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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br /> <br /> Work Session: Economic Development Committee Recommendations Regarding <br /> Business Facilitator/Ombudsman <br /> <br />Meeting Date: November 10, 2004 Agenda Item Number: A <br />Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Tom Coyle <br />www. cl. euget~e, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-6077 <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br />A work session regarding the Economic Development Committee recommendations is scheduled on <br />November 10, 2004, to review issues related to the recommendation specific to a business facilitator <br />function. It is requested that the City Council approve the recommendation of the Mayor's Committee <br />to fund a facilitator for the purpose of assisting businesses and direct the City Manager to proceed with <br />the necessary steps and actions for implementation. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />On August 9, 2004, four primary recommendations of the Mayor's Committee on Economic <br />Development were presented to the City Council. The report was accepted by the council by a vote of <br />7-0. Motions related to specific recommendations were postponed with a request that additional work <br />sessions be scheduled to further examine the specific issues. <br /> <br />One of the recommendations of the committee in support of new tools follows: <br /> <br /> · The City Council and Budget Committee should fund a facilitator to assist businesses with <br /> expansion, coordinate multi-agency review of development permits, and assist in developing <br /> methods and policies to help streamline the permitting process. <br /> <br />If the City Council approves this recommendation of the Mayor's Committee on Economic <br />Development there would be financial considerations which would need to be determined for <br />prioritizing and approving budget monies to fund a facilitator for business assistance. The cost <br />associated with funding a business facilitator has been estimated at $80-100,000. The logical time to <br />proceed with establishing this function would be for the FY05-06 budget year. <br /> <br />Although this function doesn't directly address council goals or action priorities as stated, it would have <br />a role in supporting sustainable community development through facilitation of local projects that <br />support growth management principles. <br /> <br /> L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M041110\S041110A. doc <br /> <br /> <br />