Planning 2023-09-28 Minutes - Eonomic Development Element / Utilities Element / Capital Facilities Element

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PC Meeting 9/28/23 Page 2 Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator, provided background information and walked through issues and goals relevant to economic development. He noted that the economic development strategy is the result of engagement sessions conducted in 2022. This year, the strategy was further developed by an advisory committee and focal groups, and the strategy document will be reviewed by the City Council in November, at which time, there will be additional opportunities for input. Staff walked through PC statements regarding retail sales tax; employee tax; Multi Family Tax Exemptions (MFTE) and how that works; the cost -of -service calls generated by nonprofit development (e.g., senior developments); flooding on the valley floor and financial risks associated with that possibility. There were questions regarding the cost service calls for of non-profit development. Mr. Speck noted that the City was going through a Financial Sustainability exercise and noted that additional policies would emerge from that effort. That would be made available later in 2024. Economic Development Element - Walk-through of Text (9/28/23 PC Packet, Pages 13-28) PC Discussion, page 9, Policy 3.5 Facilitate connections between employers and education and workforce development institutions, seeking to increase graduation rates and develop a highly educated and skilled local workforce. Align and prioritize workforce development efforts with Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color communities; immigrant and refugees; and other marginalized communities.' A commissioner stated that she felt the verbiage in the second sentence (above) focusing on BIPOC communities was divisive and should be struck. Ms. Eklund stated that such policy language was reflective of the Countywide Planning Policies equity emphasis. The question was asked whether the verbiage was suggested or required? Staff stated it was required to adopt policies that are more equitable in their approach to meeting the needs of the full community, and to consider how past policies may have disadvantaged certain populations. Staff noted that the Plan will go through several layers of regional review and will be evaluated against a checklist of consistency with regional policies. A commissioner suggested more neutral language ("historically disadvantaged community"), while another said that the language needs to be clear about the structural racism that we're trying to address, and that while the language is uncomfortable, there may be growth in the uncomfortableness, especially if we need to align with regional policy guidance. The commissioners determined that this policy will come back to the PC for further discussion. PC Discussion: Page 13, purpose statement — a question about why the second line was removed. Staff stated it was for brevity, and some commissioners concurred. PC Discussions: Page 13, bullet 2, following the word reaction, add the word 'and infrastructure'. PC Discussion: PC Discussion: Page 14, a commissioner asked about Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and Mr. Speck explained that TIF was recently adopted by the Legislature. Page 17, first bullet, second sentence, add a colon after the word elsewhere. PC Discussion: Page 18, Other Challenges: move this comment, or address this in the 1 King County Countywide Planning Policy K_EC-12 Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov