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<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. <br /> <br />1,,- <br /> <br />"='- <br /> <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 /> <br />. <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 /> <br />.1 <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 /> <br />.;, <br /> <br />.~ <br /> <br />\B? <br /> <br />6/11/73 - 2 <br />