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balance livability and quality of life with economic development and the ability to earn a living. He did not think the community had done a good job in achieving that balance yet, and suggested some of the City's planning efforts had unintended consequences that needed to be addressed quickly. He noted that 83 percent of the respondents to the community survey had indicated Eugene should offer assistance in business siting, development, and permitting. In addition, 78 percent indicated the City should take an active role in helping businesses create new jobs, and 72 percent indicated the City should help outside firms locate to the community. He emphasized the importance of creating family-wage jobs, not just minimum-wage jobs. Mayor Torrey said the community needed to consider fundamental issues such as the supply of commercial and industrial land. The Chamber of Commerce had commissioned a study that indicated there were only 48 acres of constraint-free commercial land available in the community. There were 484 acres of constraint-free industrial land. Mayor Torrey said that Eugene could not enhance its economic well-being without addressing that issue. He said that Eugene must find a way to overcome its reputation as a community that was not open for business. Mayor Torrey related an anecdote shared with him by a developer about the extra effort a City employee put forth to ensure a development application was properly processed. He commended the work done by City staff in resolving conflicts that arose from the recently adopted Land Use Code Update and the work done by the Planning and Development Department in the courthouse siting issue. Mayor Torrey said that he also heard critical comments about the time it took the City to process applications and about the fact that nonlocal companies were not interested in relocating to Eugene because of its anti-business attitude. Mayor Torrey noted the four companies moving from Eugene to Springfield, but said Springfield was a tremendous neighbor and no jobs would be lost as a result of the moves. However, Eugene would lose tax revenue to Springfield as a result. He said that the people who live in Eugene and work for those companies would continue to expect Eugene to deliver services it would have less money for. He asked what Eugene could do to retain existing businesses and attract new organizations, private or public, to create quality jobs. He extended the question to all citizens. He wanted local governments to join together to develop a questionnaire to give to businesses and public organizations to learn from them what their perception of Eugene was and what needed to be done to retain them or attract them. Mayor Torrey suggested the survey results be shared with all citizens to begin a community-wide discussion on what Eugene was prepared to do to enhance its economy. After that discussion, the elected officials could make a conscious decision about how to move forward. Mayor Torrey emphasized the need for the community to have quality education to attract those who wish to create quality jobs. He said he was convinced that Eugene could have an open for business attitude; it would require, however, a cultural shift on the part of all the elected officials and key staff members. Mayor Torrey quoted from Robert Frost's The Road Less Traveled: The woods are lovely, dark, and deep; but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. Mayor Torrey thanked those in attendance. VIII.ADJOURN MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 9, 2002 Page 4 State of the City