02/14/1983 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Responding to another inquiry on other infrastructure improvements planned by the City, Mr. Gleason replied airport expansion is expected to begin in 15 .-. months. Also anticipated are 6th and 7th Avenue connections from the highway to the coast and Beltline extension to the Willow Creek basin. Mr. Moreland complimented the City for leadership involvement in the Central Industrial Area which has no neighborhood organization support. Responding to a question, Mr. Gleason said expansion of the airport is needed to address commercial lease/space problems, corporate hangar space, expanded food service for air carriers, and better passenger loading. Responding to a question about covered access to airplanes, Mr. Alltucker indicated business travelers want time reduced and will put up with a little inconvenient rain. Mr. Ohm suggested displaying an architectural drawing showing that airport expansion is anticipated. Responding to an inquiry, Mr. Anderson observed the Ambassador Program is a cost-effective way to collect information, but it does have liabilities in terms of administation. Inconsistent information may be a problem. He empha- sized there is no negative impact on OPEDC. Mr. Anderson applauded the strategy of attracting plants employing fewer than 100 people. He said it takes five years to attract a major company. Small entrepreneurs can make fast decisions and it is easier to accommodate them. Mr. Anderson commented there is no problem except that the City and OPEDC may intercept some of the same people at trade shows. However, he said that can be handled if there is a system of rational coordination. Competition is unavoidable between cities, states, and eventually sites. ~ Responding to a question, Mr. Gleason replied that downtown development is one part of the City's Six-Point Program, and marketing is an integral part. A cosmopolitan center is being planned which includes retail, as well as housing, transportation, and cabaret attractions. When asked how distribution of leads between OPEDC and the City would be resolved, Mr. Gleason said BAT could be the sorting mechanism to avoid duplication of efforts. Mr. Anderson added that sharing has to happen. He said the Lane County Living magazine promotion was a test and was not OPEDC's idea. ---- Mr. Anderson emphasized OPEDC does not plan to stimulate leads with the exception of the magazine ad, so that OPEDC programs will be separate from City programs. Mr. Wildish emphasized that OPEDC does not want to duplicate efforts, but wants to coordinate them. - Responding to an inquiry, Mr. Moreland emphasized the Eugene area land prices are extremely competitive. The big search for real estate from Silicon Valley firms will take place in 1984. No large sites are available there now. The Eugene area needs to be marketed creatively. Mr. Moreland stressed that this area should continue to invest in development so those who make relocation decisions are not shown pictures of rural land, but are shown a visualization of what the site can look like. Efforts must be continued to assure that utilities are on schedule to sites. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 14, 1983 Page 4