09/25/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e found that a franchise fee of five percent did not cover the full cost of creating and maintaining the public right-of-way. I!. DISCUSSION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS REGARDING URBAN RENEWAL Members of the council and the Eugene Neighborhood Leaders Council introduced themselves. The following Neighborhood Leaders were present: Ada Joyner, Jan Gund, Paul Nicholson, Monte Marshall, Mary Bentsen, Jerry Finigan, Greg Calvert, Marcia Atwood, Brad Perkins, Karen Darling, Doris Traudt, Teresa Hanley, Rufus Hanley, Ken Carpenter, Mary Edgecomb, Ed Kashin, and Jan Wostmann. Ms. Ehrman said the council was surprised by the Neighborhood Leaders' resolution about urban renewal. She said the council invited the Neighborhood Leaders to this meeting to discuss their position on this and other issues, time permitting. Jan Wostmann made a brief statement on behalf of the Neighborhood Leaders. He said the group's resolution is not targeted at specific urban renewal projects but is based on the group.s general sentiment that the urban renewal program repre- sents a significant decision about how the City's resources are allocated over a long period of time and that it is appropriate for the voters to have input into how their tax money is allocated. Mr. Wostmann said the Neighborhood Leaders unanimously agreed that the council should refrain from incurring debts and pledging tax increment funds as payment without first gaining approval of the voters, and that voter approval should also be sought before the council expands current tax increment districts or creates new ones. Mr. Wostmann said this e resolution represents the group's commitment to grass roots democracy. Ms. Schue asked if the Neighborhood Leaders are primarily concerned with the length of time that funds are pledged to urban renewal projects, or with the amount of funds that are committed. Mr. Wostmann said the committee is concerned with both. Mr. Marshall added that it has been more than 20 years since urban renewal was initially accepted by Eugene citizens; the Neighborhood Leaders Council believes that the citizens should be given a chance to vote on the issue again to determine if public opinion has changed. Mr. Calvert said the group is also concerned about the revenue impact of urban renewal in Eugene over the past three years and about the discretion given to council to choosing what projects to allow. Another concern is whether tax increment financing is being used for appropriate purposes. He said the law enabling urban renewal specifies that it be used as a tool for addressing urban blight. Mr. Calvert said the blight of some of the areas for which the council has approved tax increment financing is questionable. Mayor Miller said one of the issues raised by this discussion is whether Eugene should be run as a representative democracy or as a grass roots democracy. He said he places a lot of faith in representative democracy and feels it works very well. Mayor Miller said that in grass roots democracy, negativism and emotions often influence the outcome of an issue rather than the rationality. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 25, 1989 Page 3 Dinner/Work Session