Item A - Res.on Enterprise Zone - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Resolution 4832 Authorizing the City Manager to Make Application to the State of Oregon for Designation of a West Eugene Enterprise Zone Meeting Date: April 20, 2005 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Denny Braud www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5536 ISSUE STATEMENT Consistent with the direction provided in the March 7, 2005 work session, the council is being asked to approve a resolution authorizing submittal of an application to the State of Oregon in 2005, for establishment of an enterprise zone in Eugene. The council is also being asked to consider options for adoption of job quality standards that would apply to the enterprise zone tax exemption. BACKGROUND Action on this agenda item was originally scheduled for April 11, 2005. Due to time constraints at that meeting, the agenda item was rescheduled for April 20, 2005. On March 7, 2005, the council directed the City Manager to bring back a resolution authorizing submittal of an application to the State of Oregon for designation of an enterprise zone in 2005, jointly sponsored with and supported by Lane County. The application will be submitted on or before April 25, 2005. If the application is successful, the proposed West Eugene Enterprise Zone would be in place on July 1, 2005. The Lane County Board of Commissioners reviewed the joint sponsorship issue on April 6, 2005, and has provided direction to bring back a Board Order authorizing the application on April 20, 2005. At the March 7, 2005, meeting, the council also directed the City Manager to bring back a recommendation for establishing job quality standards applicable to the proposed enterprise zone. Because the local standards are not required to be included in the State of Oregon application, such standards can be created and amended at any time prior to the designation of the zone, or any time during the life of the zone. In accordance with State statutes, additional criteria must be "reasonably related to the public purpose of providing opportunities for groups of persons to obtain employment." The Mayor's Committee on Economic Development did not recommend specific job quality standards. However, it suggested that job quality be considered based on attractive wages, employee benefits, job training, advancement opportunities, job retention, and utilization of programs that assist disadvantaged workers. Various amendments to the resolution prepared for the April 11, 2005, meeting have been proposed. Therefore, an amended resolution reflecting proposed changes is included as Attachment B. L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050420\S050420A. doc