HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 4/7/2020
Approved
Kent City Council
City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Date: April 7, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Chambers
1. CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Dana Ralph Mayor Present
Toni Troutner Council President Present
Bill Boyce Councilmember Present
Brenda Fincher Councilmember Present
Satwinder Kaur Councilmember Present
Marli Larimer Councilmember Present
Les Thomas Councilmember Present
Zandria Michaud Councilmember Present
3. AGENDA APPROVAL
A. Approve the agenda as presented
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Toni Troutner, Council President
SECONDER: Les Thomas, Councilmember
AYES: Troutner, Boyce, Fincher, Kaur, Larimer, Thomas, Michaud
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
A. Public Recognition
Mayor presented the King County Sexual Assault Awareness Month
proclamation.
i. Employee of the Month
Mayor Ralph recognized Shawn Gilberson, Environmental Supervisor, as the
City's April employee of the month.
B. Community Events
C. Economic and Community Development Report
Chief Economic Development Officer, Bill Ellis presented a comprehensive
Economic and Community Development report as follows:
•Phase II - Ethos Project real estate project transaction has closed
Kent City Council City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Kent, Washington
Page 2 of 7
•Naden Avenue Hospitality Project: Downtown Design review, due
diligence period, purchase and sale agreement is not closed.
•Kent permitting now has electronic intake - reviewed permit activity over
the past few weeks.
•Land Use Recommendations are now in effect: Early indications of success
to objectives. The zoning code is not impeding real estate development;
opens Kent for new investments that could not be realized except for
zone.
•Reviewed trend of B&O tax collections from the industrial area by
industry, 2018.
Covid-19 and shock and crisis
•Reviewed weekly unemployment insurance claims trends over past 50
years.
•Unprecedented national job loss
•Kent Jobs: Greater exposure to layoff than nation
Cash flow and small business reserves - real estate or high-tech
manufacturing or services of professional serves do better than
restaurants, repair and maintenance or retail.
Ellis reviewed survey sent to 4,000 City businesses.
Two of the most worrisome things: amount unable to pay rent
already and those already laying off.
Ellis provided multiple resources for businesses to apply for SBA disaster
loans and indicated it is important for businesses to apply for Economic
Injury Disaster Loans.
•CARES Act highlights
•Small Business Debt Relief
•Paycheck Protection Program
Provided community development financial institutions - team of people
working round the clock to help businesses.
•Philanthropic help for small businesses
•Facebook Grant
•State of Washington's Assistance
Ellis contemplated the form of economic recovery and indicated the focus
is the immediate need to save as many businesses as we can to help
recovery.
Kent City Council City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Kent, Washington
Page 3 of 7
Reviewed Kent tourism/retail short and long-term strategies and
innovative ways to help businesses find revenue.
Business organizations are among the best resources, anticipating
questions and being in direct communication with their membership. Ellis
provided links to the local trade associations including work with the Kent
Downtown Partnership and Kent Chamber of Commerce.
The Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce has web tutorials on how to
apply for assistance. The links is on the City's website.
Ellis detailed the potential impacts of this crisis and possible responses in
the next 30 - 120 days. Potential changes to the Economic Development
work program were reviewed and the tentative plan for economic
recovery.
Ellis anticipates changing trends to supply chains and logistics,
manufacturing, retail, entertainment and tourism and business
conferences.
Ellis updated the following City projects:
•Naden Avenue and Sound Transit surplus properties
•Sound Transit process continues
•Recommended pause on North Naden parcel
5. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL AND STAFF
A. Mayor's Report
Mayor Ralph provided information on why the National Guard is in Kent and
their work with Northwest Harvest.
Mayor Ralph indicated she is working everyday on Covid-19 issues and
indicated the public should monitor the City's social media accounts for
updates.
B. Chief Administrative Officer's Report
Chief Administrative Officer, Derek Matheson advised his report is in today's
agenda packet and there is no executive session tonight.
