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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-01-17 Council Packet - Work SessionKenai City Council Work Se~ion January 17, 2001 Economic Forum 6:00 p.M. ,TA NU A/ /7 00/ PLANNING FOR FEBRUARY 3, 2001 ECOKIOM:r.c FORUM J,AIq-16-2001 TUE 05:21 Pllf FAX NO, 907 283 3913 P, O6/07 The City Kenai 2ool Economic Development Forum Kenai Senior Center Saturday February 3~ ~ool 8::30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. Registration Welcome John Williams, Mayor of Kenai Our National Anthem, (Iba) K(.'HS Student 9:15 A.M Kcnai Native Association Corporation Economic Plans o I~ichard Segura, President and CEO Salamatof Native Association Economic Plans o Jim Segura, President and General Manager 9:45 A.M. land use; location, location, location Fred Braun, Freedom Realty o Glenda Feeken, Re/Max oft he Peninsula o Clint Hail, Hall Quality Builders o Bond Stewart, BranCh Manger & Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank o Bob Favretto, Owner of the Kenai Chrysler Dealership o Albert Gareia, Manager of Don Jose Lunch, Todd Jackson, soloist Keynote Speaker Deunis Brandon, Vice President, Tourism of CIRI 1':00 P.M. Tourism, Convention Serpices o Kathy Tart, Director of the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center 2:00 I'.M. 3:00 P.M. 3:50 P.M. Transportation; linking Kenai to the future o Rebecca Cronidaite, Kenai ~irport Manager o Carolyn Ottosen, United Parcel Service, UPS Medical Services; the need and services keep growing o Martin Richman. Central Peninsula General Hospital o James V. Zirul DO, Medical Service Provider Cberie Brewer, Kenai Chamber of'Commerce Vice. President 4:00 P.M. Mayor and Council Comments Carol Freas From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Betsy Arbelovsky [BArbelovskY@kpedd.org] Friday, January 12, 2001 6:08 PM Bill Frazer (E-mail); Duane Bannock (E-mail); Joe Moore (E-mail); John J. Williams (E-mail); Linda Swarner (E-mail); Pat Porter (E-mail) Amy Anderson (E-mail); Carol Freas (E-mail); James Carter (E-mail); Kathy Tarr (E-mail); Randy Daly (E-mail); Robert Peterkin II (E-mail) Forum Update Agenda 2.3.01.doc Hr. Mayor & Council Members; I recommend we do the "Taste of Kenai" this summer, I've had very good responses from Restaurants, and recommend it be given a better time slot & put with another event. (Maybe tack it onto the River Festival or the 2001; a Fish Odyssey Art Show, or ???) Here is the latest agenda, it allows time for Q & A after each speaker, and we can encourage participants to write questions down and pass them forward if they wish. My thinking on the Council Wrap up, at 4-00 PM, is that it will give the public a sense of Where this all goes from here. Council members might emphasize an issue one of the speakers raised, or request more public input on an issue, or mention issues they will champion, or thank the public for participating, etc. I feel this portion is important, do you feel 30 minutes is adequate? On the agenda, the Bold names are confirmed. I've also asked Susan or Porter Jordan who recently purchased The Fireweed Herb Garden, they are mulling it over. As you can see, we're still working on others. I asked Beverly Rowe (Owner of Three Sisters, a business that MOVED into the City from Red Diamond Ctr) to present at the Forum on why she moved her business into Kenai, what hindrances she encountered and any suggestions she could make on how the City could make it easier for business to locate in Kenai. She told me to thank the Mayor and Council for the invitation, but regrets she is unable to participate in the forum. She offered the following insights to the Mayor and Council. She moved her business into Kenai to be closer to her home. She said the biggest problem was finding an office that was rentable. Se said the first place she rented leaked and had other problems, but the biggest problem was identifying the commercial space available to rent. She said real estate agents were unaware of what was available, and she had to spent considerable time driving around, drop in, and investigate who owned properties she was interested in. She suggested the City keep a list of available commercial land and space. (Maybe put it on an internet site, and then print out the list to post? I was thinking of this for residential rentals, when a business moves employees in they sometimes ask me for assistance & I give them the Chamber's packet, a copy of the clarion & real estate guide and then I have driven folks around looking for rental property since some of it isn't listed by an agent or advertised with anything other than a sign on the front) I asked for the luncheon to be quoted 2 ways, as sit down & buffet. My ~hinking is that it might be disruptive to our luncheon entertainment if folks were standing in line. "Sit down" is more labor intensive. (but I figure that means more people working!) The ads will be forwarded to the Mayor for approval early next week. I'll have drafts at our Tuesday meeting, and at the Council worksession. The ads will include that there is no charge, (thanks to the City of Kenai) but that participants are encouraged to call EDD