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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />liThe common charter of this city does require that I stand here before you <br />today to report on the conditions and concerns of our community. You have <br />heard the progress and it has been duly recorded. We have begun our <br />renaissance--that return to greatness--that we spoke of a year ago. <br /> <br />"While I believe it is important that we focus on the horizon, and principally <br />on the kind of community we want to be, let's take a closer look at what 1986 <br />holds for us. The foundation laid and the victories experienced in 1985 will <br />turn into jobs and will begin to fuel a new economy this year. <br /> <br />"0ne of the greatest joys I have as your mayor is cutting ribbons and <br />breaking ground on new projects. Each one represents a step forward for this <br />community. Each new or expanding business means jobs and a more stable future <br />for Eugeneans. <br /> <br />"This year, 1986, we will break ground on over $100 million of projects. <br />Among those projects will be the new State-Federal science complex at the <br />University of Oregon, the 6th/7th avenue widening and improvement from <br />Washington to Garfield, a new medical laboratory adjoining Sacred Heart <br />Hospital, and--with your support--a new airport terminal. <br /> <br />"Add this to a growing level of construction starts of over $57 million in <br />1985, which, by the way, was a 61% increase over 1984. And keep in mind, that <br />commercial and residential remodeling today are at an all-time high in this <br />community. Put those things together, and I am confident that to refer to <br />1986 as a significant growth year will, indeed, be an understatement. <br /> <br />"While I may be the last to say that our work is done, let me be among the <br />first to say, that we are about to experience an exciting and stimulating time <br />in this community, and our collective effort will, indeed, have provided a <br />better future than the irratic past. <br /> <br />"I do have one fear. I fear, that with rising employment levels and better <br />economic times, we will begin to hear the cries that our energies and <br />resources would be better spent in other ways than on economic development. I <br />ask you to stand guard with me and not allow this to happen. We must not <br />slacken our efforts or reduce our intensity at the first signs of success. <br />Our goal to diversify our economy, so we do not ever again experience the <br />ravages of a deep receession, has only begun. Our efforts and results will be <br />measured in years or perhaps decades, not weeks or months. <br /> <br />"When I spoke to you a year ago, I did not speak to you of promises, but I did <br />speak to you of challenges. Some of those challenges were ideas and ideals <br />embodied in a group of projects described as the Eugene Agenda. Lest there be <br />any misunderstanding that this community's agenda is dead, let me state that <br />it will only die if your and my energy dies or our common commitment begins to <br />fade. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />January 6, 1986 <br /> <br />Page 8 <br />