retail sector uh and and that's also kind of tied into the the actual shopping center so our involvement is typically looking at you know not every small space but usually the bigger types of tenants so how can we assist with you know helping that South Shore Center or or Alameda Landing how can we assist with those larger type of spaces what kind of outreach can we work with um so from that aspect it's also um dealing with brokers dealing with property owners in the case of shopping centers dealing particularly with their property kind of managers um the retail attraction is more proactive because it's okay we found out about the space we want to work with you so now we're we're proactively going to go out and help you try to find tenants um so for both the downtown attraction efforts and for the retail attraction efforts um finding that tenant kind of process is is learning about the space learning about kind of um putting the putting businesses into those spaces and then when we talk about our website um we'll get into kind of how we can promote that how we can list those kind of spaces on our choose alameda website um so then getting into kind of the the the proactive part of it so for for when we're looking at the business sectors and you know in the past I think our efforts have been more kind of general um you know promoting Alameda as a whole and so now our focus that we want to do is is more into okay how do we attract it's it's the blue tech the green tech clean tech and also the bio tech bio sector um so those are the four kind of business sectors that we're looking at and for those sectors it's definitely it's definitely looking at where they can locate so the advantage that we have or the message that we have for Alameda is you know we have different places for you to locate size wise so you can go to um you know alamed a point and have this have these have these big type of spaces you can go to research park and have a smaller space medium sized space you can go to Harbor Bay and get a big space and then it's also tied into wanting to be you know how can we align you with other businesses that are that are the same like yours so um it's not just the space needs but also kind of that alignment with other types of businesses.

So for that strategy it's really it's really about how do we reach out to to the to the not only to the businesses but to the property managers how do we promote how do we know about and promote those specific kind of spaces and then what are those messages that we're that we're trying to convey and that's kind of what we're going to get into talking about more tonight is those kind of common messages that we have and then those specific messages that we have um the other thing before we get into that also wanted to talk about so we've got business attraction activities and then we have workforce activities um for the most partforce typically is is is handled by um or most of the heavy lifting typically is done by like workforce development board and and um and entities like that that are that are kind of set up to how can we find out about the needs how can we address those kind of needs um in the in the case here one of the things that that we found successful is actually our with our partnership with the chamber the executive round tables that we've had and so that's been with the different kind of business sectors and the and the purpose of those that Madeline set up is to really get their kind of feedback on okay what's working for you in Alameda what are the needs that you have what should we know about your kind of industry and what came out of those meetings was kind of this common theme of when we asked them about workforce it was this common theme of of okay we could find the we can find the entry level workers we could find the engineer type of workers but it's the kind of those technicians in the middle that people were having a harder time finding and so um so we felt like okay that was an area that we could then focus on for our workforce activities and then talking to the uh to the College of Alameda it's okay how can we once we find out so our next step is to go and survey those companies and find out exactly okay we just want to confirm this is what you told us this is you know we want to confirm that are there any other needs and then we can take that to the college to say okay um is it are there courses that we can do are there other avenues of training that we could do so that's kind of our next step from a from a workforce standpoint um so kind

This is, you know, we want to confirm that are there any other needs, and then we can take that to the college to say, okay, um, is it are there courses that we can do?

Are there other avenues of training that we could do?

So that's kind of our next step from a from a workforce standpoint.

Um so kind of getting into the into kind of our our partners and what we want to do.

Um, you know, I've talked in the past before about economic development really is about kind of uh very tied into our relationships.

And so for you know, for the for downtowns and and for the retail sector and also for the business sector, you know, the relationships are the people that are involved in that development kind of process.

So um, so our relationship is with brokers, with property owners, with property managers, with resource kind of providers.

So part of this attraction effort is to is to make sure that we're continuing and nurturing those kind of relationships.

Because in many cases, that's the way we're finding out about what's available, what businesses are looking for.

Um, and then really the proactive part is telling our story.

And so what I want to kind of talk about next is is what are those messages that we want to tell, and then how are we going to go about telling that story?

So um, so we're gonna look at our kind of two websites, work our way through those, and then also get into kind of those messages.

Um bringing back, so so when we the um, I think it was two or two meetings ago for this group, we talked about okay, because we were in the process of of looking at starting this kind of choose alameda business attraction website.

And the feedback we got from this group was okay, we can we could talk certainly talk about Alameda and lifestyle and and transportation and where we're at and the all those kind of things that you typically see.

But the feedback was what we really need to kind of hit home about is the nuts and bolts of of how you're starting your business, getting the business started in Alameda, and then the cost of doing business.

Um so getting the business here, getting it up and running, and then the advantages that Alameda offers as far as the cost of doing business here, finding employees can tie it into things like AMP, uh, our and our specific kind of advantages in those areas.

So as we've set up our websites that that we've set it up specifically that way to kind of walk our way through.

So maybe what we could do is look at the the choose alameda um kind of template that we have, and I'll and I'll kind of I'll walk through that.

And um, and then I'll get into our other website, then I'll start, then I'll we'll talk about kind of the messages.

Oh, perfect.

Okay.

Okay, so so uh, and and this is this is still kind of the the narratives getting plugged into, but um, and logos and things like that, colors, but um it really starts off with kind of this.

This is the main kind of page.

This is the first thing that you're scrolling down and seeing.

Um so the main messages we have at the very top, we have that that section on you can click on opening your business and cost of operations.

So um, so that's really those are the main kind of messages.

We also have lifestyle in there, but but the three messages we got from this group was make sure that that's readily available, those are the parts that people want to see.

Um this front section will have will have videos, they'll have pictures that'll kind of scroll through, and then those two tabs there explore business clusters and available buildings and spaces, um, get into then the story of okay, well, what businesses are here already?

How can you locate next to other businesses?

And then the nuts and bolts of okay, where can you actually find your your building site?

Um so the site is set up to at the very beginning, telling the story and getting down to how the nuts and bolts of how our business um uh how Alameda is a great place to locate your business, start it up and run your business.

How are we how are we pushing this out to the world?

Umce it's done, our plan is to kind of go on the circuit of getting this out to the to the development community, the brokerage community, through our regional partners, um uh through site selectors.

