May 24, 2013 |
Starbuck, who as director of the city's Economic Development Department is the point person to recruit businesses to Elk Grove, reported on the various trade shows attended, economic trends and major economic developments. Among the major successes during the first ending March 31, was the opening of the two major retailers and three others who will open later this year.
With the Memorial Day holiday right around the corner, Elk Grove Economic Development Director Randy Starbuck might have felt he was the proverbial hot dog being grilled following his quarterly report to the Elk Grove City Council on Wednesday night.
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| Randy Starbuck |
Among the positive overall economic trends Starbuck reported was the increase in residential housing permits issued by the city, the restart of housing construction in four previously approved subdivisions, dropping vacancy rates, raising commercial rental rates and a drop in unemployment in Elk Grove. Starbuck said that according to the California Employment Development Department, Elk Grove unemployment has dropped to 5.8 percent from a high of 9.2 percent in 2010.
"Unemployment is going down," Starbuck said. "There are a number of things moving in the right direction."
Seizing on the unemployment statistic comment, Elk Grove City Council Member Jim Cooper offered a contrarian view on the decrease.
"Randy, isn't true that a lot of people ran out of benefits and stopped reporting," Cooper asked.
"You do have that issue as well," Starbuck replied.
During the public comment section, Elk Grove resident Michael Monasky criticized the efforts of Starbuck's department noting the report does not mention the empty retail space that was formerly occupied by Bel Air on Elk Grove Blvd.
"I would like to know what is happening there," Monasky said. "We lost a real resource right in the heart of Elk Grove."
Monasky further criticized Starbuck's self-described tardy report saying it mentions nothing about about job development. While rhetorically quesioning why the Bel Air store and its job were loss, Cooper offered an explanaiton.
"It's Wal Mart, non-union grocery stores," Cooper said.
Starbuck ironically reported the recent opening of the Bruceville Road Wal Mart store as one of the major economic developments in the first quarter. Interestingly Cooper, Davis and Vice Mayor Steve Detrick all opposed the opening of the store with Detrick using the original proposal for a so-called Super Center on Sheldon Road as a springboard to his current council position.
Davis also criticized Starbuck for not acting aggressively enough to get construction restarted on the unfinished Elk Grove Promenade Mall. Davis asked Starbuck if he attend this years International Council of Shopping Center convention to which Starbuck responded he did not saying he felt it would not be a good use of taxpayers money and that he will be meeting with the current owner of the mall, the Howard Hughes Co., next week.
"I just want to go on the record disagreeing with that strategy," Davis said. "The point is we need to be more aggressive than Howard Hughes. If we sit around waiting for Howard Hughes to take action, it is like waiting for molasses to roll down a hill."
Davis went on to say that Starbuck needs to continue reaching out directly to retailers who might be potential tenants of the mall.
"If we are not going to be consistent with that strategy, then we are not going to have success," he said. "You were on the right track, but you have to get back on it."
Davis also said Starbuck needs to be more involved in the Southeast Policy Area (SEPA). As the last major unplanned area of Elk Grove, Davis said it is crucial that the area be planned in such a way to attract employers and that Starbuck should be involved in that process.
"If we don't do that, then we are going to wait a few years, and they are going to be coming back and asking us to convert it to residential because it didn't work," Davis said.
For his part Starbuck said that is why he attends trade shows so that he can identify businesses that can expand. Starbuck did not quantify what involvement he has in the planning of the SEPA as it relates to attracting employers.
Davis also instructed Starbuck to include updates in future reports on his activities to find a tenant for the vacated Bel Air store on Elk Grove Blvd.
"I would like to know what is happening there," Monasky said. "We lost a real resource right in the heart of Elk Grove."
Monasky further criticized Starbuck's self-described tardy report saying it mentions nothing about about job development. While rhetorically quesioning why the Bel Air store and its job were loss, Cooper offered an explanaiton.
"It's Wal Mart, non-union grocery stores," Cooper said.
Starbuck ironically reported the recent opening of the Bruceville Road Wal Mart store as one of the major economic developments in the first quarter. Interestingly Cooper, Davis and Vice Mayor Steve Detrick all opposed the opening of the store with Detrick using the original proposal for a so-called Super Center on Sheldon Road as a springboard to his current council position.
Davis also criticized Starbuck for not acting aggressively enough to get construction restarted on the unfinished Elk Grove Promenade Mall. Davis asked Starbuck if he attend this years International Council of Shopping Center convention to which Starbuck responded he did not saying he felt it would not be a good use of taxpayers money and that he will be meeting with the current owner of the mall, the Howard Hughes Co., next week.
"I just want to go on the record disagreeing with that strategy," Davis said. "The point is we need to be more aggressive than Howard Hughes. If we sit around waiting for Howard Hughes to take action, it is like waiting for molasses to roll down a hill."
Davis went on to say that Starbuck needs to continue reaching out directly to retailers who might be potential tenants of the mall.
"If we are not going to be consistent with that strategy, then we are not going to have success," he said. "You were on the right track, but you have to get back on it."
Davis also said Starbuck needs to be more involved in the Southeast Policy Area (SEPA). As the last major unplanned area of Elk Grove, Davis said it is crucial that the area be planned in such a way to attract employers and that Starbuck should be involved in that process.
"If we don't do that, then we are going to wait a few years, and they are going to be coming back and asking us to convert it to residential because it didn't work," Davis said.
For his part Starbuck said that is why he attends trade shows so that he can identify businesses that can expand. Starbuck did not quantify what involvement he has in the planning of the SEPA as it relates to attracting employers.
Davis also instructed Starbuck to include updates in future reports on his activities to find a tenant for the vacated Bel Air store on Elk Grove Blvd.
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