HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttch 2 Proposed Goals, Policies&ImplementMeasures DRAFT GOALS, POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
CITY OF DUBLIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT
Goal I : Economic Vibrancy
Economic vibrancy is central to the City's economic development objective to enhance the competitiveness of
the City and to maintain a strong and diverse economic base. Goal l: Economic Vibrancy includes policies to
maintain and enhance the City's economic development programs, including through more robust marketing
and branding, highly-targeted outreach, and increased regional coordination.
Policy 1: Maintain an Economic Development Function
The City of Dublin has a well-established practice of economic development work, including a variety of
programs that support business attraction and retention. Through the Economic Development Department, the
City currently offers incentive programs, business training, business outreach, and business support services.
The City shall maintain the function of Economic Development as a tool to promote economic vibrancy in the
City and the region.
Implementation Measures:
A. Business Incentive Programs—Maintain incentives that respond to current economic conditions and serve
to attract and retain business activity in Dublin, as appropriate.
B. Business Seminars, Roundtables, and other Related Programs-Offer seminars, discussion meetings, and
classes to support business owners, in partnership with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the Alameda
County Small Business Development Center, and other business support entities, as appropriate.
C. Coordination with Regional Entities—At present, there are several regional entities working to advance
economic development activities in the region. The City should continue to remain engaged as an active
participant in the current efforts (i-GATE, Tri-Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Innovation Tri-Valley,
East Bay EDA,just to name a few). Additionally, the City should coordinate with future regional economic
development efforts so long as they are not in conflict with this Element.
D. Business Recognition Program—Recognize local businesses for significant anniversaries and notable
contributions to the community.
E. Business Visitation Program—Meet individually with businesses to assist with retention and expansion
and to raise awareness of City services available to local businesses.
F. Ombudsman Services—Facilitate permitting and other interactions between the business community and
local government.
G. Maintain the Economic Development Strategy—The City shall periodically review and update the
Economic Development Strategy to ensure its relevance to evolving market and economic forces, as
necessary.
Attachment 2
Policy 2: Maintain a Comprehensive Marketing and Branding Plan
The City of Dublin produces marketing materials and undertakes other activities to promote Dublin as a place
for business. The City shall formalize its marketing activities by creating and maintaining a comprehensive
marketing and branding plan. The marketing and branding plan should be continually updated to refresh the
City's outward identity, publicizing the evolution of the City and business community, as appropriate.
Implementation Measures:
A. Prepare a Marketing and Branding Plan—Building on the Economic Development Strategy, establish a
distinct identity for the City and specify appropriate Bay Area media outlets for promotional activities.
B. Implement the Marketing and Branding Plan—Allocate staff time and/or funds to support marketing and
branding efforts, as appropriate.
C. Update the Marketing and Branding Plan—Revisit the plan periodically to ensure that marketing and
branding efforts are kept current.
Policy 3: Focus Business Visitation Program on High-Growth Companies
Retaining high-growth companies is a priority for the City of Dublin, given the potential these companies hold
for job creation within the City. Targeting high-growth companies, the City should maintain a Business
Visitation Program that seeks to identify and solve local economic development constraints.
Implementation Measures:
A. Identify High-Growth Companies—Building on the Economic Development Strategy, establish and
maintain a list of priority businesses for the Business Visitation Program.
B. Implement Targeted Visitation Program—Conduct business visitations and respond to cited concerns and
issues, as appropriate.
Policy 4: Participate in Regional Economic Development Efforts
The City of Dublin shall coordinate with local and regional entities to foster regional strengths, leveraging the
efforts of organizations that seek to improve the Tri-Valley economically. Regional partners may be traditional
economic development entities or other organization that promote quality of place and quality of life through
efforts to enhance the cultural and social fabric of the region.
Implementation Measures:
A. Identify Priority Entities/Programs—Building on the Economic Development Strategy, establish and
maintain communications with regional entities that have the potential to enhance the Tri-Valley economy.
B. Participate in Regional Economic Development Efforts—Coordinate and partner with regional economic
development entities to support regional economic development efforts, as appropriate.
Goal II : Improve Conditions for Small Businesses
Small businesses and the jobs they support are critical to the City of Dublin economy. Goal 11: Improve
Conditions for Small Businesses seeks to improve City practices and procedures to promote small business
growth.
