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<br />e <br /> <br />Ms. Schue agreed. She felt that the City needs a strong, unified voice stating <br />that the City is working on economic development issues. The City seems to have <br />an "image problem" in the area of economic development and the business community <br />does not seem to believe that the City or the council is committed to economic <br />development. <br /> <br />Ms. Miller agreed that the City and the community had done about all that could <br />be done on the advisory/volunteer level, and that the time might well have come <br />where staff commitment was necessary. When staff reports back, she would <br />appreciate responses to the following questions: How could such an effort avoid <br />being yet another duplication of existing efforts? What would be the cost of <br />staffing such an office? What would be the goals of such an office? What would <br />be some of the projects such an office could undertake, especially in light of <br />the City's dependence on the national and international economy and on the <br />timber market? Has the council been specific enough in its goals, priorities, <br />and projects for these to translate into some effective economic development <br />program? <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Mr. Gleason saw a consensus on the council in support of Councilor Obie's <br />suggestion. He suggested that staff make an initial report, that the council <br />then discuss the issue further, and that such discussion be used as a basis for <br />determining a course of action. He felt that staff would need until mid-July to <br />prepare a report to the council. <br /> <br />Mr. Obie suggested that if the council mini-goals session could not be <br />scheduled until late in the summer, the council should spend three hours at <br />a regular Wednesday noon meeting in the near future discussing this topic. <br />Ms. Wooten felt that the Wednesday noon meetings do not lend themselves to good <br />"give and take" discussion. She felt that a public meeting/retreat would be a <br />better format for the discussion. <br /> <br />Ms. Schue indicated that the Lane Council of Governments Board had scheduled an <br />hour on its May 28 agenda for discussion of coordination of economic development <br />efforts. She agreed to convey the concerns of the council at that meeting. <br /> <br />Mr. Gleason agreed to pursue the council's suggestions. <br /> <br />C. Possible Reopening of Willamette Street Between 10th and 11th Avenues <br /> <br />Mr. Obie said that he will be proposing to the Renewal Agency and the Planning <br />Department that both groups take a look at the possibility of reopening Willamette <br />Street between 10th and 11th avenues. He felt that the retail situation in that <br />area was extremely difficult and that corrective measures were needed soon, or <br />the remaining merchants may well abandon the area. He did not know if restoring <br />automobile traffic on Willamette would solve the problem, but he will be asking <br />that the suggestion be looked into and that a report back be made to the council. <br /> <br />D. State Budget for Higher Education <br /> <br />Ms. Wooten was extremely distressed at the deliberations of the State government <br />regarding the budget for higher education. She said that she had personally <br />written to Representative Bill Grannell and Senator John Powell, chairs of the <br /> <br />-e <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />May 27, 1981 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br />