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destinations, and a new, shorter "Gut. He said it will be difficult to produce summer theater and special events, the staff will have to spend much e time closing Willamette Street to traffic for special events, and there will be much confusion. Mr. Geeler said downtown Eugene needs more parking, more security personnel, more awnings, more landscaping, more signs, more money for the arts and entertainment, and more money for marketing and promotion. He said entertainment has proved it can draw people downtown and the mall should be marketed as a regional, financial, and entertainment center. He said the reopening of Willamette will reopen wounds that have been healing. If the citizens vote on the reopening, they will reject it. Bill Tweedie, 4916 Larkwood, said he opposes opening Willamette between 8th and lath to vehicles. He said it will not improve business. He said he worked with downtown business for six years in the Lane Community College Small Business Management Program. He said business problems in the downtown were caused by the poor economy and poor marketing and promotion. He said improvements have been made but the effects of opening Willamette between lath and 11th and the improvements to West Broadway should be weighed before additional changes are made. He said the impact of economic factors and non- economic factors should be analyzed. Mr. Tweedie said present assets should be recognized. The downtown mall is viable and he has visited successful pedestrian malls in other places. He said the downtown mall does not belong to downtown businesses only. Dean Sidwell, 200 East Cheshire, said he is a student at the University of e Oregon. He thanked the counci 1 for holding the hearing. He said either Willamette Street should be widened and opened to vehicles and parking or it should be reconstructed similar to West Broadway. Luther Beecleft, Apt. 515, 1133 Olive, said he and his wife moved here five years ago. They are physically disabled. He said they like to be outdoors. They like to sit on the mall where they know they are safe from cars. He wondered where they will go if Willamette Street is opened to cars. He said people will probably overpark, tow trucks will be called, and he may be run over by a tow truck. He talked about what it is like to be in a wheel chair a 11 the time. Mr. Beecleft said there are ways to move the IImall ratsll out of the mall. He said, "Don't open up Willamette, please.1I Todd Amacher, 3312 Honeywood, said he manages Centre Court at the corner of Broadway and Willamette. He said Willamette Savings owns Centre Court now and has improved it. However, four or five prospective office tenants rejected Centre Court in the last six months because they could not drop someone off at their office. He said office buildings have been built on Country Club Road and near Valley River Center because there is vehicular access. Mr. Amacher said he recently saw one man washing his clothes and another man washing his hair in the central fountain in the mall. He said such sights e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 20