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Additionally, questions have been raised regarding additional railroad-related property that was not removed from the proposed enterprise zone boundary. A response to these questions is included in Attachment E, and an alternative map depicting the removal of this additional railroad-related property from the proposed enterprise zone is included in Attachment F. 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 quality of life issue. With a local unemployment rate that exceeds the national average, and local income levels below state and national averages, the creation of new production sector jobs is fundamental to the health of the local labor market. The creation of an enterprise zone will also provide an incentive for redevelopment, infill development, and brownfield redevelopment, which are primary sustainability goals. · Growth Management. The enterprise zone advances the City's Growth Management goals by encouraging more intensive industrial development in a defined area that has been zoned accordingly, and where existing public infrastructure investments have already occurred. · Fair, Stable, and Adequate Financial Resources. The long-term property tax revenues resulting from new investments that are encouraged by the short-term tax exemption address the council's goal for financial resources adequate to maintain and deliver municipal services. COUNCIL OPTIONS Regarding the establishment of job quality standards, the following three options have been identified: 1. Establish standards prior to July 1, 2005. Under this option, staff is proposing that the enterprise zone subcommittee of the Mayor's Committee on Economic Development be utilized and expanded for the purpose of developing a recommendation on job quality standards. The subcommittee participants included Rusty Rexius, Cathy Smith, Steve Korth, Tom Bowerman, and Jana Rygas. The expansion of the subcommittee would include a representative from the Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network, and a representative from the University of Oregon's Economic Forum. The Lane Workforce Partnership has also expressed an interest in participating in the process. The Oregon Employment Department would be utilized to provide relevant local employment and wage data. The expanded subcommittee group would gather public input, draft a recommendation on job quality standards, and present the recommendation to the public for input prior to Council adoption. Pros. - Utilizes subcommittee participants who are familiar with the enterprise zone issues, and previously initiated some work on local standards. - Expands the subcommittee to include additional special interest and local expertise. - If application is successful this year, standards would be in place prior to designation of the zone. Cons. - Requires dedication of resources, and time commitment from the public, with no assurance that Eugene's application will be successful this year. - Timeline for thorough analysis, public input, and recommendation is compressed. L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050420\S050420A. doc