09/11/1991 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e the City. Ms. Ehrman noted that this whole issue needs to be the topic of discussion at a future work session. The City Manager agreed to bring this' issue back to the council at a future work session. Mr. MacDonald discouraged the council from looking seriously at CDBG funds because of the other pressing needs on that fund source. Mr. Boles moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, to approve recommen- dations for local unimproved street improvement standards and to provide direction on the low-income assessment program. Ms. Ehrman moved to amend the motion to allocate $100,000, in the first year from the deferral account for start-up costs. The amendment died for lack of a second. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. III. BATEAM SEMIANNUAL REPORT Abe Farkas, Planning and Development Department, reported that the Business Assistance Team (BATeam) was created by the council in an effort to transi- tion the local economy from a primarily timber-based economy to a more di- verse economy. Over time we have fostered an educational/service-based econ- omy. He said that the BATeam has been pleased with the success of its ef- forts toward this goal. e Mayor Miller requested statistics about underemployment in the local economy and the average wage earning power of the jobs .that are being added to the job base locally. Mr. Gleason commented that the decline in timber-related jobs has depressed the average salary of jobs in the local area. Lee Beyer, BATeam manager, provided an overview of BATeam efforts to diversi- fy the economy. BATe am assistance has been most successful when targeted at small local firms. Mr. Beyer highlighted some of the BATeam's business as- sistance strategies, including: loan programs, enterprise zone programs, and regulatory advocacy and site selection efforts, among others. He said that as a result of its efforts, 726 new jobs have been created with loan money. In addition, the BATeam has over 1400 annual requests for business assis- tance. Mr. MacDonald noted that Oregon Marketplace works to find local suppliers in Oregon and asked if the BATe am coordinates its activities with this firm. In response, Mr. Beyer said that the BATeam works closely with Oregon Market- place, as well as other members of the Business Assistance Network which the BATe am coordinates. Mr. Beyer highlighted several local companies that have benefited specifical- ly from business assistance. He noted that the BATeam can expect 50-75 loan applications next year. He indicated that lack of visibility within tne community is one of the factors which limits the BATeam's ability to help e .- MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 11, 1991 Page 7 --