The Carlsbad City Council recently met with Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce members and other community business representatives during an open forum to discuss ways the city could help support the local economy.
Two weeks later, the council finalized an action plan based on those ideas. Dubbing its effort the “Carlsbad Economic Stimulus Plan,” the council focused on ideas that would produce timely results, generate a measureable return on investment and have a direct impact on business revenues and jobs.
Other criteria for prioritizing the more than 75 ideas submitted by local businesses included the ability to establish clear accountability and to clearly monitor and report on the results. During a three-hour workshop April 28, city staff updated council members on several initiatives already in the works to support local businesses, including:
• Enhancing signage, lighting and parking in the Village.
• Streamlining the special events process to make it easier for organizations to host events, which stimulate the economy.
• Actively pursuing economic stimulus funding. The city already has secured $1.7 million for infrastructure and will receive nearly $1 million in energy efficiency grants.
• Expediting the development review process, including a forthcoming proposal to change the level of review required according to the type of project.
Some businesses suggested creating an arts district in the Village and making the Village more car friendly. The Village Master Plan includes a strategy to increase arts, culture and entertainment throughout the area. City staff also pointed out that the plan calls for making the area more pedestrian friendly, and the city is continuing efforts to improve parking.
Several suggestions were related to tourism promotion and increasing partnership opportunities to market the city. In 2006, the council formed the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District and appointed the general managers of seven hotels to control about $750,000 annually in spending.
A recent proposal to provide $100,000 from the city's general fund for the business improvement district's targeted promotional campaign called Endless Summer received support from the council, given the recent downturn in the tourism economy.
All of the ideas presented to the city have been documented and are available at www.carlsbadca.gov.
The council directed staff to move forward in several key areas. Other ideas will be considered as part of a longer term economic development strategy.
The immediate action areas include:
• Endless Summer tourism promotion campaign. The city agreed in concept to contribute $100,000 to the campaign planned by the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District. City staff will obtain more detailed information about the program and the expected return on investment prior to making a final commitment of funds.
• Village lighting. The city will move forward on ideas to add lighting to enhance the area's visual appeal. This could include lighting in trees, on light poles or on privately owned buildings.
• Regulatory process. City staff was directed to work with the development community to continue to streamline the approval process for development projects, while maintaining the city's high-quality standards.
• Promotion of the arts. The city will explore possible ways to encourage additional art venues in the Village, as appropriate.
• Business incubator. The city will pursue establishment of a center to support environmentally friendly startup businesses. This project could be conducted in partnership with local educational institutions.
• Special events. Council directed staff to examine whether the process for approving special events could be streamlined and the benefits vs. costs of bringing more large events to the city.
• Explore marketing partnerships. City staff will explore more opportunities to establish partnerships for marketing the city for tourism and business development.
The council vowed to continue to work with the local business community as these stimulus efforts are implemented and to measure the effectiveness of the efforts over the next year. Regular updates will be provided at council meetings and workshops.
Two weeks later, the council finalized an action plan based on those ideas. Dubbing its effort the “Carlsbad Economic Stimulus Plan,” the council focused on ideas that would produce timely results, generate a measureable return on investment and have a direct impact on business revenues and jobs.
Other criteria for prioritizing the more than 75 ideas submitted by local businesses included the ability to establish clear accountability and to clearly monitor and report on the results. During a three-hour workshop April 28, city staff updated council members on several initiatives already in the works to support local businesses, including:
• Enhancing signage, lighting and parking in the Village.
• Streamlining the special events process to make it easier for organizations to host events, which stimulate the economy.
• Actively pursuing economic stimulus funding. The city already has secured $1.7 million for infrastructure and will receive nearly $1 million in energy efficiency grants.
• Expediting the development review process, including a forthcoming proposal to change the level of review required according to the type of project.
Some businesses suggested creating an arts district in the Village and making the Village more car friendly. The Village Master Plan includes a strategy to increase arts, culture and entertainment throughout the area. City staff also pointed out that the plan calls for making the area more pedestrian friendly, and the city is continuing efforts to improve parking.
Several suggestions were related to tourism promotion and increasing partnership opportunities to market the city. In 2006, the council formed the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District and appointed the general managers of seven hotels to control about $750,000 annually in spending.
A recent proposal to provide $100,000 from the city's general fund for the business improvement district's targeted promotional campaign called Endless Summer received support from the council, given the recent downturn in the tourism economy.
All of the ideas presented to the city have been documented and are available at www.carlsbadca.gov.
The council directed staff to move forward in several key areas. Other ideas will be considered as part of a longer term economic development strategy.
The immediate action areas include:
• Endless Summer tourism promotion campaign. The city agreed in concept to contribute $100,000 to the campaign planned by the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District. City staff will obtain more detailed information about the program and the expected return on investment prior to making a final commitment of funds.
• Village lighting. The city will move forward on ideas to add lighting to enhance the area's visual appeal. This could include lighting in trees, on light poles or on privately owned buildings.
• Regulatory process. City staff was directed to work with the development community to continue to streamline the approval process for development projects, while maintaining the city's high-quality standards.
• Promotion of the arts. The city will explore possible ways to encourage additional art venues in the Village, as appropriate.
• Business incubator. The city will pursue establishment of a center to support environmentally friendly startup businesses. This project could be conducted in partnership with local educational institutions.
• Special events. Council directed staff to examine whether the process for approving special events could be streamlined and the benefits vs. costs of bringing more large events to the city.
• Explore marketing partnerships. City staff will explore more opportunities to establish partnerships for marketing the city for tourism and business development.
The council vowed to continue to work with the local business community as these stimulus efforts are implemented and to measure the effectiveness of the efforts over the next year. Regular updates will be provided at council meetings and workshops.