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

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Bill Thomas, 1588 West 25th Avenue, said he has had no problems getting his luggage at Mahlon Sweet Airport. Recently, it took him only one-half hour. e He said the taxpayers should not pay for the airport expansion. It should be funded by airport users. Orlando Hollis, 1908 Hilyard, most of the people who use the airport are not business oriented. Many of them travel to visit their families, many are professional people, and many represent Lane Commun i ty Co 11 ege or the University of Oregon. He said the University of Oregon is a premier research organization and it will not be able to recruit outstanding faculty members if the city does not have adequate air transportation. He said faculty members need to keep in touch with colleagues in other parts of the country. Mr. Hollis said total passenger traffic at Mahlon Sweet Airport in the first ten months of 1986 was 28 percent more than it was in the first ten months of 1985. He said the air freight was 151 percent more than in the first ten months of 1985. He said the need for the airport expansion is evidenced by the lines at the airline ticket counters that "snake around," by the lines to get into the security area, and by the lines of incoming passengers. He said City officials have worked hard to get additional airlines to serve Eugene and the competition has resulted in decreased air fares. He suggested it isn't embarrassing to have two airlines in temporary buildings outside the terminal. Mr. Hollis said Eugeneans have indicated that an improved airport is the City's most important capital need and it must be accomplished. Richard Greene, 766 East 13th Avenue, said he is a business owner and member of the Crime Action Task Force. He said he agrees with Shawn Boles that e citizens should vote on the entire financing of the airport expansion. Mr. Greene said some people want to take as much of the cost as possible from existing revenues in order to sell as few bonds as possible. Mr. Greene said City departments such as the library and Police, Fi re and Emergency Services have been directed to cut their budgets 3 percent. He said those savings will be unexpended ending balances and will be used to pay some of the City's share of the airport expansion. He said the City's roads, parks, library, and police and firefighters need funds and the cuts in those departments are directly related to the airport expansion. Mr. Greene said the the police division is understaffed but the City could have an excellent police division and an excellent library if it chose to do so. He said people respect Mayor Obie's ability, energy, and dedication but they hope he does not want monuments to be the legacy of his administration. Mr. Greene said longer library hours, additional police, better parks, and additional swimming pools would be a fine legacy. He said the recommendations of the Crime Action Task Force should be implemented. He urged the council not to fund the airport expansion from existing revenues. Bill Sweet, 65 West 26th, thanked the councilors for their work and for the vision of a new airport. He said many people have indicated the City has greater needs than an expanded airport. He said Eugene has a low ratio of police officers to population and an "anorexic" public safety budget. He said the hiring of eight police officers was delayed, retiring officers are not e replaced, and the number of firefighters has been reduced to save money. MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 15, 1986 Page 7