01/11/1988 Meeting (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

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4Ia III. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Obie offered the public an opportunity to address the council about subjects not scheduled for council consideration. Richard Gold, 1486 East 25th Avenue #B, said he was a chief petitioner for a charter amendment on Urban Renewal Plan adoption and amendment process. Mr. Gold said he would like to speak about a citizenls right to petition. He thanked Mayor Obie and The Register-Guard for their lIunwavering, undemocratic desire to stop discussion on the issue of whether voters should have the right to vote on Urban Renewal Plans, which directly and indirectly affect each and every person in this community.1I Mr. Gold expressed agreement with Ms. Wooten's earlier comments, that elections were set up to discuss and debate these vital community issues, and that that was exactly what the petition process was set up to do. e Mr. Gold reported receiving an overwhelming response from signers because of Mayor Obie's comments. He also reported that while gathering signatures, he had been harassed by James T. Ivory, owner of Eugene Athletic, president of the Downtown Association, lIand one of a few select people, like Mr. Bennett, Mr. Schwartz, and Mr. Obie, who want to control everything that happens downtown.1I He said Mr. Ivory had stated that voters should not have any say in what happens downtown with downtown businessesl tax money, adding that he disagreed. Mr. Gold said Lane County election officials had informed him that no petitioner should have to put up with any harassment while petitioning, and he wanted to emphasize that petitioners would not tolerate any further harassment or interference in the petition process. Mr. Gold urged voters of Eugene to sign the petitions. IV. PUBLIC HEARING: ISLAND ANNEXATION REQUEST FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED SOUTH OF WEST 11TH AVENUE BETWEEN BERTELSEN ROAD AND TERRY STREET (CITY OF EUGENE: WILLOW CREEK ISLANDS)(AZ 87-14) City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item. Neil Bjorklund of the Planning Department presented the staff report. Mr. Bjorklund noted that the Planning Commission minutes submitted for the record should have been labelled as IIdraft, subject to approval.1I Mr. Bjorklund said the area of the annexation request included two unincorporated islands located south of West 11th Avenue between Bertelsen Road and Terry Street. It included all or part of 34 lots, for a total area of 283 acres under 18 ownerships. He said the request had been initiated by the City of Eugene in order to clarify service jurisdictions and to allow extension of additional services to the area. He said the request was being processed as a council-initiated island e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 11, 1988 Page 3