07/09/1984 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ t - ~ Bill Lioio, 2678 Sharon Way, responding to the July 9 Register-Guard article - addressing the Community Goals and Policies document, said it was inappropriate for the City to include highly political opinions in a community policy if it were seriously seeking economic development and wishing to attract new busi- nesses to the area. Stating that he has lived in Eugene since 1971, he felt that the City's attempts at community planning had been unsuccessful, adding that the downtown was a more attractive, but less successful area. He said the council should not be involved in controversial subjects if it were serious about attracting new businesses; he said the community should express its opinions through individual citizens rather than in a City policy. Councilor Obie asked Mr. Lioio to submit in writing those suggested actions which he felt should be deleted. Carroll D. Fentress, 3883 Blanton Road, said he had enjoyed the Oregon Bach Festival concerts, stating that he appreciated the work of Royce Saltzman and the Hult Center staff. He also expressed his appreciation to those councilors and staff who had participated in the Community Goals and Policies Conference. He said he could not recommend final action when he did not know the wording or scope of the document being considered. Referring to the July 3, 1984, City press release which stated that the Planning Commission had developed some changes to the document, Mr. Fentress asked for clarification of the revisions recommended by the commission. He briefly reviewed the procedures followed during the April conference, stating that little time had been allowed for substantive debate or amendments. He suggested that the council send the document to each City committee and board for comment and recommendations and that it hold at least five public hearings with City-wide distribution of the document prior to any action by the City Council. Mr. Fentress then e stated his own goals for the City which included enhancing the City as an attractive place to live and enriching the lives of its citizens in the areas of education, culture, sports, industry, tourism and business. He stated that he would submit his testimony in writing to the council. LaVerne Edwards, 1260 President Street, stating that she had previously addressed the Planning Commission in regard to attracting retirees to the Eugene area, said she was concerned that the document might change City policy based on the work of only 150 citizens. She felt that the base group involved was not broad enough to sufficiently represent the entire community. She said she shared Councilor Holmer's comments regarding the document. While she felt that the document was usable, she said it should not be adopted by the City Council. She recommended that any goal which might suppress jobs or hinder economic development should be deleted from the document. Elizabeth G. Brown, 665 West 5th Avenue #4, stated that she was very surprised at the Register-Guard article on the Community Goals document. She stated that Councilor Holmer 's objections had expressed her own feelings on several sections of the document, even though those sections contained some statements which she favored. She felt that no community consensus existed on many of the issues included in the proposals, stating that economic development was a complicated and political issue, she said it was important to have sufficient discussion on that issue. She commented that it was difficult to follow the various City plans and policies. Ms. Brown said the council should not support a City policy which did not have the consensus of the community. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 9, 1984 Page 3