04/11/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Mayor Obie said he recalled that the council had requested information about options to open Willamette Street to traffic with minimal impact, Ms. Wooten said she did not favor the idea of letting a committee decide the design of Willamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues, She said her preference from among options was to create one design option that would open the street and to submit that option to voters, If that failed, she said the street should remain closed, She said she was not supportive of a design committee proposing a redesign of the street should it be closed, She also said she thought a committee of the council, in collaboration with the Downtown Commission and/or the Planning Commission and technical staff could develop a street opening design option based on the preliminary designs prepared by Don Miles. Ms, Wooten said she favored a process of three months or less and wanted to put the option on the November ballot, Mr, Holmer said he found Ms, Wooten1s suggestion generally agreeable, and he asked whether a November vote would mean that January 1990 was the earliest possible construction date, Mr. Hibschman said the period after the holiday shopping season had been chosen as less disruptive to retail activity on the mall, Responding to questions, staff said construction in early 1989 probably would not be possible because of lead time required for design and contract work. Mr, Rutan said he supported Ms. Wooten1s proposal with minor modifications, He said extensive review had been done, he believed the concept submitted by Don Miles was a viable option, and he did not favor formation of a committee, He recommended submitting one option--either to open the street or to keep it closed--for voter referral, Ms. Ehrman said she supported that proposal and did not want to prolong the process with a large committee. Mr. Hibschman said an option for opening the street would need to address the Broadway/Willamette plaza area and to identify a location for rest rooms. Ms. Bascom said she thought it was clear from previous discussions that the council had agreed to decide on an option for referral. She said she would prefer to submit to voters an option with a carefully thought-out plaza with a Broadway-like treatment that later might be opened to traffic. Mr. Miller said he favored submitting one option to voters and making a recommendation in favor of an attractive option. He said he liked the recommendation from the Downtown Commission and the Planning Commission for a well thought-out committee to deal with community concerns. Ms. Schue said she favored giving voters sufficient information to make a decision, but asking for their decision before spending a great deal of time on specifics, Ms. Wooten and Mr. Holmer said they agreed. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session April 11, 1988 Page 2