HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development - 03/14/2022 Page 1 of 4
Pending Approval
Economic and Community
Development Committee
CC ECDC Regular Meeting
Minutes
March 14, 2022
Date: March 14, 2022
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Chambers
Members: Toni Troutner, Committee Chair
Marli Larimer, Councilmember
Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
Agenda:
1. Call to Order 4:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Toni Troutner Committee Chair Present
Marli Larimer Councilmember Present
Zandria Michaud Councilmember Present
3. Agenda Approval
4. Approval of Minutes
A. Approval of Minutes dated February 14, 2022
MOTION: Move to approve the Minutes dated February 14, 2022
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Marli Larimer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
AYES: Troutner, Larimer, Michaud
5. Information Only
A. Update on Naden Assemblage, Outcome of its Memorandum of
Understanding with Avenue 55, and Next Steps
Chief Economic Development Officer Bill Ellis provides an overview of the
Naden property history and the goals for the project site as they have
evolved over time. He details market trends which show that while Kent has
the greatest concentration of industrial space under construction anywhere in
the state, demand is still not being met and rents are rising precipitously.
This means that some types of manufacturers and organizations are in
danger of getting priced out of Kent and the greater Puget Sound market. For
this reason it started to make sense to create something unique that would
Economic and Community Development
Committee CC ECDC Regular Meeting
Minutes
March 14, 2022
Kent, Washington
Page 2 of 4
support manufacturing of assorted types as well as space for organizations
offering workforce development and specialized educational opportunities.
Bill introduces the Avenue 55 development team and they present their
proposal for a Manufacturing/FlexTech campus development on the Naden
Assembly. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Avenue 55, which
was executed in 2021, expires March 22, 2022. City staff has fulfilled its
requirements with the developer under the MOU in reviewing an initial list of
tenants and a conceptual vision for redevelopment by Avenue 55, and are
recommending that Council authorize staff to negotiate the sale of the Naden
Assembly to Avenue 55.
The Avenue 55 presentation does identify prospective tenants that have
shown interest to date and shows an exterior rendering whose interior details
could meet their needs or those of similar companies and organizations. The
interior rendering shows an airy lively space that could be used for large
gatherings or smaller open collaborations depending on furnishings.
Staff will seek Council authorization to negotiate a development agreement
and purchase and sale agreement with Avenue 55 at tomorrow’s (March 15,
2022) Council meeting. These agreements will come back to Council for
review and approval in approximately 60 days. It is important to note that
the development agreement or purchase and sale may not identify specific
end users or a locked-in site plan or design. Design elements are expected
to be largely controlled by existing development design regulations.
However, the development agreement will identify significant details
regarding agreed upon outcomes. Avenue 55 will continue negotiations with
prospective tenants while the City and Avenue 55 engage in negotiations to
sell the property.
6. Business
A. Reappointment to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - Appoint
Presented to the Committee by Michelle Wilmot, Mr. Hutchison’s
most recent term expired on January 14, 2022, but he has ably
served the Lodging Tax Adviosry Committee (LTAC) since 2007.
Despite efforts to recruit new qualified applicants to participate on
LTAC, the small number of Kent hotels coupled with the strict
membership qualifications required by the State, have made staffing
this advisory committee particularly challenging. Mr. Hutchison has
agreed to stay on as a committee member, pending council approval.
Therefore, we ask that he be allowed to serve a new term without
the required two-year break due to a lack of additional qualified
applicants.
Economic and Community Development
Committee CC ECDC Regular Meeting
Minutes
March 14, 2022
Kent, Washington
Page 3 of 4
MOTION: I move to reappoint Andrew Hutchison to the Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee for a new 3-year term effective from April 4,
2022 thru April 3, 2025.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL [UNANIMOUS]Next: 4/5/2022 7:00
PM
MOVER: Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
SECONDER: Marli Larimer, Councilmember
AYES: Troutner, Larimer, Michaud
B. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Grant to Economic and Community
Development for a Contract with JayRay for the VisitKent Tourism
Promotion Campaign - Authorize
Presneted by Michelle Wilmot, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recently
affirmed their support to provide a grant to City of Kent's Economic
Development team to fund a refreshed marketing campaign under the
established VisitKent.com banner.
With indoor mask mandates ending, and in anticipation of a significant
recovery for the travel and tourism industry, the grant will be used to renew
the City's contract with JayRay. Despite a glum outlook for travel during
2021 due to multiple impacts from the pandemic, the VisitKent.com website
saw increased traffic, and data from other outlets supports a conclusion that
interest in local experiences has increased and is driving web searches.
Therefore, for 2022 we are requesting a modest increase over the agreement
for 2021 to capture and engage more people looking for new and unique
local experiences. These funds will provide: maintenance and upkeep of our
established VisitKent.com website, fund 3 postings a week on multiple social
media outlets, and fund a new targeted marketing effort utilizing geolocation
technology and data to identify audiences receptive to posted content and
offerings.
MOTION: I move to authorize approve a lodging tax grant to the
Economic and Community Development Department in the amount of
$98,000 to be used for contracting with JayRay to maintain the
VisitKent tourism promotion program and web/media presence; and
authorize the Mayor to execute a contract with JayRay, subject to
final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and
Economic and Community Development Director.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL [UNANIMOUS]Next: 4/5/2022 7:00
PM
MOVER: Marli Larimer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
AYES: Troutner, Larimer, Michaud
Economic and Community Development
Committee CC ECDC Regular Meeting
Minutes
March 14, 2022
Kent, Washington
Page 4 of 4
7. Adjournment 4:53 p.m.
Rhonda Bylin
Committee Secretary