HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM IV-BAGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject:
Date:
Resolution No. 4509: Cooperation with City of Tacoma & Williams August 5, 2009
Factory Incubator
Department:Attachments: Budget Impact
Planning, Building Ordinance No. 6253: N/A
and Community
Administrative Recommendation:
Committee recommends to City Council approval of Resolution No.
4509
Background Summary:
City of Auburn Economic Development Strategies (November 14, 2005) contains an Auburn
Environmental Park (AEP) Green Zone Strategy Area recommendation that specifies a strategy of
creating an economically enhanced area that complements the Auburn Environmental Park and sustains
environmentally sensitive industries. Chapter 18.33 (Environmental Park District) was enacted by
Ordinance No. 6036 in 2006 to create a zoning designation that allowed for appropriate uses within
proximity to the Auburn Environmental Park (AEP) that would benefit from this location and would
compliment the Park and its environmental focus.
Certain members of the City Council and staff have recently been working to further develop the market
awareness of the Environmental Park District. These efforts have included the refinement of the name of
the District to specify it as “Auburn’s Innovator for Energy, Environment and Economy” and the creation of
the Auburn Scientific Center for Emerging New Technologies (ASCENT) concept. ASCENT is conceived
as a facility where academic researchers, new environmental or energy businesses and the public will
come together to engage in research and development, new business incubation and public education
and awareness.
In addition, the City Council members have been exploring regional partnership opportunities for the City’s
Environmental Park District. Resolution No. 4509 seeks to memorialize the City’s interest in cooperating
with the City of Tacoma to jointly seek funding sources and prepare grant applications that would include
the ASCENT facility, and also specifies an interest in having this facility be managed by Tacoma’s William
Factory Incubator under contract with the City of Auburn.
Reviewed by Council & Committees:Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: Building M&O
Airport Finance Cemetery Mayor
Hearing Examiner Municipal Services Finance Parks
Human Services Planning & CD Fire Planning
Park Board Public Works LegalPolice
Planning Comm. OtherPublic Works Human Resources
Action:
Committee Approval: YesNo
Council Approval: YesNo Call for Public Hearing ___/___/____
Referred to _________________________________ Until ____/___/____
Tabled ______________________________________ Until ___/___/____
Councilmember: Norman Staff: Snyder
Meeting Date: August 10, 2009 Item Number: IV.B
Page 1 of 1
RESOLUTION NO. 4 5 0 9
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, DECLARING
THEIR INTENTION TO COOPERATE WITH THE
CITY OF TACOMA THROUGH THE WILLIAM
FACTORY INCUBATOR
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn has established the 245-acre
Environmental Park District, Auburn’s Innovator for Energy, Environment and
Economy, to attract businesses that are engaged in sustainable (“green”)
activities; and
WHEREAS, the City is investing in the preservation, and environmentally
sound utilization, of a 115 acre area identified as the Auburn Environmental Park
(AEP) that is within the Environmental Park District, Auburn’s Innovator for
Energy, Environment and Economy; and
WHEREAS, these investments, several million dollars to date, have
included purchases and donation acquisitions of the 115 acre AEP area, a bird
watching tower, planning studies by Mithun Architects and by David Evans
Associates, storm water management planning, utility service extensions to
businesses in the Environmental Park District, wetland enhancement for
development mitigation, and ground water hydrological studies; and
WHEREAS, the City is cooperating with the Washington State University
Institute for Sustainable Design to conduct studies and research within the
Environmental Park District, Auburn’s Innovator for Energy, Environment and
Economy, which are intended to generate start-up green businesses; and
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Resolution No. 4509
August 10, 2009
Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that in order to attract and retain
green businesses, it will be very beneficial to provide an “incubator” building, with
subsidies and/or services, to simultaneously house several start-up businesses
until they grow to a size where they need to move into larger spaces, academic
research and development functions and public education and information
activities; and
WHEREAS, as growing start-up businesses move out of the incubator,
they would be replaced by other start-ups, creating new jobs for our citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tacoma has provided funding for the operation of
The William Factory Incubator for similar purposes for over 20 years and has
expertise in managing such facilities; and
WHEREAS, the William Factory has had great success in providing jobs
for the citizens of Tacoma, and has received numerous awards including
Incubator of the Year; and
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn will be preparing Federal and State grant
applications and seeking other funding sources to further develop the
Environmental Park District, which would include, among other aspects, an
incubator to be named ASCENT, the Auburn Scientific Center for Emerging New
Technologies.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
HEREBY RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. That the City of Auburn wishes to cooperate with the City of
Tacoma in seeking funding sources and preparing grant applications that include
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Resolution No. 4509
August 10, 2009
Page 2 of 3
the ASCENT, the Auburn Scientific Center for Emerging New Technologies
located in the Environmental Park District, Auburn’s Innovator for Energy,
Environment and Economy, to be managed by Tacoma’s William Factory
Incubator under contract with the City of Auburn.
Section 2. That the Mayor is authorized to implement such
administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this
legislation.
Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in full force
upon passage and signatures hereon.
Dated and Signed this _____ day of _________________, 2009.
CITY OF AUBURN
________________________________
PETER B. LEWIS
MAYOR
ATTEST:
_________________________
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
Daniel B. Heid, City Attorney
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Resolution No. 4509
August 10, 2009
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