Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Recommendations Report January 31, 2005 West Sacramento Economic Development Strategy The City of West Sacramento Recommendations Report The West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency is pleased to present the Recommendations Report as part of the City of West Sacramento Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). This strategy is a roadmap for stakeholders in the community to improve the economy of the city. An enormous number of people have contributed their input to the development of this strategy, including over 1350 survey respondents, 100 focus group participants, and 20 interviewees. Public meetings have included four CEDS Committee workshops, three City of West Sacramento Economic Development Advisory Committee meetings, and three City of West Sacramento City Council meetings. The Community Assessment Report highlights major issues that the City needs to address and opportunities that the City can seize. The Target Industry Report identifies and describes specific industries that should be targeted for business expansion and recruitment. The target industries are: fuel cells, biotechnology, food processing, logistics, and retail. It is important for stakeholders to fully understand and become experts in each of these industries since many of the recommendations found in this strategy are focused on these industries. This Recommendations Report provides specific recommendations that will address issues and opportunities that have been identified. The City can achieve the success that many in the community envision. West Sacramento will become the most exciting community in the Sacramento region with a powerful economic engine by: • leveraging area economic development assets; • growing more technologically advanced companies; • creating opportunities for citizens through entrepreneurship; and • continuously improving education and quality of life. By working together and aggressively implementing recommendations found in this strategy, in addition to existing City plans, the community will realize its vision. Both the Community Assessment Report and the Target Industry Report have led to this last document, the Recommendations Report. The recommendations are organized by the following Goals: ∗ Workforce Development and Education ∗ Entrepreneurship ∗ Quality of Life ∗ Land Use, Sites, and Infrastructure ∗ Economic Development Efforts ∗ Marketing For each of the six goals listed, the report provides specific objectives and implementation actions. The Appendix contains a Marketing Guide (MG) that contains information to assist the community while implementing marketing objectives; suggestions for measuring progress of this plan; a summary of input received from the online survey; and descriptions of past and current City plans that have been incorporated into the analysis and development of economic development strategies. Finally, this report conforms to the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) CEDS guidelines. This report is being submitted to the EDA for their confirmation that the document meets the CEDS West Sacramento Economic Development Strategy guidelines criteria. A completion of a CEDS plan permits a community to pursue federal government funding (from the EDA) for economic development projects, depending on the economic status of the community. All reports are available online at www.westsacrda.org. We encourage you to review them thoroughly, and provide us with your comments and insight. Thank you for your input. Val Toppenberg, Director of Redevelopment Les Bowman, Redevelopment Manager Diane Richards, Economic Development Coordinator Kurt Overmeyer, Economic Development Analyst West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency West Sacramento Economic Development Strategy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project was made possible by funding from the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Economic Development Division of the City of West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency. The City of West Sacramento wishes to gratefully acknowledge the contributions and participation of the following individuals, agencies and businesses members: West Sacramento City Council Mayor Christopher L. Cabaldon Mayor pro tem Carolyn Castillo-Pierson Bill Kristoff, Councilmember Oscar Villegas, Councilmember Mark Montemayor, Councilmember Wes Beers, Councilmember West Sacramento Economic Development Advisory Commission Greg Verdon, Chair Helena Helmold, Vice-Chair Mort Geivett Brenda Morazzini J. Michael Brady Marianne Estes Leticia Alejandrez West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce David Stroud, Past President Kay Fenrich, Executive Director The CEDS Steering Committee Tom Anderson, Lipomics Technologies Inc. Marianne Estes, Economic Development Roberta Paul, Yolo County Dept. of Advisory Commission Employment and Social Services J. Michael Brady, Economic Development Len Strickland, Riverpointe Insurance Advisory Commission Oleg Kaganovich, Sacramento Area Barbara Moore, West Sacramento Parks Regional Technology Alliance Department Dan Ramos, Ramco Enterprises Diane Richards, West Sacramento Suzanne Mikesell, Yolo County Redevelopment Agency Nora Moore-Jimenez, UC Davis CONNECT Jatinder Hundal, Xyratex, Inc. Dr. Judy Kjelstrom, UC Davis Biotechnology Debra Luff, Sacramento City College Program Paul Johnson, Washington Unified School Mary Post, PG&E District Bob Burris, Sacramento Area Commerce Mike Gorman, Gorman’s Stationery and Trade Organization David Miller, Pacific Bell/SBC Brenda Crum, Crum & Crum Jon Gregory, Golden State Venture Capital Tim Gayles, KOO Construction Network John Sulpizio, Sacramento- Yolo Port Denice Seals, Garcia Lee & Concepcion Steve Mathis, Sacramento – Yolo Port Medical Group Susan Airhart, JAX West (Jackson Greg Williams, Dade Behring Inc. Laboratory) Renee Carter, Alling Iron Works John Shorey, Harsch Properties Steve Patek, West Sacramento Community Development Department Carol Richardson, City of West Sacramento Bob Hemond, Sacramento River Cats David Stroud, ASB Properties Kay Fenrich, West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce Table of Contents Introduction 2 Key Findings 2 Target Industries 3 Vision and Goals 4 Implementation 5 Implementation Matrix City Priorities 14 Recommendations 19 Workforce and Education 19 Entrepreneurship 25 Quality of Life 31 Land Use/Sites and Infrastructure 35 Economic Development Efforts 39 Marketing 44 Appendix Performance Metrics Economic Development Survey Report Marketing Guide Relevant City Plans Incorporated into Economic Development Plan Potential Funding Sources West Sacramento Economic Development Strategy Introduction Since its inception in 1987, West Sacramento has been progressive in its planning and aggressive in its implementation of those plans. That hard work and determination has been paying off and the city has seen remarkable change since its formation. Historically, the city has been in an awkward position because it does not reflect the rural environment that exists in the majority of Yolo County. Likewise, because of the separation from Sacramento by the river and its political boundaries, it has not been considered a part of the City of Sacramento. West Sacramento has traditionally been perceived as an industrial, blue-collar part of the region. In the past decade, the industrial businesses in the city have generated a great number of jobs and a large amount of investment and they will continue to do so. However, the community has expressed a desire to diversify the city and build other assets. This is shown through the creation of several plans that are remaking parts of the city into mixed-use areas with an exciting, urban flair. Due to progressive leadership, West Sacramento is in the early stages of a renaissance that will attract new residents, retail outlets, entertainment venues, and businesses. The plans that the city has previously adopted and have been considered while developing the recommendations within this report. A common theme that underlies each of these plans is the desire for new managed growth that captures the excitement and prosperity that the city envisions for its future. This economic development strategy reflects this desire, and challenges the community to implement these recommendations and create the future it envisions. Key Findings The Community Assessment Report provides an in-depth analysis of key strengths, opportunities, and areas for improvement in West Sacramento. The following are the most important issues that this strategic document addresses: • Absence of a higher education institution within the city • Perception of the city largely as an industrial location • Lack of entrepreneurial support and focus • Poorly skilled workforce • Poor perception of K-12 schools • Large number of people working but not living in the city • Lack of engagement of the business community in the city’s future • Lack of quality retail, entertainment and nightlife • Division between long time and newer residents • Economic development services provided completely by city government • City departments do not appreciate their role in economic development 2 West Sacramento Economic Development Strategy Target Industries The Target Industries Report provided recommendations on which specific industries the City should focus economic development efforts. Recommendations within this plan focus on the following target industries (more information on these industries can be found in the Target Industry Report):