CC Minutes - 01/07/09 State of the City

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The incoming Obama administration has indicated that it will quickly be putting forth a stimulus package to help this country's ailing economy, and Eugene is ready to take advantage of what that might offer the working families in our region. We can do this if we are on the same page. Eugene has a list of over $200 million in "ready to go " projects that fit the stimulus criteria given for job creation and infrastructure improvement. We expect these projects, iffunded, could create 4, 404 well paying jobs by the end of next year — with an emphasis on green industry. These include jobs in development and construction, alternative energy, accessibility, pavement preservation, bike and pedestrian improvements, parks and trails, water reuse and pollution control projects. But we need to be sure that we are also aware of what other public institutions, our utilities, our private sector, and our legislators have prioritized. We want to be sure we maximize our potential by working effectively together at the state and federal level. That is our first order of business. In the short run, economists tell us that our local attention should be on finding ways to help our local businesses survive these difficult times. I have spoken to councilors and the city manager and we are ready to facilitate those discussions immediately with our regional partners, business community and other stakeholders. That is our second order of business. Moving from Hynix to solar is our community goal for the reuse of that facility in responding to current energy needs, green jobs, and the tax base. Let's hope that is the big deal Astrologist Joanna Mitchell was predicting. There are a couple of other important related items that we must put our efforts behind. Lane Community College is key in job preparation, retraining, affordable education, and specific training for some of the green economy work sectors. It is essential that our state budget includes investment in our community college and we need to work with our legislators to ensure that outcome. LCC is always important but never more than now. LTD is key in carbon reduction, transportation access for many and jobs. LTD has been extremely successful and the EmX is recognized for its innovation at both a national and international level. It does not make sense for LTD to cut services just when we need more people to use it as a major source of transportation. We must find a way together to put our transit system together faster and with increased capacity to keep moving forward. I bring LCC and LTD up because of their huge impact on our city's quality of life and economy. They are not under our governance; but are key to what we are trying to achieve. For the future we will boldly move forward a progressive economic plan; building on the foundation we have laid together. I invite our regional partners, both public and private, to join us in preparing for an Economic Summit early this year to lay the course for our future. We cannot wait for who shows up. We cannot wait for what will be allotted. We must go after what we want for our communities: more jobs that pay well, decrease our impact on climate change and finite resources, and take full advantage of the changing world economic opportunities. I have long believed that with crisis comes a moment to do things differently and better. The groundwork has been laid and now is the time for bold steps forward into the future. Keeping the City on track is essential. While being innovative, we also have to be steady at the wheel in these uncertain times, providing basic MINUTES —City Council January 7, 2009 Page 7