Re: 02/21/08 Richmond
Chamber of Commerce – BILL LINDSAY, City Manager
Following are excerpts from Bill’s Economic Outlook for the
City of Richmond.
¨
Richmond
has a balanced budget
¨
Some of the revenues are down- dipping into
operating contingency, not into reserves
¨
Have cash in the bank
¨
Not anticipating any layoffs
¨
Continued investment in police and public safety
¨
(economically) in relatively good shape- diverse
economy that helps get through this type of situation/economic downturn
¨
Has been concern that since State going through
a financial crisis, cities will be impacted.
However, Prop1A passed which built a firewall around the local
government revenues. This prohibits
state from going into local revenues to balance the state budget. State can only access city revenues through a
loan if there is a fiscal emergency, and one time only. If this were to happen, Richmond
has enough money it can backfill short-term revenue loss as a loan and maintain
its services.
2008 Outlook:
¨
Updating General Plan – City’s land use constitution
reflects values and priorities of the city.
The Economic Development Element will define the city’s economic
development strategy, and will include:
- a safe
community
- diverse
and expanding tax base
- socially
and environmentally responsible
- qualified
job opportunities
- skilled
workforce
- creating
positive image
I.
Safe Community
- Target
+30 police officers
- Faster
response time, more time in investigation, more traffic stops
- Office
of Neighborhood Safety established – bring together community services
network, hire neighborhood change agents, establish a re-entry program for
offenders, youth outreach
- Surveillance
cameras; 3 / 31 completed
- Anti-graffiti
program
II.
Tax Base / Diversified Economy
- Industrial,
retail, housing
- Industry
– Honda $3-5Mil/annual
- Promote
green technology and green wave investment – important part of strategy
- Ford
Building – Green development,
businesses attracting are SunPower, Taizo (recycled glass counter tops)
- “green”
collar jobs and train workforce. Berkeley
est. a loan program for homeowners to install solar and payback over time,
but don’t have the workforce, Richmond build is training workers to work
w/ Solarbuild to install panels.
- Green
business and technology – VC money available, in 2007 $2.8Bil, 47%
increase over ‘06
- Good
investment for Richmond to
make
- 2010,
150k new jobs statewide in this area
- Align
with Berkeley, Oakland, in the
East Bay Green Corridor, and Berkeley Lawrence Lab – incubate companies
and then can move to Richmond
(e.g. Solarlight) as they expand
- Retail
doing well; LOEWS interested in coming to Richmond
- Variety
housing, high density around transit
- Great
cities have great downtowns, working on $100M civic center/plaza project,
using LEED silver / green building, looking to pickup gold
- Other
projects include McDonald and Nevin
Park
III.
Business/Socially and Environmental
Responsibility/Jobs
- Want
to see “green business” recognition
- Support
schools, chamber
- Land
use/Port Oakland expanding need, more capacity on rail lines, additional
track between Oakland and Stege junction in So. Richmond
therefore we could see more traffic however BNSF has no money to address
this expansion, think Oakland/BNSF will come around.
- Need
to support job opportunities for skilled workforce
IV.
Image
- Need
to improve image – can do a lot to brand Richmond. Need positive self awareness of strengths
and benefits, this is more likely to grow business, attract businesses,
people take care of property, volunteer.
Want us to say “we’re a first class community and not going to do
anything to bring us down.”
- Need
to have a “positive intelligence” – see the mighty oak in the acorn
V.
Other
- Pt.
Molate – Upstream application at the Federal level, portion to be placed
in trust to develop Indian gaming facility. If not approved, alternative will be
commercial and residential
- Ferry
Service – designated site at Marina Way
South/Hall Ave. In General Plan; WTA organization
changing, however, WTA decided that ferry services are good backup for
emergencies; have money to put into it; Richmond competing w/ other cities
for the service
- Police
Officers – still have a hiring shortfall, competing w/ Oakland
which just started a recruitment campaign.
Need to stay competitive in salaries; in negotiations w/ police
- Unincorporated
county property in Richmond
area – should we bring it into the City? Maybe, long-term, need to make
sure that’s what residents want