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Mr. Sullivan explained to the committee how the BATeam had functioned, and that they were financed from outside the General Fund. He said this proposal represented about a third of the original BATeam resource. Mr. Rexius asked who the facilitator would report to, and how would he, as a developer, know that person, a City employee, is working on his behalf?. Mr. Coyle answered the person would probably report to a mid-level manager in the Planning and Development Department. Addressing the second question, Mr. Coyle said about 10-15% of his week is devoted to the kind of permit problem solving that this person would be doing. He said the proposal would add a full-time resource to do that. Feedback from permitees would measure the quality and value of the person's work, he said. Ms. Rygas said she wanted to go back to principles, that it was not accurate to equate economic development and the community good with business growth if business growth does not contribute in terms of using land wisely, raising median wage, or in other ways. She said she thought economic tools such as this facilitator position should be linked to community goals and standards, so that the assistance is given to businesses that, for example, choose to locate in less desirable areas for in-fill, or grow jobs that have health benefits. She said she thought if the committee neglected to do that, it becomes a business facilitation committee rather than an economic development facilitation committee. Ms. Pierce moved, seconded by Ms. Edwards, that the City Council and Budget Committee should fund a facilitator to assist existing businesses with expansion, coordinate multi-agency review of development permits, and assist in developing methods and policies to help streamline the permitting process. Ms. Teninty asked if the expectation was that new businesses would go to the Metro Partnership for assistance. Mr. Coyle explained that with a limited resource of one person, the logic was for limiting the assistance to existing businesses wanting to expand. Mr. Proudfoot said it seemed this proposal was one of the key leverage points on expanding the tax base to provide more needed services. He said he thought if we enhance the local economy we will increase our resource base, and at some point will reach a balance. He said if Mr. Coyle was saying there are already competing concerns for this resource, then perhaps the committee should recommend more resource so we can actually meet the need. Mr. Coyle said one of the functions of the facilitator in the first year would be to find out how much resource is needed. Mr. Re'Voal said he received BATeam assistance in his first year after buying an existing business, and if this individual would be like what the BAT was, it would be a very good thing. Referring to Ms. Rygas' earlier comments, he said he comes from a community that is always left out when discussions of community good occur. He agreed that not all businesses are the kind you want to have, but he said he could not agree to a definition of community good, because there were too many communities out there. Mr. Korth said if there were a potential cost recovery for the position, maybe the committee should not limit it to expanding businesses, because new businesses would definitely pay for the service, because they are usually more complicated. Also, he said, not all businesses expand for themselves. He said his business develops for others, by building and leasing to other businesses. He said he would also like to incorporate into the recommendation to the City Council that the position be evaluated yearly to see MINUTES--Mayor's Committee on Economic Development June 14, 2004 Page 8