10/10/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Harold Lannom, 460 East 15th Avenue, Eugene, said he represented the WUN, e stating that the group had unanimously voted to support the plan and suggested that a study be performed within 30 days with the intent to include the area east of Hilyard Street in the plan. He said he personally supported the plan, stating that he was made aware of the parking problem as early as 1978. He said the plan addressed this concern, referring to the data listed in the plan appendix. He said the data showed that people would use alternative trans- portation if improvements were made. He explained that the improvements were made to control the demand for parking, but added that the problem still existed, and therefore the problem must be addressed from the supply side. He said the plan also addressed the problem of locating off-street parking, stating that this type of parking was continually under-utilized, six years after the first study identified the problem. He said that Sacred Heart had stated that parking was available for all its employees. He said staff had the data necessary to make any necessary adjustments in the program. He commended staff for its data collection before implementing the program. He said both on- and off-street parking was expensive, but he asked the council to consider who would bear the costs. He said the WUN, once blighted by crime, was taking on a new look and that pride in the neighborhood was developing. He said the council was responsive to the needs of the area and that support for the program was needed. He said the program must be given a chance. Bill Sullivan, 534 East 14th Avenue #4, Eugene, said he lived and operated a business in the WUN area, as well as raising two small children. He said the problem was real, describing the inconvenience to guests and the hazards to residents by individuals looking for parking. He said the problem was caused by the limited parking and the hope of free parking. He said the solution to e the problem was consolidation of the available parking, as proposed in the plan. He said the 6,500 residents of the WUN supported the plan, adding that the area east of Hilyard should be included to also solve the parking problem for those residents. He stated that approximately 4,000 of the 6,500 residents were students and that people in the area paid higher rents for the privilege of parking and walking to the University and area businesses. He said the commut- ers were looking for a free ride, and that while he did not want to punish them, he did not want to subsidize them. He said the Planning Commission and, his- torically, Sacred Heart Hospital, supported the plan and that present ambivalence of the hospital was an insult to its nurses in the WUN and to the council who had approved the Sacred Heart parking structure. He said this structure was usually only one-third full, stating that the program would force parking in the structure. He urged the council to stop subsidizing commuters to the area. Wickes Beal, 712 East 16th Avenue, Eugene, said she was in favor of the program, as were all the residents in the area. She said the inclusion of the area east of Hilyard was also supported, referring to several letters previously submitted to the council which addressed this issue. She applauded the reason behind the program, but stated she was sorry that the above area had been excluded. She said staff apparently had reasons for excluding the area, possibly due to the numerous multiple-unit dwellings, and stressed that the residents of this area should be included. She said the residents did not feel it was the City's responsibility to provide free parking and that they were willing to support any idea developed by staff to provide parking. She hoped the council would adopt the WUN recommendation to include the area east of Hilyard Street in the program. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 10, 1983 Page 6