C. Councilmember's Reports
Council President Troutner provided a brief overview of today's two workshop
topics related to the Sound Transit Link Extension project and the Sewer
Relining and Replacement Program.
Councilmember Michaud advised the council that she is seeking the council's
Kent City Council City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Kent, Washington
Page 4 of 7
approval to sign a letter regarding a proposed increase to wastewater
treatment fees. She will email the letter to all councilmembers.
Councilmember Boyce requested an update from the Mayor on King County's
quarantine facility in Kent. Mayor Ralph indicated all updates will be pushed
out through social media and the City is trying to keep the communication
lines open with King County.
Councilmember Larimer serves on the King County Ageing and Disability
Advisory Council that will meet on April 10th and will receive a report from
King County Public Health.
6. PUBLIC HEARING
None
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Approve Consent items A-L.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Toni Troutner, Council President
SECONDER: Les Thomas, Councilmember
AYES: Troutner, Boyce, Fincher, Kaur, Larimer, Thomas, Michaud
A. Approval of Minutes
1. City Council Meeting - City Council Regular Meeting - Mar 17, 2020 7:00
PM
2. Committee of the Whole - Committee of the Whole - Regular Meeting -
Mar 24, 2020 4:00 PM
B. Payment of Bills - Approve
MOTION: Approve the payment of bills received through
3/15/20 and paid on 3/15/20 and approve checks issued for
payroll for 3/1/20-3/15/20 and paid on 3/20/20, as audited
by the City Council during the March 24, 2020, Committee of
the Whole.
C. Software Licensing and Consultant Services with Bottomline
Technologies, Inc. – Authorize
Kent City Council City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Kent, Washington
Page 5 of 7
MOTION: Authorize the Mayor to sign a Software Licensing
Agreement with Bottomline Technologies, Inc., in an amount
that will not exceed $160,000, subject to final terms and
conditions acceptable to the Information Technology Director
and City Attorney.
D. Ordinance Repealing and Readopting Chapter 6.05 KCC –
Latecomer Agreements – Street and Utility - Adopt
MOTION: Adopt Ordinance No. 4356, repealing and readopting
Chapter 6.05 of the Kent City Code, establishing the
requirements and procedure for the application and
administration of street and utility latecomer agreements.
E. Updated Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Grant Award for the
VisitKent.com Campaign Managed by JayRay - Authorize
MOTION: Authorize the Mayor to increase the grant awarded to
Economic and Community Development in the amount of
$15,000, for the VisitKent.com website and tourism promotion
campaign designed and managed by JayRay, subject to terms
and conditions acceptable to the Economic and Community
Development Director and City Attorney.
F. Resolution Amending Kent City Code Fees - Adopt
MOTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2009, repealing Resolution No.
2000 and adopting a new fee schedule that adds fees related to
latecomer agreements.
G. Fourth and Willis Roundabout - Sight Distance Easement -
Authorize
MOTION: Recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign all
documents necessary for the acquisition of a Sight Distance
Easement on a portion of property owned by the Kent School
District, located at 317 4th Avenue S. (APN 768280-0220), for
an amount not to exceed $6,700.00, subject to final terms and
conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Public Works
Director.
H. Fourth and Willis Roundabout - Right-of-Way Dedication -
Ordinance - Adopt
MOTION: Adopt Ordinance No. 4357, authorizing the dedication
of a portion of City-owned property located along Willis Street
(SR 516) between the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and 4th
Avenue South as right-of-way.
I. Mill Creek at 76th Avenue Flood Protection Improvements –
Drainage Easement and Temporary Construction Easement -
Authorize
Kent City Council City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Kent, Washington
Page 6 of 7
MOTION: Authorize the Mayor to sign all documents necessary
for the acquisition of a drainage easement and a temporary
construction easement on a portion of property owned by HRP
Properties 4, located at 22203 76th Avenue South (APN
122204-9024), for an amount not to exceed $415,090, subject
to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney
and Public Works Director.
