05/28/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . M I NUT E S Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall May 28, 1986 11:30 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue, Jeff Miller, Roger Rutan, Richard Hansen. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Cynthia Wooten. The adjourned meeting from May 27, 1986, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. I. ITEMS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER Mayor Obie welcomed Downtown Commission Chair Michael Schwartz and Councilor-elect Rob Bennett. Mr. Obie invited Mr. Bennett to attend subsequent council meetings as part of the orientation process. A. Historic Review Board Mr. Holmer said he had been perplexed at the Historic Review Board's decision last week to grant landmark status to the Kennell-Ellis Studio Building. He noted that the Florence Apartments had existed prior to the "ugly building next door." Mr. Holmer said he had again been perplexed by the Historic Review Board's decision yesterday to deny the proposed demolition of the "ugly and middle-aged" grain storage building that stood in the path of the Eugene Water and Electric Board Master Plan, which already had been approved by the Downtown Commission, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. Mr. Holmer said the "useless ugliness" of the building did not deserve preservation. He said he ranked December 12, 1984 as a "Day of Infamy," because that was the day the council had re- established the Historic Review Board, with Ms. Bascom casting the only opposing vote. He said the action had been taken as part of an effort to reduce the number of appeals to the council from decisions by citizen boards. Mr. Holmer said he thought more opportunities for appeals to the council were needed, particularly with regard to the Historic Review Board. He said the basic composition of the board did not represent a general body of citizens. Mr. Holmer read code qualifications for the board, including the Director of the Lane County Museum or a designee; one with knowledge of historic preservation; one with knowledge of Lane County history; one with an interest in preservation activities; one with an interest in landscape architecture; one with an interest in historic preservation; and one with an interest in public relations. Mr. Holmer said the MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 28, 1986 Page 1