Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: Local Economic Development Plan – Part 1 <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: April 13, 2009 Agenda Item Number: B <br />Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Jon Ruiz <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5336 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br />This work session is to discuss a response to the current economic issues impacting the community. <br />Staff will present a proposed set of local stimulus actions that emphasize the City’s role in supporting <br />job creation and retention as well as investment and development in the community. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />Eugene has been nationally recognized as a great place for businesses. The recent rankings in the <br />Forbes Magazine online article and the Kosmont-Rose Institute “Cost of Doing Business Survey,” and <br />the comments in the Lane County Home Builders newsletter are a few examples. (See Attachments A, <br />B, and C.) The City is working proactively and collaboratively to continue on the path of creating a <br />vibrant and sustainable business community. <br /> <br />The council had an initial conversation regarding Economic Development at the January 28, 2009, work <br />session and unanimously approved adoption of a City of Eugene Mayor and City Council Economic <br />Development Statement. (See Attachment D for the statement.) At that time, the council received <br />background information on 1) the structure of the local economy, income, and industry issues and 2) <br />existing City efforts to support local business and economic development. The City Manager indicated <br />that a slate of “local stimulus actions” would be assembled and brought back for the council’s review and <br />consideration. <br /> <br />Staff have come up with a variety of ideas – some may be more immediately possible than others. They <br />want to continue to creatively and collaboratively look at other ways to support job creation and invest in <br />sustainable economic development. The proposed local stimulus actions are organized into two categories <br />job creation and economic growth <br />(in alignment with the January 28, 2009 strategies): . There is also a <br />special section targeted at Eugene’s downtown. Attachment E provides a set of possible actions that could <br />be included within each category. Within each category, are the following: <br />? Ideas that have already been implemented, <br />? Ideas that the City organization is considering, and; <br />? Ideas for the council to consider, discuss, and share as feedback to staff. <br /> <br />The possible actions are not prioritized nor are they meant to be a fully exhaustive listing. They are a <br />broad set of ideas that have come from members of the community, and staff, or are ideas that other cities <br />and jurisdictions are discussing. Ultimately, staff wants council’s feedback on the 16 ideas in Attachment <br /> Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090413\S090413B.doc <br /> <br />