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Home My WebLink About8.1 Business Recovery PlaybookSTAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 3 Agenda Item 8.1 DATE:May 3, 2022 TO:Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM:Linda Smith, City Manager SUBJECT:Business Recovery PlaybookPreparedby:Hazel L.Wetherford,Economic Development Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:The City Council will receive a report on the Business Recovery Playbook, a post-pandemic strategic action plan to support Dublin businesses. The Business Recovery Playbook assesses the current business climate, builds upon current efforts, and implements new strategies. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:Receive the report on the Business Recovery Playbook. FINANCIAL IMPACT:There is no financial impact associated with the receipt of this report. DESCRIPTION:Over the course of the past two years, the City has implemented several resources and programs to help the Dublin business community through the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these programs and resources have helped maintain the economic climate of Dublin. As the pandemic guidelines have eased, Staff has refocused on recovery to help businesses reimagine and renew their operations moving forward.The Economic Development Department has prepared a Business Recovery Playbook that operates as a post-pandemic strategic action plan. The Playbook focuses on three main phases:Assessment, Build,and Implementation, which includes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. There are several objectives outlined in the Playbook that will continue to provide much-needed resources and programs to Dublin businesses. In the Assessment phase, Staff will be working to 61 Page 2 of 3 discern the business needs and future challenges through a Business Needs Assessment Survey, a Walking Tour, and Business Roundtables. These outreach efforts will provide Staff the opportunity to speak with business owners in a one-on-one setting. Once the information is gathered and assessed, Staff will move into the Build phase.In the Build phase, Staff will continue the business roundtable efforts to ensure that what washeard from survey responses is accurate and representative of the building climate. There will also be more opportunities to connect industry sector businesses with each other so they can learn best practices from one another. In this phase, Staff will be working on building a loyalty reward program, increasing communication efforts, and creating additional grant programs using funding set aside from the American Rescue Plan Act.In the Implementation phase, Staff will begin to review current processes and policies that may need to be revisited such as long-term temporary outdoor space, parking requirements for food and beverage establishments, and providing educational opportunities through local and regional partnerships. In addition, Staff has included DEI efforts through the Business Needs Assessment survey and through the City’s business license application by including optional questions on race and ownership. This data will help identify other resources for our business owners.Some of these efforts are currently underway such as the Business Needs Assessment survey, the Walking Tour, and the Text Communications program. The latter is a brand-new and innovative program using traditional private-sector tools in local government. Whereas business owners may overlook emails or have them flagged as junk mail, text communications will bring the information straight to the palm of their hand. This will increase the timeliness and reliability of communication efforts to small businesses and will also provide the opportunity for Staff to respond quickly to any inquiries. This new program will work like a business hotline with the goal of bringing information accessibility to Dublin’s small businesses.In April 2022, Staff presented this Playbook to the Economic Development Committee. The Committee supported the concepts included in the Playbook and unanimously recommended that Staff bring the item before the City Council. This support and recommendation fall under the Committee’s purview to provide policy guidance and direction on economic development activities.It is worth noting that the Business Recovery Playbook is a living document which will change based on the needs of the business community. Staff will evaluate the business survey responses, roundtable events, and new data as it presents itself, and make changes to the Playbook as necessary. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:The City Council Agenda was posted. 