Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Ruiz noted that the proposed EDS had two specific goals, to create and retain new jobs in the community and to increase the average median income. He further noted that the EDS generally addressed both immediate and near- term strategies to achieve those goals. Mr. Zelenka was concerned about the current 9.5% unemployment rate and noted that the immediate priority for the City should be helping existing local businesses. He noted his support of the EDS before the council and looked forward to the subsequent action plan. Mr. Clark thanked the Mayor and the City Manager for their recent efforts to assess and address the local economic situation and supported Mr. Zelenka’s call for a summit on economic development issues. He averred that a strong manufacturing sector was critical to the long term economic viability of the community and that manufacturing concerns should be a primary component of any local economic development strategies. He also looked forward to a discussion on how the City might motivate private businesses. Ms. Taylor expressed concern for local existing businesses in the struggling economy and further noted her support of any initiatives designed to increase average wages. She noted that while the City could not dictate wages for local businesses, the passage of a living wage ordinance for City and associated workers would set a good example for the local business community. Ms. Taylor noted her opposition to further support of the Metro Partnerships. Mr. Ruiz, responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, noted that adoption of the EDS would provide policy guidance to both him and staff with respect to how they implemented the City’s business development strategies. Ms. Solomon expressed that she would like to see the EDS have “more teeth” and a more detailed focus on addressing the business needs of the community. Responding to a question from Ms. Solomon as to how the EDS would directly benefit local businesses, Mr. Ruiz commented that the EDS was designed to serve only as a policy statement to guide the City’s elected officials. Ms. Solomon was concerned that March 31 might not be a feasible timeline in which to create an action plan with input of community members and asked Mr. Ruiz for further clarification regarding staff’s strategy for creating an action plan out of the EDS. Mr. Ruiz noted that he planned to conduct round table discussions with local business leaders and entrepreneurs and felt that the action plan could be drafted within the time specified. Ms. Ortiz appreciated staff’s work on the EDS and further appreciated that the proposed statement had prompted a discussion on how to improve local economic conditions. She looked forward to supporting the statement and noted that its focus on the creation of a multitude of jobs in the area was admirable. Mr. Poling, referring to portions of Mr. Sullivan’s presentation that had demonstrated shifts between the manufacturing and service sectors, noted that the downward trend in manufacturing had also been affected by a lack of buildable lands and other impediments to manufacturing business expansions in the area. He noted that the City and its leaders could not afford to lose sight of new manufacturing business areas such as the manufacturing of solar panels and other energy conservation products. Mr. Brown asked if there had been movement in recent negotiations to have a solar panel manufacturing business take over the facility being vacated by Hynix. Mr. Ruiz noted that he was not currently aware of Hynix’s specific plans for their vacated facility and that the current status of their negotiations with regard to any future businesses in the space was indeterminate. Mr. Pryor understood that the EDS did not represent a specific work or action plan and that such a plan would be MINUTES—Eugene City Council January 28, 2009 Page 5 Work Session