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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE COUNTY OF ALPINE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA Community Development Conference Room 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, CA 96120 AGENDA TUESDAY, August 13, 2019 1:30 P.M. A regular meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in the Alpine County Community Development Conference Room, 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, California. The public is encouraged to attend committee meetings. Public comment periods: Matters under the jurisdiction of the Committee, and not on the posted agenda, may be addressed by the general public at the beginning of the regular agenda under Oral Communication – General Public Comment. However, California law prohibits the Committee from taking action on any matter which is not on the posted agenda unless it is determined to be an emergency by the Committee. Any member of the audience desiring to address the Committee on a matter on the agenda: Please request to speak at the time the item is announced by the Committee Chair. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ORAL COMMUNICATION – GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT 2.1. This portion of the meeting is an opportunity for members of the public to address the Committee on subjects relating to economic development. 3. MINUTES 3.1. Request approval of meeting minutes of May 10, 2019 and regular meeting minutes of June 4, 2019. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4.1. Bear Valley Business Association update – Terry Woodrow 4.2. Alpine County Chamber of Commerce update – Karrie Baker 4.3. Heritage Tourism Committee update – Tom Sweeney 5. NEW BUSINESS: 5.1 Discussion and possible action to move to summary/action minutes- David Griffith 5.2 Discussion and possible action on the future of the Economic Development Advisory Committee- David Griffith ---PAGE BREAK--- 5.3 Discussion with possible action: Committee recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, pursue a Grant from the Economic Development Agency for a study on economic opportunities in Alpine County as it relates to Opportunity Zones- Kris Hartnett 6. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 7. Member Reports: Sierra star gazing event- Mary Rawson 8. OTHER BUSINESS 9. NEXT MEETING 10. ADJOURNMENT The Committee will adjourn to the next scheduled meeting in the Alpine County Community Development Conference Room, 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, California. ---PAGE BREAK--- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE COUNTY OF ALPINE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA Community Development Conference Room 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, CA 96120 MINUTES Friday, May 10, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. at the Alpine County Community Development Conference Room, 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, California with members David Griffith, Kris Hartnett, Tom Sweeney, Terry Woodrow, Mary Rawson, Karrie Baker, Irwin Jim, Frank Gerdeman and Deanne Jang. A quorum was established. 2. ORAL COMMUNICATION – GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT None 3. MINUTES None 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4.1 Tahoe Mountain lab: Presentation form Jamie Orr, Founder/Director of Tahoe Mountain Lab in South Lake Tahoe will discuss the concept of the business. Ms. Orr provided the committee with an articulated concept of Mountain Lab. Its origin, and how it supports high tech creative fields. She explained The distributing work force is anybody that can work from anywhere, primarily in high tech creative fields. What people working in a home office wants is the autonomy and flexibility but working from home contributes to a lot of loneliness, which can then decrease productivity and ultimately you’re not connect to your work force community. Co working is a solution, it is working independently together by sharing an office space with people who don’t work with you or for the same company but then sharing the cost of having a very nice and amenitized office, with the desk, internet access, utilities and kitchen supplies, with all of these thing are wrapped into one price that you are sharing with the other people that are working in this space with you. Providing small business owners currently working from home the autonomy and flexibility to connect with the work force community. Primarily ‘Co working’ is a solution is working independently together while sharing an office space with other business owners who don’t work for your business, but all share in the cost of having a single office type structure, with all the business amenities. Mountain Lab grew from ‘Cowork Tahoe’, a 1000 sq. ft. structure, with 12 desks, and based on the demand for this type business startup concept, to today in the former Tahoe tribune building of 12,000 sq. ft. commercial building, with 150 members and 75 different companies. ---PAGE BREAK--- As an example the businesses currently in the Tahoe Tribune building are law firms, public affairs and a number of startup companies either based in South Lake Tahoe or based out of another state. Ms Orr encouraged