12/15/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Whitlow said the subcommittee recommended approval of $300,000 for design and administrative costs for the expansion until March 31, 1987. He sa i d e construction could begin in Mayor June 1987 on the pa rk i ng and road improvements and in December 1987 on the terminal. He said the'council will take testimony this evening and probably take action on the proposal on December 17, 1986. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. Dennis Huserik, 3581 Agate, represented the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. He sa i d Chamber of Commerce representatives have rev i ewed the proposed expansion and concluded that the project should be pursued aggressively. He said the current scope of the project is appropriate. He said the financing for the expansion has become regional because Federal, State, and Lane County funds will be used and because many airline ticket buyers are from outside Eugene. Mr. Huserik said an attractive and efficient airport is an important community asset. He said the Fantus Report identified the existing airport as a liability for the community. He recommended the expansion be approved and financed with existing City resources as soon as possible. Fergus McLean, 2920 County Farm Road, referred to an article in a June 1986, issue of What's Happening. He said he distributed a questionnaire to people present to determine their economic development goals. He said people should create a vision of the community they want and then pursue the creation of that community. He said the library can be open every school night, downtown housing can be provided for the elderly, a swimming pool can be provided for e inner-city neighborhoods, and the Willamette Greenway can be preserved if people want those things. David Wildermuth, 4856 Donald, is chairperson of the Eugene Public Library Board. He said the library and the airport do not compete for City funds. He said Library Board members find it distasteful to compete with the Police, Fire and Emergency Services for scarce City funds. He said Library Board members are conscious that some service foundations may be undermined. He wondered how many businesses have not come to Eugene because of drug problems in the community. Mr. Wildermuth said the library and the airport were the most important projects in the Eugene Agenda and the voters should take responsibility for financing the airport expansion and other City services. He said the voters also should take responsibility for cuts in services. He cautioned against using the kind of financing for the airport expansion that was used for the fine arts center. He discussed the excellent Boise, Idaho, airport. He said the council should "work on" attitudes in the community. Helen L. Howard, 888 Armstrong, said she does not want the City's operating funds to be squeezed to provide capital funds to pay the debt service on the airport expansion bonds. She said she would like the council to use new funds for the debt service. She said the Eugene Pub1 ic Library book budget was about $165,000 in 1981 and it is about $104,000 in 1986. She pointed out that book prices have risen in the last five years. She said the capital budgets of e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December IS, 1986 Page 2