02/19/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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- e e Answering a question from Mr. Hansen, Ms. Bishow said the applicant probably can submit another request in six months if the amendment request is denied by the three jurisdictions. Mr. Hansen said he will vote to deny the request because Springfield should resolve the problem. Mr. Hansen moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, to deny the Metropolitan Plan Diagram Amendment 8-15, North Gateway Commercial (Cockerline) request. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. VII. MALL ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS REPORT (memo distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Jan Bohman of the Development Department gave the staff report. She said the council requested a report in six months when it approved a change in the Downtown Mall regulations in September 1985. She said there has been a decrease in panhandling and congregating on the mall since September. She said publicity about the regulations may have caused the decrease in panhandling on the mall, but it seems much of the panhandling activity has moved to the University of Oregon area. She said it is hard to know whether the decrease in congregating was caused by the change in the weather, the start of school, or the regulations. Ms. Bohman said there were three citations and one arrest on the Downtown Mall from January 1 to February 20, 1985, and two citations and one arrest on the Downtown Mall from January 1 to February 20, 1986. She said the citations and arrests in the two years were for different activities and it appears the police used the new regulations to deal with unacceptable behavior. She said several development activities, such as the opening of Willamettee Street from lOth to 11th and the opening of the Downtown Athletic Club, may have affected behavior on the mall. Other activities in progress, including the mall public space study and the Centralized Retail Management Project, are also addressing mall security issues. Responding to a question from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Miller said the rest rooms on the north side of the Overpark will be made "handicapped accessible." The rest rooms on the south side of the Overpark may be closed. Mayor Obie asked the staff to answer Ms. Ehrman's question in writing. Mr. Holmer asked for information about the impact of the regulations on rental properties the next time a report on the regulations is given to the council. He would like to know if there has been an increase in occupancy since the mall regulations went into effect. Answering questions from Ms. Wooten, Ms. Bohman said she was not able to get complete information about the arrests to determine if the juveniles arrested had been incarcerated. Mr. Sercombe said the American Civil Liberties Union has not inquired about the mall regulations. He did not know if arrests in the University area have increased since the Downtown Mall regulations were approved. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 19, 1986 Page 6