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Policy 1: Maintain Small Business-Friendly Development Services
The City shall strive to offer small businesses and other City permit applicants a clear and certain building
permit and inspection process. By providing permit applicants a well-defined roadmap and timeline for
interactions with the City, the City will minimize the financial risk to applicants seeking to undertake new
projects. Through an enhanced development services program, the City endeavors to minimize unnecessary
costs of business in the City of Dublin.
Implementation Measures:
• Implement Electronic Permit Tracking System-Convert to an online building permit process.
• Evaluate Possible Building Permit/Inspection Process Refinements—Review current procedures and
consider options to improve the City permit and inspection process.
• Implement Permit/Inspection Process Refinements— Improve City procedures, as appropriate.
Goal III : Development of Strategic Employment-Supporting
Sites
Economic development and job growth will require additional workspaces in the future. Goal Ill: Development
of Strategic Employment-Supporting Sites seeks to maximize the potential for development of workplace uses
in the City of Dublin.
Policy 1: Partner with the Alameda County Surplus Property Authority
The Alameda County Surplus Property Authority(ACSPA) controls land with land use and zoning in place for
over two million square feet of office development at the Eastern Dublin Transit Center, development potential
that could support significant future job growth in the City. The City shall seek to strengthen its ongoing
working relationship and partner with ACSPA to position County-owned Eastern Dublin sites as a jobs center
for the region.
Implementation Measures:
• Evaluate Existing Land Uses/Zoning— In coordination with ACSPA, review current campus office sites for
consistency with market demand and potential for job creation.
• Evaluate the Potential to Offer"Shovel Ready"Parcels- In coordination with ACSPA, explore and
implement, as appropriate, entitlement work(e.g., planning, architecture, and engineering)that could
shorten the development project delivery timeline for end users.
• Explore Potential for Increased Site Marketing- In coordination with ACSPA, explore and implement
enhanced marketing of development opportunities, as appropriate.
Policy 2: Support Downtown Business Attraction and Development Efforts
With the adoption of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, the City created a vision for a vibrant mixed-use
center, with opportunities for development of employment-supporting uses such as office and retail space. The
Downtown Plan strives to create a walkable urban environment that when fully realized could have a dramatic
positive effect on quality of place and the City's regional competitiveness. To achieve this vision and foster
economic development, the City shall pursue landowner/business coordination and partnerships to promote the
continued evolution of Downtown.
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Implementation Measures:
• Conduct Outreach Efforts-Build support for programs and actions that progress the downtown vision.
• Participate in Coordinated Activities—In partnership with landowners and businesses, contribute to efforts
that promote investment opportunities Downtown, as appropriate.
Goal IV : Achieve the Downtown Vision
Quality of place and quality of life factors are increasingly critical to economic development. The Downtown
vision offers an opportunity to improve quality of place and quality of life factors in Dublin. Goal IV: Achieve
the Downtown Vision includes policies that encourage the City to be more active in Downtown development,
and in other strategic projects within the City.
Policy 1: Explore Potential Funding Sources and Financing Tools to Advance Real Estate and
Economic Development
A primary challenge associated with positioning opportunity areas for new development is obtaining reliable
financial resources for place-making investments, potentially including creation of public spaces (e.g., parks,
plazas, and public art), streetscape and gateway improvements, infrastructure, public parking, or other strategic
investments (e.g., subsidies for catalytic projects). The City should seek sources of funds and consider
available financing mechanisms for strategic projects.
Implementation Measures:
• Identify Funding Sources and Financing Tools—Building on the Economic Development Strategy; maintain
a"toolkit" of potential funding sources and financing mechanisms.
• Identify Strategic Investments—Seek opportunities to make public investments that are likely to have
positive economic development effects and advance private sector projects, as appropriate.
Policy 2: Explore the Creation of an Economic Development Corporation
An Economic Development Corporation (EDC) could be established to expand the City's ability to invest in real
estate ventures, potentially expediting Downtown development activities through catalytic projects. The City
should explore the potential for establishment of a local EDC in Dublin.
Implementation Measures:
• Explore the EDC Concept—Identify and analyze the range of EDC business/financial and legal models
that could be appropriate for the City of Dublin and advance the concept, as appropriate.
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