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Memo: Economic Development Update <br />August 16, 2016 <br />• Worked with Penske Automotive (owners of the majority dealerships in the Auto Mall) to <br />install new bollards and other street improvements in the Auto Mall. <br />• Worked with over 30 companies to assist them with Planning and Building related issues this <br />past year. <br />• Worked with over 60 companies to find a site in the City of Santa Ana. Many have opened and <br />are currently operating in the City. (Del Amo Motorsports, ALDI, IPC USA) <br />• Staff attended the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention in San Diego <br />and Las Vegas and discussed several development opportunities with brokers and developers. <br />Streamlining Business Processes <br />In an effort to enhance the City's current economic development efforts, the City formed an Economic <br />Development Taskforce. This taskforce comprised of local business leaders have reviewed and <br />recommended several business friendly initiatives that have resulted in the hiring of staff to <br />accomplish these initiatives: <br />• Action: Hired 5 new inspector staff positions <br />• Review Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (Action: Council approval of ordinance) <br />• Recommend additional building plan checkers to meet acceptable turnaround times (Action: 4 <br />new building engineer staff) <br />• Interviewed consultant for Economic Development Strategic Plan (Action: Recommended <br />hiring of RSG to develop plan) <br />• Review Electronic Plan Review and Mobile Technology for City inspectors (Action: Move <br />forward with E -Plan review and purchase mobile technology) <br />Economic Development Partnerships /Events <br />• Formed Orange County Recycling Market Development Zone (Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, <br />Garden Grove, Orange, Stanton, County of Orange), which provides State funded low interest <br />loans, technical assistance, site selection, permitting assistance, and assistance with obtaining <br />recycle materials for manufacturing companies that locate in the City. <br />Co- hosted 3rd Annual GROW Conference at the Discovery Science Cube with over 400 <br />developers, real estate brokers, and community leaders attending. This was a sharp increase in <br />attendance over last year's event (83 attendees). <br />• Financially supported the ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation) bus which brings visitors from <br />the Anaheim Resort area to Santa Ana amenities: Downtown, Bowers Museum, Westfield <br />MainPlace and the Discovery Cube. <br />• Established an Economic Development Council with Chamber of Commerce to bring together <br />active stakeholders in the city who all desire the same collective outcome: a vibrant, <br />sustainable and healthy business climate that allows for both revenue and tax growth, but also <br />paves the way for the growth of social capital. <br />Ell <br />19G -6 <br />