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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM VIII-B-2 ~ C1T'Y OF ~ ~~.i..l V J~~~ ` wASHiNcroN AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM Agenda Subject: Date: Resolution No. 4509: Cooperation with City of Tacoma & Williams August 11, 2009 Factor Incubator ' Department: Planning, Building Attachments: Resolution No. 4509 Budget Impact: N/A and Communit Administrative Recommendation: Cit Council ado t 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 economicaliy enhanced area that complements the Auburn Environmental Park and sustains environmentaily 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 an incubator 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 prepare grant applications and jointiy pursue other funding sources 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, The Planning and Community Development Committee on a unanimous motion vote recommended to the City Council approval of Resolution No. 4509 as amended by the Committee. 05.1.2, 03.7.4 Reviewed by Council & Committees: Reviewed by Departments & Divisions: ❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: ❑ Building ❑ M&O ❑ Airport 0 Finance ❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor ❑ Hearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Services ❑ Finance ❑ Parks ❑ Human Services ~ Planning & CD ❑ Fire ~ Planning ❑ Park Board ❑ Public Works ED Legal ❑ Police ❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other ❑ Public Works ❑ Human Resources Action: Committee Approval: ❑Yes ❑No Council Approval: ❑Yes ❑No Call for Public Hearing Referred to Until Tabled Until Councilmember: Norman Staff: Baker Meetin Date: Au ust 17, 2009 Item Number: VI11.6.2 Page 1 of 1 AUBURN * MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED RESOLUTION NO. 4 5 0 9 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO COOPERATE WITH THE CITY OF TACOMA THROUGH THE WILLIAM FACTORY INCUBATOR WHEREAS, the City is investing in the preservation, renovation and environmentally sound utilization, of a 245 acre area identified as the Environmental Park District (EPD); and WHEREAS, these investments, several million dollars to date, have included purchases and donation acquisitions of the 115 acre Auburn Environmental Park (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 EPD, 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, which are intended to generate start-up green businesses; and WHEREAS, the City is working to attract new energy technology to the EPD; and Resolution No. 4509 August 12, 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; and WHEREAS, the proposed incubator, to be known as ASCENT (Auburn Scientific Center for Emerging New Technologies), will also house an educational center and be a demonstration site for new technologies as well as housing offices for the Washington State University Institute for Sustainable Design; 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 (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 is preparing Federal and State grant applications to develop the EPD, which would include, among other aspects, ASCENT. ' NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES as follows: Section 1. That the City of Auburn wishes to cooperate with the City of Tacoma in preparing grant applications and jointly pursuing other funding Resolution No. 4509 August 12, 2009 Page 2 of 3 mechanisms to support an incubator located in Auburn's Environmental Park District, 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 APP VED AS TO FORM: , iel B. H&, ity Attorney ~ Resolution No. 4509 August 12, 2009 Page 3 of 3