So basically everyone who would come in contact with that, that's that will be our kind of our press release type of thing that now we have the site.

So it won't necessarily rely on someone thinking.

I might want to move to Alameda and almost put the idea in our head.

Yeah, so there's there's kind of the component of yes, it's there, but then also the component of we want to reach out to let people know that it's there.

And then part of this is also the you know, the SEO part of our website is making sure that we're you know, when people are hitting on locating businesses Bay Area, that that this site is kind of front and center.

Um so you could if you could scroll down a little bit.

So then we have this section of of okay, here's here's a listing of of different types of companies.

Uh this will also you know be kind of rotating.

Um and then the column, if you scroll just a little bit, the the column on the left side is really hitting kind of the theme of of the innovation in Alameda.

Um so that's that you know, it talks about at the heart of Alameda is the innovation that we have here.

So those boxes, if you scroll down a little bit, will be you know the innovative businesses we have here, the innovative ways to get to Alameda, our transportation kind of corridor, um, food and beverage innovation, and then innovation with the arts.

So that's really telling the story of all the innovative things we have kind of in Alameda.

Um, and then the column on the right side, if you if you go back up to the top right there, I mean, this is this this kind of this format of frequently asked questions really gets to the heart of kind of um, you know, again, reinforcing that how do you do business in Alameda?

Um, you know, how is Alameda help lower the cost of doing business?

Uh we talk about the talent and workforce available.

We again highlight the the industries in Alameda, and then if you go down a little bit, um you know, talking about our geographic area, what's it like to live in Alameda, kind of our lifestyle, and then our our main kind of corporate districts.

And then further down, then is testimonials that we're gonna have, um, kind of running through of you know, talking about Alameda, those are gonna constantly kind of change, and then steps, these very young looking people that can help you out.

Love it.

Uh and then and then through all of this, then you know uh virtually all of these tabs will have kind of a call to action of okay, for more information, contact us.

Um so this is kind of the template of the of the um choose alameda website.

This would be where all of that kind of information about that a company would want from an attraction standpoint, you know, when they're looking at the decision of why choose Alameda, then all of that information would be located here.

Um and and what what's not showing down there also when you when you click on kind of more about the Alameda, there's also there'll be a whole section there of demographics, all kind of GIS base where you could you know look at different neighborhoods and and you'll be able to when you click on buildings, you'll be able to see the business parks, the actual buildings themselves.

Um that's kind of in a nutshell, that's that's the that's the layout essentially.

Um what's your timeline on this?

I think now we're probably looking at like maybe one or two months.

Um so what we want, what we need to do now is we're we're we're starting to drop in kind of the narrative, and then after this meeting, we'll that will help kind of reinforce you know what that narrative is going to be.

Um so then if we could look at the at the Spirits Alley website, because I want to talk about kind of the connection then between the choose Alameda and overall City of Alameda, and then that connection with with Alameda Point.

Okay.

So some of you, if you were at the last Alameda Point Coalition, you kind of heard this and we went through this.

Um so originally when we started this, you know, if you're familiar with that, we've we've had this Spirits Alley kind of website for a while.

Um, but some of the feed that feedback we received was that you know we we're we're transitioning from it's not just about Spirits Alley on Alameda Point, it's all the other things you can do in Alameda Point.

And so this site was set up to highlight it's not just you know the spirits here.

And if you scroll down, that we have all these sections.

So you have you can you can look at Alameda Point from uh from a beverage standpoint, from a restaurant standpoint, food, um, activities at Alameda Point, and then also kind of shop and play.

Um, and this is interactive, where you can go to the different types of you can go to the different businesses, click on their site.

Um so the thought process for this website was to have you know more of a of a comprehensive look at what the activities you could do at Alameda Point.

Well, then we have uh a new brokerage firm came in for Alameda Point.

So we now have was Cushman Wakefield, now we have GLL as our broker.

And one of the things that they talked about, with which we're now transition even more, is that um we want to have just one Alameda Point website.

So and and that that starts off kind of telling the story of the historical nature of Alameda, um, and what that's all about.

And then essentially, as you're scrolling down, it'll go to kind of it'll have two sections.

So it'll have Alameda Point from a business standpoint, um, you know, listing of businesses, looking at what's available, all those kind of messages, and then it will have the you know, the essentially the fun side of Alameda Point.

So we're gonna have one kind of comprehensive website that will be all about Alameda Point, all the things you can do, and those two websites, then the Alameda Point website and the Choose Alameda website will be kind of connected together.

So as you go through the attraction, choose Alameda one.

Anytime it's listing, you know, where you could locate the different sectors anytime it's Alameda Point, then that will directly take you to this new website we're creating that kind of connects the two.

And Gwen, can I just add a landlord rep for our department and looking at our one stakeholder who is a property owner?

Um, I I really think that the intent is to have the Alameda Point website be the Alameda Point website.

It's not about the city's leap in any business that comes to Alameda, we we are winning, right?

So if you like as a hypothetical property owner with property lease, you know, why don't you list things up?

Like this could be a single landing landing spot for everything if you wanted it that way.

Um so actually we can, you know, I think by the next meeting we'll have that kind of site connected, and we can show you that.

Um so those are the those are the two kind of websites that we have.

So it's kind of a two-prong from an attraction standpoint.

We're gonna have an online kind of presence.

We'll also have kind of printed material and and so what I want to talk about now are then the kind of those common messages and those specific messages that we want to you know get out there in in all of these detraction um kind of endeavors.

So the common message I have listed kind of on the staff report, um, you know, we want to talk about quality of life on the on Alameda.

So we've we've heard from people that you know, okay.

We looked at Alameda from the standpoint of getting my business here, but then I realized, oh, this is a place I would like to live.

Um and we've heard that kind of comment before.

So we we're not shying away from talking about kind of the quality of life and what it's like to live here in Alameda.

Um back to more of the the business kind of side of it.

We're gonna talk about you know the variety of transportation choices you have to get to Alameda, um, the workforce in our region, the ability to like to locate with light companies.

So part of that discussion on where it can be located, it's it's highlighting you know these business clusters that we have.

