04/26/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e V. WORK SESSION: DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REDESIGN Scott Luell, Planning, Development and Building staff, said the purpose of this item was to acquaint the council with the preliminary recommendations for redesign of the Downtown Development District (ODD) and to allow the council to prepare for a joint work session and public hearing with the Downtown Commission on May 8, 1989. Julie Aspinwall-Lamberts, Chair of the Downtown Commission, said the commission views the recommendations for redesign of the ODD as transitional. It is not the intent of the commission to leave the proposed program changes in place for another 15 years. The commission recognizes the fact that the downtown is going through a critical transitional period. Due to the likely development of the current free lots, and the expense of replacement parking, the commission acknowledges that paid parking will become the norm downtown. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts said because it is difficult to accurately predict future development, the commission is recommending that the program be reviewed within two years. She emphasized that the overall intent of these recommendations is to assist downtown through this transitional period and allow for enough flexibility to respond to future development. e Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts said the commission feels the recommendations will significantly improve the parking situation downtown. Specifically, it will reduce the abuse rate and will increase the turnover. She felt the recommendations will allow for a more efficient management of resources and will provide for a transition into the future. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts said she hopes to discuss broad issues surrounding parking in the downtown area and the future direction for transportation in the downtown area at the joint work session on May 8, 1989. Jerry Gill, Planning Development and Building staff, distributed maps depicting the DDD, Downtown Commission, Urban Renewal District, and parking-exempt zone boundaries. Mr. Gill said the ODD was formed in 1973 as Valley River Center was being completed, in large measure because downtown business people felt they needed a way to compete with Valley River Center. The DDD focused on three major points: marketing, management, and parking. It was paid for through an ad valorem tax, a gross receipts tax, and a professional tax. Mr. Gill said the professional tax was eliminated in 1985 at the request of the Eugene Downtown Association, because it was perceived as a disincentive to business growth in the downtown area. Mr. Gill said the gross receipts tax was increased in 1986. This was the only tax increased since creation of the ODD in 1973, even though costs have increased. As a result, the DDD budget has been balanced annually by program reductions, such as eliminating various parking lots, and using the fund's working capital. The reduction in free parking lots created design and tax e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 26, 1989 Page 3