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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-1998 City Council Study SessionMINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1998 ***~*~****~*~*~**~**~*~~*****~**,~***~**~**~**~*~**~*~*~*,~~*,~****~~* CALL TO ORDER The City Council Study Session was called to order by Mayor Pape at3:11 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Kelley. ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: BRINLEY, KELLEY, METZE, PAPE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALONGI Also present weree Assistant to the City Manager Best, Administrative Services Director Boone, Community Development Director Brady, Community Services Director Sapp, Police Chief Walsh, Assistant City Attorney Mann and City Clerk Kasad. DISCUSSION ITEM A. Economic Development Plan. (F:70.1) Assistant to the City Manager Best noted that staff would like to start with a very brief overview of the last two hour session on Economic Development. Lee Hanson, Associate Professor of Management at Cal State University, San Bernardino, noted his past visits to the area and indicated that Lake Elsinore reminds him of California in 1955. He addressed a handout on Economic Gardening and detailed its contents. He compared the definition of Economic Development in 1942 to the current definition. He stressed the past efforts to recruit business from outside the Community and contrasted it with the Economic Gardening approach of assisting existing local businesses and entrepreneurs. He indicated that the 21 st Century will be a world of high technology, high income entrepreneurship. He fiurther indicated that the Inland Empire is seeking to pursue Economic Development via technology transfer from the Universiries. He encouraged the City Council to allow the Community to become a demonstration project for establishment of an Economic Gardening Program, noting that the larger aim is to launch this process in other communities as well. He detailed the priorities for an Economic Gardening Program and presented slides portraying an Economic PAGE TWO - STUDY SESSION MINUTES - MARCH 17, 1998 Gardening Strategy for Lake Elsinore. He suggested that the vigorous pursuit of this program would greatly assist in the promotion of local businesses. Assistant to the City Manager Best noted a second handout and indicated that the Council just received the document, which is a draft agenda report for the next City Council Meeting should the Council choose to move forwazd with the program. She highlighted the definition of Economic Development and the perspective the staff would like to implement. She next highlighted the need for change in assisting local industries, and noted the Economic Action Plan presented in the packet. She indicated that shifts need to occur statewide and suggested the City address those shifts and participate in them. She indicated that staff would like to see support of regional efforts in the Inland Empire, as well as initiation of a grass roots effort through the Chamber of Commerce. She commented on the impacts of area demographics on the ability to draw addifional services, and encouraged participation in the process. She advised that staff has become aware of a number of businesses in the area with a large potential for growth, and suggested fleacibility in the progratn to make it work better. She indicated that staff would like to see Council consider a new motto for economic de~elopment purposes. Mayor Pape questioned suggested new mottos, Ms. Best indicated that there are no proposals yet, as staff is seeking Council input. She stressed the need to establish a better system for tracking business activity, to pull together relevant statistics. She indicated that the City of Temecula is heavily pursuing the ability to have a regional center in their community, but noted the potential for an "Incubator" site in the City of Lake Elsinore and detailed the services which could be provided by such a facility. She suggested that the focus be the quality of life factors and the potential for drawing services to increase conveniences for the residents. She also highlighted~an existing business attraction effort in the City of Corona. Assistant to the City Manager Best stressed the need for coordinated efforts to get to know the business people. She noted the Redevelopment Agency goals and applicability of this proposal to those goals. She indicated that staff would like to reinstitute a Mortgage Assistance Program, and detailed ongoing efforts to address business vacancies. She commented that Temecula and Corona both have strong economies and staff would hope to draw on those; and noted phone calls being received from potential businesses. She highlighted the grass roots efforts by the Chamber of Commerce and assistance being requested from the County Board of Supervisors. She indicated that the City is looking at a$30,000 study, and expressed hopes for funding from the County. She noted that the City is nearing funding for the housing element through the C.D.B.G. program. Mayor Pape questioned whether the survey would be the first step in the Gardening effort. Ms. Best coufirmed and indicated that some of that infornaa±ion will be used to solicit like businesses from other areas. She PAGE T~Il2EE - STUDY SESSION MINUTES - MARCH 17, 1998 noted an existing sma11 business cluster who is hying to foster that type of growth, and stressed the potential for pooled resources to obtain more opportwiities to bid with larger companies. Councilwoman Brinley indicated that fle~ubility was fine, but stressed that she would not want the guidelines to be too loose. She further indicated that she would be looking for a monitoring system to back up staff. She questioned if this would be pursued as a Tri-Va11ey effort with Murrieta to band the valley together. Ms. Best confinned