So, you know, come be with Penumbra and X Alexis and be with these type of companies that are already here.

Um to go into our business parks and locations.

about you know the variety of transportation choices you have to get to alameda um the workforce in our region the ability to like to locate with light companies so part of that discussion um where it can be located it's it's highlighting you know these business clusters that we have so you know come be with a number and exelectis and be with these type of companies that are already here um we're going to go into our business parks and locations we want to talk about our permitting process under that kind of category of of open your business and and how to get it up and running quicker it's it's talking about our streamlined kind of permitting process uh and we also want to highlight safety so whether whatever sector that's in kind of you know the the safe aspect in our prime statistics and that sort of thing um for our downtowns we're talking about kind of our we're highlighting our our community support how the community supports local businesses what our demographics are uh we're talking about our strong kind of business associations and then retail we're talking about same kind of thing our the community support and then our you know what kind of spending power we have here in Alameda uh so with that what I'd like to do is kind of start the discussion um some of the items that we want to talk about and and having this kind of background as as the uh is kind of the framework but get your your ideas on kind of some specific things so right now we have the we you know we have the attraction we have downtown attraction and so the benefits of of that work is you know we're filling up vacancies and and we're you know a a stronger thriving downtown is good for the whole community um and it's also part of our quality of life here we have retail attraction and so that's you know also filling up centers and and getting more activities and goods and services and that leads to more sales tax and then we have this business sector attraction um which is typically you know we're we're looking most likely at larger companies uh you know greater employment more jobs that sort of thing you know right now we have all three of those activities but the question made for this group is should we you know should we have a hierarchy of of that should we say okay well we've got you know limited number of staff people and resources is there a feeling that okay we should be you know saying let's focus on the business sector let's do that first or spend most of your time on that so I wanted to get your kind of feedback on do you feel like there should be a hierarchy and and and those kind of activities based on kind of the the in essence the payoff that we'd be getting is there any one of these three that generate more economic benefit for the city of the jobs tax dollars I think in a way that they're all different economic benefits so I mean you want the you know the community identity is is there's a lot of that in our in a thriving kind of downtown and that's a big draw for people um so that's kind of a combination of of I in some ways I view that as more of a quality of life type of thing having a strong downtown where people want to go and activities and we've the cities invested in like the downtown theater and things like that.

There's a big investment in the downtown um retail attraction I is is I feel is much more numbers kind of driven sales tax um but the business sector side of it you know really um you're you're I mean with new businesses are coming you know much higher employment bringing more jobs uh for me I think that's the differentiator where the business segment is the outlier that if the business segment is thriving it's going to drive retail it's gonna drive people downtown that are looking to miss the tunnel closures you know that are happening and go have a drink or a burger whereas you know the focus on downtown and retail or while they're going to provide revenue aren't necessarily going to drive anything outside of themselves and their own businesses but bringing you know large businesses here especially that bring employees that naturally you know raise the floor and ceiling for retail and downtown I think um right um so I you know I would say if there's a lot of focal area focus on at a high level to me it would be you know specific technical manufacturing business sectors that go then help drive retail and help make all these other businesses uh you know success of new customers I agree okay yeah totally makes sense that way definitely and what is um I'm gonna I'm just thinking of the different places that I think you know there's obviously a point where there's potentially lots of space and lots can still happen there um there's harbor bay what what like harbor bay what's the what's the you know what the occupancy is there we know where we are with that don't know the actual occupancy we do have I mean there is still land available uh there are buildings still available

And what is um I'm gonna just think of the different places that I think you know, there's obviously a point where there's potentially lots of space and lots can still happen there.

Um there's harbor bay.

What like Harbor Bay, what's the what's the you know what the occupancy is there?

We know where we are with that.

Don't know the actual occupancy.

We do have, I mean, there is still land available.

Uh there are buildings still available.

There is turnover.

Um to me, you have kind of you have Alameda offers you all those ranges of big small different types of buildings.

So it's there's still room to kind of grow.

The research part, I think it's still relatively a lot of vacancy there.

Or how's that going?

It's more than Harbor Bay.

I don't know the percentage.

It's hard to know, yeah, the real versus the you know, the the volume of sublase space is high or unoccupied lease space, but right.

The statistics are so aside from low cottage businesses, um, you know, where those are the three places that come to mind.

Is that what am I am I missing something?

No, to think about places, yeah.

So for me, that when we talk about kind of business clusters, it's it's specifically talking about those three places at first as far as business sectors of um so well then that kind of leads into my next section.

We talk about kind of our the staff efforts in this.

So what do you see as far as the roles that the business community could play in this?

I mean, we definitely have well, we have um you know quotes and highlights and that kind of stuff of businesses on our website.

But what kind of role do you feel like businesses could have in that you know, should there be, you know, when when we're talking to businesses, should there be direct interaction?

Should we be sending people to companies that are already here that uh are businesses interested in you know having conversations with CEOs about you know how you made your decision to be here?

Oh, I would think so.

Definitely it helps, yeah.

Good referrals and good, you know, talk about their experience.

Um, you know, try to make it concise.

Just but yeah, it's it helps.

Okay.

Sorry, yeah, I'll make you get contacts that would do that.

I mean, I'd be willing to do that.

Okay.

Um I mean, as a I suppose to just a testimonial on the website or something, you could get more personal, obviously.

I think there'd be an interest in almost any sector and bringing more businesses of that sector in.

Um having a an ecosystem of support certainly is attractive to us.

We have people that share common interests.

And so I think you'd probably get support from most businesses for that.

I know we would.

Okay.

So bring would I mean to me it would make sense more.

I mean instead of the instead of cold calls and that sort of thing, when someone's more definitely more interested, they're looking at the community.

You know, that it seems like if they're at that phase of, yes, now we're, you know, we've narrowed down to Alameda and the Bay Area and some other things.

So to me, it seems that that's the would be the time then that we could make those kind of connections.

Oh, we did that.

You know, it's an infusion.

I had it.

Coffee with the facility lead there or each weeks first.

Yeah, then we have that world kind of thing.

Yeah.

We'll done that.

And um, yeah, I think struggle if it's worth that.

