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CLOUDY Temp: 40 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend December 11, 2002 Local business leaders praise summit’s spirit By GREG STILES Mail Tribune If the attitudes Mike Burrill Sr. witnessed at Monday’s Oregon Business Plan summit in Portland turn into action, he’ll be one happy man. The Medford developer said a tone of cooperation between Governor-elect Ted Kulongoski, legislators and business leaders was apparent. "I’m very excited about the outcome," Burrill said Tuesday. "It places responsibility on everybody from the governor’s office to legislative and local officials and in the private sector as well. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and turn the economy around." The conference sponsored by Democratic U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden drew 1,300 business leaders and public officials to the Portland Civic Auditorium. Burrill noted an unusual theme — preserving industrial land. "I’m not sure I’ve heard that before," Burrill said. "The primary industries that (land-use laws) protected were agriculture and forestry. Those two industries are not as viable any more and we need to make sure counties and cities are setting aside industrial land." Gordon Safley, executive director of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc., said the key element he heard was that the incoming governor and Legislature share a pro-business attitude. "I don’t believe we need to change the land-use rules," Safley said. "But the application and implementation can change if there is a pro-business attitude instead of using rules to control growth." Brad Hicks, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, said he was encouraged by talk of altering the state’s business perception. "I was pleased at Gov. (elect) Kulongoski’s comments on the reform of burdensome land-use regulations," Hicks said. "Other breakout groups were pretty candid about pointing out what has been a business-unfriendly climate and how we all need to come together to undo that." Like Burrill, Hicks said the months ahead will determine the efficacy of the event. "I’m cautiously optimistic," Hicks said. "It’s easy to get 1,300 people together and have a big pep assembly and then hang it up on the coat rack and never pick it up again." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S