J. Accept the 2019 Sanitary Sewer CIPP Lining Project as
Complete - Authorize
MOTION: Authorize the Mayor to accept the 2019 Sanitary
Sewer Cast in Place Pipe Lining Project as complete and release
retainage to Insituform Technologies, LLC upon receipt of
standard releases from the state and the release of any liens.
K. Accept the South 228th Street Union Pacific Railroad
Underground Utilities Project as Complete - Authorize
MOTION: Authorize the Mayor to accept the South 228th Street
Union Pacific Railroad Underground Utilities Project as
complete and release retainage to Road Construction
Northwest, Inc. upon receipt of standard releases from the
state and the release of any liens.
L. Accept the Green River Natural Resources Area Storm Water
Force Main Project as Complete - Authorize
MOTION: Authorize the Mayor to accept the Green River
Natural Resource Area Storm Water Force Main Project as
complete and release retainage to Scarsella Brothers., Inc.
upon receipt of standard releases from the state and the
release of any liens.
9. OTHER BUSINESS
None
10. BIDS
None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ACTION AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
None
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ralph expressed her appreciation of all City staff and first
responders. Mayor closed the meeting by reading a quote that she keeps
on her desk that was written by John Lennon "Everything will be okay in
the end. If it's not okay, its not the end."
Kent City Council City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 7, 2020
Kent, Washington
Page 7 of 7
Mayor Ralph adjourned the meeting.
Meeting ended at 8:21 p.m.
Kimberley A. Komoto
City Clerk
Economic Development Update
Bill Ellis, Chief Economic Development Officer
April 7, 2020
Phase II -Ethos Project Closed:
Fully Envisioned Concept to Complete
Naden Ave Hospitality Project
Downtown Design Review; Due Diligence Period. Purchase and Sale Agreement is Not Closed
Kent Permitting now has Electronic Intake
•Kept issuing and processing.
•The Permit Center is closed to walk-in customers. Operations continue as staff work remotely.
•New permit applications are only accepted electronically.
•Permit resubmittals are accepted electronically or via parcel delivery/ US Mail only.
•This ‘crisis’ has moved the City of Kent forward at warp-speed to an electronic submittal process, not expected to be fully operational for another 12 months, when Amanda (permit software) goes live.
Permit Activity Past Few Weeks
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2/23/2020 -
2/29/2020
3/1/2020 -
3/7/2020
3/8/2020 -
3/14/2020
3/15/2020 -
3/21/2020
3/22/2020 -
3/28/2020
3/29/2020 -
4/4/2020
Inspection Requests
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2/23/2020 -
2/29/2020
3/1/2020 -
3/7/2020
3/8/2020 -
3/14/2020
3/15/2020 -
3/21/2020
3/22/2020 -
3/28/2020
3/29/2020 -
4/4/2020
New Submittals for Permits
Land Use Recommendations in Effect
•Early indications of success to objectives:
•Pre-application for flex-manufacturing-office by major industrial developer on West Valley Highway on location previously unlisted, undiscussed with City
•Interest in business moving to Kent site in I2 with possibility to grow highly significant retail, direct-to-customer sales in addition to repair, refurbishment
•Sawdust Supply, a lower value use, is moving forward with transaction to merchant developer to build heavier industrial “on-spec” in I3
•Discussions with one property ownership group regarding improvements to adjacent City park space in exchange for certain design code provisions
•All of the above demonstrate zoning code is not impeding real estate
development; opens Kent for new investments that could not be realized except for zone
B&O Taxes Collected from the Industrial Area by Industry, 2018
Identified Loophole in Square Footage
Covid-19: Economic Shock and Crisis
Chart of Weekly Unemployment Insurance Claims
Past 50 Years. Risk of Depression.
