HomeMy WebLinkAbout4509
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.
CI YOFA N
_ - ~
PETER B. LEWIS
MAYOR
ATTEST:
~
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
APPR-OVED AS TO FORM:
iel B. H6', ity Attorney
Resolution No. 4509
August 12, 2009
Page 3 of 3