01/08/1962 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ 423 . 1/8/62 I MERCIAL BUILDINGS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY REMODELED, MANY WITH REDESIGNED AND MODERNIZED EX- TERIORS. THROUGH VOLU~TARY MERCHANT COOPERATION PEDESTRIAN WALKS WERE INSTALLED IN ALLEYS LEADING TO THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE. 'I I I' PLANNING OF VARIOUS KINDS HAS BEEN.A MAJOR 1961 ACTIVITY. A COMPREHENSIVE SEWER RE- BUILDING AND EXTENSION PLAN WAS ADOPTED. THE LAST MEETING Of THE COUNCIL Of 1961 SAW AN ELECTION CALLED TO ASK FINANCIAL AUTHORIZATION. THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED, AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED, A GARDEN APARTMENT TYPE ZONE AND MANY PROPERTIES WERE REZONED TO THIS'CLASSIFICATION. MUCH PROGRESS WAS MADE TOWARD DEVELOPING A UNIFORM METROPOLITAN SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE WHICH WILL COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL DURING 1962. THE CENTRAL LANE PLANNING COUNCIL HAS RESPONDED TO CRITICISMS ON INADEQUATE SERVICE AND UNDUE INFLUENCE-BY ASSUMING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN DIRECTING THE OPERATION OF ITS STAFF AND IN INSTITUTING A PROGRAM OF SELF RE-EVALUATION. e Two PARTS OF A THREE PART STUDY Of INDUSTRIAL, EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN EUGENE BY 1980-85 WERE COMPLETED AND THE THIRD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON. I OTHER 196i INCIDENTS WORTH MENTION~NG INCLUDE SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL EXPANSIONS, THE EUGENE-CHINJU SISTER CITY PROGRAM, THE UNIVERSITY URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT, THE "SUMMER TIME' CONTROVERSY, THE EUGENE MISSION LOCATION, EXPRESSWAY CONSTRUCTION, MILLRACE BRIDGES, IM- PROVED FIRE INSURANCE RATING, CITY EMPLOYEES INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PROGRAM, THE HALF-MILLION DOLLAR SEWER PLANT ADDITION, INCREASED SALARIES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WHICH HELPED IN REDUC- ING EMPLOYEE TURNOVER TO 15% IN 1961 AS COMPARED TO, 22% IN 1960, THE WASHINGTON-JEFFERSON STREET ONE-WAY SYSTEM, THE OPENING OF THE JUDKINS POINT BRIDGE, AND OTHER TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FORMATION OF THE METRO CIVIC CLUB WHICH HAS AS ITS SPECIFIC PURPOSE THE IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MATTERS CONCERNING THE WELFARE OF OUR .POPULACE. THIS CLUB CAN BE AN EXCELLENT COMMUNITY INfLUENCE. WE WISH IT WELL. ~ ~ ~ ~ 00 00 BEFORE CLOSING THE BOOK ON 1961, A FEW CREDITS ARE IN ORDER. IT IS A PLEASURE TO EX- PRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE LANE COUNTY COURT FOR ITS fiNE PROGRAM Of PERIPHERAL ROAD DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE SANTA CLARA BRIDGE OVER THE WILLAMETTE RIVER, ITS ACQUISITION OF NORTH BANK PARK PROPERTY, THE- JAIL AGREEMENT, AND THE JOINT PLANNING PROGRAMS. WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE HELP OF THE EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD IN ITS FINE NEWS COVERAGE AND EDITORIAL SUPPORT. THE OTHER NEWS MEDIA, INCLUDING RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS, HAVE PLAYED AN INDISPENSABLE PART IN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION EFFORT OF THE COMMUNITY. JOE RICHARDS AND THE MANY OTHER~ WHO HELPED ~ET THE INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE FOR THE MAY SPECIAL ELECTION DESERVE RECOGNITION. WE MUST ALSO INCLUDE THE DISTRICT #4 SCHOOL BOARD FOR ITS BUDGETARY AND PARK-SCHOOL COOPERATION, THE EUGENE WATER & ELECTRIC BOARD FOR ITS HELP IN SECURING THE fAVORABLE FIRE INSURANCE RATING AND ITS PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL STORAGE AND WATER TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. . THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DESERVES OUR THANKS FOR I~S SUP- PORT IN MANY CITY PROGRAMS DURING THE YEAR. OUR CITY MANAGER, HUGH MCKINLEY, AND HIS FINE STAFF AS WELL AS ALL Of OUR CITY EMPLOYEES DESERVE MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. I LOOKING ~ORWARD INTO 1~62 THERE APPEAR TO BE SEVERAL MATTERS WHICH WILL DEMAND OUR AT- TENTION AND'CONCERTED. EFFORT. SOME OF THESE ARE LISTED BELOW, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE ORDER OF THEIR IMPORTANCE. WE MUST EXPLAIN THE SEWER PROGRAM IN ORDER THAT THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE FACTS AVAIL- ABLE FOR MAKING AN INTELLiGENT DECISION AT THE ELECTION ON MARCH 1ST. e ASSUMING POPULAR APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM, WE MUST DILIGENTLY PURSUE THE CONSTRUCTION PHASES UNTIL THE CITY'S SEWER SYSTEM MEETS ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. THERE IS NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE EUGENE PROPERTY TAX BASE IN ORDER THAT A DECISION CAN BE MADE WHETHER TO SUBMIT A REVISED TAX BASE PROPOSAL TO THE PEOPLE AT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE OPERATION Of THE CITY ON A LONG SERIES OF LIMITED TIME SPECIAL LEVIES CREATES SEVERE PROB~EMS OF FINANCIAL PLANNING. CONTINUING PROGRESS IN PROVIDING OFF-STREET PARKING IS .ESSENTIAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE VALUATION OF DOWNTOWN PROPERTY. A DECEMBER 11TH SURVEY OFj ALL PARKING LOTS SHOWED ONLY 15% VACANCIES IN THE MORNING, 4% FROM NOON TO 3:00 PM, AND 1% FROM 3:00 TO 5:00 PM. THIS INDICATES A DEFINITE NEED FOR MORE PARKING SPACE, AT LEAST JURING PERIODS OF MAXIMUM DEMAND. WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS 135 ON-STREET PARKING SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THE PRESSURE OF INCREASED TRAFFIC ON NARROW STREEtS WILL DICTATE FURTHER LOSS OF ON-STREET PARKING. I ALLIED WITH THE SEWER PROGRAM IS THE NEED fOR AD9PTION Of U IN EUGENE AND SPRINGfiELD AND IN THE UNINCORPORATED URBAN AREAS. ADOPTION OF SUCH STANDARDS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE fUTURE LIVAB HAVE A PROfOUND STABILIZING EffECT ON PROPERTY VA~UES. IT WILL HOMES T~ REALIZE THE 'BENEFITS Of PURCHASING IN A FULLY DEVELOPED TECT/ON OF KNOWING THE QUALITY OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR WHICH THEY AR IfORM SUBDIVISION STANDARDS f-CENTRAL LANE COUNTY. THE LITY OF-OUR CITY AND WILL ERMIT INVESTORS IN NEW SUBDIVISION WITH THE?PRO- PAYING. WITH THE COMPLETION OF ENGINEERING STUDIES NOW BEING INITIA ED WE SHOULD EXPLORE METHODS Of PROVIDING SEWER SERVICE TO INDUSTRIAL AREAS WEST Of SENECA ROAD. - ~