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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/11/20 - Minutes - Special November 20, 2013 RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER I The special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council convened in the Tri-Communities Room at the Civic Center, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor L. Dennis Michael called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present were Councilmembers: Bill Alexander, Marc Steinorth, Diane Williams, Mayor Pro Tern Sam Spagnolo and Mayor L. Dennis Michael. Also present were: John Gillison, City Manager; Jim Markman, City Attorney; Linda Daniels, Assistant City Manager; Lori Sassoon, Deputy City Manager/Administrative Services; Bill Wittkopf, Public Works Services Director; Candyce Burnett, Planning Manager; Robert Karatsu, Library Director; Trang Huynh, Building and Safety Services Director; Mark Steuer, City Engineer; Flavio Nunez, Management Analyst I; and Debra McNay, Records Manager/Assistant City Clerk. I B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS I No communication was made from the public. C. ITEM FOR DISCUSSION I Cl. Update on Economic Development Strategy and programs Linda Daniels, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report on the need to update the City's economic development strategy. She indicated that it has been 10 years since the strategy was updated and reported that there have been many changes locally and regionally. Mrs. Daniels addressed some of the areas to be focused on in this update. A history of the City's economic development strategy was presented. The first strategy was completed in 1996 and it was updated in 2003. This 2014 update will be completed using a Team RC approach in which a cross section of employees from all Departments are involved. Mrs. Daniels indicated that a Request for Proposals has been prepared and was sent to 230 companies. Thirteen companies responded with proposals, which were reviewed and narrowed down to 4 companies. By the end of the year, she indicated that a recommendation will be presented to the City Council. Mrs. Daniels reported on the next steps and indicated that once the firm has been retained, they will review the economic development strategies, meet with the City Council and the advisory group, and conduct community outreach and interviews. She expected that the updated strategy would include a business recovery component. Flavio Nunez, Management Analyst I, reported on the programs and services currently provided to the business community even after the elimination of Redevelopment. Mr. Nunez also highlighted several successful business relocations and expansions that have occurred in the past 12 months. It is anticipated that some or all of these programs might be included in the economic development strategy update. November 20, 2013 I Special City Council Economic Development Meeting City of Rancho Cucamonga I Special City Council Minutes I Page 1 of 2 Lastly, Mrs. Daniels indicated that Council Member Steinorth had assisted with the development of a new program, BYB2RC. This program will reach out to residents in the City to see if their employer would be interested in relocating to the City of Rancho Cucamonga. She outlined conceptually how this program would work. Council Member Steinorth noted that the biggest advocate the City has is its residents. He discussed how this program could assist the City in attracting new businesses. Council Member Alexander concurred with the concept as it is fresh and new. In response to Council Member Alexander, Mr. Gillison indicated that the consultant's fee has not been determined yet. Council Member Williams liked the idea and compared it to the City's B.R.A.C.E. program. She noted that there are businesses here today because of the City's work. Mayor Pro Tern Spagnolo agreed that the BYB2RC program was a good idea and thanked Council Member Steinorth for his hard work. Mayor Michael agreed, noting that this program wouldn't have been as successful if the City hadn't softened its regulatory approach and amended the development code. He noted that this new program is a perfect approach to the City Council's vision. In closing Mayor Michael thanked the representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and staff for attending the meeting and lending their support. ID. ADJOURNMENT I Mayor L. Dennis Michael adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m. Re ectfully submitted, 2- y De ra L. McNay, MMC Assis ant City Clerk/Records Manager Approved: December 4, 2013 November 20, 2013 I Special City Council Economic Development Meeting City of Rancho Cucamonga I Special City Council Minutes I Page 2 of 2