05/14/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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The committee was not interested in incurring additional costs and hopes that these recommendations can be implemented with existing staff. ~ . Mayor Keller noted that there does need to be considerable additional .., work in the land use area, especially how it relates to where industry can be. He would like to see the committee come up with a brochure for attracting industry. Ms. Smith stated she was pleased with the report and would urge continua- tion of the committee. She asked if there was coordination in other areas besides tourism. Mayor Keller responded they had looked at the convention bureau as the focal point for dealing with tourism. Ms. Smith noted that she appreciated that the strategies would be implemented with existing staff, but hoped that staff would not duplicate the efforts of others. Mr. Obie stated the report had many good things but has ignored search and solicitation of new industry to take up the slack of the lumber industry. He did not see a clear position stated as to whether the City would divert or change the economic base as it relates to the lumber industry. . He wants to know what the City's action will be in encouraging industry and would like to see that incorporated as a part of the report. He stated that one could coordinate things all day long but since people are out of jobs it is the council's reponsibility to react to that. Ms. Miller stated she thinks that issue was discussed at least twice. She does not feel that one should spend the City's money to make this happen, but she could put it back on an agenda. Mr. Obie stated that he would appreciate that. He further stated that he has not been impressed with Chamber of Commerce's position in attracting new industry. Mr. Henry ~ noted the community has been beseiged by new industry possibilities, but .., those people have backed off due to the land use issue. He feels it more the Chamber of Commerce's role to go out and solicit new industry rather than the City's. The big push right now is on the tourist industry and the convention center. Mayor Keller stated that in the first part of this year, the Chamber of Commerce made a tour south to try to identify kinds of companies that would be good for this community. He also stated that they are working harder than may sometimes be apparent. Mr. Obie stated that one trip in the last four years does not address the City's needs. The effort must be more continuous. He feels that perhaps the City should involve itself to determine what types of industry it would like to attract. If the City is doing the search, then it can point the search in the direction that it would like. He suggested facing it straight on and determining if there is an effort being made to solicit industrial development. Mr. Delay stated that he does not think this could be accomplished with existing staff; the Economic Development program is taking a higher level of staff effort. It may be that we will have to put some resources into this. Economic development is not a one-part thing with a one-year committee. It should be ongoing and long-range. He stated the need for more work by this committee. Direction for them is the important ques- tion. Looking at employment trends, the City goes up and down along with - 5/14/80--8