a step too far for her. IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no furtfier business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at _6:54 p.m.
APPROVED THIS DAY OF
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Lynn N_ an, Chair ^ Ti ' s, Ad mistc ive Support Clerk
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