CC Minutes - 03/07/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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development was on a %ollision course" with the music hall. She said the WOW Hall had been a part of the community for a long time and asked that there be a public hearing on the planned development. Continuing, Ms. Davidson shared that she heard Dr. Samuel Epstein, author of Cancer Gate, speak at the Environmental Law Conference. She supported the Toxics Right-to-Know Law, stating that cancer is epidemic and the City of Eugene needed to set an example for the rest of the country. Paul Nicholson, 1855 East 28th Avenue, wished to second comments regarding the WOW Hall, hoping to preserve its function. Mr. Nicholson related that he served on the Council Committee for Economic Development in 1992. He recalled that the committee recommended substantive standards for accountability, such as producing stable family-wage jobs and encouraging companies that had minimal environmental effect. He felt the Enterprise Zone, as proposed, failed miserably to meet those standards. He thought it had no possibility for accountability, as it was largely governed by the State. He said the City of Eugene had a %ad track record" as promoters of economic development. He asked where the 1,000 jobs were that were promised by the University of Oregon when the City authorized the development of the Riverfront Research Park. He asked what happened to the promised ;;downtown renaissance." Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum and opened the floor for councilor comments and questions. Councilor Pap6 commended the ;;great testimony." He especially appreciated the young people who were participating in the play, Sleepwalk. In response to a question from Councilor Pap6, City Manager Taylor said there were no plans to sell the Union Pacific rail yards, to his knowledge. Councilor Pap6 requested that staff contact Union Pacific and ask what plans it had for the rail yards. He commented that there had been many rumors. Councilor Pap6 recalled that he took dance lessons as a six-year-old at the WOW Hall. He said the function of the WOW Hall had changed over time and might continue to change over time. He felt the future was open to speculation. Councilor Kelly thanked everyone for taking time to testify. He wished to clarify that the West 8th Avenue project was being constructed by local developers who develop only local low-income housing. He explained that while the City created 1,300 units of low-income housing since the late 1980s, there was a need for 5,000 units. He said that if the new development proceeded, it would add 70 units of low-income housing. In response to the assertion that the benefits would not go to the people who need it most, he underscored that federal law mandated low-income living units could only be rented to people who made 41 percent to 57 percent of an area's median income. Councilor Kelly applauded the drama students who were taking Sleepwalk to the Fringe Festival. He wished them luck and indicated that he would attend the benefit. Councilor Kelly, in response to the assertion that someone was rejected for the survey based on age, said he wished to ascertain that the survey in question had yet to be undertaken. City Manager Taylor said he did not know the answer at present, but would find out the status of the survey for the council. MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 7, 2005 Page 6 Regular Session