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impact them, as demonstrated by the unanimous opposition of the neighborhood association to the proposal. Ms. Bettman said that there was a refinement plan amendment process in place. She did not think the age of a refinement plan negated its value. Some neighborhoods had none at all, and the residents of those areas would like one. She said as long as the refinement plan was in place, it should be respected. Regarding the subject of refinement plan updates, she recalled that she had discussed the issue with former City Manager Jim Johnson, who had suggested targeted updates of small neighborhood areas on an as-needed basis, which would be more cost-effective that a full update. The motion passed, 5:2; Ms. Solomon and Mr. Pap~ voting no. D. ACTION: Resolution 4816 Approving a Multiple-Unit Property Tax Exemption for Residential Property Located at 979 Patterson Street, Eugene, Oregon (Arthur C. Carmichael, Jr. and Larry Von Klein) Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, moved to adopt Resolution 4816 approving a Multiple-Unit Property Tax Exemption for residential property located at 979 Patterson Street, Eugene. Mr. Lidz briefly noted changes in Attachment A of the agenda item summary made since the public hearing. Ms. Bettman, with the concurrence of Ms. Nathanson, the second to the motion, incorporated new Attachment A into the motion. Mayor Torrey called on the council for comments. Ms. Bettman asked if the numbers provided by the developer were verified independently. Mr. Weinman said yes. He said the numbers provided were very reasonable and corresponded both to the City's own experience and to a survey released that day by the local firm of Duncan & Brown. Ms. Bettman referred to the information provided by Mr. von Klein regarding Hilyard House and asked Mr. Weinman for more information about his assertion that the structure was built to the original specifications. Mr. Weinman said changes were made as a result of City regulations but those were largely interior. Ms. Bettman indicated her opposition to the motion. She said that the City has plenty of rental housing in the area and she did not see a public need to give tax forgiveness to such a project. She said the Consoli- dated Plan for Lane County, Eugene, and Springfield identified the need to increase the rental supply of permanent affordable housing enhancing shelter support services for homeless households and increasing the supply of transitional and permanent housing for specialized populations. The proposed tax exemption before the council would not accomplish any of those goals. Mr. Meisner indicated support for the motion, pointing out the proposal involved the conversion and development of a surface parking lot in downtown Eugene into quality housing, which was precisely what the City's Growth Management Study policies encouraged. He said that the City's policies called for it to assist such development as well. He thought the proposal a perfect use for the area and noted the neighbor- hood residents worked with the developer on certain design elements, which was important to him. Mr. Meisner appreciated the fact the City's legal counsel deemed the conditions of development were enforce- able. He was pleased to see the proposal. MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 6, 2004 Page 10 Work Session