Item 2A - Approval of City Council Minutes

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about the work underway. That goal is sustainable development and it is a cornerstone of my commitment to you. Building a more sustainable Eugene Eugene has long had a commitment to environmental stewardship. Our growth management policies reflect this commitment. Yet, in recent years, economic success and preservation of our natural resources have often been pitted against each other. One year ago I said I thought Eugene wants both and that is what I put forward in my five-point economic plan. I suggested we look at how to make Eugene a more sustainable community, one that protects it natural and human capital while being economically successful - the triple bottom line. Thus, I launched the Mayor’s Sustainable Business Initiative. The Mayor’s Sustainable Business Initiative I launched this initiative for solid economic and environmental reasons, and today some of our brightest business, social, and academic leaders representing all political persuasions are working hand-in-hand on a new vision for our future. Under the talented guidance of Bob Doppelt of the University of Oregon, Dave Funk of Funk/Levis, and Rusty Rexius of Rexius Forest Products, a 16-member task force has hosted a series of roundtables to better assess what we can do locally to foster the growth of businesses that produce sustainable products. The philosophy behind a sustainable economy is to have thriving businesses that create jobs with good wages and benefits. Our businesses can be successful without damaging the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the ground we live on, and they will save money in the long run. Economic success and natural resource preservation can go hand-in-hand. The SBI is an effort to develop an economic sector that is well-suited to Eugene and could capitalize on the growing interest and need for sustainable products. Examples are natural foods, natural products, bio diesel, alternative energy, green building, recycling, education and investment. Out of these roundtables came recommendations that will be prioritized by the task force. These will then be directed to the City Council as appropriate or to other agencies and bodies for consideration. The SBI will also address ways to better educate and engage our community in sustainability and to encourage all businesses to adopt these practices. The October-November issue of “Open for Business” published by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, focused entirely on embracing sustainability, and the Chamber has made sustainability one of its 2006 goals. I trust this will give us opportunities to work together. Businesses across this country have saved millions of dollars by becoming more sustainable. We can pump up our economy and carve out an economic niche that is right for Eugene by finding ways to encourage and support the development of sustainable practices and products. We can be a city on the front edge of what is right and what keeps our economy healthy. In short, we can make Eugene a place with an unparalleled quality of life - the most desirable city in the northwest. Not "Anywhere, USA,” but beautiful, clean, and prosperous Eugene, where rivers flow under clean skies, businesses grow, children thrive, and where people know their voices count. This is an exciting opportunity! Now let’s talk about the future MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 5, 2006 Page 6 State of the City