12/19/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Richard E. Miller, 2460 Malabar, spoke as president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. He reported that after careful study, the chamber supported a new library in a mixed-use development at 8th Avenue and Olive Street whose construction would be financed by tax increment sources. Mr. Miller saw an immediate need for additional parking and recommended that plans to construct a SOD-stall facility to accommodate the demands generated by the project should be started as soon as possible. He encouraged the City to develop strategies to minimize the project's impact on traffic. The chamber opposed the proposed one-percent utility consumption tax and Mr. Miller cited the inequitable administrative burden the tax would place on utility companies as a disadvantage of the tax. To meet the increased operating costs, the chamber recommended that the City re-order its budget priorities. Mr. Miller suggested that the elected members of the council rather than staff should decide how to allocate additional funds received by the City. Finally, the chamber recommended that any new tax should be voted upon by the citizens of the community. Steve Andresen, 2640 University Street, suggested demolishing the present library and rebuilding a new facility on that site. He considered a lack of parking significant flaws in The Bon and Sears sites. Mr. Andresen claimed that the City's first priority should be promoting property tax reform at the e legislative level and he suggested that City services should receive financing priority over other projects such as the airport. Terri Wade, 1194 Adams, supported any library project that would be within biking distance. Chuck Bailey, 1627 Lawrence, identified himself as a representative of the Southwestern Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects on behalf of whose board he was speaking. He encouraged the council to build a new library for the city at the Broadway and Charnel ton site originally recommended by the Future of Our Library Committee. Mr. Bailey opposed the proposal before the council because a stand-along building would better meet the needs of a library. Steve Hill, 2942 Wingate Street, expressed support for expanding the library but said the location being considered was better suited for use by the Eugene Celebration. He anticipated an enforcement problem with the proposed utility tax and wondered if it would require passage of ordinances, denial of service, and placing liens on property. Linda Mello, 39582 Mohawk Loop, Marcola, said her comments were on behalf of the Lane County Library Advisory Board. She called attention to the closure of the County library and asked the council to include County needs in its e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 19, 1988 Page 10