Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> C. Chapter 1: Background on the Local Economy <br />e Ms. Ehrman and Mr. Bennett said they appreciated the information presented in <br /> Chapter 1. <br /> Mayor Obie said he hoped that the plan in its final form will deal in more <br /> specific terms with the wood products industry. He referred to a statement on <br /> page 5 that "this sector has regained much of its pre-recession production <br /> capacity but with approximately 40 percent fewer workers. II He sa i d this <br /> figure seemed too high. <br /> Mr. Rutan said CCED discussed several times what the plan should contain <br /> regarding the wood products industry--specifically, whether the City should <br /> be involved in lobbying to assist the industry in sustaining its current <br /> allowable timber yeild. He said the committee felt that this was not an <br /> appropriate role for the City. <br /> Ms. Wooten added that a number of years ago, the council informally decided <br /> not to involed the City in this type of lobbying. <br /> Mr. Obie said that how the spotted owls and wilderness areas are treated will <br /> have more impact on employment that any other single issue. He sa i d the <br /> council will not be doing its job if it chooses to ignore this. <br /> Referring to a statistic on page 5 of the plan, Ms. Ehrman mentioned that <br /> Eugene has only about 25 percent of the county's wood products employment. <br /> Mr. Rutan emphasized that the plan is meant to be a Eugene plan. He said <br />e Eugene is different in terms of economic development than Springfield or Lane <br /> County. <br /> D. Chapter 2: History of Economic Development Planning and <br /> Assessment of Progress <br /> Mr. Rutan said that in this chapter the committee tried to evaluate the City's <br /> economic development efforts objectively and critically, but without being <br /> overly negative. <br /> Ms. Ehrman asked committee members to discuss some of their criticisms. Ms. <br /> Wooten said that in the area of site and infrastructure development, some <br /> decisions were made on assumptions that have not been realized. Mr. Rutan <br /> mentioned that private demand has not followed the City1s sewer expansion at <br /> the rate that was expected. He also mentioned that one issue with the <br /> Business Assistance Team is, IIHow does one go about measuring its progress?1I <br /> He said that what the Business Assistance Team does is not particularly <br /> understood or known by the community. Mr. Rutan also mentioned that about 80 <br /> percent of future economic development will come from businesses or activities <br /> that are already in the area. <br />e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 26, 1987 Page 5 <br />