City of Santa Cruz Using a crisis to empower a community

Get Involved: Stay Informed

 cityofsantacruz.com

Economic Development’s Core Mission

Economic Development Mission Statement

- Create a more balanced revenue base for city government

- Work within a framework of preserving the cultural and environmental aspects that make the community so unique

Goals

I. Increase Access to Capital for entrepreneurs and SMBs II. Identify and Retain Talent III. Streamline the Interaction of Private Capital / Energy with Local

Government

Capital

We are focused on working to leverage our tax increments to address the credit crunch brought on by the Global Recession

- New Market Tax Credits (National Development Corporation)

- SBA Backed Revolving Loan Program

- Micro Lending Revolving Loan Programs

Retention of Talent

New Tech Meetup Santa Cruz Geeks SBDC Freelance Camp Girls in Tech

Working With UCSC

An Ecosystem of Cooperation

Entrepreneurs / SMB need not go it alone in Santa Cruz Government Support:

- Economic Development runs on social capital

- Role as facilitator

- Socialize our innovative companies

- Encourage local investment

- Fund programs and organizations that foster our main goals, liquidity and talent retention

Marketing & Technology

New tactics for a new economy Focus on developing sustainability

California Finances

The Private Sector Has It Easy

9 Sets of Reductions

A New Kind of Government

Fix West Cliff if it falls in the Sea

Rebuild after an earthquake

Rebuild after an Earthquake … Or a Tsunami

Vital Services

We needed to communicate directly with the public and reset expectations of what

a City can and can’t provide its citizens

Who Controls the Debate?

Vox Populi

Anonymous Speaks

New Tools, New Conversations

Obligatory Picture of Serenity

Crisis forced us to try something new

Potential Landmines

- IP issues

- IT security

- Free speech implications

- Bureaucratic Territory

- Over Politicization

A New Framework

Not YOU should do this, but WE CAN do this.

Accessibility

Two Paths: One Clear Choice

ReasonMadness

Widening the Debate

A Voice Emerges

Sorry for the Small Print

Still Outliers

Updates & Information

Success on a Shoestring

Cruelest Cut

Lessons Learned

Don’t rely on a third party to tell your story Show all your cards Public Opinion can be reasonable, creative and powerful Solicit feedback in narrow channels without anonymity

Good Examples of this Philosophy

DataSF Data.gov

Geeks are a Patriotic & Powerful Resource Technology is the only service than can help automate municipal

processes, saving dollars and increasing efficiency Technology leads to more transparency, a good thing for democracy Technology can help to foster innovation Can help get more (and different) people involved in an ongoing debate

Results

The Status Quo can’t hold through more budget cycles like this

- The community must be taken into consideration when making cuts

- This website framework can be used for other crises

- Exploring real time feedback in council meetings

- Reframed the debate around economic development

- Slow / no growth versus smart / green growth

Results

Out of the top ten ideas voted up on the site more than half are under serious discussion at the City.

- Palomar Hotel

- IT / Tech Development

- Mutual aid in public safety and fire

Thanks to the team . . . And you