Port Angeles Economic Summit
Kent Myers wants to hold an economic development summit in early April. Tentatively it’ll be April 1st at the Red Lion. The meeting is for the “entire community to tell us what they want from economic development in the next five to ten years.”
The following day there’ll be a meeting of local stakeholders to develop an action plan, which is supposed to be completed by June.
(This was from today’s PDN; it’s not posted on their website.)
The following day there’ll be a meeting of local stakeholders to develop an action plan, which is supposed to be completed by June.
(This was from today’s PDN; it’s not posted on their website.)
Labels: Kent Myers, Port Angeles Economic Summit
posted by Tom Harper at 5:49 PM
17 Comments:
Awesome! With an action plan completed by June, our problems will be over. Port Angeles will finally have a direction, and we will all work together towards goals of mutual satisfaction and reward.
Clearly, this IS the time to explore these issues. The economy is going great, government has a great tax revenue flow (and therefore has the extra money to spend on things above and beyond paving streets and such), and the lending institutions are flush with money, eager to finance any project outside the norm. Yup!
Ideas for economic development for the area? Does this mean that ALL the work of Karen Rogers, Larry Williams, Russ Venema, Jim Haguewood and the others who have been working SO hard on these very issues for ? years, was for nothing? That these great folks produced nothing, and after spending millions of taxpayers' moneys to accomplish nothing for the general public, Kent Meyers' big plan is to invite the public's ideas?
Great. Just great.
It is time the City looked at their spending, line by line, just like I have to do at home. If it is not needed, get rid of it.
It is also time to figure out the difference between what the City needs and what it wants.
I would think the needs would include existing infrastructure, roads, alleys, waterlines... take care of what we have now before we add more.
Ever notice that those types love to have meetings at the Red Lion?
And love to dress up nice and all that?
I think I can still afford an appetizer at the Red Lion. Not sure though, haven't been in the place for about five years.
They ought to have a CEO summit, get the minds together that know how to make money, and spend it wisely. Rauch (ACTI), Haga (Nippon)Wakefield (Westport), Harmon (Arrow), Hermann (Hermann Brothers) et al.
The City, The Port, and the County's top folks couldn't grow a garden, how are they going to grow our economy?
I wonder what a modern revolt or anarchy would look like, I like to ponder on those things. And prepare, just in case, it's bound to happen sooner or later. Revolt isn't the only solution though, wait, yes it is. Not that anyone over 50 has to join it, it's the youths future, let them fight for it and just support it and be a supporter and cheerleader. Every good revolt needs spectators. Yea teams, go teams, hey, don't knock my beer over.
Bill Quigley (the author of the story in the link) is legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans.
SUPPORT THE REVOLT
they might as well all go practice yoga for all the twisting and turning that is going to go on (patting themselves on the back for faux accomplishments). Not since the last clown convention have so many people tooted their own horns.
I thought HarborWorks was supposed to be "economic development"? The city and PoPA are using millions of money they got from the state on THAT folly, that is supposed to be only used for "economic development".
As of late, all I've heard about that project is how much the city needs that old tank on the Rayonier property for their sewage problem. So, "economic development" money is being used for Capital Improvement Projects?
I didn't think they could do that. We kept being told that pot of money could ONLY be used for "economic development".
Oh, that's right, we're talking about Port Angeles.
We're "special", here.
We kept being told that pot of money could ONLY be used for "economic development".
I recon it's helping their economic development by giving them some pretty good paychecks so they can go to fancy meetings.
"Get Smart said...
They ought to have a CEO summit, get the minds together that know how to make money, and spend it wisely. Rauch (ACTI), Haga (Nippon)Wakefield (Westport), Harmon (Arrow), Hermann (Hermann Brothers) et al.
The City, The Port, and the County's top folks couldn't grow a garden, how are they going to grow our economy?"
Get Smart, get real.
Your comment infers that all the rest of the world is chugging along all fine and dandy, and it is ONLY because of "The City, The Port and the County's top folks" that the are is having economic problems. This is just not the case. Virtually ALL communities in North America are having economic problems these days.
And THAT is the fundemental problem with the Port Angeles City Manager's proposal for an economic summit.
Anon 8:48 has it right. This "Economic Summit" will result in :"Not since the last clown convention have so many people tooted their own horns.(patting themselves on the back for faux accomplishments)."
Port Angeles does "Groundhog Day".
Next, we'll hear that the City plans to hire a consultant to write a grant proposal to solicit funds for hiring a different consultant to organize the April Fools Day Economic Summit. A third consultant will be hired to distribute, collect, and tabulate Summit attendees' "Evaluation Forms". And a fourth consultant will be in charge of publicizing the event and taking pictures to post on the City's web site afterwards.
See how that Economic Development stuff works? Consultants get all the $timulu$!
This summit is intended to begin the proces of weeding out the "keeper" groups working on economic development from the "loser" groups.
We've got the City, the Port, the Chamber, the PADA, the PABA, the EDC and the Incubator...Too many groups, working at cross-purposes, duplicating and wasting efforts. From the City's end, this (in theory) should finish with a smaller list of groups they are willing to support, partner with, or even acknowledge.
From my perspective, I'd say goodbye PABA, goodbye PADA, and get off your lazy, clueless asses and work for a change Chamber of Commerce. (And replace Russ Veenema while you're at it.)
Watcher said "This summit is intended to begin the proces of weeding out the "keeper" groups working on economic development from the "loser" groups."
I can't say I've ever agreed with watcher in the past, but this time I do.
The EDC is suppose to be carrying the economic development ball for all the public agencies.
The EDC has done such a terrible job that each agency had to go their own way. As a result they have all failed, at our expense!!!!
It's time to get rid of Linda Rotmark, and get rid of the current EDC Board of Directors.
How about flush the lot of them, and start over?
I'd agree with Watcher. I hope they pare down a bit. For the size of this town, there's too many groups with competing visions. How much is PADA getting to preside over... what is downtown? Seven blocks? A good chunk of which is parking lots and vacant lots. Why? Merge that with something else and make the whole process more efficient.
Also, how much power do these groups truly have? Yes, the Chamber is a sort of tourism bureau. Does the PABA have enough power to draw businesses in to Port Angeles? If so, why does it seem like we're shrinking, even during economic good times? Is the PABA worth the cost?
An economic crisis like this is a good time to examine where corners can be cut. I realize cutting or merging competing groups won't end the crisis, but it would help tide us over.
the problem isn't a variety of groups..it is lack of vision, dearth of movement, and lazy attitudes. Everyone wants to be important. Everyone wants to trot around promoting themselves. No one wants to come up with a workable plan to market this burg, and turn the situation around.
Different groups COULD do an effective job if there were a connected purpose, leaders who aren't pig-headed morons, and egocentric greedy whores.
That is the problem....bluntly.
Also Watching: Yes, your comment was blunt, but it's about time somebody stated the issue bluntly and clearly. Thank you for doing so.
Port Angeles has so much potential, and not much being done to realize it. Too many cooks spoiling the soup!
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