Agenda Packet AMENDED 4-15-19 Work Session

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Councilor Chris Pryor Ward 8 Welcome to the Bethel Economic Development Task Team Report-Building a Better Bethel. Bethel is a great place to live, work, raise a family, open a business, and enjoy your favorite activities. Our community boasts excellent schools, vibrant businesses, inviting open spaces and recreation facilities as well as engaged and diverse neighborhoods and residents. We also know there are opportunities to make Bethel even better - supporting the creation of new jobs and educational opportunities, building better transportation connections, easing the path for redevelopment in key areas, and strengthening business connections. It is an exciting time for the Bethel area and that’s why it is an important time for us to take a deeper look at how we can build on our assets to encourage even greater vitality in our community. The goal of the Bethel Economic Development Task Team is to recognize what it will take to turn our many opportunities into thriving realities. The Task Team group included community and business leaders who are passionate about making a difference in the place where they live, work, play, and call home. We sincerely appreciate the time and thoughtfulness they provided to this task. Eugene is a community with a vibrant history and a promising future, and we believe Building a Better Bethel provides the critical next steps in realizing that future vision. The goal isn’t to score a touchdown in one big play - Building a Better Bethel is about realistic -doable-steps in the right direction. Steps that build on our successes, develop trust, and show progress. As we move forward, these actions will engage community members, inspire new ideas, and ultimately realize the potential of our community. We are inviting you to join our team in this work, because it will take all of us. Identify how you can participate, how you can assist, how you can lend your hand in Building a Better Bethel. BUILDING A BETTER BETHEL Bethel Economic Development Task Team Report Building a Better Bethel directly aligns with our city-wide goals to promote a safe community, encourage sustainable development and ensure accessible and thriving culture and recreation. Building a Better Bethel also supports the Pillars of Envision Eugene, our community vision of how our city will grow over the next 20 years, and advances our regional economic prosperity goals. Envision Eugene Pillars •Provide Ample Economic Opportunities for all Community Members •Provide Housing Affordable to All Income Levels •Protecting and Enhancing Neighborhoods www.envisioneugene.org Regional Prosperity Economic Development Plan •Grow Local Opportunities •Provide Basic Business Needs •Identify as a Place to Thrive www.eugene-or.gov/prosperityplan Councilor Claire Syrett Ward 7 Councilor Greg Evans Ward 6 2 April 15, 2019, Work Session – Item 1