The Oro Valley Town Council directed its economic development manager to come up with some temporary economic-relief strategies for businesses at a June 29 study session.
Council members discussed options that included temporarily reducing the town's 2 percent retail sales tax and the construction sales tax.
Councilman Steve Solomon suggested the town cut its construction sales tax from 4 percent to 2 percent to spur building.
Council members also discussed A-frame signs, which had been allowed short-term under the town's temporary sign waiver program but are prohibited under Oro Valley's permanent sign code.
The program operated from early last August until April 15 and allowed businesses to put up extra signage, such as A-frame signs and banners, that were otherwise not allowed.
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The town already supports businesses in other ways.
Its Business Retention & Expansion Program fosters the town's ties with the business community. Through the program, Oro Valley's economic development manager, Amanda Jacobs, visits two businesses a month with one council member.
The town also launched Shop Oro Valley, and its spin-off, Dine Oro Valley, to encourage residents to support Oro Valley businesses.
The development review process and the town's special events policy have been streamlined, and the council updated and approved the town sign code, Jacobs said.
Oro Valley residents had their own recession relief ideas.
Bill Adler said the town should allow exceptions to town code, and not make permanent changes.
Some of Alder's recommendations included using the town's electronic message board to promote sales or grand openings at businesses on a rotating basis.
The town uses the message boards to promote civic events.
He also suggested the town permit businesses to use empty storefronts to display their products.
Resident Don Bristow wants the town to ask the merchants what they've done to address the economic downturn.
"It isn't your job to save the world," he told the council.
Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.