And I thought it was helpful for sure.

I think those, I mean, obviously, we weren't successful, but I think that personal catch really did make a difference.

Yes, big big difference.

Yeah, I think that the with the one issue that we need to deal with that that I think involves the engagement of our team is um when someone's interested in Alameda Point, we'll we'll know.

Um, we don't always know if a business is scoping out a spot at Harbor Bay or at the research park.

And so I think that's some work, something Dwayne's really been working on is building relationships with the brokers and the developers so that they are trying to hook somebody, you know, that then we would be able to facilitate, okay.

Well, this business is looking and they're similar to sale drones, and we're gonna, you know, and then we could actually facilitate that personal connection.

We don't always have that information.

So I think that's somewhere we're really trying to dig deep and and get those relationships, especially with their brokers.

And that really comes in handy to get those leads.

That has a case.

Oh can you hear me?

Yes.

There are also, I think, are some opportunities for um, there are some social opportunities.

I mean, we have like our business coalition meetings, but for example, I don't know if everyone knows there's a group, sort of just this ad hoc group that's formed um in the energy sector, um, the green energy sector, and they're hosting a mixer tomorrow evening um at park station.

And I looked at the list of businesses and individuals um who were invited, and there's probably a lot of like untapped potential there.

Um, also just an opportunity for you know, staff and all of us to meet some of the um the leaders and in those sectors, which is you know, growing some of them live on the island but work off the island.

Um, so I think there are opportunities like that that we could tap into as well.

Well, that that actually is the perfect kind of segue into the into the next kind of discussion item.

So, you know, we've talked about kind of the the traditional sources of attraction, working with our research partners and online presence and and you know, outreach kind of campaigns, but then there's this whole other kind of category of like of industry specific kind of functions and gatherings.

So we we've heard that in that you know, one of the things we heard from the round table was okay.

Well, you know, we're all busy.

Um, but if you could provide us kind of with content and with other businesses, some sort of function, you know, whether it's a it's it's a you know gathering like they're doing, or you know, we're we're having a biotech day or something like that where you're bringing in resource partners and and and speakers and that sort of thing.

Um that's an area that we haven't really done very much in, but want to kind of get your thoughts of you know your feelings on is should that be part of our attraction kind of toolkit.

Um like industry mixers and is yeah, I think I think um as a way to kind of is a way to kind of showcase here's what we have here and get people together.

Yeah, I mean, I you know work with East Bay, EDA, different manufacturers, you know, different industry groups, right?

Um, to get you know, trying to get them to come to talk about a topic relevant to these businesses.

I think is just a good way to, you know and and do it regularly, you know, starts to just create a hub for that dialogue.

Um that um it just the sharing of knowledge, you know, is is attractive to businesses.

Yeah, I I think the thought was that it, you know, it's this this dual purpose of you're you're you're showcasing Alameda and Alameda companies that are already here, and I mean physically getting people in that room together, whatever that event is.

Uh but then also it kind of you know, you're you're hearing more about it in the community.

And so that's kind of think one of the maybe overall goals is that you know, we've heard many times that Alameda might be the best kept secret in the Bay Area.

So part of this kind of process is well, we don't want to be the best kept secret anymore.

We want regionally to be known.

And so um, you know, that's besides these kind of traditional approaches, you know, it's one of the options that we could take would be to have like these kind of set, you know, maybe we're doing X amount, three or four of these kind of functions from different sectors, and then people are used to okay.

This is happening in Alameda, this is you know, now every year, whatever the time period is we're going to do this.

Uh so if that's something this group thinks is valuable, then that's something that we should want to build into kind of our calendar and our work kind of plan.

Um the thought being that we could, you know, do those around those four sectors at a minimum, you know, have one event or something like that for each kind of sector.

Probably would make sense.

I think you'd have to kind of look at how many businesses you have that are in a particular sector to focus on that, you know, bigger thing of our business and the day that but not enough of us to really do something like that.

Enough contractors.

Yeah.

I mean, we're not, and we're really not trying to attract contractors to Alameda.

Um it works for us because we have an industrial space not too far away in Oakland.

But no, you know, we're not really the crowd to try to sell it to.

It works for David because it's right on water.

I'm trying to imagine what it would look like to have like a blue tech event.

There are so many already around the country.

In some ways, it feels a little saturation, like what events does one attempt to go to.

And so I'm wondering if it wasn't something you'd maybe trying to be less all-inclusive and more bare-inclusive.

So just I'm just thinking, Mark, like on our side of the world in the water.

Maybe it's a just a regional thing, where you're trying to bring in.

I'm trying to imagine it.

I like the idea.

What does that blue tech event look like?

Um, it's sort of a broad term, but it's it's technology focused businesses on the water.

So like a sail drone or someone building ROVs or AUVs that operate in the water.

Um marine energy is very popular now, you know, everything from wave buoy electrification to offshore wind.

It's it's a very broad, kind of catchy term because technology's finally turned and pivoted toward the ocean.

Yeah, and so there's a lot of money chasing different ideas.

There's different cities on the West Coast, San Diego and Seattle, for example, really want to sort of become the node for marine technology, but the Barry has a pretty good jump.

It's a technology space already.

We have Cal and Stanford here.

They produce a lot of ocean engineers.

So there's a lot of sort of bubbling ideas, but it's also just, I mean, I get invited to shows all over the country constantly, and I don't know which ones I should even attend.

There's so many.

And so it would have to be more focused, at least for our world.

And you think it would be led by uh hosted by an industry group or or by city economic development.

What's I'm trying to understand it?

Would would one attend it if it were city focused?

Like someone like a sale drone.

I don't know.

I mean, someone like a sale drone would have a lot of heft if like a sale drone said we're doing something.

I think a lot of people would sit up, they're sort of a recognized leader in the space.

If the city said they were doing it, I'm wondering how much traction you would get.

Well, yeah, yeah.

Last year we host uh last year Calway organized and hosted Zootech and Maritime Happy Hour at Mattel's building.

Uh I happened to hear about it about two weeks before, and we ended up sponsoring the event, and that was better visibility than we could have ever.

I actually think that's a great example where where they they sort of took the lead.