62 Page 3 of 3 ATTACHMENTS:1) Business Recovery Playbook 63 CITY OF DUBLINBusINESS RECOVERY PLAYBOOK POST-PANDEMIC STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN Attachment 1 64 The disruption that COVID-19 has brought to the business community has been unprecedented and challenging. As we begin to see case numbers decrease and restrictions lifted, small businesses continue to grapple with uncertainty in cash flow, rental arrears, employment shortages, and new policies. The City of Dublin is prepared to support the business community by preparing a Business Recovery Playbook to ensure both the survival and recovery of our small businesses. PHASE 1: ASSESSMENT Business Survey ○Distribute a survey to businesses to collect information regarding how businesses are doing (revenue/ traffic-wise); understanding their challenges; increased/decreased employment; present and future concerns and needs, etc. Use this opportunity to collect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) information from business owners (questions are optional). Boots on the Ground (aka Walking Tour) ○The Office of Economic Development Team will walk areas of the community to have direct contact with businesses, ensuring that all industry sectors are accounted for. Business Roundtables ○Hold business roundtables with the various industry sectors (i.e., restaurants, retail, salon, fitness, etc.) to understand their challenges and concerns. PHASE 2: BUILD Post-Survey Roundtables ○Hold quarterly/semi-annual post-survey Business Roundtables to allow for sharing of ideas, news, best practices, etc. ○Check in with business community to gauge whether survey or roundtables (or both) are preferred. Networking/Marketing Opportunities ○Consider more opportunity for person-to-person connections: job fairs, meet ‘n greet, business visitation and spotlight events (i.e., Taste the World passport/gift card giveaway to replace #DublinEats). ○Colu app: loyalty reward program encouraging community engagement; opportunities for business spotlights, wide range of participation, and positive economic impact. Communication ○Continue the COVID and regular Dublin Business Brief eNewsletters distribution. ○Create a Mobile Text Alert Service for small businesses as another form of communication between the City and business owners. Business Support Grant Programs ○Depending on the business survey responses, develop grant programs that address the highest needs and/or challenges, such as: i. Staffing: grant that provides dollars for sign-on bonuses or similar incentive for hiring and/or staff retention. ii. Business Technology: grant that provides dollars to help implement and/or improve business technology (POS system, CRM, etc.). iii. Marketing/Social Media: grant that assists business owners with marketing and social media tools to promote their services. PHASE 3: IMPLEMENTATION City Processes/Policies ○Pending feedback from business community, consider amending and/or streamlining certain City processes and/or policies to feed business needs (i.e., making temporary outdoor space permanent, alleviating common hurdles for permit applications, etc.). DEI Initiatives and Business License Form/Data ○Updating the Business License Application to include optional questions surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Long-Term Temporary — Temporary Use Permit (LTT TUP) ○LTT TUP ends on September 30, 2022. Consider policies to extend the program or more permanent policies. Outdoor Dining Support ○Consider revising policies that support flexible or less restrictive parking standards for outdoor dining. ○Work with Dublin San Ramon Services District on their fees as it relates to outdoor dining and restaurants creating new spaces. Education & Resources ○Webinars, Tutorials and Speakers – Leverage local and regional partnerships (i.e., Tri-Valley Career Center, Chabot-Las Positas Community College, Alameda County Workforce Development Board, East Bay Economic Development Alliance, East Bay Small Business Development Center, Tri-Valley cities, etc.) to coordinate and provide educational opportunities geared towards current trends: • staffing challenges • funding opportunities • supply chain challenges • marketing and social media support • business development • taxes Partnerships ○Business Plans – Partnering with East Bay Small Business Development Center to help businesses reevaluate their business plans post-pandemic. ○Grant Programs – Partnering with East Bay Economic Development Alliance and others on additional business grant opportunities. ○Entrepreneurism – Partnering with Startup Tri-Valley and Innovation Tri-Valley to support the Tri-Valley entrepreneurship ecosystem. 65 Business Recovery Playbook May 3, 2022 Item 8.1 66 Business Recovery Playbook 67 Phase 1 –Assessment •Business Needs Assessment Survey •Boots on the Ground Walking Tour •Business Roundtables 68 Phase II –Build •Post -Survey Roundtables •Networking/Marketing Opportunities –Taste the World Passport Campaign –Loyalty Rewards Program •Communication –Mobile Text Alert •Business Support Grant Programs 69 Phase III –Implementation •City Processes/Policies •Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives •Long-Term Temporary –Temporary Use Permit •Outdoor Dining Support •Education & Resources •Partnerships 70 Conclusion •Next Steps •Questions 71