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<br />Council Chamber
<br />Eugel}e ,~Ol;"eg<:ln'
<br />May 31, 1972
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<br />Adjourned meeting of the Common Council of the city of Eugene, Oregon - adjourned from the
<br />meeting held May 22, 1972 - was called to order by His Honor Mayor Lester E. Anderson at
<br />11:00 a.m. on May 31, 1972 in the Council Chamber with the following councilmen present:
<br />Mr. Mohr, Mrs. Beal, Messrs. McDonald, Williams, Hershner, Mrs. Campbell, and Mr. Bradshaw.
<br />Mr. Teague was absent.
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<br />1- Committee' Report (Part 1)'':'" May 24, 1972
<br />Present: Mayor Anderson; Councilmen Mohr, Campbell, and Bradshaw; Ci ty Manager' and
<br />staff; and others.
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<br />A. Downtown Development District and Board - Copies of a memo g~ v~ng ba'ckground in-
<br />formation on a proposed free-parking district were previously distributed to
<br />Council members. Also distributed were copLes of proposed ordinances which would
<br />create the district and a governing board. Manager said a' complete program is
<br />not ready for presentation at this time, but in order to put a district into,
<br />operation during the coming fiscal year it is necessary to pass an ordinance to
<br />meet a May 21, 1972 deadline for preparation of tax rolls. Otherwise, in ac-
<br />cordance with State law, the new district cannot be put into operation until the
<br />following year. Manager sai d work on the proposal has been in progress since
<br />last fall, but legal and participation problems have developed. He said there
<br />is no hazard in proceeding in creation of the district since it does not obligate
<br />anyone, it simply sets up a vehicle which can be used when and ,if the program i$
<br />developed and it is decided to proceed.
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<br />Maurie Jacobs, representing the ad hoc committee of the Eugene Downtown Association,
<br />described the proposed district patterned after districts in California 'cities
<br />of comparable size visited by representatives of the Association, City, and Re-
<br />newal Agency. He said it is an attempt to answer a total aowntown problem of
<br />need for parking space, retention of small retail and service-oriented busines~es,
<br />special events, and access farru1iarity and to be headed by a person totally re-
<br />sponsible for co-ordination of these downtown activities. It is felt'necessary
<br />to provide free parking on the order of that provided by shopping centers, and
<br />to provide a constant flow of pedestrian traffic in the downtown mall. Mr. Jacobs
<br />said there is no formula for financing at this time,- but with the Council's
<br />authorization to create the district and a governing board, it is hoped an '
<br />equitable plan can be worked out to encompass the assessment district funding
<br />the lOth- and oak Overpark: He said they are prepared to make recommendat'ions
<br />for members of a board representing owners and business people of the district
<br />who are most likely to benefit.
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<br />Manager pointed out boundaries on a wall map and said ,they were carefully de-
<br />veloped by a subcoInmit6:~e of the EDA ad hoc committee.. Traffic Erigineer said
<br />the boundaries' were drawn to include the 10th and Oak Overpark district and that
<br />area providing easy access to the downtown mall, generally within orie to one and
<br />a half blocks of the mall.
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<br />Manager called attention to concern stressed in the background memo that the
<br />program must have substantial support among those people who wil1hcive to pay
<br />for it. Before the Council is asked to implemtBnt any financing program which
<br />would result in cost to people doing business or owning property in that district
<br />a procedure will be developed designed to give the Council information necessary
<br />to show that the program is acceptable and has substantial support in the area.
<br />He said the ordinance creating the governing body, because there is no legal
<br />deadline, does, not have the urgency of that creating the distri ct. But this
<br />ordinance is recommended for acceptance to achieve an official group to gi ve
<br />" direction and to CBsist in final formulation of the program. He said the
<br />Council stands adjourned to May 31, prior to the committee meeting on that day,
<br />so that action can be taken at that time at least on creation,':6t,_the, district .
<br />Action on creation of the governing body would be helpful to give official
<br />status and to more quickly develop a free parking program.
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<br />Mr. Jacobs in answer to Mrs. Campbell said there are thirty people invol ved in
<br />developing the program and that it is hoped with creation of the governing body
<br />contact can be made wi th all of those who would be included in the district.
<br />Traffic Engineer said it is difficult to anticipate what opposition there would
<br />be until a definite proposal is presented, and that an official board would be
<br />able to resolve questions and develop., that proposal.
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<br />In answer to Mrs. Campbell, Manager said the staff recommends acceptance of the
<br />proposal. He said if a completely free parking system is set up, in order to
<br />gain support by all included in the district, attempts must be made to develop
<br />enough revenue to assume the Overpark borrowing obligations and meet them as they
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<br />IS3'
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