Laserfiche WebLink
remained underutilized and uninviting. There was controversy over the best way to manage <br />safety issues while we continued to move downtown reinvigoration efforts forward. There was <br />also a challenge of staffing our police force and moving closer to community policing. We will <br />continue to be vigilant in protecting the rights of all while attempts are made to improve <br />downtown. <br />The county's deepening financial crisis and its inability to finance its part of the public safety <br />system continues to be a major challenge. Lack of funds touches so many areas, including <br />prevention, intervention, and treatment services, as well as the judicial process and incarceration. <br />We are told that a few offenders are responsible for a lot of property crime (and now robberies) <br />and that the lack ofjail space keeps re- circulating criminals in our community, affecting the <br />livability of Eugene neighborhoods. In addition, in 2008, metal theft became a huge and costly <br />issue for public agencies, non profits and individual homeowners. Finding an effective way to <br />respond to these issues will be an important priority. <br />Due to changes in technology, Hynix closed, leaving 1, 000 unemployed people. The closure <br />affects the City's tax base as well as the financial picture for EWEB, the school districts, LTD and <br />a number of other entities. It was also the first of a number of closures and hour reductions that <br />have occurred in the wake of the economic crisis. <br />These challenges will inform and influence the decisions we will make in the upcoming year. What <br />course shall we set for 2009 and beyond? <br />The Economy is Job W. The people of our community need jobs to raise their families and care for their <br />basic needs. Eugene should be a place where people choose to live because of its resources, values, and <br />opportunities. <br />It is impossible to predict the economic future right now. Here in Eugene, we have some experience with <br />economic downturns; but this national crisis is on a scale we have not seen since the depression. <br />We have been preparing. <br />As I mentioned earlier, the City has managed its finances well and has understood the need for sound <br />policies that respond to this rapidly changing world, climate change and finite resources. <br />We understood well before the current crisis the need for Eugene to focus on jobs and on becoming a hub <br />of the new green economy– to be bold and visionary. <br />We have a wealth of resources to draw on: the ingenuity of our existing businesses and entrepreneurs, the <br />beauty of our city and natural environment, the quality of our schools and public services, and the skills <br />of our labor force. This is why people and businesses want to locate here. <br />We have positioned ourselves for the future through growth management policies and planning, local <br />purchasing, streamlining ourprocesses, incentives to grow local business, investing in downtown housing <br />and development and the arts, and adopting the Sustainable Business Initiative. We have worked with our <br />partners on our education, transit and alternative energy investments and opportunities. We are <br />recognized nationally for being a top green city and a top place in which to do business. <br />We have laid the groundwork well on many fronts. <br />There are a number of things we will focus on immediately to move us forward <br />NIINUTES —City Council January 7, 2009 Page 6 <br />