06/18/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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said the project is well planned, and demonstrates a concept for the whole e mall. He said the council should consider the concept for the 'whole mall. He said he supports the concept which probably should be applied to the entire mall. He said the commitments from business owners to improve their properties are sufficient and others will be forthcoming. He said other councilors expressed concerns about fees for the use of City property which is a management issue. He said the rest rooms and play structures should be removed this year. If they are not removed, he said the council will indicate that it does not accept the concept of the mall. He said there are enough other rest rooms available, but the council should direct the staff and the Eugene Downtown Association to monitor the result of removing the rest rooms on Broadway. He emphasized the need to support the design and concept of the mall indicated in the Downtown Plan. Mr. Miller said he agreed with the concept of the downtown mall expressed in the proposed changes. He said the Tax Allocation funds are pUblic moneys and should serve the entire public. He said handicapped people especially enjoy the mall and should have accessible rest rooms available on Broadway between Willamette and Charnel ton. He said he might like to have all the improvements made this year and rest rooms at The Bon and the Overpark could serve on an interim basis if there is sufficient notice of them. He said the rest rooms are important to the general public. He emphasized that the downtown mall is a public area. Answering a question from Mayor Obie, Dave Dillman, manager of The Bon, said the rest rooms in The Bon can be reached by elevator and can be used by people e in wheelchairs but the rest rooms do not meet existing standards for handicapped accessible rest rooms. He said The Bon is spending $17,000 this year to make the rest rooms meet the standards. He reviewed the operating hours of The Bon. Ms. Schue said she accepts the concept of the mall and she would like to finish phase 1 this year. However, she would like alternative rest rooms to be designated before phase 2 is begun. She said the estimates of cost have been general and she would like specific figures. She suggested the council approve phase 1 and continue the time schedule which indicates phase 2 will be finished in the summer of 1987. Mr. Holmer said he will vote to approve the recommendation of the Downtown Commission because of the unanimity of the support for it. He said changes are needed in the downtown, and he will support the ones proposed with high hopes and deep misgivings. He said it is essential that the merchants take responsibility for making the changes effective by improving their properties and maintaining the "street scape." He said he would like a guarantee that businesses will expand their operating hours to justify the cost of new $4,000 street lights. He said the tax increment device results in general public support of the project because there is investment in the public right-of-way. He said the money in the Tax Allocation fund would be property taxes if the Tax Increment District had not been created; therefore, the public is sUbsidizing the improvements on Broadway. He said fees should be charged when the public right-of-way is used for merchandising and private gain. He praised the work on the project of the Downtown Commission and the e downtown merchants. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 18, 1986 Page 5