02/22/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e the issue to voters were misunderstood. She said she was trying to say that the council should not shrink from its responsibilities to reach decisions. She said she would like as much flexibility in the situation as possible. She said she prefers that the council work out a compromise design that keeps the street closed to through traffic, but that allows as much access within that design as possible. She said she does not oppose referring that compromise to voters. However, she said it is the council's responsibility to try and work out such a compromise first. Mr. Miller said the evidence has shown that vehicular access is essential to making the downtown a major business center. He said he favors proceeding with reopening the street while at the same time exploring other alternatives. He suggested a community committee be established to review the design issue. If that is not going to occur, he said he does not support spending more money on redesigning the street. He restated the council should refer its final recommendation to the voters. Ms. Wooten said she suggested during earlier discussions that the issue should be referred to voters. She said it is now her position that the council has a responsibility to make a recommendation on the issue. She added she does support putting the issue before voters if the council is not able to resolve it by itself. Ms. Bascom said she considers the downtown area a cultural focus for the community in addition to a business center. She said she is in favor of referring a specific design instead of several options to voters. e Mayor Obie said there are five councilors who support referring some part of the issue to voters, and two who do not. Mr. Gleason said in his view the council has reached a consensus about goals while not substantially changing its point of view. He said there is still a division of opinions over the best way to increase access without opening Willamette Street. He said the council is considering submitting to voters either a number of proposals or a single design. He suggested the council first attempt to agree on a single design proposal. If the council cannot agree, it should give voters a choice of proposals. Mr. Miller said another option is to have a citizen group draft a design proposal for referral to voters. Ms. Schue said it is important to give instruction to a design committee. She said the council should first state whether the street is going to be open or remain closed to traffic. Mayor Obie said the council can make a policy decision at this meeting regarding traffic on the street, and then decide at a later meeting how it wants to implement a design of that policy. - Ms. Bascom said now is not the time to decide the issue of whether the street should be open or closed to vehicles. She said there are still questions about opening and closing the street that have not been MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 22, 1988 Page 7