In their second meeting since seating a new mayor and councilmembers, the Pacific Grove City Council wasted no time making a bold move to create a business liaison position with the possibility of eliminating the all-volunteer Economic Development Commission in 2025.
The 6-0 decision on Wednesday, Dec. 18, came after newly re-elected Councilmember Chaps Poduri, with input from City Manager Matt Mogensen, presented the idea to sunset the EDC and use the approximately $115,000 the city spends on the EDC budget, staff time and a consultant, toward a full time business liaison position.
Poduri has served as the council liaison to the EDC for two years. He said the commission, made up of business owners and those with an interest in economic development, has been stalled in its ability to help businesses, due to a lack of staff support and city resources.
“We’re not serving the business interests of the community effectively,” Poduri said. That includes not helping new business owners and assisting owners with complicated licensing, but also, not helping EDC recommendations gain traction within the city.
He said what it comes down to is that the city needs someone “that can hand-hold most of these queries or partnerships, or [maintain] relationships, as the case may be, that is missing completely from a city standpoint.”
At least two members of the EDC expressed anger that they were not told that the proposal was coming. One, Robin Venuti, while disappointed in Poduri and offended that she wasn’t told ahead of time, shared that she had been frustrated by a lack of staff support to the EDC. She criticized the city in general for not communicating with commissioners well.
Former councilmember and EDC chair Debby Beck said the city needed to tap more into the Chamber of Commerce to attract new businesses and assist owners and urged the council to keep the EDC. Others suggested that the council delay a decision until later.
Former mayor Carmelita Garcia asked why the council was in a hurry to make such a big change.
“Why are we in a rush? Because businesses are hurting right now. Restaurants are hurting right now,” said Mayor Nick Smith. From a cost-benefit perspective, eliminating the EDC and hiring a liaison “sure makes a lot of sense to me.”
Councilmember Tina Rau said sunsetting the EDC quickly might be too aggressive and suggested they keep the EDC until a liaison is hired. The council eventually landed on leaving the EDC for now.
Mogensen said it could take several months to hire a new staff person and bring them onboard.
That left the question about what to do about the five open EDC two-year positions which are set to be filled on Jan. 15. City Attorney Brian Pierik recommended the mayor make the appointments as scheduled, but provide a letter letting applicants know they may not serve their entire two-year term.
At the end, Smith said the council appreciates the service of all members of the city’s boards and commissions. “We’re just trying to do what’s best for the city.”
The deadline to apply for a city board or commission was extended to Friday, Dec. 20. In addition to the five spots on the EDC, there are vacancies on all the boards and commissions: Architecture Review Board, Beautification and Natural Resources Board, Historic Resources Commission, Library Board, Museum Board, Planning Commission, Recreation Board, Traffic Safety Board and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force.
More information and a link to apply are available on the city's website.