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Executive Managers. The duration of the proposed committee is projected to be five months. <br /> The committee will begin meeting in late October or early November, 1996. The committee is <br /> expected to forward its recommendations to Council in February. Their could be additional work <br /> for the committee after Council reviews the draft recommendations. <br /> ITEMS UNDER SEPARATE COVER: <br /> Proposed Interested Parties List <br /> Tentative Citizen Involvement Schedule <br /> Citizen Involvement Flow Chart <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The Oregon Enterprise Zone program was established by the State legislature in 1985. The West <br /> Eugene Enterprise Zone was designated by the Governor in 1987 following resolutions adopted <br /> by the Eugene City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners. The zone was <br /> designated for a 10 year period. Eugene's zone expires in July 1997. If the City of Eugene <br /> chooses to reapply for Enterprise Zone status , the State of Oregon could redesignate the West <br /> Eugene Enterprise Zone for 10 additional years. <br /> The current zone boundary includes approximately 6.5 square miles in West Eugene. The <br /> Enterprise Zone program was established for the primary purpose of creating jobs and <br /> encouraging new investment in designated areas. The program offers a short-term tax exemption <br /> on industrial investments in exchange for job creation and a long -term increase in the assessed <br /> value of property. To date, 41 businesses have received tax exemptions in the West Eugene <br /> Enterprise Zone. <br /> In 1995, the legislature amended the Enterprise Zone law to allow for limited expansion of the <br /> eligibility criteria. The law allows the zone sponsor (City of Eugene/Lane County) to adopt a <br /> policy that requires eligible business firms to satisfy other conditions that are related to the <br /> public purpose of providing opportunities for persons to obtain employment. Such conditions <br /> could include provisions for employee training, hiring procedures, and other employment related <br /> issues. Council has requested a review of potential program changes available under the existing <br /> law. <br /> The primary function of the proposed advisory committee would be to assist staff in answering <br /> several questions that the Council has identified regarding the future of the Enterprise Zone <br /> program and to explore various ways to adapt the Enterprise Zone program to current community <br /> needs. <br /> CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT PROCESS: A high level of public interest in the Enterprise <br /> Zone program is anticipated. The Eugene City Council recommended a Department Advisory <br /> Committee as a major component of the citizen involvement process. An interested parties list <br /> has been generated for review and approval by the Citizen Involvement Committee. Interested <br /> parties will initially receive information regarding ways to get involved in the project and <br /> IV -1 <br />