Unprecedented National Job Loss
Kent Jobs: Greater Exposure to Layoff than Nation
60% Kent jobs are High-Risk for Layoff
At -Risk or Likely Severely Impacted by Shut Down
•Restaurants, bars, apparel, hotels furniture and other retail:
•880 businesses
•12,668 employees, or 21% of all Kent jobs
At -Risk or Partially Impacted if Not Shut Down
•Wholesale Trade, Manufacturing, and Construction:
•920 businesses
•23,011 employees, or 39% of all Kent Jobs
•Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Transportation, Communication, and Government…soon to be impacted.46% of Jobs Nationally at High-Risk of Layoff
Cash Flow
Small Business Reserves
•Loss revenues through closure period—lasting more than 4 weeks—is well beyond the cash buffer of vast majority of small businesses
•Less capital intensive businesses also tend to depend on in-person labor
•Like a hurricane…that last months.
Source: JP Morgan Institute
Spread of Cash on Hand
varies by industry
•High-tech manufacturing and metal/machinery most cash on-hand
•Personal Services, retail, and construction the least; restaurants and wholesales in middle
•Important to note: the business you know may be in a very different place than the median.
•In other words, some restaurants may last longer than some manufacturers.
Source: JP Morgan Institute
Surveying Kent Businesses
•March to April 1st Survey; Full
Facts will show in late June
•Kent Part of Regional Survey
•Thanks to Community Attributes
Inc, Seattle Chamber, and Greater
Seattle Partners. Regional
Cooperation Essential.
•Shared directly to more than
4,000 Kent businesses
•Future Surveys Planned
•2/3rds of business owner
respondents were already laying
off or reducing work—another
month or even more to go. 2/3rds
concerned or unable to pay rent.
Unprecedented need; Unprecedented help
www.SBA.gov
CARES Act Highlights –
$2 Trillion in federal relief (not stimulus spending)
•Businesses
•Liquidity for financial markets
•Large industry financial aid: Boeing, airlines, aerospace
•$350 billion for Small Business Assistance Programs
•Surge of Funding
•Workers
•Direct financial payments from US Treasury
•Surge of funding for Community Development Block Grants and US Economic Development Administration; also Manufacturing Extension Partnerships that provide small business services to manufacturers
•Help for hospitals in crisis and cities comes with strings (CDBG)
Economic Injury Disaster Loans –SBA.GOV
Important for Businesses to Apply for EIDL
Local Help for Kent Businesses
Highline College
Small Business Development Center
Phone: (206) 592-4151
Email: sbdc@highline.edu
Local SBA Affiliated Banks in Close Proximity
•First Financial Northwest Bank
201 Wells Ave. S.
Erica Slatt (425) 687-4249 slatte@ffnwb.com
•Commencement Bank
4798 Auburn Way N., suite 103
Tracie Bryant (253) 246-2062 tbryant@commencementbank.com
Ed Fischer (253) 284-1807 efischer@commencementbank.com
•BECU
12770 Gateway Drive
Anthony Scarpelli (206) 439-5876 anthony.scarpelli@becu.org
•Kitsap Bank
33915 First Way S
Jim Storvick (253) 517 -2240 jstorvick@kitsapbank.com
•Banner Bank
Robin Dode (425) 318 -0329 robin.dode@bannerbank.com
Small Business Debt Relief
•This program will provide immediate relief to small businesses with
non-disaster SBA loans, in particular 7(a), 504, and microloans. Under
it, SBA will cover all loan payments on these SBA loans, including
principal, interest, and fees, for six months.
•This relief will also be available to new borrowers who take out loans
for next six months since the President signed the bill into law.
Small Business Tax Relief –
Not Eligible Combined with PPP
•Delay of Payment of Employer Payroll Taxes
•This provision would allow taxpayers to defer paying the employer portion of certain payroll taxes through the end of 2020, with all 2020 deferred amounts due in two equal installments, one at the end of 2021, the other at the end of 2022…
•Employee Retention Credit for Employers Subject to Closure or Experiencing Economic Hardship
•This provision would provide a refundable payroll tax credit for 50 percent of wages paid by eligible employers to certain employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The credit is available to employers, including non-profits, whose operations have been fully or partially suspended as a result of a government order limiting commerce, travel or group meetings. The credit is also provided to employers who have experienced a greater than 50 percent reduction in quarterly receipts, measured on a year-over-year basis.
