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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Action: 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 11, 2005 Agenda Item Number: 7 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 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 is scheduled to review the joint sponsorship issue on April 6, 2005, with formal action expected following the council's adoption of the proposed Resolution. 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, they 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. RELATED CITY POLICIES The enterprise zone tax exemption addresses the following related City policies: · Sustainable Community Development. The council's Sustainable Community Development goal addresses high quality of life and a healthy economy. The availability of quality jobs is a basic L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050411\S0504117.doc