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discourage people renting space in Centre Court. He said office development is as important as retail development in the downtown. He favors opening e Willamette between 8th and 10th. Barbara Keller, 2570 Onyx, said urban renewal is not the issue being discussed. The issue is the removal or destruction of the downtown mall. She said opening Willamette between 8th and 10th wi 11 not preserve historic buildings, it will not make people dress up to go downtown, it will not give transients alternate washing facilities, and there is no proof that it will increase sales. She said the amenities, the central fountain, and the hole in Willamette Street can be redesigned and rest rooms can be provided without opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles. Ms. Keller said the proposed design for Wi11amette seems to di scourage vehicles but the proponents for opening the street to vehicles say they want to encourage traffi c. She said no correlation has shown a positive relationship between cars per hour and dollars spent. She said official indecision impedes investment in the mall. She said citizens do not want to vote on the issue. They want the council to decide to retain the downtown ma 11. Marylee Cook, address unknown, said she lives in West Eugene. She said she is glad she doesn't have to breathe car fumes on Willamette Street now. She said opening Willamette will not improve access. She said Valley River Center is doing fine without traffic between stores. She will go there if Willamette between 8th and 10th is opened to vehicles. Mary Mitchell, Apt. 2, 540 Almaden, said she is going blind as a result of e cancer and has cerebral palsy. She said she is taking radiation and chemotherapy. She said she has difficulty walking and getting around. Ms. Mi tche 11 said she opposes opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles and she would like to have the central fountain made smaller. She said she is sorry the public rest rooms were removed. She would like LTD buses to operate more hours. She said disabled people are sometimes mistreated in Eugene. Gil Geihs, 100 S.W. Market Street, Portland, said he represented the owners of Willamette Savings, 96 East Broadway, and Centre Court. He said he supports limited vehicular traffic on Wi11amette between 8th and 10th. He said Will amette Savi ngs recei ved Centre Court by defaul t. Many tenants were leaving Centre Court and going where they had direct access. The value of the building decreased more than 75 percent in four years. He said customers want to be able to drive by a building. Mr. Geihs said business at Centre Court is improving but company officials are not satisfied with the lease occupancy. He said limited vehicular access will improve real estate values and business and will keep people in the downtown. Mark Davis, 99 West 10th, said he represented the Atrium Building Partnership and is president of the EDA. He said the Atrium Building Partnership does not want to pay more that its present $60,000 in taxes without something that will e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 21