They took the and they and it was a fantastic event.

Met a lot of interesting very early startup companies.

I think it had some credibility, yeah, when you bring those industry groups here.

Yeah, so it seems like it should be industry-led and maybe city supported.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Yeah, because I think it's definitely otherwise, it looks like you're kind of just pushing city agenda.

Chicken spiders and everyone was very happy with that at all for us.

That was actually it's a great example of a very successful event.

Yeah.

Um it's gonna be so narrow.

You can kind of think about the state of the world, is there is a lot of investment opportunities where VCs would want to be here and invest in investigative AI companies, those in maybe the office space and the other big area where it's investment.

Not isn't the defense sector is the more broad.

So instead of just maybe like the cell drone is tuning with this on water drones, defense in itself as a even broader market.

So you can reach out to traditional companies that are looking to expand, like uh maybe not at a locky level, but like companies that are on a you generally when I think defense in California, obviously, there's a huge presence in LA, huge presence in San Diego.

Uh, that those companies may be looking for these to grow, or there's new how is new startups in this space of the defense tech, whether it's flying drones, water drones, a lot of drone stuff, uh rockets, other people can be against it, but if it's you know personal choice, but there is a lot of investment in that currently uh based on today's time.

For me, so much of what David and Mark had just said is like should be the broader marketing message of attracting people here to Alameda.

I think I love the idea of you know somebody who works for a company that sells you know alcohol on a broad level for a living.

I love the idea of broadening the spirits alley website because I feel like it's a story that hasn't been told well enough, just how much innovation is taking place.

And when we give people as an almanac, um uh I think something that blows people's mind is talking about sales owner, talking about newer across the street and all the fascinating things that are happening.

So for me, that's like that's a story that grabs people, whether you're a business owner or whether you're someone who's looking to live on the island, the fact that this is an innovation hub, I feel like is something that needs to be led with a story that just needs to get out there more.

Um, it's amazing how many people come to the point and have no idea like the fantastic things that are happening on the island.

And now to me, that's really exciting.

Um, I think that's what you know, in terms of messaging will catch people's eye and say, wow, look, look at what's taking place in Alameda.

And then all those other things spawn off of that, you know.

Um, but I you know, I love taking what you guys said and dig out to even a broader level of what you guys are trying to do in terms of attract businesses.

Yeah, the other thing too, is if you're if you decide if you can craft the story unless it's gonna depend on what industry you're file on target, you can read different stories.

But so if that's the example, you know, that side you could message that story that actually it's a formal naval base, so it has a history to it.

You can say that the innovation started when that base was established in the 40s, right?

With the all the work they were doing.

That's why C planes will do it's there, right?

They're doing developing sea planes as a new new technology of the time.

And so it's always been a place for innovation.

You can continue that until they left.

Now we you know we're carrying that tradition.

You know, there's a story you can build around that innovation of what other companies are now doing on base from that side of it, and then uh just in this place that we're just a place to live and it's a place to play.

So you have everything in elements that are living, you have enjoyment of food and beverages and work.

So go ahead.

Um, going back to the topic earlier of how we're going to work it.

I I think instead of reinventing the wheel, you know, finding those um events that are already targeting the green tech or the blue tech and you know, contacting the organizers and offering to sponsor or having a booth there with information about the city of Alameda and all the things it offers.

But I don't think, and I don't think the city of Alameda as an invitor, is going to get the same kind of um, you know, um turnout.

Yeah, I agree that uh in my mind, our role would be sponsored but the but the the advertising, the push would be coming from that for ministry or the industry group.

Um I think we have to go where they are.

So, you know, if I think about who's going to be bringing those big businesses in, those really cutting-edge businesses, and I know nothing about blue tech, um, but it's going to be either the people that are currently doing research or a company that's already already in another city looking to move, right?

So can we go to those two populations and advertise a city about it?

Yeah.

And you mentioned Cal, you mentioned Stanford.

We had talked about it at previous meetings.

So is there an opportunity to go to those either professors or clubs and just kind of let them know what Alanina is about, invite them over to kind of test their their stuff.

So there's there's some familiarity with the area.

So maybe as a starting point is as far as kind of those industry sectors.

We've what we we already had a meeting with the um, I forget who that who the bio California Life Sciences Association.

Yeah, who who came to us and said, hey, we're you know, this is our organization, this is what we do, we do events, we'd like to you know partner with you to do things.

So and we and we've heard specifically from the life science companies that that's what they're looking for.

So maybe as a starting point, if we were planning events, maybe that one we've we've also heard the similar message from the clean tech, green tech, and all those kind of companies.

So maybe those are the first two sectors that we look at.

Uh and then you know, then we're figuring out blue tech and manufacturing that sort of stuff after that.

Hey, quick question, Santa, you know, that's funny enough.

Are you guys in involved with East Bay BA?

Of course.

I correlate about businesses that just be into those components too.

Yeah, so that's one of our East Playing A is one of our partners that were pretty active.

Yeah, so you can really knew you're in this meeting, apparently, Mark.

Yeah, um, okay.

So I think that's I think that's good kind of direction.

Um so what I'd like to maybe get into next is that so we we've talked about the the kind of the common messages uh and we've and previously you've talked about kind of um the priority of having starting your business that the nuts and bolts of running your business starting your business is is kind of at the top of that common message list.

Um I wanted to kind of throw out there or have a discussion on you know, to the extent that you have input, what are then specific messages?

So for your industries that you're involved with with like the you know, are there specific say blue tech, you know, messages beyond the ones that we have common?

And maybe that's not an answer we could have today, but like you know, when you're talking to other companies like yourself, beyond the kind of what we have to offer that sort of thing, are there specific messages?

The spaces the spaces were attracts, I think companies like you have unique buildings that encantis find in the Bay Area that allow industrial type work, right?

But you have a such a that tall high bay environment that's just not available anywhere unless it's and have that those big doors and we brought we just brought through every time I bring a group through of uh potential customers and investors, everyone's blown away by these whole things.

They all his level and in fact we we posted a group from Denmark today, and they were walking around there.

