08/12/1981 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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." 'p. ..- M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council Work Session Valley River Inn August 12, 1981 7:30 a.m. PRESENT: Mayor Gus Keller, Mark Lindberg, Brian Obie, Emily Schue, Betty Smith, Gretchen Miller, D. W. Hamel, Cynthia Wooten, councilors; Micheal Gleason, City Manager; David Whitlow, Assistant City Manager; Pat Lynch, Council Assistant; Jim Farah, Planning Department. 1. PRESENTATION OF EUGENE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAM--MR. GLEASON In his opening remarks, Mr. Gleason referred to the Eugene Economic Diversifi- cation Program, a proposal he presented to the Mayor and City Council, dated August 7, 1981. He said he wished to explain how the material was developed, define the problem, and describe the solution. He felt it was important to move ahead with the solutions concurrently. What the staff was proposing was really implementation of the General Plan. Solutions to spurring economic development can also be a way of holding the lid on development. It is impor- tant to remember that the City is just one player. He felt that the proposed e program will not have short-range impacts, but that change could result over a long period of time. A. Definition of the Problem Mr. Gleason reminded the council they had requested an action program from the staff. He had talked to various committees, commissions, and people involved in developing this proposal. He turned to the chart on population growth 1900 to 1980. He pointed out that after the 1940s, the curve was 2.5-percent rate of compounded growth. He observed cycles which resulted in the line being slightly flatter. This trend line matches the assumptions in the General Plan and housing development. He did not anticipate that the City could be respon- sible for full employment, and pointed out that it was the private sector's respons i b il ity. Mr. Gleason explained the results of the David Birch study which showed that in the West, firms with 20 people or less employed 60 percent of the pbpulation. He noted that major employment will come from firms already in the Eugene metro area. Twenty-five percent of the employment could come from industrial siting. It is a "prime on the pump." A firm of 1,000 employees cannot have dramatic impact on long-range employment figures. Graph B of the diversification program "percent of emplO)meht by sector," was called to the attention of the council. Manufacturing, education, and govern- ment were a decreas i ng percent of tot a 1 Lane County ernp 1 Dyment. Wholesaling, e manufacturing, and services have been increasing in the period 1974 to 1978. MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 12, 1981 Page 1