11/06/1989 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e maintained that businesses benefit when parking is located in such a way as to require more people to walk through the area. He recommended additional work on the plan update and referral to the voters. Rob Willis, 827 East 35th Place, encouraged the council to refer the urban renewal issue to the voters to better meet the council goal for improving the effectiveness of citizen/council relations. Sam Frear, 4734 Brookwood Street, requested adjournment of the meeting to allow further public consideration of the plan. He suggested referring questions about library location, reopening Willamette and Olive streets, and extension of the urban renewal plan to the voters. Tom Slocum, 1950 Graham Drive, reviewed the history of urban renewal in Eugene and concluded that the approach has been deficient. While Mr. Slocum favored the continuation of the present program, he opposed the expansion of the district's boundaries or anything that would incur additional expense to the citizens. Mary Bentsen, 950 West 16th Avenue, opposed expansion of the urban renewal plan. She reported that the Neighborhood Leaders Council voted unanimously to oppose the plan and favored voting on urban renewal plans. She questioned how west Eugene wetlands or the riverfront could be considered blighted areas meeting the requirements for the creation of urban renewal districts. Ms. Bentsen claimed that urban renewal is being viewed by staff and council e members as a way to circumvent the Budget Committee's public processes for determining priorities for the expenditure of public money. She said that enacting the revised plan without a vote of the people would thwart the will of the public. Al Urquhart, 1820 Olive Street, supported urban renewal and considered the 1968 plan a success in addressing problems of blight, but opposed extension of the plan or expansion of the district boundary. Mr. Urquhart said central Eugene should compete for funds with other city areas through the regular budgeting process. Jan Wostmann, 2645 Riverview Street, opposed expansion of the Urban Renewal District boundary and extension of the current Urban Renewal Plan without voter approval. He said that tax increment financing sequesters new revenues and adversely affects the ability of other community entities to raise the revenues necessary for their continued operation. While he shared the council's concern for a viable downtown, Mr. Wostmann said it was important to build consensus for specific development projects when so many needs are competing for revenues. He urged the council to allow citizens to determine the community's priorities. John Baugess, 1576 Walnut Street, said that urban renewal has destroyed many communities and displaced many residents. He supported the creation of more democratic processes that will allow more public control of projects that shape the community. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 6, 1989 Page 10