It's like besides being with drones are cool, they're like, oh, this is you know really exciting and cool building and I tell them this is a phone naval days and they're like all the road building and they just like the history of it.

And so again, there's always that selling feature of the uniqueness of some of those builds, all of them, some of them are maybe need to be torn down that's no more very unique.

Yeah.

Any other kind of based on your experience, any kind of or or are the common messages really the messages that are power good enough?

Yeah, everybody wants power, all these sectors, you know.

We've talked here, power.

I mean, uh, we should change our city logo from uh to a lightning bolt.

I really do.

I think we just need to lead heavy of power.

I say yeah, yeah.

Yeah, AMP is a good selling point for you.

I mean, I think that came through even with Pacific Fusion.

Yeah.

I think we don't have our message with Pacific Fusion.

I think we weren't doing a good job, yeah of our our message, and maybe we're still not doing the best job, but it's better.

We now we have the talking point.

Oh Joe Joe, you're a is a great point.

I mean, we have projects where in other cities were three, four years for a service drop.

Yeah, we just did seven upgrades at Oakland, took three plus years.

Yeah, so yeah, but that's a that's uh definitely a winning selling point.

Like open AI is expanding.

So I just lost an employee to go to open AI because they built a new building, they'd get a new office in Richmond.

He moved, just moved to Alameda or Saleh.

I was on island, but he got a nice big offer money-wise to go join Open AI, which they said, well, we'll build a new office in Richmond.

And he was like, Yeah, let's let's do it.

So those AI companies are investing and they're expanding the Bay Area beyond just the peninsula side.

So obviously when we go after those.

Well, yeah, and you know, in San Francisco, you know, a lot of these as AI starts to move into hard tech, looking for spaces to prototype and put that into the hard tech, there's not a lot of that over there.

Well, that's what I don't know about.

But that's a ferry right away.

It's a rich away.

AI wants to build hardware.

So not only just we uh AI stuff on your computer, they want to get into hardware that takes space to be doing what kind of space they no, yeah.

I mean it's he they said it's I think it's an old you know, crew system building clean.

He was gonna be going into space and I said you're gonna be Googleing out of the cold floor of sale rooms.

We set up the whole floor.

He said, No, I think I'm going more the same as the existing space industry.

So I mean, do we know who the brokers are that are that are helping the AI companies?

I think we're working with them.

Yeah, yeah, I mean being biggest.

Yeah, yeah.

So I mean he could be he or she couldn't also offer the city of Alameda as a potential place.

Yeah, they may not be thinking Alameda when it comes to AI questions.

Yeah, I I had my first conversation with uh an AI robotics company maybe a month ago, um, who was connected by a broker and looking and I um it stole the virtues of a 15-minute ferry ride, and they were it hadn't been written on, hadn't occurred to them that was a 15-minute ferry ride.

So yeah.

Has there ever been any, and I know when we worked on site A, there was some discussion about renaming Alameda Point, rebranding it, you know.

When you think of the name Alameda Point, what does it mean to most people?

You think of Marina Village, marina boats, yachts, but they rebranded it research park, and I think that made a difference.

Um Alameda Point is what that means about things go somewhere in or Wisconsin, but Dan used to be Dan from the research park used to be on this um yes, a long time ago in 2019, and then he couldn't make the that's I was brought on, I think, right when he left.

But do we have an ongoing relationship with him?

Yeah, so I mean, he he could provide quite a bit of intelligent.

Yeah, I think we are looking.

I mean, as part of that part of that website, is it's what is that kind of brand of Alameda Point.

Um, you brand spirits ally consumers, right?

Well, we're we're actually moving away from Spirit's Alley and just leaning hard into this Alameda Point, but I think that's a question.

I think what we'd like to do, and what we discussed after the business coalition meeting is really going the stakeholders together who want to have a say in Alameda Point's positioning and really engaging in this conversation about this website and whether um JLL advised that they don't think that we should move away from the name Alameda Point.

Don't move away.

They think people know what it is, but that we need to change what it means, and then we need to lean into the naval history a little more strongly and um work up the that was just their preliminary advice.

People do know what Alameda Point is, but that the what it identifies as yeah, could be changed.

So we're still in early conversations on that, but I think that's somewhere where we will specifically be engaging Alameda Point-based business.

Yeah, uh point about innovation, you know, just really driving that.

Yeah, I mean that innovation point.

Yeah, innovation point, but innovation item.

I mean, we're it's definitely a component.

We're talking about the workforce.

Uh not just not just what's here in Alameda, but the the access to the workforce through our transportation, how to how the workforce gets to Alameda.

Um the other thing we're highlighting is is kind of the proximity to the to the universities.

So you know that workforce that's from Cal and from San Francisco and all around.

Do you say that essentially the broader message and the more specific message that we're saying?

Um the I think broader message, the only real specific message that we've heard from workforce is maybe in part of our survey is gonna be asking them.

You know, the specific only specific message we've heard is is that middle kind of technician type of worker instead of spirits alley.

What about the runway district at Alameda Point and runway district tying back to you know, obviously the runway and then the naval base, but also just launching these new innovative companies as uh someone again who produces alcohol, the runway district at Alameda Point or something along those lines sounds much more exciting, and something that the broader level of you know, even consumer that we want to attract could gravitate towards and just smear his alley um, but not saying it's gotta be the runway district, but what about something at Alameda Point that ties in to the innovation, you know, kind of the launch pad that is taking place uh the island interesting.

But back on the education, we're quick because something you can be considered, I think we should talk about it.

As a company, we offer our employees a certain amount of money they'd spend each year out with all this continuing education.

Maybe just use it how you want to say, hey, I want to take this course, and some people want to brush up on some skills.

Maybe it's more like saying that in Alameda, if there's you develop a relationship with the local Unity College to also continue do continuous education.

Now exceed education, uh train folks from municipal, but also work with school to offer things for your employees to continue other education and improve on that because they're so close and so local.

If I offer my employees that each can spend X amount of money a year on the community's education, I'd love to say, and here's a list of things that are offered by the community of Alameda, and you can choose from that.

That'd be really kind of an incentive to get people when we talk about workforce.

Not only I got contended with if you don't live on the island, right?

