11/22/1982 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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\ Mr. Sercombe said that the council had two options for action on this matter: it could reaffirm Resolution No. 3718 or it could request staff to prepare a substitute resolution identifying either another name for the center or a process to be used in determining a name. - Public hearing was opened. Those speaking against the resolution were: Morley Young, 1579 Larkspur Avenue, said he hoped the public hearing would settle some of the problems regarding the legal process followed in naming the center. He said that a policy on the relation of private donations to public projects was lacking. He felt that the adoption of criteria for naming the center space was "quietly devised" without the knowledge of the voters and taxpayers. He said that the Hult gift was supposed to total $3 million but that by mid-October $2.5 million still had not been received. He said that funds from the gifts to the center would not be available to offset operating costs of the center until 1986 or 1987. Mr. Young said that the council had recently taken $75,000 from the sewer fund to pay Performing Arts Center bills and noted that these funds had been provided by the public, not by the Eugene Arts Foun- dation. He said that the people of Eugene wanted to honor the Hults for their gift and suggested that the name Eugene Performing Arts Center be returned to the center in honor of the citizens of Eugene, who had financed and would continue to finance the center, and that the council provide some alternative tangible and appropriate recognition to the Hults, such as naming the lobby or the arcade area after them. He concluded by suggesting that the council draft a policy on the treatment of private donations to public buildings and make this policy known to the public. e Tom Heusel, 1515 Polk Street, No.5, read a letter regarding the council's decision on naming of the Hult Center and expressing regret at the decision's having been made in the setting of a special council meeting held during a celebratory dinner. He said that the council now had the opportunity to correct that awkward situation. Mr. Heusel said that the Eugene Arts Foundation had circulated documents detailing "m~orialization opportunities" but that these documents, which Mr. Heusel felt detailed the "selling" of names for spaces within the center, were not made available to the general public. He was concerned that as of October 15, 1982, $2.5 million of the Hult gift had not been received. He cited a letter written by Benson Snyder of the Eugene Arts Foundation stating that no funding for local arts groups would be available from the foundation until 1986 or 1987. Mr. Heusel said he wondered who would support these groups until that time. He asked the council to continue to be sensitive to the needs of the community. Glen Gibbons, 1050 West 5th Avenue, said that he had been among those supporting the 1978 $18.5 million bond issue for construction of the center. He said that the purpose of the protest of the naming of the Hult Center was not to defame the Hults but to enshrine the citizens of Eugene and their contribution. He said that the issue surrounded the manner in which decisions regarding public policy are made. He raised questions regarding the operation of the Eugene Arts Foundation. He said that the linkage between this group and the City of Eugene was not serving the citizens of the City and noted that the Arts Foundation was not subject to Oregon public meeting law. He urged the council to take over the tasks of the foundation and ensure public access to the work and decisions of this group. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 22, 1982 Page 3