Item 2A-Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

industrial lands study. Mr. Kelly said it was not a quidpro quo issue for him, but he wanted to have a staff recommendation on the issue by September 13. Mr. Kelly pointed out that a full work session was not contemplated as the issue was scheduled for action at the regular meeting on September 13. Mr. Pap6 believed that staffwould be able to develop a process that had community credibility. He did not want to micromanage that process as he did not think it appropriate. Mr. Pap6 said it appeared the input of the roundtable had been raised to the level of the Mayor's Committee on Economic Development and he did not think that was appropriate; while the council discussed transparency and doing things in the open, it was his understanding those meetings were closed to the public. Ms. Bettman agreed with the remarks of Mr. Pap6 in regard to the roundtable but pointed out that roundtable's letter had been included in the packet as a rationale for funding the study. Ms. Bettman contended that the community did not want the commercial and industrial lands study. The Metropolitan Partnership originated the demand for the study. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce wanted a study of commercial lands because it did not believe there were enough for large parcels for "malls, and things like that." Speaking to Ms. Bettman's comments, Ms. Nathanson believed the community had asked for the study. While individual citizens may not know all the steps involved, statistically valid survey results indicated that a majority of residents believed the City of Eugene had a role to play in creating a healthy economy. Citizens who studied the issue of how to work toward a healthy economy suggested that completion of an inventory was an important step in knowing what land was available for jobs. Mr. Kelly pointed out the council had still not seen a scope of work regarding the study, and he wanted to see that information before acting. Mr. Kelly agreed with Ms. Nathanson about the results of the survey but pointed out the same survey indicated citizens believed there was sufficient industrial land available in Eugene. He agreed there was a need for the inventory, but did not believe that the community-at-large had voiced the need. Ms. Bettman did not think the majority of citizens knew what the inventory was. She believed it was a way to "commodify" raw land. The survey would open up farm and forest land to development. She believed that was the ultimate objective in moving forward with the study, and said that was not something the community had discussed. The motion to reconsider passed, 5:3. The motion to postpone action until September 13, 2004, failed, 5:3; Ms. Taylor, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Bettman voting yes. Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Solomon, moved to approve the use of up to $15,000 in con- tingency funds for the commercial/industrial land study recommended on page 8 of the report of the Mayor's Economic Development Committee, contingent upon the City Man- ager's approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement with Lane County and the City of MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 11, 2004 Page 8 Regular Session