05/11/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e e e Oregon First program to respond to Mr. Holmer's questions. Ms. Probst said that the contract called for 15 buyers for local firms to be contacted. Responding further, Ms. Probst said that contacts would include obtaining information on the items and quantities purchased and where they are currently bought. The program would then put out bids for the items, and local suppliers could compete, with the buyers making final decisions on which provider to use. Councilor Holmer asked how many firms were currently buying items from non-local suppliers that could be purchased locally. Ms. Probst said that she did not know but that the first months of work on the Buy Oregon program indicated that millions of dollars were involved. Mr. Holmer asked to what extent the Buy Oregon program's work would overlap with work of local marketing firms. Ms. Probst responded that she did not know but that members of the Buy Oregon Advisory Board who were involved in local marketing felt there was little or no overlap. Councilor Hansen asked how many other buy-local programs had been examined before the Buy Oregon First program was selected and why this selection was made. Mr. Gleason said the Council Subcommittee on Economic Diversification had identified economic diversification programs that were needed and had identified programs for which it felt the City should contract, rather than having the City run the programs itself. He cited programs for providing assistance to the timber industry and for development of internation~ trade as examples of other programs the subcommittee had felt should be provided through outside contract. Councilor Hansen asked if the City had considered other service providers than Buy Oregon First for the buy-local program. Mr. Gleason and Ms. Briner responded that the City had considered providing the service itself and had also considered having the work done by a marketing class at Sheldon High School. Responding to a question from Councilor Schue, Ms. Briner said that the amount of the proposed contract with Buy Oregon First was $10,000. Councilor Obie said that the Council Subcommittee on Economic Diversification had voted unanimously in support of the contract with Buy Oregon First and had felt that the direct contact involved in the program would enhance the job creation aspect of the City's economic development program. He noted that the Oregon Pacific Economic Development Corporation had endorsed the proposed contract. He said that the council had previously approved the economic diversi- fication budget and that the subcommittee had approved the project. He said that the City Manager had delayed signing the proposed contract and that the matter had been referred to the council since several councilors had questions about the program. Mr. Obie urged councilors to support the program. Councilor Wooten said that the buy local item was in the workplan of the Council Subcommittee on Economic Diversification as a result of suggestions made at the council's luncheon meeting last year with members of the business community. She said that business representatives had wanted to develop opportunities to keep local dollars in the area. Ms. Wooten stated that Buy Oregon First was the only group offering this service. Mayor Keller added his support for the program, which he felt would bring rewards to area businesses. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 11, 1983 Page 3