SHORELINE — It wasn’t exactly a laissez-faire approach that City Council members’ utilized when they approved hiring an economic director and adopted an economic plan at the Nov. 1 meeting.
Members also voted to include an amendment to eventually establish an economic committee, at the Nov. 1 City Council meeting.
The vote comes after much debate regarding whether an economic director or economic committee should first be established.
Council member Bob Ransom was concerned that the city needs to have an advisory board, and proposed an amendment to include a stipulation in the economic plan. Council member Maggie Fimia supported the amendment.
Council member Rich Gustafson said he was not opposed to the idea of an advisory committee, but felt they needed to first hire an economic director, who they could confer with regarding establishing a committee.
Council member Paul Grace agreed that a committee would be a good edition to the plan, but also agreed a director was needed.
“We need to move forward in hiring someone to flesh out the strategic plan,” Grace said. “I am in favor of a date, once we have a manager on board; it could be one of their first tasks.”
Ransom then said he feels the program needs to be changed, since there have been two prior directors he felt were ineffective.
Council member Scott Jepsen said he supports hiring someone to fill the vacant position of economic director.
“We need to hire someone to mend the rift between the city and businesses,” Jepsen said. “But I disagree that in the past there hasn’t been economic development.”
Fimia supported the amendment and felt it was critical to include a committee in the economic plan before hiring someone to fill the position.
“It is wise to hire a facilitator for the committee to flesh out the non-specific plan,” Fimia said. “We need to let them know what our goals are.”
Mayor Ron Hansen said he felt the past economic directors have been effective. He said he would eventually like to see an economic committee established, but first wanted to hire an experienced economic director.
“I support the idea in concept, but will vote against it,” Hansen said.
Council member John Chang supported the amendment, saying he wanted to include citizen participation in the economic plan, which he felt would strengthen economic development.
“If we have a rift in the community, it is not that person’s role to bring the community together,” Chang said. “We need a vision for Shoreline.”
Fimia then said she did not feel a committee would be formed if they did not insist on it.
The amendment to include a commitment in the plan to create an advisory board was adopted.
Fimia then asked what the difference between hiring an economic director and the contract with Forward Shoreline, for $25,000 was. She wondered if Forward Shoreline could do some of the duties of an economic director.
City manager Steve Burkett said when Jan Knudsen left the city, he felt it was a good time to evaluate the need for the position, which is typically done with a vacancy.
He said the city’s contract with Forward Shoreline is important because they can often communicate with potential investors, who are often hesitant about speaking with city staff, regarding investments in the city.
“They track particular projects and move them forward,” Burkett said. “That is really the distinction; external versus internal responsibility.”
The economic development plan passed with a 6-1 vote, with Fimia dissenting.
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