Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Roll call vote; the motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the minutes correc- tion passed unanimously, 8:0. 3. ACTION: Approval of Contingency Funds for Eugene Celebration Parking City Manager Taylor recommended that the council make no changes to its current policy or, alternatively, the council could vote funds from General Fund contingency dollars to make parking free in all six parking structures during the Eugene Celebration. Mayor Piercy said she felt strongly that if the City invited citizens to come downtown for a celebration they should not have to worry about being ticketed or finding free parking. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to allocate $7,500 from General Fund contingency to provide for fully free event parking at all City ga- rages for the Eugene Celebration. Councilor Kelly remarked that letters from downtown merchants supported free parking and those were the small businesses that the council wished to support with its downtown policies. He noted that the Celebration was uniquely different from other events like concerts at the Hult Center or the Bach Festival; it was a specific party that celebrated the City and highlighted downtown and its assets for people who seldom came downtown otherwise. He thought it was important to do everything possible to make it welcoming and while he understood how the Parking Fund operated, this was an instance where a small amount of money could advance very positive goals for downtown revitalization and arts and outdoors priorities. Councilor Ortiz said she would support the motion and hoped that the amount was sufficient to cover the entire Celebration. Staff indicated that $7,500 would cover the entire period of the Celebration. Councilor Solomon said she supported the concept but would support the motion only if the $7,500 was taken from the $50,000 already allocated to the Eugene Celebration. Councilor Solomon, seconded by Councilor Papé, moved to amend the motion to allocate $7,500 from the $50,000 already approved for the Eugene Celebration. Councilor Bettman said she originally felt that the Celebration was already being subsidized through Budget Committee action, but after considering it she agreed it was a unique event intended to create a sense of community. She said there was a good cost/benefit value for the amount of money free parking would cost and the good will it would generate. She would not support the amendment and would support the main motion. Councilor Kelly stated he would not support the amendment because it was two different issues: an organization and the public. He said the Budget Committee and the council provided $50,000 to Downtown Events Management, Inc. (DEMI) as part of its budget for the Celebration and DEMI did not ask for free parking. He agreed with Councilor Bettman that it was goodwill purchased cheaply. Mayor Piercy added that many volunteers who assisted with the Celebration last year reported that they were ticketed. MINUTES—Eugene City Council August 14, 2006 Page 5 Regular Meeting