It's it isn't sometimes they could drive from other places and get here, where if you say other perks besides me giving them free coffee and snacks, is here's an educational thing that you can take advantage of on the work.

Exactly that home with Alameda County in public administration, uh, as a way for their employees to move up and take courses at our college.

You mentioned with Pacific Fusion, you honed your message.

Did you tie it into College of Alameda?

Was that a portion of the selling point for them?

That's the event for yes, you did host events on your campus, absolutely.

Because they were going to require a fairly large, well-trained force, and obviously you're not producing physicists, but at the technician level, it seemed like it might be.

Yeah, I'm trying to remember.

Yeah, um, we had lots of conversations.

We had um many conversations with the college, and we talked about um what the opportunities would be.

Um, but I don't remember that we, you know, to well, we saw what happened there.

We we didn't have a chance really to take it beyond that, but but definitely it was uh it was an important piece of um what they wanted to do out there.

And we visited there.

Yeah, you toured, that's right.

And I think as we hone the like the message around technicians and maybe the curriculum around technicians, that's gonna be just a huge attractor.

We're talking about selling points, and we're talking about AMP, and that's an obvious that's kind of a catch over the middle of the plate, but Alameda College is another.

I mean, it's it's a local resource, it's right here on the island.

Well, that's still a little too simple because you think you hear all the news of the AIs taking away jobs.

One of the things AI jobs are not taking away, people physically build things or physically things, not replacing that yet with robots, and so that still needs a core base of people humans to do work.

And I think the Alameda Point is something you can see come to Alameda and build things.

I mean, build whatever you're building, building food or lots you can do that in Alameda.

Yeah.

Well, I think I think you bring up a good point.

I think we were always looking at or tending to focus more on the on getting employees, on attracting those employees.

If you're a company moving here, you know where you're gonna gather those employees from.

But I think that's a good point for us to remember is it's also the retention side of it, how how your employees are moving up, growing their skills, so we can start have we could have those kind of teachers too.

What I'm saying now is that yeah, they pretty young workforce, and then a number of people just getting married or having their first children, and that's why I said the gentleman just moved to the island because he was living in the city, having his first baby, wanted to move into the almond community from schools and more of a neighborhood community.

So he was choosing their own work there, and now I recognize the community aspect and want to live opportunities too, is these young startup companies attract a lot.

Young engineers that are just fresh and unmarried or don't have children, but recognize over time the value of Alameda that's if you're building.

I think the other thing is, you know, for we're we're recruiting at universities, you know, all over the state.

Um, over time we see actually more and more students who are getting from Cal State East Bay just because of proximity.

It's like they already have a foothold if you're if you're trying to pull someone who's from outside the Bay Area and they don't have a foothold already in, you know, they don't have family, whatever already in the Bay Area.

I mean, it's just a hard place to move to.

It's expensive, it's really expensive.

You know, think of College of Alameda, all those students must have some sort of foothold, or they wouldn't even be there.

They would go to whatever community college was where they are.

So I mean, as a as a resource, a workforce resource, you know, there's tons of young people that are right there that already have figured out how to make it work here, or they're willing to figure out how to make a work here because they like this place.

move to is expensive it's really expensive you know think of college of Alameda all those students must have some sort of foothold or they wouldn't even be there they would go to whatever community college was where they are so i mean as a as a resource a workforce resource you know there's tons of young people that are right there but already have figured out how to make it work here or they're willing to figure out how to make a work here because they like this was it can be hard to convince people that are from somewhere else that sometimes you know they might have it but they're like yeah cost a little and you know and then they give up that wasn't high just going back to the websites for a second um are you planning to utilize the great video that you showed at the state of the city um I feel like those videos each year are such a great promotional tool um and I don't know if you're planning on using either of those that video for either of the websites yeah so both websites will have video components the choose almita and the alamed a point one where they're still for the choose alumina point the the videos would be shown at the very top for the for the Alameda point one that would still be figured out where things like that would get embedded but we feel we have a really strong um kind of library of videos and pictures that do a great job of kind of of telling the story so we're definitely using those that's great because then you can I think you're already are repurposing those for social media just in you know bite-sized chunks and and it's again those those videos are really strong tools um and I also by the way liked the um runway district idea I like that I like that name um so I think I guess in in summary for the messages what I'm hearing from this group is it's there's it's it's not necessarily industry specific messages there's still these common messages that that we should be pushing the the unique space and the power and innovation and those type of things uh you know from what I'm hearing those are the messages that are important for us to be focusing on not just you know not just okay what what are the five messages for biotech or blue tech it's it's still yeah there's just you know it's still building by things that every industry you know the power the innovation right culture the quality of life the um live work play yeah yeah you need to be generic enough to whether the shifts and change where the investments are going like right now like said it's a lot of investment in AI and defense but with a different government administration that all the ship back into green and all these other things but you know not kind of pigeonholing one industry or whether those shifts yeah it could be a little crashes right in the mobile and you have one there be building so you want that um we've gone through most of are there any other comments or follow up kind of we've gone through our list of of questions and feedback that's been really helpful um is there anything else you guys want to bring up for the for this discussion uh well thank you thank you for your time and uh I think that was I mean there's no action required for this it was it was really just discussion so I think we're ready now to move on to the next big agenda item well I only want you with this oh and I'll start questioning with the the roadway designs what is an open agenda if you want industry to come in that that's actually requires large trucks the road design and the training have to be considered in that planning and they can't you know I just think there's some of these large buildings uh the worlds are getting narrower and narrow so uh it would be great to have a separate discussion with your city whoever designs the plan of that before we've met with the yeah David has yeah spill of turning radius conversations we can't get long trucks out of the base anymore with the new rotaries the new roundabouts they're not sized for uh stranded length truck maintenance that allows truck traffic at least one and then we can use it just design and size for the post evidence that was lost in the uh the design discussion yeah we'll we will um engage I think it's as you all know what I think we're working on getting the funding for the phase two reasons loop and which is nearing 100% design so we will get together with public works to make sure because because Monarch Redline and Maine I believe is the truck route yeah that was how we need to solve still maintain a truck loop for you know yeah big buildings big you know the trucks yeah you should get together with public works and and discuss how we're gonna I I think we learned a hard lesson with the roundabout and what we did to power engineering and in particular

Yeah, that was talking years ago.

