02/28/1972 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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- i I e e . I Eugene, Oregon Council Chamber February 28, 1972 'Adjourned meeting of the Common Council of the city of Eugene, Oregon, adjourned from the regular meeting held February 14, 1972, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Lester E. Anderson at 7:30 p.m. qn February 28, 1972 in the Council Chamber with the following councilmen present: Mr. Mohr, Mrs. Beal, Messrs. McDonald, Williams, Hershner, and Mrs. Campbell. Mr. Teague was absent. I - Bicycle Report and Film - Ruth Bascom,-chairman of the Bicycle Committee, reported on the progress of the committee's work and showed a movie entitled "Bike Links" depicting bike possibilities in the Eugene-Springfield area. Short reports were given by P. J. McDonald, Jim Anderson, and David Eaton on need for bike racks, bi cycle vs automobile traffic counts, and proposed bike routes. Slides were presented showing proposed bike routes including east/west route from the campus to Westmoreland housing area. Carol Beil reported on a questionnaire distributed to people in the Westmoreland area on use of this east/west route and said copies would be forwarded upon completion. Mrs. Bascom said committee members will explain items needing funding to the Budget Committee. Mrs. Campbell asked if the committee considered asking for removal of parking between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. ,and 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. on 13th Avenue where it would not interfere with business use to give 'bicycles a chance to use at least one lane during those hours. Mrs. Bascom said they hope to make recommendations of that sort. She said a proposed lane for bicycles to and from Roosevelt Junior High is the first attempt and as bike use increases there would be justifica- tion for more requests of that nature. She said the bicycle committee meets on the first and third Thursday at noon and they hoped for citizen input and criticism. II - Public Hearings Council Bill No. 9581 - Declaring Deficit Assessment on 10th and Oak Overpark, submitte~ and read the first time by council bill number and title only on February 14, 1972, there being no councilman present requesting it be read in full, held to this date for second reading lacking unanimous consent for reading by council bill number only, was brought back for consideration with two additional protests on file. Mr. Mohr moved seconded by Mrs. Beal that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only and that enactment be considered at this time. Manager reviewed protests received at the February 14, 1972 meeting. Since then written pro- tests were received from Carlton Buck, minister, and Howard Berge, treasurer, First Christian Church; Trude Kaufman, Kaufman Bros., Inc.; George Skeie, Skeie's Jewelers; and Butler, Husk & Gleaves, attorneys, on behalf of Dr. Robert Loomis and Mr. Neal Sande, owners of property occupied by National Theatre. The City Attorney's opinion was read with regard to the question raised by Bennetts Community Builders (Bennett-Knox) as to whether the deficit assesSment could be placed against their property since its use has changed. It is now used for off- street par.king where there were buildings when the original assessment was made. The opinion stated any change subsequent to the original assessment has no bearing on the deficit assessment. It was noted that Council members previously received from the Executive Director of the Eugene Renewal Agency comments regarding the Agency's procedures in the 10th and Oak parking assess- ment district. Les Pedersen, manager of Firestone Store, read his protest wherein he said the assessment should be the responsibility of the entire City. E. H. Hall, owner of property occupied by Northwest Natural Gas at 931 Oak Street, said he felt some change in financing the entire cost of the structure should be considered. He objected to property owners within the district paying the cost and said it should be paid by the entire City. CHf Culp repeated his objections to the method of financing the structure made at the Febru- ary 14, 1972 Council meeting and said again that the cost should be assessed against all properties m the City. Councilman Mohr asked if in considering the protest from the Christian Church the entire assess- ment is being lI'otested or just the deficit assessment. Manager said the corrected assesSment is based upon the final cost of the total project, that it adds to the assessment originally made in accordance with a formula approved by the Council at that time after public hearings and remonstrances, and based on sufficiency of signatures and insufficiency of remonstrances. He said the corrective assessment is new in terms of its being pro~essed through use of an ordinance. If the City Council believes the deficit assessment proposed by this ordinance is not in relation to the benefit to the properties upon which the assessment is being made, they would have the authority to' make such changes as they feel are permissible. He said that the original formula used is the same as that used for this deficit assessment, and is the formula which was challenged and upheld in the courts. If there, is a deci,sion not to continue with the existing formula, then a different one would have to be developed and it would be subject to challenge and remonstrances and non~acceptance legally. Commen~ing on Mr. CUlp's' statement that the Council has authority to assess cost of the project to entire City, Manner said he believes this is true only if sufficient signatures are received. . In answer to a question from Mr. Mohr, Manager said it is not known at this time whether the First Christian Church is on record as having remonstrated against the original assessment. Councilman Williams asked the legal significance to the Council and to the assessment process should it be decided to implement a different method of financing the parking structure and it was challenged. Manager replied if a new procedure is l'roposed changing the formula but retaining the same assessment district, the new formula could be challenged as to whether it , " .', , ~; 2/28/72 - 1