TELE•GRAHAM
The adage “evolve or die” resonates not only in business but also in the vitality of communities. This principle underscores the crucial need for constant renewal, modernization, and revitalization, which are driven by the lifeblood of economic development. In recent years, the El Cajon City Council has prioritized economic growth, a commitment poised to remain at the forefront of our agenda. Economic development, from a municipal standpoint, involves aligning property owners, enthusiastic developers, businesses, and resources to cultivate investment opportunities within our community. This infusion of capital and effort should yield community benefits, including employment opportunities, local government revenue, and enhanced access to goods and services. In essence, economic development fuels the growth of our local economy, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for El Cajon’s residents, workforce, and visitors.
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It’s important to clarify what economic development is not. While some may wish for specific stores or long-standing retailers to persist, market forces wield a greater influence than any municipality. As shopping trends and preferences evolve, certain retailers may become obsolete. These shifts lie beyond the influence of the City of El Cajon. Similarly, property owners hold constitutional rights protected by law, allowing them to decide how to develop their properties within established zoning regulations. Despite a city’s regulatory powers, property owners are entitled to lawful property development within their defined zoning rights. Given these constraints, you might wonder how a city can drive economic development. The answer is: “Quite a lot.” Cities can craft economic development strategies that outline objectives, leveraging their community’s competitive strengths and weaknesses. Our City Council recently approved the El Cajon Economic Development Strategic Plan, charting a course toward prosperity. Cities can also adopt policies and procedures that empower businesses and entrepreneurship while minimizing obstacles to development. Our City’s pro-business stance is exemplified by being the sole entity in San Diego County without developer impact fees, streamlining the solar permitting process, and nurturing partnerships with organizations like the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce and the East County Economic Development Council. In this edition of My El Cajon, we delve into our City’s dynamic economic development initiatives. These pages celebrate our community’s accomplishments and ongoing progress. I take pride in our recent milestones and am optimistic about El Cajon’s future. I invite you to share in this optimism as you explore this issue. As always, I welcome your input on ways to enhance our City. If you’d like to contribute your thoughts, please feel free to reach out to me at (619) 441-1718 or gmitchell@elcajon.gov.
City of El Cajon (619) 441-1776 City Attorney (619) 441-1798 City Clerk (619) 441-1763 City Manager (619) 441-1716 Community Development (619) 441-1741 Finance (619) 441-1668 Fire Administration (619) 441-1601 Human Resources (619) 441-1736 Information Technology (619) 441-1535 Parks & Recreation (619) 441-1754 Police Administration (619) 579-3311
- Graham Mitchell, CITY MANAGER
City Council | (619) 441-1788 - Bill Wells, MAYOR - Steve Goble, DEPUTY MAYOR
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Public Works (619) 441-1653 Reports and Issues (619) 441-1658
- Gary Kendrick, COUNCILMEMBER - Michelle Metschel, COUNCILMEMBER - Phil Ortiz, COUNCILMEMBER
- Police: (619) 579-3311 - Fire: (619) 441-1600
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