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

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Mr. Kutcher suggested the council take action on the airport expansion at a night meeting because many citizens will not be able to attend the council e meeting at noon on December 17. He said the title of the ballot measure for the bonds should be clear. He said the planned expansion is more expensive than necessary and he does not think it will create additional jobs. He said the City should financially support existing small businesses and local people who want to start new businesses. Responding to Mr. Kutcher's statement, Mayor Obie said Councilors Holmer and Ehrman could not be present this evening and asked the council to defer action until December 17. He said they will revi ew the cassette tapes of thi s hearing. Alan Yordy, P.O. Box 10905, said he represents Sacred Heart General Hospital. He said Mahlon Sweet Airport is the first public facility many people see in Eugene and it does not i ndi cate the resources and quality of 1 He the community offers. He said the airport provides a vital transportation link. For example, hospital officials often travel between Eugene and the company headquarters in Belleview, Washington. He said Sacred Heart Hospital serves about 120,000 patients annually and over 20 percent of them come from outside Lane County. Many well-known patients come to Eugene for treatment, many hospital employees travel elsewhere for technical training, many physicians go elsewhere for conferences, and many experts come here for conferences. He said the airport is the first and last thing many people see in Eugene and it is what they remember of Eugene. Mr. Yordy said the airport is important to the economic development of Eugene and Springfield and hospital officials support its expansion as well as such e projects as entrance beautification. He said additional property taxes are not likely to be approved by the voters so the best alternative for financing the airport expansion is to consider the plans carefully and pay for the expansion from existing revenues. Richard Gold, 907 River Road, #58, said Mahlon Sweet Airport is in the Amazon flood plain and has much fog. He said it is a regional facility adequately serving most of the people who use it. He said he is glad citizens will have the opportunity to vote on the expansion. He suggested the vote should be a county-wi de one. Referring to an article in The Register-Guard on December 13, 1986, about the possibility of razing the airport terminal, he said the planning process for the expansion does not seem to be over. Gary Pape', 34362 Deerwood Drive, said he represents Papel Brothers, Inc., and severa 1 other businesses. He thanked the councilors for the time they have spent considering the airport expansion and commended them for making it their first priority. He said air freight is very important to his and other businesses and the expansion will improve the handling of air freight. Mr. Papel said he is a member of the Budget Committee. He supports the airport expansion and said the debt service for the bonds should be paid from existing revenue. He said the Jackson County Metropolitan Airport is excellent and will provide competition for Mahlon Sweet Airport. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 15, 1986 Page 4