09/08/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Miller asked whether property taxes would have an impact on schools in the area or on the tax base, Mr. Beyer said the impact would be to expand the e assessed value for everyone, and assuming budgets did not go up, it would lDwer taxes for everyone, Ms. Ehrman asked how long the enterprise zone would be established, Mr. Beyer said the zone would be established for a period of ten years, but the City could request cancellation after two years, Responding to Ms, Ehrman's question, Mr, Beyer said the State Revenue Department, working with the County assessor, would be responsible for monitoring the zone, He added the City would commit to work with the State on a two-year evaluation. MaYDr Obie opened the public hearing, Vicki Dietmeyer, 2026 Lake Is 1 e Dri ve , spoke as an economic development professional, She said she had examined development incentives being offered by other states throughout the country and was concerned that many communities had given away too much, while others had not offered enough incentives. She said she thought OregDn was beginning to enter the economic development business by examining incentives, Ms. Dietmeyer said she had written a letter in favor of the enterprise zone designation because of the Fantus report1s identification of property taxes as a major liability and because the zone was needed for Eugene to compete with other areas of the state and the nation, Ms, Dietmeyer said the Metro Partnership needed tools to recruit businesses. She said the enterprise zone would send a message to businesses that they were wanted. She added that she believed the zone was a moderate incentive that e would not hurt the community and might help recruit new businesses. She also noted that representatives of two good-sized companies had said they would not locate in Eugene without an enterprise zone, Mayor Obie closed the public hearing, Mr, Hansen said although he intially had opposed the enterprise zone because it appea red to favor one area of the community over others, he now was generally supportive of the proposal. He added, however, that he still was troubled by section 2a of the resolution, giving priority review of plans, and by section 2b, giving priority consideration for loans and financing assistance. He said he thought all areas of the community should receive equal treatment and added that he planned to move that those items be deleted from the resolution, Mr, Farkas said a list Df incentives had been received from the State, and those that were moderate and least offensive to the commun i ty had been selected, He said staff believed the incentives were following a course of policy direction when applied to the West end of the community and were necessary to win the competitive application process, which would award ten enterprise zones among more than ten applications. Ms, Wooten asked what the State was contributing to the enterprise zone, Mr, Gleason said the State would provide expertise and monitoring, e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 7