The Expansion Committee held it first meeting, a planning retreat, on September 26th. Additional meetings have been held October 10th, October 24th, and November 7th. The meetings to date have focused on:
1)Establishing the working relationship of the team
2)Reviewing goals and objectives of the expansion project
3)Identifying a best-estimate for the 2008 budget process
4)Creating a preliminary communications plan
5)Developing a 2008 workplan and timeline
The Expansion Committee is acutely aware that increasing sales and a growing customer base highlight the need to move forward with the expansion process in a timely manner. In addition, increasing land values in downtown Olympia, and the rising costs of energy and construction materials are factors that mean the longer the expansion process takes, the higher the potential costs. However, the Expansion Committee also understands that it is important that the expansion process be inclusive of the concerns and ideas of Staff, membership and the larger community. Taken together, these factors point to the need for achieving an acceptable and reasonable balance between process and outcomes.
If the Co-Op were undertaking simply the development of a new grocery store in downtown Olympia, the work of the Expansion Committee would be much simpler and the timeline shorter. However, with the goal of co-location the work is significantly more complicated and brings forth a number of challenges, including identifying potential co-location models and community partners. The Expansion Committee believes that until some of these co-location issues are resolved it will be difficult, if not impossible, to move forward with certain elements of the expansion process, such as identifying operating procedures and staffing needs, building design, and equipment acquisition.
The 2008 workplan and timeline presented by the Expansion Committee is designed to do the work necessary to answer key questions about co-location and site by October, 2008. This timeline was chosen in order to coincide with development of the 2009 budget.
Admittedly this is an aggressive timeline, and the committee understands that it may be necessary to make adjustments in the timeline as it moves forward. However, we strongly believe it is in the financial interests of the Co-Op to resolve key issues related to the expansion as quickly as possible.
The Expansion Committee has identified three outcomes that are the basis of the 2008 workplan:
1.Determine which co-location model(s) have the highest potential to advance the expansion goal adopted by the Board, which community partners are the best fit for the chosen model(s), and what the legal and operational relationship should be between the Co-Op and its partner(s).
2.Identify which site(s) in downtown best meet the needs of the chosen expansion model, and begin the process of acquiring the site(s).
3.Confirm the financial capacity of the Co-Op to support development of a third store at the chosen location(s).
Each of these outcomes has a number of specific actions that will be required to be completed, and each specific action has a number of potential tasks. In addition, all three outcomes are inter-related. For example:
the preferred location may impact which community partners are interested in the project
the financial capacity of the Co-Op will help shape the most appropriate co-location models.
The 2008 workplan and timeline is designed to recognize these connections and ensure that all of the information necessary for decision making is available prior to the time a decision needs to be made.
If the Expansion Committee is successful in implementing the 2008 workplan, it will be in a position to develop and execute a 2009 workplan with an emphasis on building design, resolving operational and staffing issues, acquiring necessary equipment and furnishings, and potentially opening a downtown store in late 2009 or 2010.