Alpine County to help current residents be able to access this digital labor market by having this type of business startup hub. Alpine County can also attract new residents to Alpine County because they can work remotely and this ultimately diversified the economic fabric of the County. Motion: Hartnett/ Second Rawson to advise the Board of Supervisors to move forward with a co-working facility in Alpine County. AYES: Hartnett, Sweeney, Rawson, Baker, Gerdeman, Jang, Jim ABSTAIN: Woodrow, Griffith MOTION CARRIED 4.2 Presentation by Melinda Matson, a representative for US Economic Development Administration regarding grant opportunities to create a focused economic strategy for Alpine County: Opportunity zones allow people who owe capital gains taxes to invest that money into these zones that have been designated around the country. It’s a way for funds to be created that will take those investments and either direct them according to instruction by the investor or have a strategy or a marketing plan for how those investments are going to be deployed in the opportunity zone. Two aspects to Opportunity Zone investments, a republic facing potential where investors invest in real estate or infra structure. The other potential for Opportunity Zones, investors can invest in business through web portals that are made specifically to connect business in opportunity zones with investors. These investments have to be repaid generally within a 10 year period. 4.3 Discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board of Supervisors apply to the Economic Development Authority for a grant to complete a Comprehensive Economic Development Study for Alpine County - Grant Funding for Economic Development Plans – Brian Peters & David Griffith- This item was combine with 4.2 discussion. 4.4. Continued discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board of Supervisors contract a half-time Economic Development Officer for two years. - David Griffith It was stated, Economic Development doesn’t happen unless someone is tasked with making sure it happens. The concept would be the County hires someone, for a two year trail period contract, with economic development expertise to help push Economic Development concepts forward. Griffith stated that if the committee is in favor that the committee recommends this idea to the Board of Supervisors. The Board would direct staff to research and determine funding and how it would fit in to the county structure of existing staff. . ---PAGE BREAK--- Motion: Hartnett/ Second Baker to remove the half- time Economic Development Officer for two year period, and amend it to say continued discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board of Supervisors contract an Economic Development Officer. . AYES: Griffith, Hartnett, Rawson, Baker, Gerdeman, Jang, Jim ABSTAIN: Woodrow, Sweeney MOTION CARRIED 5. NEW BUSINESS: None 6. INFORMATION ITEMS: 7. OTHER BUSINESS: None 8. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting was set for June 4, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Committee adjourned to the next scheduled meeting in the Alpine County Community Development Conference Room, 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, California. David Griffith, Chair Attest: Carey Acuña Alpine County Community Development Administrative Assistant ---PAGE BREAK--- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE COUNTY OF ALPINE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA Community Development Conference Room 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, CA 96120 MINUTES Friday, June 4, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. at the Alpine County Community Development Conference Room, 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, California with members David Griffith, Kris Hartnett, Tom Sweeney, Mary Rawson, Karrie Baker, Nichole Williamson and Deanne Jang. Terry Woodrow and Irwin Jim were absent. A quorum was established. 2. ORAL COMMUNICATION – GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT None 3. MINUTES 3.1. Request approval of regular meeting minutes of March 12, 2018 MOTION: Hartnett / SECOND: Sweeney approving the regular meeting minutes of March 12, 2019 as presented. AYES: Hartnett, Sweeney, Rawson, Jang, Griffith, Baker MOTION CARRIED 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4.1 Bear Valley Business Association update – Terry Woodrow None 4.2 Alpine County Chamber of Commerce update – Karrie Baker Chambers had a fishing promotion on opening day of fishing season that got postponed to Memorial weekend due to high water levels. Death Ride is at 1,900 registered rides as of June 3, 2019. Last year at that time we had 2,053 riders and the year before that we had 2,448 riders. There was a postponed fish plant due to strong water flows, new plant date is unknown as of right now ---PAGE BREAK--- There is a fall promotion where you can go into the Chamber and get raffle tickets for a chance to win a fishing pontoon boat. Drawing date is October 27, 2019. There is an area fall photo contest to be display at the Chambers office and be included in Chamber promotional materials. Hours right now our seven days a week, Monday- Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm Friday and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm 4.3 Heritage Tourism Committee update – Tom Sweeney The Committee is working on getting the smart phone app for the Tour of the Town walk post stations. Heritage is supporting the Markleeville Living History walk on June 22 at 2:00 p.m. meeting at the fountain across from the library June 15th at 10:00 a.m. Frank Tortorich will be talking about the early Sierras at the museum. 