•Wages of employees who are furloughed or face reduced hours as a result of their employer’s closure or economic hardship are eligible for the credit. For employers with 100 or fewer full-time employees, all employee wages are eligible, regardless of whether an employee is furloughed. The credit is provided for wages and compensation, including health benefits, and is provided for the first $10,000 in wages and compensation paid by the employer to an eligible employee.
Paycheck Protection Program –SBA.gov
•A loan designed to incentivize small businesses to keep workers on
payroll.
•SBA will forgive loans if employees kept on payroll eight weeks, and
money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
•Apply through existing SBA 7(a) lender or federally insured depository
institution, credit union, or Farm Credit System institution. Other
regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once approved
and enrolled.
Paycheck Protection Program –SBA.gov
•Loans will be forgiven if used for payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent,and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will be deferred six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. No fees will be charged.
•Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines/or salaries/wages decrease.
•Loan has a maturity of 2 years, interest rate of 1%.
•Applications are available online/see the PPP borrower application form for information needed to apply.
Community Development Financial Institutions
https://businessimpactnw.org/resources/https://www.craft3.org/covid-19/business#subp
Philanthropic Help for Small Businesses
https://allinseattle.org/small-businesses
Facebook Grant for $100 million
•$8.5 million for Seattle Area businesses
•https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants?ref=alias
•Applications for Seattle businesses will open April 11; sign up by email now.
•Facebook is partnering with Ureeka –a company that aims to reduce the costs and risks of growing small and medium sized businesses –to distribute the United States grants.
•Facebook also recently launched a digital gift card platform where people can find and browse gift cards for local businesses and restaurants.
State of Washington’s Assistance
•WA Department of Revenue created a webpage dedicated to business
relief during the COVID-19 pandemic
•Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund
•Grant program was under development (announced today process)
•“Employment Insurance” Mitigation of Layoffs
•SharedWork -a voluntary business sustainability program providing flexibility
to retain employees at reduced hours.
•Cut hours; keeps employees whole by using portion of unemployment
insurance.
•1.800.752.2500; www.SharedWorkWA.com
State of Washington’s Assistance -SRF
Seattle Chamber is Kent’s ADO –Help Administer
•$5 million repurposed from
Governor’s strategic reserve fund (usually to aid recruitment or retention efforts)
•Up to $10,000 for businesses with ten or fewer employees
•http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/covid-grants/
Ashton Allison, CEcD
Director of Business Retention & Expansion
REACH King County |Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
ashtona@seattlechamber.com
d: 206-389-7202
Economic Recovery –V, U, L, W, or Nike Swoosh?
Economists, statisticians, financiers are all debating shape of recovery after we’re let out of houses.
Variables: secondary infection waves, massive disruption to consumer behaviors exceed business adaption, dampened consumer spending and travel; discovery of therapeutics or waves…
Nobody knows.
BUT. We are not powerless.
KENT TOURISM/RETAIL SHORT-TERM STRATEGIES
Be a trusted source of up-to-date information
Share content that meets health advisory guidelines
Promote Kent businesses on social media
Roundup of places to get growlers filled
Roundup of places to get dessert
(celebrating a birthday at home?)
Roundup of places to get burgers
Roundup of places to get comfort food
Roundup of places to get Taco Tuesday
Kent restaurant resource guide to support local
restaurants via delivery, take-out and gift certificates
In-tune, helpful and empathetic stories
Share how businesses in Kent are helping one another
Q & A with restaurants series
Favorite dish?
Share a recipe you can make at home
How long have you been in Kent?
Collaboration with other communication outlets
Sunset Magazine:
resource guide—what’s open in the West Coast
Washington Tourism Alliance:
Show WA Love campaign—featuring businesses you can still
support across the state
(gift cards, online orders, etc.)
