<br />Also adding support to the proposal and the opportunity to restore the retail climate
<br />and encourage more people to come downtown were Downtown Development Board members
<br />Maurie Jacobs, Vince Farina, Dick Schimmel, and Navarre Davis.
<br />
<br />Archie Weinstein, representing the businessmen between 6th .and 7th on Willamette,
<br />said he favored the plan but expressed the wishes of the group in that area, as
<br />noted by their May 18 petition, to be left out of the district.
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<br />Vernon Hicks, 640 Willamette, agreed with Mr. Weinstein.
<br />
<br />Bill Wolfe, speaking for the Oregon Bank, spoke most favorably about the need for
<br />the program.
<br />
<br />City Manager read a letter of support for the program from Harry Farrell, a member
<br />of the Downtown Development Board and owner of the Town and Travel.
<br />
<br />Ed Rubey, CPA, 162 E. 12th, conveyed his support of the proposal with one exception:
<br />He felt that the overpark ordinance has never been thoroughly interpreted as to
<br />meaning of net income, that a true report is not being provided regarding what the
<br />structure is doing in favor of property owners. He urged that, before the Council
<br />proceeds, it should resolve the question accurately so that no loss occurs to
<br />those presently representing the assessment of the structure.
<br />
<br />Hearing was opened to those persons against the proposal.
<br />
<br />Frances Linklater, 858 Pearl, stated that $160 per professional was not equitable
<br />due to the large span in salaries between the various attorneys.
<br />
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<br />
<br />Bill Frye, President of the Lane County Bar Association, concurred, adding that
<br />attorneys are not dependent on providing parking for clients. Clients do not
<br />consider the parking aspect when choosing an attorney. He feels that $40 per year
<br />is more equitable for attorney assessment.
<br />
<br />Mr. McDonald arrived at the meeting.
<br />
<br />Herman Hendershott, Chairman of the Bar Association committee to look into the
<br />proposal, referred to a study' they conducted which indicated the majority of
<br />attorneys were opposed to the proposal, feeling it would not bring in new clients
<br />and that they should not be required to contribute to increasing the retail trade.
<br />Based on the study, $40 is adequate for attorney assessment, since they sell service,
<br />not merchandise.
<br />
<br />Keith Rodman, 136 S. Park, concurred, adding that, because turnover is essential
<br />to the program, it would add to the traffic congestion and pollution problem by
<br />making automobile transportation more convenient.
<br />
<br />Attorney Ralph Aldave, 4150 Pearl, felt that more attorneys would simply move to
<br />the fringe areas. He questioned the ability to adequately monitor and police the
<br />system. He expressed the opinion that people go to Valley River not because of
<br />free parking but because of compact shopping, air conditioning, etc. He also
<br />questioned the composition of the Downtown Development Board, since most of the
<br />members of the B~arq are'Ya~~art of the downtown business area.
<br />
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<br />
<br />Ron Prideaux, Chrystal Ship Manager, pointed out that, because his business is
<br />doing fine, it indicated something is right with the merchandising and that this
<br />aspect will bring people to the downtown retail area, not free parking. Because
<br />the tax would be based on gross revenues, it would not be fair and would be
<br />penalizing those who operate more efficiently. He feels a better system would be
<br />to charge businesses on their square footage.
<br />
<br />Marian Frank, League of Women Voters, expressed opposition.
<br />involved. Prices would go up when businesses are assessed,
<br />expressed that it was more important to direct attention to
<br />use and pollution.
<br />
<br />There are hidden costs
<br />and the thought was
<br />such matters as land
<br />
<br />Rich Megenity, Property Manager with First National Bank, representing people with
<br />real property in the downtown area whose trusts the Bank manages, stated he was
<br />recently involved in the negotiation of a lease on a piece of property used as a
<br />free parking lot in Southern Oregon. That lease is being renegotiated now, and a
<br />lower rent rate is being requested because the downtown area is in trouble after
<br />providing free parking for ten years. He expressed the opinion that downtown Eugene
<br />is flourishing and that free parking is not really necessary.
<br />
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<br />6/11/73 - 2
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