Tuesday, May 16, 2006 • City establishes an economic development committee
Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, May 15, 2006 edition of the Lassen County Times.
After four workshops in March, on Wednesday, April 5, the Susanville City Council agreed there was a need to establish an economic development advisory committee.
The City Committee for Economic Development met for the first time at noon Thursday, April 27.
During the chartering session, the CCED discussed the boundaries and constraints it will face, resources necessary to achieve its mission and the process that will be used to get results.
It also discussed how to measure its success. Mayor Pro tem Rocky Joy, who will serve as CCED chair, told the council at its Wednesday, May 3 meeting, the CCED spent most of its first meeting brainstorming.
The committee chose John Larrivee to serve as vice-chair.
The CCED completed a written definition of economic development and its mission statement.
It defined economic development: Any action a government takes to expand the local economy and thereby enhance a community’s economic well-being. Based on this definition, most of the core activities of local government affect economic development in one way or another.
However, economic development usually applies more narrowly to specific programs that are designed to increase or stabilize economic activity within a designated geographic region. Economic goals generally involve the creation of jobs and wealth and improvement of the quality of life.
The following mission was adopted:
•To reach broad economic targets, such as strengthening the tax base, reducing unemployment and promoting growth;
•To serve a community’s residents and businesses, such as through new highways and infrastructure maintenance; and
• To improve the business climate through capital financing, marketing, neighborhood development, business retention, attraction and expansion, technology transfer and real estate development.
The committee’s goal will be to update the city’s economic development strategic plan, set and prioritize economic development goals and make recommendations as to how the said council can accomplish the goals within the scope of its mission statement.
City Administrator Luann Rainey said the formation of the CCED was a direct result of the March brainstorming sessions and was to sustain, restore and enhance vital city services such as the recreation program and animal control, both of which were suspended in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
Besides Joy, Rainey sits on the committee representing the city. Also on the committee are community members Sally Finizio, Rick Stewart, Dale Soule and Linda Soule. Larrivee represents the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce. Jim Wolcott represents the Lassen County Fair, Campbell Jamieson represents the Diamond Mountain Casino and Jim Mackay represents the Susanville Indian Rancheria.
The appointments are for one year.
The CCED plans to meet at noon in the City Council Chambers on Thursday, May 25. On the agenda is a discussion of the public recommendations made during the March workshops.
