03/17/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e - e e e Ms. Bentsen read from the executive summary of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts Management Study by the Alexander Grant Company. She said the study indicates that lack of a revenue stream for the Hult Center will cause problems and public support for the council may be disrupted. She said the councilors should follow the advice in the study. She said it is important that voters have confidence in the ability of the councilors to assign priorities so that basic services such as street repair, sewer maintenance, bridge repair, and support of the police and fire departments and the library are supported. Maggie Chamberlain, 2718 Bell Avenue, said the CIP indicates that Bethel Drive will not be improved until 1990. She said the street is in such bad shape that something terrible will happen if nothing is done before that time. She said many children use the street which is very dangerous. She asked the councilors to reconsider the funding and the timing of the improvement because it is urgent and non-postponable. Ms. Chamberlain read written testimony from Carol Jacobs, 2715 Bell, Connie Croson, 2798 Bell, and Henr~ Jones, 2791 Bell, and then submitted it to the council. Ms. Jacobs said s e is terrified to ride her bike on Bethel Drive because cars might hit a pothole and flip over on her. Ms. Croson said cars travel very fast on Bethel Drive which has narrow shoulders and many potholes. Mr. Jones said the street is not wide enough to accommodate two cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists at once. He said the road should be resurfaced particularly from Roosevelt Boulevard to the Southern Pacific Credit Union, a bike-pedestrian lane should be constructed, street lighting should be improved, and the effect of assessments on property owners should be mitigated by phasing. Robert Emmons, 1064 West 5th, said he has worked for the City for 9-1/2 years in a rehabilitation loan program and in the Parks Department. He said the Hult Center cost more than was budgeted and has a deficit of almost $500,000 a year. He said the Eugene Celebration was to be supported by donations. but it now has a paid director and a budget of $55,000 a year from the General Fund. He described the Hult Center projects in the CIP which total $721,000 for three years. Mr. Emmons said the Gleason Administration has steadily and purposely eroded services that anticipate problems. For example, historic preservation efforts and effective ties with neighborhood groups have been decreased and the crime prevention unit was eliminated. He said he managed a successful vegetation control program last year which cost $25,000 and which is not included in this yearls budget, but the CIP project to put bronze lettering on the Hult Center will cost $24,000. He said citizens have a right to expect basic services, but services and resources in Eugene have been sacrificed for very visible CIP projects which pander to industrial developers. He said such decisions are not acceptable. MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 17. 1986 Page 3