01/06/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. e e "In addition to the sixth and seventh extension and expansion, we owe a great deal of gratitude to Mayor Obie. He has virtually tirelessly and single-handedly improved our relationship with the Department of Transportation of the State of Oregon. It is going to show in the future as we continue to get more and better funding for arterial improvements. We also have the draft of the TransPlan before the council ready for approval and we have doubled our efforts in that plan to encourage and promote modes of transportation other than the private automobile. Downtown liThe Downtown Commission has completed a visionary and practical plan for improvements and redevelopment at the center of the city. Willamette Street has been opened between 10th and 11th, the Overpark assessment issue has finally been resolved, and that structure is going to be refurbished to attract more public to use that facility as well as to attract new tenants. The historic McDonald Theater building is going to be renovated at no cost to the City, the AxBilly Building now houses the open Downtown Athletic Club, the Saturday Market continues to bring customers to downtown, and there are a lot of joint venture plans underway for redevelopment of properties owned by the city. Riverfront Research Park "In 1985, we reached a watershed agreement with the University of Oregon and the State Board of Higher Education, moving forward to accomplish this extraordinary and extremely essential project. The City of Eugene has a financing mechanism in place to fund the necessary public improvements--and that's a mechanism which does not create much of a burden on the taxpayers. We have formed an intergovernmental commission to be advisory to the counci1 and to the university on the development project. Both the University of Oregon and the City of Eugene responded to public comment and criticism by making the project even better through adjustments to the land use plan and the terms and conditions of the land leases. Entrance Beautification "A Tree Beautification Conunission was formed to plan for and nurture our street trees, to make public spaces in Eugene even more beautiful than they are now, and to assist people in enjoying and appreciating what we have. "These successes are an indication of the perseverance of our will to improve the economic life of this city and the entire metropolitan area. Brian has traveled tens of thousands of miles this year to promote Eugene and to convince investors there is no better place to be. He has worked with businesses and corporations that are here to stay. And he has tried to retain the jobs we already have. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Ja nuary 6, 1986 Page 4