Update on New Economic Development Master Plan
Economic Development, Housing & Project Management Standing Committee January 29, 2024
City Council Priority Workplan
Major Policy Goal: Focus on Economic Development and Fiscal Diversification
412. Create a City-wide Economic Development Strategy and Implementation Plan in consultation with the SPEDC
Background
The City has never developed an Economic Development Strategy.
The last Economic Development study done by the City was in 2014 when the City received a grant through the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to conduct a Targeted Industries Study which evaluated the City’s residential, retail, and office markets and identified four opportunity sites within the City that had high potential for development/redevelopment.
On September 25, 2023, the City released a RFQ/RFP for the creation of an Economic Development Strategy and Implementation Plan (EDS) for the City.
The Natelson Dale Group Inc. (Natelson) was selected and the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a consulting services agreement via Reso. 2024-004 on January 16, 2024.
EDS Goals & Objectives
Goals Objectives
Job Creation. Expand economic opportunities for the workforce in San Pablo.
Redevelopment of Underutilized Sites. Identify underutilized sites in San Pablo that could be developed to meet the growth needs in commercial/retail and/or housing in order to enable new business opportunities and new investments in the community.
Increase in Tax Base. Identify additional forms of tax liabilities in order to increase tax base for San Pablo.
Revenue Diversification. Identify ways to attract and retain businesses to make revenue streams in the community more diverse.
Maintain Quality of Life. Maintain the high quality of life, small town feel and village character of San Pablo, which make it distinctive and enjoyable to its residents.
• Study the City’s existing economic development efforts and resources and identify programs/policies that could be advanced in the near and far-term to develop more economic development opportunity.
• Help identify economic development and housing strategies in the wake of the loss of the former Redevelopment Agency since 2012, which had previously provided the financial and personnel resources to support and promote housing programs.
• After many years of little-to-no new private development and investment City-wide and along San Pablo Avenue, the Plan will help facilitate new development and additional non-profit, governmental and/or private investment which will create a changed environment and economic profile within which to consider new businesses and housing opportunities and projects. • Preserve and expand business and workforce opportunities for San Pablo residents.
EDS Workplan
City staff and Natelson had a virtual kickoff meeting on January 24, 2024 to review goals, draft a community engagement strategy and to review data/reports needed.
With the information supplied by the City and research, Natelson will identify needs and available economic development resources.
Natelson will hold 2 stakeholder workshops and 2 community workshops (1 geared towards residents and 1 geared towards businesses).
Natelson will provide a market analysis of the City. The real estate demand analysis will identify future development opportunities. The target industry analysis will identify opportunities to grow jobs.
EDS Timeline
Task/Deliverable Date
Kick off Meeting January 24, 2024
Update to Economic Development, Housing & Project Management Standing Committee
January 29
Economic Development Analysis Report Week of February 19 Stakeholder Meeting 1 Week of February 26
Community Workshop Week of February 26
Draft Market Analysis Week of March 11
Draft Economic Development Strategic Plan Week of March 25 Stakeholder Meeting 2 Week of March 25
Presentation to Economic Development, Housing & Project Management Standing Committee
April 1
Final Economic Development Strategy Week of April 8
Final Presentation to City Council April 15
Questions?