Wednesday, January 8, 2014

City economic development expectation, oxymoron?


Branding and planning,
let's study it, its new

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, Staff Writer, 1/7/14.  "Economic development committee members share hopes for Pacifica." 

"Brent Shedd and Michael Varney are among the new members appointed to the city's economic development committee by City Council.

Brent Shedd.   "...what do we want people to think of when they think of Pacifica?  The answer to that question will/should drive the types of events, businesses, etc., that we'll need to have in order to make that happen. It's a pretty basic branding exercise, but one that can drive clarity and purpose for everyone." 

Michael Varney.  "....  I hope to participate in the building of a long-range economic development plan that will build the tax base in a responsible way."  Read article.

Note:  photograph from the Orlando Grace Church.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

27 comments:

Hutch said...

I hope he's not talking about "branding" in the marketing sense. It takes a lot of money and time to build a brand, and it doesn't always work out. Better to spend the money attracting business through incentives.

Anonymous said...

Mike Varney is Jennifer Ball's husband, they are very anti development.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Jim Varney would have been a better choice.

Ernest Worrell, comes to Pacifica!

Anonymous said...

Oh Jennifer Ball is a big time hippy/NIMBY

Great, WTF is this council thinking?

Anonymous said...

I only see them speak of hotels and restaurants. I hope they aren't "environment is our economy" people.

We need industry, maybe a biotech or social media company or whatever. Put an industrial park out in the quarry, it's already zoned commercial. 2000-3000 employees shopping and eating here will be a real boost to our economy.

Dan Murray said...

Pacifica Patch has a link to the December 14 airing of the Malou Nubla show on KPIX. It shows a short segue, titled "It's Pacifica's Time TYo Shine." on things to do and see in Pacifica. It is by far the most positive advertisement for Pacifica that I have seen to date. Kudos to the people who put this program together.

It dose pay to advertise.

Anonymous said...

Yes, the Malou show is by far the most positive advertisement for Pacifica to date. What's ironic is that the piece promoted Pacifica's environment as its biggest draw, with Courtney Conlon of the Chamber of Commerce touting beaches, surfing, hiking trails, parks, Mori Point, views, Sanchez Adobe, Sam's castle, Pacifica Performances, restaurants, hotels, mountain biking, fishing, golf, and repeatedly mentioned beaches, surfing, trails, views, etc. while most of the images were of the ocean and beaches and trails and sunsets over the ocean and ocean views and surfing and so forth and so on. It looks like our environment is our economy after all.
'It's Pacifica's Time to Shine in the Marketplace'
http://pacifica.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/its-pacificas-time-to-shine-in-the-marketplace

Kathy Meeh said...

Yes, "our environment is our economy", which is the reason this city needs tons of ongoing new fees, taxes, and volunteers to keep the city infrastructure up to substandard.

At the end of the "Shine in the Marketplace" program, Malou said, "People just might want to move to Pacifica, rather than visit." Good luck with that. So, we'll continue to need a good road to get out-of-town, and not spend money here.

todd bray said...

So our environment IS our economic engine. Thank you CoC for finally admitting the true nature of Pacifica. Now please get your board and PAC brownshirters on board. Oh and the line to apologize to dear old Sue starts here:

Six Million Ghosts said...

Todd, your numerous references to Nazi era symbolism tells more about your moral characther than any point you're trying to get across.

Anonymous said...

well, nice Tribune workup on 2 econ committee members. But if you look at city website, no list of committee members. No contact info either. So much for city communications!

Concerned Citizen said...

In the Navy, they say "Never Again Volunteer Yourself"..thanks to Mr. Shedd and Mr. Varney for wanting volunteering themselves to join.

I reviewed the minutes of the past EDC meetings posted on the city of pacifica website. They do interesting things there. I noticed that they had worked on Branding and long range economic development planning in the last year.

For the benefit of you all, here
is a link to all these minutes.
http://www.cityofpacifica.org/government/committees/economic_development_committee/default.asp

For the benefit of the previous poster, here is a list of all committee/commission members.

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6289

Anonymous said...

Yes. Pacifica is glowing.

Kathy Meeh said...

"Oh and the line to apologize to dear old Sue starts here:"

Todd 1004, so far there is no one in line to apologize to functionary NIMBIES. Reality check: the multi-decade NIMBY agenda has cause a big, permanent drag on our city sociology and city economy. Without adequate money (revenue), is the city better off? Short answer: no.

Meantime, through multiple decades of NIMBY control, current city council seems to have perfected the stymied fine art of chair warming while avoiding needed city progress. Sue Digre is a remaining vestige from the NIMBY scourge on this city.

Anonymous said...

Todd first it's imaginary radiation from Japan and now it's imaginary people thanking Sue. Don't sniff the paint fumes man.

Chris Fogel said...

HERE'S another way to locate recent Economic Development Committee info.

Anonymous said...

I read this stuff about the EDC and its vision and goals for Pacifica and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Our days are numbered. Natural disaster or real economic cataclysm? Which one gets us first?

ian butler said...

Mike Varney's political leanings are different from his wife's. He has a strong Libertarian streak and a folksy style. Being a genius doesn't hurt either.

Steve Sinai said...

Mike's first job is to convince Genentech to move its Bioweapons Lab to Pacifica.

Anonymous said...

Geniuses are not usually the best leaders. How does being a genius geneticist qualify a person to be on an economic development committee? Do you think council could have found someone with a degree in economics? Or an MBA? Or a local business person who undrstands Pacifica, marketing, budgets?????

Ervin works at Genentech too right? I shake my head again at this council. Is this more cronyism like when they appointed Ginny Jaquith to take their buddy Vreelands place? God help us.

Anonymous said...

The Pacifica Index posting of econ develop committee members is nice, but no solution. Open gov't should not be a drill of finding Waldo. The City must post names, phone and contact emails for all committees. Committee applicants post this data on their interview applications. About time the public has a way to communicate with them. They may do something meaningful, and the public may also have some decent suggestions...

Chris Fogel said...

I get what you're saying and totally agree with you, 3:09.

todd bray said...

I don't. Until a committee member is appointed they deserve to be evaluated without being harassed by, well... you lot.

Anyway, a quick stop at City Hall during a review period will get you those numbers of applicants. If you want to be a pest at least work for it.

Chris Fogel said...

I'm not sure what the objection is to providing--at a minimum--a basic point of contact for those who serve on our City's committees.

If I were unable to show up to a committee meeting to share my thoughts on a particular issue I felt was important, it would be nice to have an email address or some other means to place something within the record.

This is nothing more than common courtesy as well as good governance and accepted practice and has absolutely nothing to do with harassing or pesting anyone. What an odd thing to say.

Anonymous said...

Pest? Did Bray say pest? How do we determine who's a pest and who is a concerned resident? Wait. Does it depend on which committee member is under discussion? Some require more solitude than others?

Anonymous said...

haha Pest Todd? You mean like being the sole person whining to the Coastal Commission about a few rooms on a hotel that will bring this town over $200K a year? Good job being a mini Peter Loeb.

Tom Clifford said...

Maybe People should wait till the new E.D.C. has its first meeting before they start calling the committee members.
I believe the first meeting is set for the middle of February and will be used to elect officers and go over what has already been done.