HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08142012 - SD.4RECOMMENDATION(S):
CONSIDER adopting the East Bay Economic Development Alliance's "Open for Business Pledge" for cities and
counties of the East Bay to help provide a set of customer service and business-friendly practices that can be adopted
and implemented despite on-going negative impacts of the national economic crisis on General Fund revenues, as
recommended by Supervisor Piepho.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The East Bay Economic Development Alliance recognizes that cities and other regulatory entities continue to strive
to provide excellent customer service despite these financial hardships, but an unintended consequence of these cuts
can be a decline in the customer service focus of public entities in their regulatory capacity.
Therefore a number of East Bay Economic Development Alliance's members – public and private - came together to
develop
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 08/14/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:See Addendum
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
ABSENT:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Contact: Jen Quallick 925.252.4500
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 14, 2012
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
SD. 4
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Date:August 14, 2012
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:East Bay EDA "Open for Business Pledge"
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
the “Open for Business” pledge for cities, counties, and other regulatory bodies to adopt as an indication of their
dedication to fostering and maintaining the excellent level of customer service that is critical to the business
climate of the East Bay.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
ADOPTED the pledge with the clarification that item seven of the pledge be amended to include language
exempting matters having pre-established processes such as land use entitlements.
ATTACHMENTS
East Bay EDA Open for Business Pledge & Request Letter 5 3 12
East Bay EDA Open for Business Pledge 5 25 12
Open for Business Pledge Reso
Open for Business Pledge SR
TO: East Bay Cities and Counties
FROM: The East Bay EDA Business Climate Initiative Group
o John McManus, Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc., Group Chair
o Linda Best, President & CEO, Contra Costa Council
o Edward Del Beccaro, Managing Director, Grubb & Ellis
o Bill Lambert, Assistant Director, Alameda County Community Development Agency
o Cheryl O’Connor, Gov. Affairs Advisor, Building Industry Association of the Bay Area
o Margot Lederer Prado, Senior Business Development Specialist, City of Oakland
DATE: May 3, 2012
RE: Request to consider passage of the attached “Open for Business” Pledge
Many East Bay cities and counties have experienced a significant negative impact on their General Fund
revenues due to the on-going impacts of the national economic crisis stemming from the financial crisis
and collapse of the housing market in 2008. Governor Jerry Brown’s dissolution of redevelopment as a
revenue source for cities and counties has only exacerbated this trend. As a result, many cities have
been forced to cut essential staff and services.
As East Bay EDA recognizes that cities and other regulatory entities continue to strive to provide an
excellent level of customer service despite these financial hardships, an unintended consequence of
these cuts can be a decline in the customer service focus of public entities in their regulatory capacity.
To help focus attention on the excellent business climate in the East Bay, a number of East Bay EDA’s
members – public and private - came together to develop an “Open for Business” pledge that cities,
counties, and other regulatory bodies could adopt as an indication of their dedication to fostering and
maintaining excellent customer service related to economic development despite the economic
downturn.
Adoption of the pledge would be voluntary, but the East Bay EDA proposes to publish a list of the cities
that have adopted it and track and publicize any permit streamlining initiatives or ”best practices” that
are identified as a result of its adoption.
The goal is not to dictate practices but raise awareness. Adoption of the pledge is also a signal to the
business community and the public that the adopting city or agency is aware of the impact that customer
service has on the business climate of the East Bay. Thank you for considering this request.
1221 Oak Street - Suite 555 - Oakland CA 94612 - (510) 272-3874 - www.eastbayeda.org
OPEN FOR BUSINESS – OUR PLEDGE
Because we recognize and understand the critical importance of providing excellent customer
service to all or customers – but particularly the business community – and because we recognize
that our policies and practices have a direct impact on the East Bay’s business climate and the
ability of companies in the region to create jobs, the City/County of
officially endorses East Bay EDA’s Open for Business Pledge.
We Pledge:
• To provide senior management leadership and support for permit streamlining and
empower the staff to act administratively.
• To conduct periodic reviews of our practices to ensure that we are current with changes in
regulations, technology, and codes - including green building codes.
• To proactively seek customer feedback regularly, positive and negative, and to respond
appropriately.
• To provide transparent, easy to understand fee schedules and applications online.
• To provide staff with training in order to achieve high levels of consistency related to
permitting.
• To provide clear guidance on project schedules and milestones early in the process and to
strive to meet to that schedule.
• To respond to all communication, whether phone, email, written or in-person, within 2
business days.
• To share best practices amongst East Bay EDA’s localities.
• To recognize exemplary operations and staff, both internally and externally to the
organization
“OPEN FOR BUSINESS” PLEDGE
Because we recognize and understand the critical importance of providing excellent customer
service to all or customers – but particularly the business community – and because we recognize
that our policies and practices have a direct impact on the East Bay’s business climate and the
ability of companies in the region to create jobs, the City/County of
officially endorses East Bay EDA’s Open for Business Pledge.
