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<br />- <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />M I NUT E S <br /> <br />Eugene City Council <br />Eugene Conference Center <br /> <br />February 22, 1988 <br />5:30 p.m. <br /> <br />PRESENT: Freeman Holmer, Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Cynthia Wooten, Jeff <br />Miller, Roger Rutan, Emily Schue. <br /> <br />ABSENT: Robert Bennett. <br /> <br />His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie called the work session of the City Council <br />of the City of Eugene to order at 5:38 p.m. <br /> <br />I. URBAN RENEWAL PLAN UPDATE (PEDESTRIAN MALL/PLAZA/WILLAMETTE STREET <br />FROM 8TH TO 10TH) <br /> <br />Mayor Obie announced he no longer has a potential conflict of interest in <br />the Willamette Street issue. He said Centennial Bank, of which he is <br />chairman of the board, has broken off negotiations to acquire a building <br />at the corner of Broadway and Willamette Street. <br /> <br />Bob Hibschman, Development Department, presented the staff report. He <br />reviewed that the council last July indicated it wanted to consider three <br />primary options for Willamette Street: 1) closed to traffic; 2) open to <br />traffic; or 3) closed to traffic with the later option to open it back up <br />to traffic. <br /> <br />Mr. Hibschman said the Downtown Commission and Planning Commission have <br />recommended that the street be open to vehicular traffic from 8th to 10th <br />avenues with a strong pedestrian orientation. East Broadway should not <br />be open to vehicular traffic, and the Broadway-Willamette intersection <br />should be upgraded and remain as a plaza. The two commissions <br />recommended that the design and reconstruction be completed in a time <br />frame that minimizes disruption. He said the estimated cost of the <br />project is $1,450,000. <br /> <br />Ms. Ehrman asked where the Sl.45 million is coming from. Mr. Hibschman <br />said the Downtown Commission has recommended that the capital budget <br />include all the redesign projects. The money is designated to come from <br />tax increment dollars. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller asked if there is any rationale for assessing property owners <br />a portion of the reconstruction costs. Mr. Hibschman said that is an <br />option that can be considered. He said that would not conflict with tax <br />increment financing. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />February 22, 1988 <br /> <br />Page 1 <br />