that would be the intent. Councilwoman Brinley further questioned the monitoring system. Ms. Best indicated that staffhopes to make more people aware of the needs and stimulate support for the effort. Councilman Metze noted that he is all for the flexibility, but the majority of problems has been with the huge projects. He requested clarification of the efforts of "Lake Elsinore Connections" and the "EDC". Ms. Best explained the Committee. Councilman Metze indicated that while it might be narrow- minded, he wants to see the cities of Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake band together and suggested that it is vital that Lake Elsinore Connections do something similar. He stressed the importance of everyone agreeing to buy into the same thing. Ms. Best concurred and indicated that the Connections group traditionally looks at regional efforts in the Lake Eisinore Unified School District area. Councilman Metze stressed that Canyon Lake would be vital to the program, as it is a compiimentary situation. Counciiwoman Brinley concurred. Mayor Pro Tem Kelley indicated that a global approach is more powerful, and noted the potential for worl~orce training. She further noted the potential for use of distance learning, but stressed the need for more information on what materials will be needed in the future. Ms. Best indicated that will be done, but stressed that it is based on finding out what is needed and what industries to address. Councilwoman Brinley addressed the global effect, but stressed the need to address local issues, suggesting that the Tri-Valley approach will be more attractive to local residents. Mr. Hansen addressed the IE-21 program and its applications to this situation; and stressed the need to get a handle on interested Pacific Rim businesses. He expressed hopes that within a year or so there will be a more coherent picture of how to encourage companies to come to the local area. He noted interest in pushing the export opportunities, and suggested that regret will be felt with regard to the loss of rail service to the area. Mr. Hansen indicated that if the valley was an export zone there would be more participants, making it more powerful. Mayor Pro Tem Kelley questioned the intent of the survey. Ms. Best clarified PAGE FOUR - STUDY SESSION MINUTES - MARCH 17, 1998 the initial survey to be presented and noted that pre-calls will be made so businesses will be expecting it. She provided examples of the types of questions proposed for the survey including the need for training, types of businesses and quality of life issues. She indicated that the first intent is merely to get responses, while future surveys will be more face to face with more follow through. She stressed the need for a friendly approach with initial surveys. Councilman Metze suggested follow-up phone calls; and offered kudos to the Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake Chambers of Commerce for their work to date. Councilwoman Brinley questioned whether staff would be assessing how to rebuild and revitalize shopping areas. Ms. Best concurred that there was potential for elimination of blight. Councilwoman Brinley stressed the areas needing improvement. Mayor Pape inquired based on the improving economy and being business friendly if Mr. Hansen would concur that most entrepreneurs just want to know the requirements and are not so much looking for handouts. Mr. Hansen confinned and noted that generally businesspeople will look at a set of cities and not go too far beyond that set. Councilman Metze noted the discussion of assisting by ha~ing all entities in the area get together and express what will be expected. He indicated that he would like to see that followed up. Ms. Best responded that it is already happening in many of the companies and staff is meeting with them are just testing the waters; so businesses request a meeting and lay the issues on the table requesting up front discussion about the areas of fle~bility. She stressed the interest in empowering line and front staff to address specific projects and detailed the proposed process for up-front review. Mr. Metze noted the problems which occurred between Lake Chevrolet and the Water District and stressed the importance of working with all of the agencies to make the process a reality. Fred Francia, Regional Manager for The Edison Company, indicated that he was present to show that Edison will be an active participant in this program. He noted that they aze a common stakeholder via their participation in Lake Elsinore Connections; and stressed their physical investment and participation. He complimented the community and City staff for theu efforts. Councilman Metze thanked Mr. Francia for his participation in this effort. Larry Regis, Chairman of Lake Elsinore Connections, noted their efforts over the last six or seven months wluch came about because people wanted to be part of what is taking place in Lake Elsinore. He indicated that the Community must next perceive a change, and the Community as a whole must see that change is taking place. He suggested that the old guard can not e~cist, as there must be a cohesive front. He applauded the Council and Staff PAGE FIVE - STUDY SESSION MINUTES - MARCH 17, 1998 for the types of things taking place between the Chamber of Commerce, Lake Elsinore Connections, lEEP and the City. He stressed that he is hearing the name Lake Elsinore, which was once an unknown, as a forerwuier for this pilot program. He encouraged the Council to approve the plan as presented, noting that there are 80 volunteers ready to do the follow-up on the survey. ADJOIJRNMENT The City Council Study Session was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Gf~ VIN W. P PE, MAYOR CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE A i''I'EST: r`~ , ~.~- ~~,~ ICKI K~~AD, CITY ~ LERK CI'~~"1~' 4~ LAKE ELSINORE