Early Mitigation Efforts –Rolling Crisis, Innovating Ways
to Help Business Find Revenue; Online Marketing
Tourism & Hospitality
Impact Survey
Travel Advisory Updates
on VisitKent.com
How to Support Kent
Businesses Graphic
KENT LONG-TERM STRATEGIES FOR HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL
Develop a marketing and recovery plan
Identify/strengthen collaborations and partnerships (I
Love Kent, Chamber, KDP etc.)
Invite people back to Kent: a ‘we’re open’ push!
Storytelling on social media
PR Newswire news release
#VisitKentWA
Increase PR and storytelling efforts—focusing on Kent’s
tastemakers
Kent Food Trails campaign
Seasonal Kent food blog
Invite foodie 5 bloggers to Kent
Attend Travel & Words media show—1 on 1 appointments
with media writers, pitching Kent
#TasteKentWA
**Amplify Kent Restaurant Week (Fall or Winter TBD)
Optimize VisitKent.com
Revise Visit Kent website to include messaging for
the “new normal”—life after COVID-19
Make mobile optimization updates
Photo shoot showcasing Kent to businesses and
leisure travelers
Conduct a Visitor Profile study
Better understand Kent’s visitors
Is travel sentiment up/down?
How has travel changed since COVID-19
Kent Economic Development Allies and
Neighbors –Updates in Covid-19
•Seattle Southside Chamber
•Small Business Development Administration
•King County Business Public Health Task Force
•Impact Washington (Manufacturing Extension Partnership)
•Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Puget Sound
•Greater Seattle Partners
•Seattle Chamber of Commerce
Trade Association Responses
•Aerospace Future Alliance -online resources, webinars, digital newsletter
•Pacific NW Aerospace Alliance –online resources, weekly Zoom meetings -Tuesdays at noon,
digital newsletter
•Center for Advanced Manufacturing –online resources, peer-to-peer networking
•Impact Washington –online resources, offering free business assessments
•Pacific Northwest Defense Association -online resources, hosted digital town hall 3/27,
offering to connect peer-to-peer resources
•Women in Manufacturing, -Wine with Us Wednesdays online, 8-9 p.m.
Kent Business Associations –Early Responses
Kent Downtown Partnership
•“Who’s open” webpage
•Distributed “impacts” survey
•Online restaurant directory
•Webinar w/GRC SBAC 4/2
Kent Chamber of Commerce
•Resources webpage
•Distributed “impacts” survey
•Online restaurant directory
•Webinar w/GRC SBAC 4/2
•Webinar w/ state elected
officials 4/ 10
https://kentchamber.com/emergency-resources/
Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce
“SMART” or Southside Mitigation and Recovery Task Force
•Fundraising for Small Business Relief
through existing Success Foundation
•Videos on How to Apply Remain Up
https://www.seattlesouthsidechamber.com/smart
Middle of the Storm
•Early indications this recession will make 2008 seem trivial
•Over 2.6 billion people are currently ordered to stay indoors—
seismographs all over the world are noticeably quieter
•Unprecedented shock to budgets and balance sheets, and for a city
whose two most important industries are “global trade” and
“aerospace” hard to predict scale or enduring impacts
•Uncertain how many businesses will be saved by federal life lines—
although it’s urgent we assist our businesses to take them
•Demand will not simply spring back the moment orders are lifted.
