As some of you know, I have been participating as an interested party in the North Bend Economic Development Commission. I offered to get involved after writing a critical editorial about the commission’s activities. That involvement has brought me full circle in support of the members, and their direction.
But in participating in the commission’s activities, I have also come to realize that North Bend is lacking any vision or direction for economic development, or anything else for that matter. Priorities don’t seem to be filtering down to the commission members and I would bet if you asked city staff members what the priorities are, no two people would give the same answer.
Who should set the priorities? Well, the residents of the city should voice their priorities, the council should listen and establish those priorities as city direction and the mayor should direct the staff to achieve those priorities, whatever they may be. But the picture in North Bend is murky at best, and it’s not clear if anyone really knows what the priorities are.
Water, water, water, water, water – did I repeat that enough times? As I have said before, without water, North Bend might as well annex to Snoqualmie. Its economic future will continue to stagnate and investment by private parties in the city will be minimal. All budget items for the upcoming year should focus on providing city essentials and gaining water rights, nothing more.
Second, if water does become available and the floodgates of economic development open, it seems prudent to have a plan in place to guide that economic development. So, effort by the Economic Development Commission to put forth recommendations seems like a smart thing to do.
Third, the city really needs to think about the role of its community services director (CSD). Economic development should be critical to the future of the city, and the CSD should be deeply involved in any efforts or recommendations put forth by the commission. This activity should be echoed and relayed to the Planning Commission and to the council through the CSD. Right now, I would say it’s a fair assumption that the CSD has no idea what the Economic Development Commission has been doing. I also think the city administrator needs to be present at occasional commission meetings so he understands all angles of the commission’s activities.
Trying to understand North Bend’s direction while participating in the EDC has also made me wonder if the Planning Commission is also feeling a lack of city direction? Does the city staff know the priorities for the city? Is everyone on board with similar visions? Are hidden agendas or underground politics clouding those visions?
So, to the council and mayor, please, for the sake of residents, commission members and city staff, establish priorities for the city of North Bend. It will make your jobs and any volunteer positions much easier.
