■ Website, sustainability program up for discussion

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

A staff review of recent activities related to the implementation of the city’s Business Development Action Plan will highlight Wednesday night’s monthly Economic Development Board meeting.

“Some of the most valuable information is going to be an update on where we are on the Business Development Action Plan,” said Mario Giuliani, acting economic development manager. “Staff time is being heavily invested, as well as the attention of the EDB.”

Among the highlights: formation of an economic development website and updates from the Permit Streaming Task Force, as well as a report on the sustainable management program.

Staff will recommend the appointment of one to two EDB members to assist with comments and suggestions during the development of the economic development website. EDSuite, a software and website development company based in northeast Texas, is creating the website.

The task force, made up of staff from various departments, will give an update on its work to expedite the permitting process for new businesses, Giuliani said.

According to the city’s Economic Indicators Report released last August, “there is a lot of room for improving time efficiency and permit processing efficiencies to facilitate locating and establishing business in the downtown.”

The report described the sustainable management program as an incentive program involving outreach and evaluations for Industrial Park businesses on how they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.

A review of Benicia’s second quarter 2011 sales tax data also is on the agenda; staff will give the board an update on receipts for April, May and June of last year.

Diamond Bar-based HdL Companies, hired by the city to report sales and property tax earnings, “will provide a quarterly update on, for example, the top ten sales tax producers in Benicia,” Giuliani said.

The company also will give a review of sales tax earnings in the state and the county, he said, to “give people an idea of what is happening economically in Benicia, at a county level, and at a state level.”

Benicia Main Street will also give its bimonthly report.

If You Go
The Economic Development Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Commission Room at City Hall, 250 East L St.

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