10/14/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bennett said she thought about 40 percent had responded to the final e survey, and about 70 percent of those had favored the increase in the gross receipts tax. She also said some concern had been expressed by the commission that the survey be redone to include those not responding previously. Mr. McCoy said he thought the commission was sensitive to the importance of free parking downtown but also understood that free parking was not a good long-term solution. Mr. Miller asked whether the marketing of downtown lots was a policy shift. Mr. Gleason said the lots originally had been purchased as interim parking lots and were not intended for long-term use. Mr. Miller said he would like to see a comprehensive scenario of what was being pursued. Mr. Gleason said all of the properties assembled by the Urban Renewal Authority had a pros- pectus for development, and the retail proposal had been included for eight or nine years. He added that he thought parking structures eventually would be created to compensate for parking losses because of development. Mr. Miller said he still would like to see the options. Ms. Wooten said she did not think it was known exactly what was being pursued, but the property was being actively marketed. Ms. Stewart said staff were following the Urban Renewal Plans which called for development of all sites, and she added that the commission would be amending and updating the plan in the next six months to bring it into compliance with State regulations and the Downtown Plan. She said no policy shift was expected, but the type of development, along with the process and tools to be used, might be clarified. Mr. Gleason said the plan had been adopted eight or nine years ago and a formal readoption of the Urban Renewal Plan would be brought back to City Council. Mr. Miller said he would e like to see a specific plan. Mr. Hansen asked whether the survey had included the option of a two-hour free period followed by validation thereafter. Mr. Luell said two options had been presented--continuation of the free program by increasing the gross receipts tax by $1 and a two-hour free system with payment required thereafter. He also said some discussions had been held concerning validation. Ms. Schue said the original Urban Renewal Plan had intended that parking eventually be in garages, and that undeveloped property be used as an interim solution until it was gradually sold off. She said development had been slower than expected, and the lots were now becoming fixed in people1s minds as parking lots. Ms. Ehrman said a broad spectrum of participants had been included in the forum, and she agreed that EDA's proposal did not address the problems of downtown parking. Mr. McCoy said some differences to the existing system were planned, including metering parking on streets and in the lot at the corner of 10th and Olive near the Atrium and Sears, and he added that there appeared to be good support for meters. Mr. Holmer asked whether the increase to $3.41 would eliminate all concern about deficits in maintenance and operation. Mr. McCoy said projections were included for revenue from metered on-street parking, and the increase appeared e to take care of the financial problem for a year or two. He said he thought MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session October 14, 1985 Page 3