Item 3: Ratification of Unanimous IGR Actions

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Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Policy Policy No Recommendation Mike Penwell CS-FAC 01/27/2010 Pri 3 Yes VIII.B Oppose Comments: This is basically a "Buy American" bill for publicly subsidized structures in Oregon similar to Buy American requirements of many federally funded programs and contracts. While this makes sense at the federal level, it doesn't make much sense for Oregon at the state level. Very little steel is manufactured in Oregon, so this bill will probably not generate any jobs in Oregon, much less in Lane County or Eugene. What it will do is make it more expensive to achieve other City goals (such as development of more low- income housing and construction by subsidized non-profit organizations) by making City subsidized building projects more expensive since much of the steel used in Oregon comes from Asia at a lower cost than American steel. Steel production in Asia has its own set of issues but, again, it seems more appropriate to deal with these issues at the federal level than the state level. Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Policy Policy No Recommendation Mark Whitmill PDD-BPS 01/27/2010 -- -- Comments: Defer to others. Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Policy Policy No Recommendation Richie Weinman PDD-DEV 01/26/2010 -- -- Comments: Defer to others. This bill protects American jobs and supports the US economy. I think it would be interesting to know if there will be any analysis provided about whether this increases construction costs -- which increases housing costs. I don't know if the City should take a position or not. I'd say watch the bill, see if it moves, and consider the impacts that are discussed during the testimony. Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Policy Policy No Recommendation Jenifer Willer PWE 01/27/2010 -- -- Comments: Defer to others. Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Policy Policy No Recommendation Paul Klope PWE 01/25/2010 Pri 3 Yes VIII.B Oppose Comments: This bill would affect projects built on real property that the city might subsidize such as low income housing and downtown development. The exception allowed in this bill to use of materials made in the US is only if it would increase the cost of the structure by 25%. This seems like a very large increase to allow and potentially could cause projects that are important to the community to be cut back by the same amount. The goal of the bill seems to have some merit, but the bill should be modified to apply the consider the percentage increase only to the specific items/goods that are not made in the U.S., rather than to the whole structure. Recommend support if amended as noted. SB 1054 10 | Page