03/07/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e said she favored bringing the recommendation back to the council by the end of April. Ms. Bascom said she would like the committee to look at the issue of homelessness. The issues of hunger and drug abuse also were suggested as options. Mayor Obie said he favored leveraging with private-sector activities. Mr. Bennett noted that staff support would be needed for the effort and that funding concerns might require reallocation of some resources. Ms. Ehrman said she thought the council had agreed at the goals session that efforts should not result in large costs. E. EWEB Plaza Mayor Obie suggested that the EWEB Plaza be named "Skinner Plaza," adding that the City of Eugene boat had docked in that area in the past. Ms. Bascom said the EWEB Plaza project was scheduled for a council agenda in the near future, when design approval would be sought. She said she would like to resolve differences, adding that agreement had been reached on 95 percent of the project. She said she had attended meetings with the Downtown Commission and project architect Don Genasci to review plans, and she wanted council guidance on whether a fountain should be included. She noted that lots of movement occurred along the path, which ~ must be separated from circular movement in the plaza. Mayor Obie left the meeting. Ms. Bascom said she thought a fountain was inappropriate and she favored supporting the Downtown Commission in its recommendation to make the small space an open plaza. She said the fountain was not included in the design guidelines adopted by the council, but EWEB representatives wanted the fountain included and it was listed in the architectural service agreement dated November 24. Ms. Bascom suggested asking EWEB to drop the fountain because of expense and design and perhaps do paving designs instead. She also thanked Ms. Wooten for working on the issue. Ms. Wooten said she appreciated Ms. Bascom's efforts and did not think the fountain was important in the riverfront setting. Mr. Rutan suggested changing the fountain but said he found the rest of the plans acceptable. Mr. Holmer asked whether the Downtown Commission had approved the steps between the flat area and the bike path. Ms. Bascom said that had not received much attention, but the decision to move the fountain west had been a compromise position of the commission. Mr. Bennett asked about the best way to convey the council's feelings, adding that he did not feel strongly enough to disrupt the relationship e MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 7, 1988 Page 8