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<br />- because the downtown community is not as supportive of the DDD if it feels <br /> the system is not equitable. <br /> Mr. Luell said four to five years ago, the Downtown Commission focused on the <br /> parking problem. They formed a parking policy committee which forwarded a <br /> set of recommendations to the council. These recommendations were adopted in <br /> 1986. The redesign recommendations included an increase in the gross <br /> receipts tax. This recommendation was formulated in direct response to the <br /> merchants' requests that a pay-based program not be implemented immediately. <br /> Other recommendations were the development of a customer program supported by <br /> the ODD and user fees, increases in security, decreasing the cost of <br /> enforcement, and metering spaces in which a high turnover rate is desirable. <br /> Mr. Luell said the Downtown Commission hoped it would be possible to design a <br /> parking program (two hours free, pay thereafter) that would address the OOOIS <br /> deficit. Mr. Luell said if downtown parking is converted to this type of <br /> system, the tax rate would have to be reduced in order for it to be <br /> politically acceptable; however, financial projections indicated that this <br /> would not be possible. At this point, the Downtown Commission recommended <br /> the formation of a broad-based group to decide what the ODD should do and how <br /> its programs should be funded. <br /> Mr. Luell feels ODD Review Group has reached consensus on three issues: the <br /> solutions to ODD's problems must be financially stable, tax equitable, and <br /> palatable to the downtown community. <br />e Ms. Ehrman said one additional area of consensus among group members is the <br /> need for a separation between the downtown parking program and a program <br /> which would take care of marketing and administration in the downtown area. <br /> She said the group is very diverse and has not yet been able to reach <br /> consensus on the type of program that should be pursued. <br /> Mr. Holmer said staff has provided an analysis of parking programs elsewhere <br /> in the state and outside of the state which has been very helpful to the <br /> group. There has been considerable interest in Salemls parking model, which <br /> creates zones of benefits as a basis for deciding how to levy taxes. Mr. <br /> Holmer added that the group is concentrating on the parking problem first <br /> because it feels it is very important to have a fully funded parking program <br /> that is acceptable to the various parties involved. <br /> Mr. Holmer said the group is seriously discussing the possibility of charging <br /> some amount for parking, but the retail representatives to the group do not <br /> feel this will work well. <br /> Ms. Wooten said the council did have a discussion prior to the formation of <br /> DRG that implied its willingness to move toward paid parking. Ms. Schue <br /> asked whether the council requested that at least part of the parking <br /> solution come from a fee-based system. Mr. Bennett said the council took no <br /> formal action, but that there was strong consensus that it was leaning in <br /> that direction, with some members favoring more of a transition to such a <br /> system than others. Mr. Luell agreed that this was the council's direction. <br />- MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 12, 1988 Page 3 <br />