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

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e Laura Johnson, 1810 Fairmount Boulevard, said the original urban renewal plan was intended to be implemented on a ten-year basis but is now in its twenty-first year. She maintained that urban renewal improvement projects had not produced promised revenue and were in fact causing property taxes outside the district to increase. She proposed an end to tax increment financing. Ms. Johnson said the March 1989 election made clear that citizens oppose locating a new library downtown and she claimed that mothers with young children would be unable to use a library in a downtown location. Ms. Johnson urged the council to refer the urban renewal issue to the voters. Wickes Seal, 494 West 10th Avenue, opposed extension of the Urban Renewal Plan and said that fewer retailers are doing business in the downtown area than when urban renewal began 20 years ago with the purpose of improving the downtown business climate. Paul Nicholson, 1855 East 28th Avenue, pointed out that only three councilors had defeated opponents to be elected to council positions. He said that extension of the urban renewal plan requires public support. Shirley Martin, 1716 Adkin Street, Number 4, indicated her desire to speak against the update of the Urban Renewal Plan, but left the meeting before testifyi ng. Spencer Whitted, 66 East 6th Avenue, said that not continuing urban renewal would be a backward step for Eugene. e John Green, 2961 Powell, said that citizens concur in wanting what is best for downtown, but disagree about how City money will be spent. He urged the council to refer the matter to the voters to learn what the public wants done with its money. Cheryle Hawkins, 1350 Bailey Avenue, supported retirement of the current Urban Renewal Plan and development of a community vision that is created and supported by the entire community. She opposed a northward expansion of the Urban Renewal District and favored including a new library in any new urban renewal development. Ms. Hawkins urged the council to postpone any decision on the Urban Renewal Plan until completion of studies by Lane Transit District and the City. She supported referring the issue to the voters. Ann Nelson, 909 West 5th Avenue, questioned whether resources would be available in 20 years to support continued use of automobiles and said that there is more to quality of life than parking and shopping. She asked the council to accept responsibility for planning for the collective future. Ray Wolfe, 1926 Potter Street, concurred with Mr. Frear's earlier comments and asked for an explanation of why copies of the Urban Renewal Plan update had not been more readily available to interested members of the public. He requested that the Urban Renewal Plan be referred to the voters. Mr. Wolfe said that carefully designed urban renewal plans can make valuable contributions to the quality of life in Eugene, but did not consider this particular plan beneficial. Urban renewal eliminated a significant amount of e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 6, 1989 Page 11