HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A - Econ.Dev. Comm/Ombuds.EUGENE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Work Session: Economic Development Committee Recommendations Regarding
Business Facilitator/Ombudsman
Meeting Date: November 10, 2004 Agenda Item Number: A
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Tom Coyle
www. cl. euget~e, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-6077
ISSUE STATEMENT
A work session regarding the Economic Development Committee recommendations is scheduled on
November 10, 2004, to review issues related to the recommendation specific to a business facilitator
function. It is requested that the City Council approve the recommendation of the Mayor's Committee
to fund a facilitator for the purpose of assisting businesses and direct the City Manager to proceed with
the necessary steps and actions for implementation.
BACKGROUND
On August 9, 2004, four primary recommendations of the Mayor's Committee on Economic
Development were presented to the City Council. The report was accepted by the council by a vote of
7-0. Motions related to specific recommendations were postponed with a request that additional work
sessions be scheduled to further examine the specific issues.
One of the recommendations of the committee in support of new tools follows:
· The City Council and Budget Committee should fund a facilitator to assist businesses with
expansion, coordinate multi-agency review of development permits, and assist in developing
methods and policies to help streamline the permitting process.
If the City Council approves this recommendation of the Mayor's Committee on Economic
Development there would be financial considerations which would need to be determined for
prioritizing and approving budget monies to fund a facilitator for business assistance. The cost
associated with funding a business facilitator has been estimated at $80-100,000. The logical time to
proceed with establishing this function would be for the FY05-06 budget year.
Although this function doesn't directly address council goals or action priorities as stated, it would have
a role in supporting sustainable community development through facilitation of local projects that
support growth management principles.
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RELATED CITY POLICIES
Additionally, this assistance to businesses would indirectly apply to the adopted growth management
policies concerning housing development and construction.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
Implementing a business facilitator function would help address concerns made known by contractors,
businesses, and private citizens that the permitting process could be more efficient, that it would be
helpful if there was a vehicle to promote coordination of the numerous requirements from different city
departments and jurisdictions, as well as provide a central repository where problems could be collected
and resolved.
The council has the following options:
1. Direct the City Manager to proceed with a budget request for a service level adjustment to fund a
facilitator function to assist businesses with expansion, coordinate multi-agency review of
development permits, and assist in developing methods and policies to help streamline the permitting
process in the FY 2005-06 Budget.
2. Provide direction to not proceed with the implementation to fund a business facilitator function.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager approves the recommendation submitted by the Mayor's Committee on Economic
Development to fund a facilitator to assist businesses with expansion, coordinate multi-agency review of
development permits, and assist in developing methods and policies to help streamline the permitting
process.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to direct the City Manager to proceed with a service level adjustment to fund a business facilitator
function in FY 2005-06.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Tom Coyle
Telephone: 682-6077
Staff E-Mail: tom.g.coyle~ci.eugene.or.us
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