Title
Resolution to Form the Ann Arbor Economic Collaborative Task Force
Body
Whereas, The City established the Downtown Development Authority to act in the best interests of the City to halt property value deterioration, eliminate the causes of that deterioration, and to promote economic growth and increase property tax valuation where possible in its downtown development district;
Whereas, The Downtown Development Authority has adopted as its mission undertaking public improvements that have the greatest impact in strengthening the downtown area and attracting new private investment;
Whereas, Ann Arbor SPARK, is a regional public-private partnership of business, government and academic institutions working to advance the economy of the Ann Arbor region through the growth of the GDP of Washtenaw and Livingston Counties by establishing the area as a desired place for business expansion and location and by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from those that are established to those working to successfully commercialize innovations;
Whereas, City Council has adopted the following priorities for fiscal year 2014: City budget and fiscal discipline, public safety, infrastructure maintenance and transportation in the urban core, affordable housing and economic development;
Whereas, Each of these entities expends resources and talent to sustain and grow the City of Ann Arbor, whether within the boundaries of the downtown development district, or throughout the city; and
Whereas, By focusing on partnership and collaboration by and between the City, Downtown Development Authority, and Ann Arbor SPARK, each entity will be able to refine their individual goals and strategies with respect to economic development to better serve their shared community;
RESOLVED, That City Council forms the Ann Arbor Economic Collaborative Task Force with the mission of examining its member entities' respective core values, priorities, and activities regarding economic development and identifying operations that may be duplicative, resources including funding, and opportunities for collaboration;
RESOLVED, That City Council invites the Downtown Development Authority and Ann Arbor SPARK to be its partners in the Task Force and requests each entity appoint 2-3 members, one of the members will be the executive of the entity, to the Task Force as determined by each entities' governing board;
RESOLVED, That the Task Force's efforts should result in findings and recommendation(s) to City Council and the other member entities that:
· Provide clarity, alignment and specificity on economic development policy and objectives for fiscal year 2014 toward accomplishing City Council's success statement for Economic Development.
· Provide for strategic alignment of priorities between the Task Force member entities.
· Highlight cost sharing and maximizing of resource utilization.
· Identify options for sustaining, modifying, or eliminating operations in a financially-responsible manner through efficiencies and/or partnerships as part of a cohesive economic development plan for the City.
RESOLVED, That the Report on the Findings and Recommendations be presented to City Council and the other member partners in December 2013;
RESOLVED, That the Report on the Findings and Recommendations of the Task Force be used as a resource for focused strategic planning with regards to the other adopted City Council priorities for fiscal year 2014 and the potential of City partnerships with government and public entities with similar goals;
RESOLVED, That City Council appoint Council members Petersen and Higgins and City Administrator Powers to represent the City on the Task Force, with Council member Higgins serving as Chair of the Task Force;
RESOLVED, That it is recommended that the other invited entities appoint their representative no later than June 1, 2013 so that the first meeting of the Task Force can be scheduled for June 2013; and
RESOLVED, That the Task Force will expire December 31, 2013.
Staff
Sponsors: Council members Petersen and Higgins