Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Coyle emphasized the importance of having clarity about the community's economic <br />development goals, which was critical to predicting the community's response to economic <br />development proposals. <br /> <br />Mr. Coyle previewed the agenda for the next meeting, noting it would include presentations by <br />various state and local experts. <br /> <br />The committee took a brief meeting break. Mr. Kelly left during the break. <br /> <br /> 7. Discussion <br /> <br />Mr. Forbes called for committee discussion regarding the charge. <br /> <br />Ms. Pierce requested the source of all documents distributed to the committee and the year the <br />Economic Development Strategic Plan was developed. Mr. Coyle indicated staff would follow- <br />up via e-mail. <br /> <br />Mr. Bowerman suggested that the committee was inviting conflict at the City Council level if it <br />just promoted job growth without addressing quality of life issues. He wanted the committee to <br />address those issues in its work. <br /> <br />At the request of Mr. Forbes, Mr. Moore discussed the speakers who would be presenting to the <br />committee, noting they included State experts who would provide an overview of the state <br />economic situation and local experts who could discuss jobs and sustainability issues. <br /> <br />Ms. Rygas shared Mr. Bowerman's concerns. While she agreed the committee needed to narrow <br />its focus, she was concerned the outcome of the committee process would not be productive if it <br />avoided divisive issues. She also wanted the committee to have information from "new models" <br />of economic development. <br /> <br />Mr. Wanichek said there were always tradeoffs to consider. He believed that if the committee <br />was to enter into quality of life discussions, the scope of the effort would become too great. He <br />said he could focus on economic development and still keep the tradeoffs in mind. <br /> <br />Ms. Pierce asked what problem the committee was charged to solve, and what it was trying to <br />accomplish. She said she had been involved in similar efforts in the past, but they seldom <br />accomplished anything because it was unclear what they were trying to achieve. <br /> <br />Mr. Kahle suggested that what the committee was being asked to do had already been done <br />through the Growth Management Study. He asked what the committee was being asked to do <br />that was different than that. He asked why economic development was so difficult in Eugene, <br /> <br />MINUTES--Mayor's Committee on Economic Development March 8, 2004 Page 4 <br /> <br /> <br />