Three years after the creation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan, Issaquah City Council members heard the first annual Economic Vitality Report at the March 24 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.

The Economic Development Strategic Plan was created to serve as a map for future economic development, and the report details progress made on that plan during fiscal year 2008. It also briefly highlights what’s coming up in 2009.

A presentation by Economic Development Manager Dan Trimble diagrammed the six different “goal groups” that make up the plan, and gave examples of progress made in each area.

“Various efforts have been made throughout the city to work on the different action items presented in the plan,” he said. “And we’ve made good accomplishments so far.”

The six areas are: Place Making and Design Guidelines; Effective Mobility; Protect the Natural Environment; Arts, Culture and Recreation; Business Development; and Services, Housing and Education.

Some of the most recent efforts by the city toward supporting these goals are the Transportation Fee Exemption for buildings up to 10,000 square feet, increasing mass transit coverage, the Tree Preservation Program, development of new parks, and the creation of a Human Services Commission, among many other things.

Trimble praised these achievements, and the steps being taken toward future ones, as giving the city the ability to be attractive to businesses, even in an uncertain economy.

“Whether it’s for a small start-up, or a 500,000 square foot user, we will have some opportunities within the city,” he said.

He cited the planned Swedish Medical Center in the Issaquah Highlands and the Overlake Medical Center as examples of business being drawn to the city, and said the developments would encourage other medical offices to move to town.

Some new projects scheduled to begin later this year include a new dance studio on Front Street, an art school by artbyfire, opening Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in the old Chile’s Bar and Grill space, and building a “green” office building on Rainier Boulevard North.

Some efforts laid out in the plan could take years to complete, however, such as recruiting a branch of a college campus to Issaquah and bringing all new buildings to LEED certification.

City Council members praised efforts made so far, and said the plan was an important step in keeping Issaquah an exciting and attractive place to live and work.

“Economic vitality is everyone’s business in the community,” Councilman Fred Butler said. “The better we do on economic vitality and the better we know and understand the things that are impediments, we can respond in a way to address those impediments and make Issaquah a more desirable place for business and others.”