Item 2A: Approval of Council Minutes

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Responding to a question from Mr. Clark, Mr. Dedrick confirmed that the City’s calculation of needed land must be based on or tied back to the State job growth forecasts. Mr. Clark suggested a “chicken and egg” conundrum resulted because while the presentation mentioned the strategies and goals of the Regional Prosperity Plan, land demand was tied to the State forecast. He did not see how the community’s aspirational goals were tied to its planning. He asked which scenario the City should be planning for. Mr. Dedrick said that the employment growth rate represented a safe harbor. The City could use the State forecast without a legal challenge but it was not a given. The community could make a case for higher job growth. Mr. Clark suggested a .9 percent growth rate meant the community would not escape recession for 30 years. He wanted to plan for more robust growth. Mayor Piercy observed that the council’s discussions about economic development veered between the local and regional situations because the local economy existed in the context of the regional economy. Part of the conversation was about what Eugene was and what it was in relationship to the broader regional economy. She recalled that she had provided the council with data that indicated the local disaggregated unemployment rate was 8.7 percent, which was lower than nearby communities and the state. In regard to key industries, Mayor Piercy suggested that there was a relationship between foods and natural foods and from there a further connection to natural products. That also touched on the conservation of agricultural soils to boost the economy. Mayor Piercy advocated for more contextual conversations with the City’s regional partners about how to better and more appropriately locate industrial land to build the economy. Responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz about the future of the railroad yard, Mr. Dedrick said the City had approached the railroad three years ago about its plans for property and heard the railroad had no plans to dispose of the property or use it differently. The City’s planning reflected the property’s current use. Recently there had been some discussion about rail-truck intermodal hubs and the potential that green lumber products industries might wish to locate nearby. The property could play an important role in the future but the City could not identify it as an available site. Responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz about the Clear Lake area, Ms. Weiss clarified that staff was not ruling out the site for housing but due to its zoning it could not be a first option. She also noted the potential impact of the airport noise contour line on residential development. She anticipated further discussion. Ms. Ortiz did not want to rule out that area for residential use. She noted the existing residential development pattern that existed and suggested it was a natural location for single-family homes. Mayor Piercy observed that both improved rail passenger transport and improved freight transport would economically benefit Eugene. Ms. Ortiz agreed. She emphasized her interest the family-wage jobs that the railroad could provide and suggested the community find a way to incorporate that industry in its work force development efforts. Mr. Brown asked questions clarifying the State job growth forecast and the number of referrals the State made to Lane County. He determined that Mr. Dedrick did not know where Rexius Forest Products would move when it left its current Eugene site. Mr. Farr recalled that Food for Lane County had partnered with Grain Miller, Golden Temple, and Glory Bee Honey on a breakfast product that had been quite successful, but Grain Miller had not been able to MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 23, 2011 Page 2 Work Session