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

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e postponed to determine if a negotiated settlement could take place. According to the charter, postponement requires the process for adoption to revert to its initial stage of first reading. CB 4174--An ordinance concerning the Northwest Natural Gas Company franchise, amending Ordinance No. 18439, and declaring an emergency. .. Mr. Bennett moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, that Council Bill 4174 be read the first time. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. The bill was read and a public hearing called for December 4, 1989. IV. PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCE CONCERNING PATRON USER FEES City.Manager Mike Gleason introduced the topic. Jennifer King, representing the Cultural Affairs Commission, reported that the commission proposes increasing the patron user fee and dedicating the collected fees to the funding of capital needs of cultural facilities to help address the problems of deteriorating facilities and equipment without relying on General Fund and nonuser support. She urged the council to add language to the proposed ordinance that would specify that "one-half of the total amount of the patron user fees collected shall be used for City-owned and operated cultural e facility operations and the remaining one-half shall be used for capital and equipment expenditures for City-owned and operated cultural facilities.1I Council President Bascom opened the public hearing. Benson Snyder, 1945 Woodlawn Avenue, spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance. He said that performing arts groups have established maximum ticket prices and the increased patron use fee could deter patrons. He advocated reinstating room tax support and suggested that charging groups for the use of specific equipment could help offset the costs of repair and replacement. Henrietta Heiny, 3640 Spring Boulevard, supported the ordinance and stressed the importance of investing in the Hult Center's future to ensure that it will remain a top-quality facility. John Baugess, 1576 Walnut Street, said the taxpayers had been mislead as to how much they would have to pay to support the Hult Center. Adam Fishman, 3621 East Amazon, supported the increased patron user fee but said that it could deter potential users of the Cuthbert Amphitheatre if applied to that facility without adding adequate staging facilities (e.g., a stage). e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 6, 1989 Page 2