5. NEW BUSINESS: 5.1 Discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board of Supervisors apply for a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to do an Economic Development Strategy for an Opportunity Zone pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 – Brian Peters Brian Peters recommended that if the committee would like to move forward with an Economic Development Strategy grant, getting more information from someone that specializes in this type of grant. Griffith suggested contacting GoBiz to see if one of their consultants can meet with us to discuss and help us understand more about these types of grants and how it would help Alpine County. This item will be continued. 6. INFORMATION ITEMS: Rawson mentioned that a group of people are putting on a Star Gazing evening on August 24th 2019 at the airport and Reno Astronomy Club will be bring down telescopes for this event. Williamson mentioned that there is a Town Hall meeting to discuss fire preparedness June 21st at Turtle Rock Park from 5:00-8:00 pm. Williamson will be attending a meeting in two weeks with an insurance commissioner, about homeowners insurance being cancelled in our county. Williamson is looking for any data she can take with her related to the County. Griffith stated that Alpine Biomass Collaborative got four qualified proposals to do the scoping study and is trying to pick the best candidate. ---PAGE BREAK--- Also Eastern Sierra Stainable Recreational partnership, which are headquartered out of Mammoth Lakes but we are hoping they will explain. Griffith has been going to various business people throughout the community try to see how much demand there is for it and so far the response he got seemed to be very interested but still working on more input. Jamie Orr mentions that one of the issues that could stop a Co- Working space in our area is internet speeds. Since then Griffith has spoken to Frontier and within downtown Markleeville there is 100 mbps and the use is available. Williamson also mentioned that Liberty Utilities will be shutting off utilities during certain weather events. She will be attending a meeting with where she will be getting more information about this issue and once she has more information, she will be bringing this to the Board of Supervisors. 7. OTHER BUSINESS: None 8. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting is to be determined 9. ADJOURNMENT The Committee adjourned to the next scheduled meeting in the Alpine County Community Development Conference Room, 50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, California. David Griffith, Chair Attest: Carey Acuña Alpine County Community Development Administrative Assistant ---PAGE BREAK--- Economic Development Advisory Committee Agenda Item August 13, 2019 Meeting Submitted by: David Griffith Title: Discussion and possible action to move to summary/action minutes. Discussion: The summary minutes that the Economic Development Advisory Committee has been utilizing are problematic in that they often do not capture all of the discussion points presented during the meeting. Summary minutes by their nature are the interpretation of the minute taker in summarizing viewpoints and don’t always accurately reflect the intent of the speaker or the relative importance of different viewpoints offered. This is not the fault of the minute taker, but is a problem inherent in summary minutes. The main objective in capturing accurate minutes is to give an extremely brief summary and record the actions taken by the Committee. The Board of Supervisors, Local Transportation Commission, Water Agency, and Board of Equalization have already moved to summary/action minutes. Page 201 of 244 ---PAGE BREAK--- Economic Development Advisory Committee Agenda Item August 13, 2019 Meeting Submitted by: David Griffith Title: Discussion and possible action on the future of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. Discussion: The Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) was formed by the Alpine County Board of Supervisors on March 5th, 2002. The Board charged the EDAC with identifying and recommending appropriate programs to the Board of Supervisors to further the following: Goal No. 34*: Establish a balanced economy that is consistent with sustainable environmental preservation. Objective No. 34a: Identify programs to help diversify the economy. Objective No. 34b: Identify programs to help reverse the trend of failing or stagnating businesses and recruit new businesses. Objective No. 34c: Identify programs to improve services to support economic growth. Goals are general guidelines that explain what you want to achieve. Objectives define strategies or implementation steps to attain the identified goals. Unlike goals, objectives are specific, measurable, and have a defined completion date. The 17 years since inception should be enough time to evaluate the EDAC’s success in achieving the objectives. Each member is requested to consider the following questions. 