We have maintaining a truck loop or you know, yeah, big buildings, big you know, the trucks.

Yeah, we should get together with public works and and discuss how we're gonna.

I think we learned a hard lesson with the roundabout and what we did to power engineering and in particular.

What roundabout is uh one that's going in right now.

The one that's coming in right now, so uh at um yeah, we're facilitating the base where Pacific Fusion was going to go.

Yeah.

Um that roundabout won't allow an extended length truck, uh, just based on the approach angle and the term radius.

So you've effectively closed the gate.

We're we're working on a solution at Orion and Atlantic.

It's gonna take a little while to Ryan doesn't really exist going into Atlantic yet from the south side.

Yeah, yeah.

And the current approach to Atlantic infrastructure planning for choosing where you're going after you should be interested.

I'm glad you said that working.

Yeah, right.

If you knock it all down for everybody has agreed, um your near building obviously love our bike leading stage.

Just just one.

Yeah.

All right.

I think we're on to numbers seven staff communications.

Yep.

So uh item seven, any staff communication.

You want to start?

Uh week and what career fair?

And yeah.

Uh so we've yeah, so economic development standpoint.

Uh I think it's is it, yeah.

It's the end of next week.

Uh we have our our departments doing the annual restaurant week.

Uh it's it's it's kind of a world cup type of theme.

Um where people can go to different restaurants and then have like you've kind of a bracket where you're picking restaurants and then you have kind of an overall kind of winner.

So that's starting the end of next week, and then right after that in April, we have our annual career fair that we're doing at the high school.

So it's it's it's at Anson High School.

Um, and so that's a way that the career fair for for business for people to learn about what's out there for businesses.

These are all high schoolers.

Um, and that's also an entry to our um a way for people to get plugged into our summer internship program at the city of Alameda.

So that's kind of March and April coming up pretty quickly.

I usually get an email about that.

We participate in the last song.

About about the career fair, about you guys participating.

Oh, we're there.

Okay.

I uh does something, but I know we're closing it.

Okay.

Maybe it went to an athlete's department, not directly to the okay.

I'll make sure you're connected.

Yeah.

And I was asked to make an announcement about some staffing transitions, not in our department.

There are no staffing transitions in our department.

And there will not be no one's allowed to leave, right?

Um Alan Ty announced yesterday he is leaving as planning director.

He's leaving for the city of San Pablo to be the community development director in San Pablo.

Um, and he will be leaving at the end of March.

So um, I don't have any update on transition, but we'll be acting.

So you all are always welcome to reach out to me if you have any planning concerns, of course.

And as well, library director Michael Eiger is also leaving this uh or uh Michael Either, the director of library.

Oh okay.

Um, I believe I want to say Solano County to be the head of the Solana County Libraries, which is where he came from.

So changes afoot.

Yeah.

Do you know how to manager search in Scrum?

Yeah.

Um, they're still conducting interviews.

Um, so they're they're doing interviews at the council meetings right now.

So I don't know.

We are being told to look for a transition potentially June, but of course it depends on who the candidates are.

Were there four?

I think did they say announce that there were four of them?

I don't remember.

I don't know if they could all be announced for their public.

Somewhere between three and five.

Any other staff communication?

Can't think of anything.

Do we have any panel member communication?

Anyone?

I'd like to share an update.

Uh there is a new restaurant coming to Alameda where the Comedy Club used to be on Central Avenue.

The ribbon cutting is on April 2nd at 4 o'clock in the evening.

Um hopefully everybody can come in.

What's it called?

It's called Linia.

It's replacing the comedy club.

What's style food?

Mexican.

Yep.

Yeah, Mexican foods.

So that will be great.

Then uh we just finished the state of the city.

Our next uh signature event is the Innovation Island Business Excellence Awards will be hosted at Almanag Adventure Land uh on May 14th from five to seven in the evening.

Uh so we're gonna look for nominations on that.

And we're having the committee formed next week when we have our board meeting too, so that'll be great.

Um, and then also on next Thursday, the 19th, we have our um business after our social at Oakland Roots and Souls in the evening five to seven.

It'll be a great event, especially that they're running the theme of the World Cup there too.

So it'll be great for everybody to come and join us there.

What day is that?

That's next Thursday, uh the 19th.

The day after the board meeting there.

Great for everybody to come to that.

Um, that's what I have so far.

Oh, speaking of speaking of that, I don't know if the group knows that we did so that so uh the open roots and soul facility.

We went out to with help support them for getting a World Cup team.

We use that as the base camp.

So that's yeah, then announced that Australia is going to be the team that's coming to excites us because we think the Australia team drinks more beer.

We we met with the Dell and you bet for probably a fair bit.

I think they said something.

I was what was the number?

Like a hundred thousand Australians in the Bay area, it was a big number.

Wow.

Yeah, I know a hundred thousand put in for the bids for the tickets.

Okay, yeah, but it is it was a large, it was the diaspora is large in the Bay Area, tens of thousands, please.

Yeah, I should employees that have their team states, and so you're excited about it.

Yeah, they're ringing 27, but they did make it to the round of 16 last time.

Very cool.

Sorry, that's good news.

Any other communication?

Well, with that, uh I wanted to mention one thing.

Sorry.

Oh, sorry, Beck, I didn't see your hand.

That's okay.

Um, so the ESPADA hosts the innovation awards, and it's on the 26th, I believe.

It's a Thursday evening, and it's the first time they're having it at the newly remodeled Kaiser Center in Oakland.

And um, I believe I know Rhythmics from Alameda is getting an award, and Dwayne, Abby.

I don't know if any other Alameda businesses are getting awards this year in the past.

I know SailDron has received yes.

There is Anthro Energy is getting an award as well.

Oh, that's great.

Okay.

Thanks, Becca.

Um are there any?

There's no public, no one on the public here.

So no public comments.

Well, with that, the meeting is adjourned.

Great.

Thank you all for coming.

Um at home, right?

For the government option.