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C. Deliberation on offers of possible incentives to entities considering locating or expanding in <br />the San Marcos community. <br />4. The Executive Session adjourned at 7:12 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. Two of the <br />three items were discussed, and no action was required from Executive Session. Council will <br />reconvene into Executive Session later in the meeting to discuss the third item. <br />5. Presentation on the draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan, and <br />provide direction to staff. (The full Council was present for the discussion.) <br />Amy Holloway, with Market Street Services, presented the Comprehensive Economic <br />Development Strategic Plan to the City Council. It started with a community assessment, <br />identification of target businesses and workforce analysis, organizational review, development of <br />the economic development strategy, and the development of an implementation plan. <br />Community input was received through 26 one-on- one interviews with community leaders, 12 <br />focus groups, and a community survey with 1,021 results, received. Key findings from this input <br />included: 1) a cycle of poverty exists; 2) average annual wages for the region continue to lag <br />behind; 3) shrinking labor force participation rates; 4) demands for affordable housing are not <br />being met; 5) the highest priorities include economic development, protection of the <br />environment, and collaboration between public entities. <br />The most promising target businesses include health care, corporate and professional operations, <br />material science and advanced manufacturing, and supply chain management. Three special • <br />opportunity areas are tourism, downtown development, and green industries. <br />The comprehensive economic development strategy focuses on the "what". The "who, when and <br />how" is part of the implementation plan. This is a holistic strategy. Three goal areas are <br />necessary and interdependent: 1) workforce excellence; 2) economic diversification; and 3) <br />quality of place. <br />6. Invocation <br />Lisa Cradit, Director of Religious Education at the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist <br />Fellowship, provided the invocation. <br />7. Pledge of Allegiance <br />Councilmember Thomaides led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. <br />8. Citizen Comments <br />There were no Citizen Comments. <br />9. Staff Reports. <br />• <br />RM111709 Minutes Page 2