Agenda #1a
memorandum
to: Mayor and Town Council
from: Mayor’s Committee on Economic Development Professional
Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt, Chair
Mayor pro tem Bill Strom
Council Member Ed Harrison
Council Member Jim Ward
subject: Committee Report on Economic Development Professional
date: June 7, 2006
The purpose of this report is to review with the Town Council the results of our discussions on the proposal to consider an economic development professional position.
At the Council’s planning retreat on January 12, 2006, the Council discussed a proposal from Mayor pro tem Bill Strom to consider creating a new position for an economic development professional. The Mayor subsequently appointed us to examine the idea as the Mayor’s Committee on Economic Development Professional.
Our charge was to examine whether the Town needed an economic development professional, and goals for such a position.
Our committee met six times from February through May, 2006. We began by reviewing the Town’s objectives for economic development as contained in the 2000 Comprehensive Plan, and interviewing Town staff. We received input from persons in the area working as economic development professionals, and heard from area businesses and development professionals in a session organized by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.
The attached committee report summarizes the results of our investigations and discussions (please see Attachment 1). We recommend the Council consider creating an Economic Development Officer position within the Town Manager’s Office under the direction of the Town Manager.
Our review of the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan economy and employment objectives and strategies led us to conclude that a position would be desirable to help achieve the adopted long-range plan of the Town (please see Attachment 2).
We have developed eight goals for the position as listed in our report. Briefly, we propose that about 25 percent of the position’s time be devoted to welcoming and communication functions with businesses, and about 75 percent of the position’s time be devoted to redevelopment and area planning functions.
The welcoming and communication functions would focus on the expansion and retention of existing businesses in the community. In particular, the position would communicate Council policy regarding local processes for development and Council goals.
The redevelopment/area planning function would be similar to a small area plan process that might address the Council’s interests in particular areas of the community. A professional analysis of small areas for redevelopment or development could be done, like that followed for the two downtown parking lots but not as detailed. The process could include financial investment in the process by the owners of the property. The Council could survey potential areas, prioritize them, and select one for analysis. This approach would be a logical extension of the Council’s planning retreat discussion to look at major corridors and development opportunities in the context of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
We have asked the Manager for a rough job description for the position, a potential position grade level, and an estimated budget for the position.
We recommend the Council consider creating an Economic Development Officer position in the Town Manager’s Office. We offer our report for discussion today, with follow-up at a subsequent regular meeting of the Council if desired.