CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: May 17, 2022
Subject
Consideration of Municipal Code amendments to the Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 2 to add Chapter 2.96 and codify the Economic Development Committee.
Recommended Action
1. Conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. ____ “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Cupertino Adding Chapter 2.96 of Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) to Codify the Economic Development Committee".
2. Find that the proposed actions are exempt from CEQA.
Discussion
The Economic Development Committee (EDC) has met informally for well over two decades to discuss items of importance pertinent to local businesses and to provide feedback to staff on business‐related City initiatives or projects.
As part of the FY 2021‐2022 City Work Program discussion, the City Council requested that the EDC be codified in the Municipal Code through an ordinance.
The proposed ordinance for the EDC has been drafted based on input from Council and staff research on economic development committees in other local cities.
Powers and Functions:
The powers and functions of the Committee shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council and to provide expertise and guidance on policy related to economic development. The Committee shall also actively promote Cupertino as a location of choice for current and prospective businesses.
To fulfill their mission, the Committee may involve itself in the following activities:
1. Make recommendations to City Council on a broad range of strategic matters broadly applicable to the City’s economic development goals;
2. Serve as an ambassador to shed a positive light on the City by sharing economic development resources and information to prospective businesses and stakeholders, thus positioning the City as a location of choice; and
3. Encourage public/private partnerships to further the City’s economic development goals by identifying potential resources.
Membership:
As proposed, the membership of this new Committee would consist of five members, including elected officials, industry sector representatives, and key partners:
1. City Councilmember
2. City Councilmember
3. Technology Sector Representative
4. Retail/Small Business Representative
5. Hospitality/Tourism Sector Representative
Term:
Committee members would serve an initial term of four years, with a possibility to serve for an additional four years. Committee members would not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
Economic Development Committees/Commissions in Other Cities Staff conducted research on economic development committees in other cities in Santa Clara County and the local area. Out of the 18 other cities surveyed, five have active economic development commissions or committees that are subcommittees of Council.
Palo Alto is currently in the process of forming one. Details on the composition and purpose of the commissions or committees in these cities are below:
City Committee Composition Purpose
Mountain
View
Downtown
Committee
11 members
• Four (4) property owners
or downtown business
representatives
• Two (2) community-at-
large members who are
residents of Mountain
View
• Four (4) business-at-large
members with
representatives from:
- One (1) Downtown
Encourage economic
development specific to
the downtown area.
Business Association
- One (1) Chamber of
Commerce
- Two (2) businesses
not in the Downtown.
San Jose Community and
Economic
Development
Committee
Five (5) Councilmembers Manage the growth and
change of the City of San
José in order to encourage
a strong economy; ensure
a diverse range of arts,
cultural, and
entertainment offerings;
and create and preserve
housing and healthy
neighborhoods. This
committee was previously
named the Driving a
Strong Economy
Committee.
Santa Clara Economic
Development,
Communication,
and Marketing
Committee
Four (4) Councilmembers The Economic
Development Committee
and the Marketing
Committee were
consolidated in 2019. This
Committee focuses
proactive economic
development and
effective communication,
as well as reviews the
City’s marketing and
branding strategies.
Fremont Economic
Development
Advisory
Commission
Nine (9) commissioners
• Five (5) representatives
from: Business, Resident;
Real Estate; Ohlone
Community College.
• Three (3) representatives
from Commercial /
Industrial sector.
• One (1) representative
from the Chamber of
Commerce.
Promotes and facilitates
economic development in
the City of Fremont and
enhances and supports
current businesses in the
City.
Milpitas Economic
Development
Seven (7) commissioners
• One (1) Councilmember
Advise the City Council
on business issues,
and Trade
Commission
• Six (6) representatives
from:
- Chamber of
Commerce
- Real Estate
- Resident
- Milpitas Unified
School
District/Education
- Business
- Technology and
Trade
cultivate international
trade relationships, and
make recommendations
on the design,
development, and
implementation of
economic development in
the City of Milpitas.
Palo Alto In the process of hiring an ED Manager and in the planning stages to begin economic development meetings that are cohosted with the chamber, business owners, building owners, and the community.
Next Steps
City Council to review the proposed ordinance, provide feedback to staff, and conduct the first and second readings when appropriate . If approved, t he Committee will convene once the members are appointed.
Sustainability Impact
No sustainability impact.
Fiscal Impact
While the EDC has not always met consistently in the past, this Ordinance will set a regular quarterly meeting schedule. With more consistency and structured functions, the EDC may require more staff time than in past years. However, this consistency and structure will be beneficial and worth the additional staff time costs.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Tina Kapoor, Economic Development Manager Reviewed by: Chris Jensen, City Attorney
Dianne Thompson, Assistant City Manager
Katy Nomura, Deputy City Manager
Approved for Submission by: Jim Throop, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Draft Ordinance Adding Chapter 2.96 Economic Development Committee