Responses in Next 30 Days; Next 120 Days
•Past thirty days: establish new lines of communication
•Offer Support to SBDCs, CDFIs, Get Out Word on Resources
•Work with Chambers, Trade Associations, Industry Experts to Setup Additional Sector Specific Webinars
•Retail
•Logistics
•Manufacturing
•Next thirty days:
•Assess the damage,
•Listen to business owners
•Continue to advocate for shared sacrifice to reduce the economic impacts over long-run
Changing Work Program for Economic Development
•Surplus Property –Lining up Market and Public Sector Interest
•Past two years “Kent Valley Pivot”
i.Unlock marketing resources, build network for promotion of Kent Valley
ii.Overhaul land use regulations and standards for Kent Valley
iii.Workforce Development; next steps on AJAC Training Center
•Post -Covid-19
•Immediate priority: Business Mitigation; Coalition Response
•Small business programs; Community of Opportunity
•Re-evaluate north Naden strategy (fluid situation)
•Economic Recovery Planning
Local Plan for Economic Recovery
•Economic Developer: Textbook Professional Guidance
•Continue Long-Range efforts
•Participate/stage forums by business sector
•Align with regional/federal disaster recovery efforts
•Identified Key Vulnerabilities in Local Economy
•Work in Kent is performed in closed quarters with others—hard to build parts
remotely (although factories were heading this way)
•Major services aimed at microenterprises in multicultural communities, low-
income businesses not embedded as desired even before the crisis (Ventures,
StartZone , and Craft3 planned program with King County in Fall)
•Translations, many small Kent businesses not on internet before this
Local Plan for Economic Recovery
•Community Development Block Grants –Increased Funding
•Partner internally with Human Services and externally with NDC and Craft3
•Small business granting
•Revolving Loan Fund
•Economic Development Administration –Increased Funds
•Advocate for, and build partnership with Impact Washington and Greater
Seattle Partners, for stimulus type investments
•Potential to use City surplus property or Sound Transit surplus property as
matching capital
•Many competing demands for federal funds: Greater Seattle Partners is the
most important conduit
Local Plan for Economic Recovery—
Medium Term Ideas
•CAMPS has worked with aerospace and other manufacturers to encourage them to diversify into medical devices
•How may we support acceleration of this diversification after PPE crisis and immediate cash flow crises?
•AJAC was working to build a pipeline into apprenticeship into Kent Valley manufacturing base from disadvantaged, and then incumbent worker, populations
•How can Port of Seattle grant s aimed at AJAC be repurposed with AJAC, CAMPS, and Impact WA to upgrade skills of furloughed workers?
•In Rally the Valley, there are identified Business and Occupancy revenue fairness issues.
•How can we close revenue gap by taxing activities with inelastic demand to help balance budgets, and ensure the City can participate fully in economic recovery?
What Existing Trends will Accelerate?
What Changes will Last?
•Changes to Supply Chains and Logistics
•Regionalization, lessons from shortages
•Shifts in overseas production
•Hasten automation
•Manufacturing
•Government demand for essential supply capacity
•Hasten automation
•Diminished demand for air travel on aerospace
•Retail
•E-commerce
•Experiences—socializing, food were key responses to “retailapocalypse,” so what’s next for food preparation industries?
•Online presence, customer relationships
•Sensitivity to demand, unemployment
•Entertainment and Tourism
•Business Conferences
Naden Ave. and Sound Transit Surplus Properties
Sound Transit Process Continues; Recommend Pause on North Naden
Recovery will be uneven
•Many industries and jobs that are knowledge-based and can be done
remotely benefit
•Logistics can benefit
•Short term boom in delivery and warehouse jobs
•Warehouse space viewed as relatively safer place to invest
•In-person services and hospitality will suffer for very uncertain period
•American economy is very consumer focused (as opposed to exporting)…but, Kent Valley is more export oriented. Hard to project.
•Those with less savings and less skills most at-risk; food bank demand is already soaring.
History as Guide:
101 Years Ago, Who Recovered Best from Spanish Flu
Thank you.
WEllis@KentWA.gov | 253-856-5707
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HELP:
Green River College Small Business Development Center
Kevin Grossman
KGrossman@greenriver.edu
253-520-6263
Taryn Hornby
THornby@greenriver.edu
253-740-4340
Highline College Small Business Development Center
(206) 592.4151
SBDC@highline.edu
https://www.kentwa.gov/doing-business/covid-19-business-resources