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Drix Drixman, 307-½ East 14th Avenue, said Eugene was a magic town and that he had recently returned to live here. He remembered the river and the greenway from the 1970s, calling them precious. He asserted that the City was now thinking of taking a chunk of it and giving it to the private sector so someone could have a view from their office. He told the story of how he had shared a dormitory room with a boring person when he had attended college. He had decorated his side of the room in a lively manner while his boring roommate had done nothing. He related how, when he had finished decorating, he was stuck looking at the ~dumb" side of the room while his roommate looked at his festively decorated side of the room. He urged the city to consider that, while the office might have a beautiful view, the people from across the river would look at a building. He suggested everyone present float down the river in an inner tube during the summer and enjoy the greenery along the river. Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Meisner, moved to keep the record open for seven days. The motion carried unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Meisner asked staff to respond to the following questions: 1) What would be the consequences or effects both financially and in potential development terms for the University of Oregon if the eastern portion of the district was removed from the urban renewal district? 2) Is the Highway 99 couplet in the Willamette Greenway? 3) Could some information be compiled for the public to read on urban renewal and Ballot Measure 50, as tax rates could no longer be adjusted or increased with exemptions? Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Kelly moved to direct the City Manager to bring back for final action the Riverfront Urban Renewal District with the following modification: - for A-1 public improvements, curb and sidewalk improvements: improvements within the renewal area will require construction and reconstruction of curb and sidewalks within the project area; the renewal agency would participate in funding sidewalk improvements including design, redesign, construction, repair, and acquisition of right-of-way for sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths when there was no other eligible funding source available; - projects to be undertaken would include curb and sidewalk improvements identified in the Eugene Capital Improvement Program and the Vision for a Greater Downtown Eugene report and the Courthouse District Concept Plan and other curbside walk improvements identified by the renewal agency. - the plan to provide that the urban renewal district would be amended to reflect that revenue shall not be spent on projects or activities for which existing funding mechanisms are traditionally used, such as assessments, fees, or systems development charges, or to pay expenses incurred by or for another jurisdiction such as the State, County, or Federal government; - Item (6) shall be deleted from the language. Councilor Bettman noted that it was often heard that the City could not fund schools or human services because funding was dedicated for roads. She asserted that the urban renewal district would take funding that could be used for these things and spend it on roads. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 9, 2004 Page 13 Regular Meeting