Reactivating Economic Development:Tools FOR A NEW ERA Santa Clara County Leadership Academy Fall 2015
About Us Sponsors • Julio Fuentes - City Manager, Santa Clara • Steve Rymer - City Manager, Morgan Hill Project Team • Erwin Ching, Cupertino • Mariah Dabel, Campbell • Shelayne Hammack, Los Gatos • Lorenzo Perez, County Fire • Dale Seale, Santa Clara • Tina Yoke, Mountain View
This can happen anywhere • Downtown Salinas Shooting New record: 33 Homicides this year
Background • 1945: Community Redevelopment Act • 2010: Proposition 22 • 2012: Redevelopment Agencies dissolve
Project Goal Identify emerging economic development tools in the new post-redevelopment era.
Project Challenge There are no short cuts…
Methodology • Subject Matter Expert Interviews: • Edith Ramirez, Economic Development Manager, Morgan Hill • Kelly Kline, Economic Development Manager, Fremont • Assembly Member Luis Alejo • Angela Tsui, Economic Development Manager, Cupertino • Monica Renn, Economic Vitality Manager, Los Gatos • Jay Swardenski, Fire Marshal, Fremont • AartiShrivastava, Assistant City Manager, Cupertino • Lori Taylor, Economic Development Director, Dublin • Mark Evanoff, Interim Deputy City Manager, Union City • Kara Goss, Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance (SVEDA) • Site Visits: • Morgan Hill: Pop-Up Park/Road Diet Launch • SVEDA Meeting • Reading:
What’s in the Toolkit? Tool #1 Legislation Tool #2 Streamline Processes Tool #3 Financing Tool #4 Branding
Tool #1 Legislation • Current Legislation • AB2— Community Revitalization Authority • SB628— Enhanced infrastructure financing districts • SB107— Redevelopment dissolution bill • SB614— Jurisdiction changes for special district/annexed area for infrastructure financing
Legislation, continued • Future Legislation • AB229— Infrastructure and revitalization of financial districts on former military bases
AB2: Community Revitalization and Investment Authority (CRIA) • No links or references to previous RDA Law (intentionally) • CRIA establishes a plan within a CRIA area • Tax Increment Financing (TIF)/spent in area generated • Eminent Domain for real property acquisition • Oversight and Audits • City, County, Special District or any combination of the three • School Districts prohibited from establishing a CRIA • 25% minimum for affordable housing + rental unit conditions • Potentially powerful tool for disadvantaged communities
Where would a CRIA be in your city? • Unemployment 3% higher than CA median. • Crime rates 5% higher than state median. • Deteriorated or inadequate infrastructure • Deteriorated commercial or residential structures, including former military bases.
Develop Relationship withAssembly Members and Senators • Smaller Cities don’t have lobbyists • Each City is unique • Make sure your city’s interests are being addressed at the state level. • Coordinate ordinances, agreements, MOUs etc. to take full advantage of the provisions of the law to benefit the residents of your city.
Tool #2 – Streamline Processes Time and uncertainty mean money not available for projects • Start with a Streamlined Home Page • Make it simple & easy to read • Directly to Economic Development • Zoning Map • Accurate and current available square feet for Industrial, R&D, Commercial… • Available acres of vacant land for development (toxic chemical free) • Promote regional transportation (major freeways, transit) • Discuss local utility partnerships, ie., to leverage AB 32 (Greenhouse Gas Reduction) • Permits (hyperlinks to relevant departments)
Streamline Processes continued… • Building • Plan review counter hours (specific & first page) • Plan review completion date (transparency) • Inspections • Inspector contact information with phone #’s • Geographical Area & Inspection Type • Daily inspection schedule with time (transparency) • Link to Codes and Regulations • Planning • Contact information with phone # • Positions with name
Tool #3 – Financing • New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) • Encourage development in low income neighbors without destroying them by gentrification. California NMTC Projects… • EB-5 Investor Visa Program • Federal state roles, eligibility and parameters of investors for new commercial enterprise projects • Enhanced Infrastructure Financial Districts (EIFDs)
What types of projects could an EIFD fund?
Tool #4 – Branding Why Brand a City? • Economic Development Marketing • Attract, retain, expand businesses • Attract and retain residents and tourists • Improve the community’s image • Establish Identity & Quality of Life • Many factors influence the decision of a company or individual to move into or out of a city, with a major one being quality of life • Talented youth, key to successful economy, seek places with real urban charm: walkable, amenities, open spaces • Businesses migrate to areas where the quality of life matches the group of employees they are trying to attract
Branding continued… • Placemaking • Identify focus areas and clarify a vision for each place: downtown, transit hubs, gathering places • Program & activate: pop-up retail, maker spaces, parklets, ambassadors, road diets
Branding continued… • Leverage Partnerships • Cities play a unique role in convening groups and defining a community vision • Business Improvement Districts, Downtown Associations, Chambers of Commerce, developers, colleges & universities, nonprofits • The degree to which these orgs coordinate activities around a common vision is critical to marketing success
Branding Example – Greeley, Colorado • “Greeley Unexpected” Image Campaign • Alliance for Innovation Award Winner • Campaign to overcome negative stereotypes and community misconceptions
LEADERSHIP = 3C’s • Now What?! There are no short cuts. The new landscape is composed of hand tools, not power tools. This calls for a new kind of leadership. Creativity Courage Collaboration
Call to Action Creativity Identify your goals and the interests of stakeholders who will help deliver your vision Courage Redevelopment gave political cover; use the tools you still have to advance community interests Collaboration The best ideas won’t necessarily come from cities…
“Nothing stops a bullet like a job” –Assembly Member Luis Alejo