We Pledge:
• To provide senior management leadership and support for permit streamlining and
empower the staff to act administratively.
• To conduct periodic reviews of our practices to ensure that we are current with changes in
regulations, technology, and codes - including green building codes.
• To proactively seek customer feedback regularly, positive and negative, and to respond
appropriately.
• To provide transparent, easy to understand fee schedules and applications online.
• To provide staff with training in order to achieve high levels of consistency related to
permitting.
• To provide clear guidance on project schedules and milestones early in the process and to
strive to meet to that schedule.
• To respond to all communication, whether phone, email, written or in-person, within 2
business days.
• To share best practices amongst East Bay EDA’s localities.
• To recognize exemplary operations and staff, both internally and externally to the
organization
1221 Oak Street - Suite 555 - Oakland CA 94612 - (510) 272-3874 - www.eastbayeda.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOLUTION NO. -12
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
*********
ADOPTING THE EAST BAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE’S “OPEN FOR
BUSINESS” PLEDGE
WHEREAS, the City Council has placed a high priority on proactive economic development and
support for the business community; and
WHEREAS, the City is an active participant in the East Bay Economic Development Alliance
(EDA) and wishes to endorse their “Open for Business” Pledge, which is aimed at promoting the pro-
business environment that exists in the East Bay; and
WHEREAS, the City understands that many municipalities have been hit hard by the economic
recession and the elimination of redevelopment agencies. This Pledge intends to reassure the
development and business community that communities in the East Bay stand ready to assist in business
attraction, expansion and retention efforts to create jobs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dublin has demonstrated a leadership role in local and regional economic
development efforts, achieving all of the items included in the Pledge.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin does
hereby adopt the East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s “Open for Business” Pledge, attached
hereto as Exhibit A.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of May, 2012, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
____________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________________
City Clerk
Page 1 of 2 ITEM NO. _________
STAFF REPORT
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL
C I T Y C L E R K
File # -
DATE: May 19, 2012
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager
SUBJECT: East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s “Open for Business” Pledge
Prepared By: Linda Smith, Economic Development Director and Public Information Officer
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will consider adoption of an “Open for Business” Pledge as part of an East Bay
Economic Development Alliance (EDA) initiative to promote the region’s business-friendly
environment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt, by Resolution, the East Bay EDA’s “Open for
Business” Pledge
Submitted By Reviewed By
Economic Development Director Assistant City Manager
Page 2 of 2
DESCRIPTION:
Many East Bay cities, as well as Contra Costa and Alameda counties, have experienced
significant negative financial impacts resulting from the economic downturn and the dissolution
of redevelopment at the beginning of 2012. In many instances, this has resulted in the
elimination of positions in development and business services. The East Bay EDA recognizes
that local municipalities and other regulatory entities continue to strive to provide an excellent
level of customer service despite these cuts and financial hardships affecting many
communities.
To help focus attention on the excellent business climate in the East Bay, a number of East Bay
EDA’s members – public and private - came together to develop an “Open for Business” pledge
that cities, counties, and other regulatory bodies could adopt to indicate their dedication to
fostering and maintaining excellent customer service related to economic development despite
the economic downturn.
The City of Dublin’s Economic Development staff has participated in the ongoing discussions
and development of this Pledge and recommends that the City adopt the Pledge, as the Pledge
solidifies the work and leadership by the City Council over the last several years focusing on
economic development and ongoing support to the Dublin business community. In fact, Staff
believes that the City currently meets all of the criteria outlined in the Pledge. Examples of
some of the City’s efforts include:
• Roundtable luncheons held semi-annually and annually with the commercial brokerage,
property owners and the development community to seek feedback on development and
business services process. These roundtables have resulted shortening the processing
timeline of certain use permits, particularly for indoor recreation and automotive type
uses;
• Over the next four to 18 months, the City will be implementing several new online
services that will further improve development and business services delivery, including
receiving online plan check comments, online inspection scheduling, real-time field
inspection services, as well as web-based permitting for those permits that are typically
handled over the counter.
• An upcoming Roundtable forum with small business owners and other applicants who
have recently processed tenant improvements to hear about ways to improve the City’s
process; and
• A policy instituted by the City Manager to ensure that every phone call or email received
by residents and the business community is returned within one-business day.
If the City Council adopts this Pledge, Dublin will be the first municipality in the East Bay to do
so, which in keeping with the City’s desire to remain at the forefront of innovative economic
development efforts. The East Bay EDA will keep track and promote those communities that
signed the Pledge and will share the best practices that are identified as a result of its adoption.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution Adopting the “Open for Business” Pledge