1. Objective No. 34a. What programs has the EDAC identified and recommended to the Board of Supervisors to help diversify the economy? 2. Objective No. 34b. What programs has the EDAC identified and recommended to the Board of Supervisors to help reverse the trend of failing or stagnating businesses and recruit new businesses? 3. Objective No. 34c. What programs has the EDAC identified and recommended to the Board of Supervisors to improve services to support economic growth? 4. What programs recommended to the Board of Supervisors have been accepted? 5. Are you satisfied that the EDAC is accomplishing the task given to it by the Board of Supervisors? 6. If you are not satisfied that the EDAC is accomplishing the task given to it by the Board of Supervisors, what needs to change and how do we make that change? The Economic Development element of the General Plan is attached below as a reference. The content dates from the 1999 update of the General Plan. The date base that is referenced is from an even earlier update of the General Plan. As such, the summary results of studies of the County’s economic activity are dated. * Note: The EDAC bylaws refer to the goal and objectives using 49 instead of 34. Page 201 of 244 ---PAGE BREAK--- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Economic development is the process by which people, finances, physical and natural resources are mobilized to produce marketable goods and services. Unique local factors determine whether or not it is necessary for normal entrepreneurial activity to be assisted by government actions for the benefit of the entire community. In communities where economic activity is robust, government may not need to take any action and instead focus on other community concerns such as preserving or improving the environment. Other communities may need to take actions to stimulate economic growth to maintain community balance if government revenues are not keeping pace with community service needs. Alpine County needs to both promote economic development and preserve its environment. The alpine environment of the County is not only a primary reason for the high quality of life enjoyed by residents, but also the most important economic resource of the County due to its attraction of tourism and recreation which are the strongest components of the economy. Two economic studies have been completed for the County which are included in the General Plan Data Base 11.4 and 11.5. These studies document a lack of industry and declining retail businesses in the County. Consequently, dependence upon urban centers outside the County for goods and services cause a significant drain of local economy dollars. This leakage hinders attempts to expand local business activity and, as a result, local government revenue is also declining. Cutbacks in Federal and State funding and reduction of timber revenues add to the problem of providing services for a small population which generates correspondingly low property tax revenues. Summary results of the studies which characterize Alpine County economic activity follow: 1. The proportion of tax revenue the County receives from property taxes predominates at more than 68%. Room Taxes contribute 17%, with mining approximating 10% and retail sales providing only 2. More than 70% of County employment is in services, primarily associated with tourism/recreation. Most of this employment consists of seasonal, minimum-wage and low-benefit jobs. 3. The potential for residential or commercial growth is restricted due to limited sewer and water systems. Expansion of all other County services are also problematic due to low revenues. 4. There are no serviced industrial sites available in the County, including at the County airstrip. This lack of infrastructure inhibits both business attraction and improvement of the airstrip by private developers or operators. 5. There is a high rate of small business failure. Unemployment ranges from 5% to 27% following the employment cycle of the ski resorts. Business activity in Markleeville recedes to a minimal amount during the winter when closure of Monitor and Ebbetts Passes prevents through traffic. Page 202 of 244 ---PAGE BREAK--- 6. Dependence on one economic sector - tourism/recreation, makes the economy susceptible to extreme fluctuations due to weather conditions affecting segments of the winter tourism industry and road closures which isolate Markleeville. ELEMENT VI G.P. GOAL NO. 34 ESTABLISH A BALANCED ECONOMY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION OBJECTIVE NO. 34a Identify programs to help diversify the economy. OBJECTIVE NO. 34b Identify programs to help reverse the trend of failing or stagnating businesses and recruit new businesses. OBJECTIVE NO. 34c Identify programs to improve services to support economic growth. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURE: Establish an Economic Development Advisory Committee to identify and recommend appropriate programs to the Board of Supervisors. Members should include a Supervisor, a Planning Commissioner, a Chamber of Commerce representative, the BOS Assistant, the Planning Director and the Public Works Director. Page 203 of 244 ---PAGE BREAK---