09/23/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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confuses the staffing question. Ms. Schue asked if the Mayor's committee has assignments worthy of staff time. She asked if there was something the - council can do in packaging of ideas. Mr. Gleason responded that staff will be linking the small business and technical business program through the Private Indusry Council. Destination-point work is being done through EPAC and through the Convention Bureau. The downtown program is through 13 boards and commissions. He is not sure if it is possible to report to boards and commissions and the City Council simultaneously. If the council wants to change direction, that can be done. Mr., Obie indicated that it might be more positive to abolish the committee. He would like more information about the committee quorum and perceived roles. Mr. Gleason responded that the council's request of the committee was for them to deliver policy guidelines and they have. They were also asked to finish working with the IRB plan and it is now at the City Attor- ney's office. Now council has an action plan that can be implemented through the council. It would be best for everyone if there were clear responsibility lines. Mr. Lindberg stated that Ms. Smith had made a good point of not taking a leap until the alternatives are clear. Mr. Gleason said the bases are covered, and abolishing this committee should be part of the packet. He would be willing to serve on a~subcommittee to look at the matrix of boards and commissions involved in economic development. Ms. Miller added that this committee took awhile to get started, but since then has gotten some projects done that the council had requested. Some of these projects are to determine siting guidelines, types of firms desired, and how fast those kinds of firms should locate here. Since then, the committee has had no new direction from the council and the council has actively worked with committee guidelines. The council has pre-empted some e of the work this committee might have done and it has been difficult for the committee to get a quorum together, perhaps because nothing specific has been designated for them to do. It would be appropriate to define tasks to determine if they can be accomplished by this committee. If not, they could be notified that they had done a good job and there is no additional function for them. The people who serve on this committee are busy and would rather be accomplishing things than doing no work. Council must decide what it is trying to accomplish and whether it can take on that kind of leadership. The possibility is to combine committees. Ms. Schue asked how the council can involve as many citizens as possible in this program. If there is a broad base of involvement, then the committee might not be needed. Council must decide where this committee will fit in. Ms. Wooten indicated that she would be happy to work on the subcommittee with Mr. Lindberg. Ms. Smernoff stated that a third issue is the staff recommendation for contracts between the Chamber of Commerce and the City for redevelopment of the Four Corners area and marketing industrial land. This could be a learning process to see if redevelopment can be done in Four Corners and to see if the concept can be applied elsewhere. In the six-point program, there are other contracts such as the Small Business Venture Capital Program and Small Business Management/ Technical Assistance Program. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 23, 1981 Page 5