to preregister. (we'll make up badges & have them alphabetically at the entrance in the morning). I look forward to your input, please feel free to call at 283-3335 (wk) or 283-8025 (hm) I regret I didn't get this out earlier, our server went down today & as EVERYONE now knows, I am no computer genius. (I finally got it back up at 4:30 PM :) 'Take care, Betsy <<Agenda 2.3.01.doc>> Carol Freas From: Betsy Arbelovsky [BArbelovsky@kpedd.org] Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 6:12 PM To: Bill Frazer (E-mail); Duane Bannock (E-mail); Joe Moore (E-mail); John J. Williams (E-mail); Linda Swarner (E-mail); Pat Porter (E-mail) Cc: jordanpc@alaska.net; Carol Fmas (E-mail) Subject: Kenai Forum Hayor and Council Members; Susan Jordan the owner of Fireweed Herb Garden, regrets she will be unable to participate in the Economic Forum. Ms. Jordan told me to tell Mayor Williams and the Council that she really appreciated their energy and interest in making things better for Kenai businesses! Susan did share the following to be passed on to you. (I've cc'd her with this e-mail) She suggests building jobs to support small business, by bringing in new higher paying jobs, you could increase disposable income. She expressed a need for more disposable income to encourage new small business growth. She wanted to let you know she and her husband welcome new businesses & competition. She recommends speeding up the planning and zoning process. She said it was a difficult process, they would have to wait for up to 30 days for an answer, and then a new problem would crop up with another potential delay. She felt the other property owners were not encouraged To bring all the issues up at one time,, and said she had to wait from April to October for final approval. She said everytime an issue was solved, a new issue would be raised & then they would experience another delay. When asked how she decided to locate her business her, Susan stated she was from the area and wanted to return. She reports she and others move here because of the small town, quality lifestyle. She applauds efforts to build on that. Susan said the City of Kenai employees were very helpful! She said Marilyn Kebschull and City Attorney Cary Graves and others whose names she couldn't remembe bent over backwards to help her. She suggested a "shop local" or "shop Kenai program would be helpful". Educating folks on how much money they spend in postage, gas & how much time they spend in waiting and returns would encourage local purchasing. Take care,, Betsy 283-3335 Press Release: Issued Wednesday, January 17, 2001 for immediate release. The City of Kenai is proud to host the 2001 Kenai Economic Development Forum. The forum will take place on Saturday February 3~d, at the Kenai Senior Center. Registration begins at 8'30 AM and Mayor John Williams will welcome the participants at 9 AM. In announcing the Forum, Mayor Williams said "Economic development has long been a priority of mine and this workshop is an opportunity to work on economic development and set the course for Kenai's furore quality of life". According to Kenai City Council member Pat Porter "we are looking to build healthy commercial and residential growth in Kenai". To that end a number of topics will'be explored in depth, including land use, tourism, transportation, medical services and others. Included on the agenda are specific economic plans from both the Kenai Native Association and the SalamatofNative Association. Kenai City Council member Jim Bookey stated, "Kenai is a great place to live, to work and do business; this forum is an opportunity to build on our strengths." Bill Frazier, echoed fellow Council members in encouraging business owners and residents alike to take part in the forum saying, "The City Council is determined to hear what people have to say". Keynote speaker for the forum will be Dennis Brandon, Vice President, Tourism, Cook Inlet Regional Corporation (CIRI). CIRI recently disbursed record high dividends to its members, and has successfully built multi- million dollar hotel properties. Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District, or EDD Board President Tom Boedeker said EDD would coordinate the forum for the City of Kenai adding, "EDD is excited about the Kenai Forum. It represents the strong working relationship between the EDD and the communities". Kenai Businessman Randy Daly, who represents the City on the EDD Board, voiced his support for the workshop saying, "This is Kenai's first step on a journey to a greater prosperity. When we work together to encourage business growth, we will keep our young people in Kenai." To pre-register for this free forum, please call your Economic Development District, the EDD at 283-3335. -30- The contact person is Betsy Arbelovsky at 283-3335. Media distribution: Anchorage Daily News KDLL (Kenai) KSRM/KSLD/KWHQ Peninsula Clarion 262-2577 283-6701 283-9177 283-3299 City of Kenai, Mayor Williams and Council Members invite you to attend. Forum is free. Please PRE REGISTER. . Call the EDD o~ice at 283-3335 Business ~ Community Leaders scheduled to speak throughout the Key Note Speaker: Dennis Brandon, Vice President of CIR!