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<br />e Bill Mason, 1803 West 34th Avenue, identified himself as a long-time Eugene <br /> resident with extensive knowledge of urban renewal. He said the information <br /> on the plan made available by the City on November 3 was too extensive to be <br /> adequately studied prior to the hearing. Mr. Mason opposed the City's <br /> subsidizing developers through the use of tax increment funds. He said that <br /> tax increment revenue is diverted from the General Fund and leads to a higher <br /> tax rate for those outside the area who are forced to pay for the services <br /> that benefit the downtown district. <br /> '. <br /> Douglas Obie, 1591 Mill Street, considered expansion of the Urban Renewal <br /> District boundary necessary to ensure development of the infrastructure <br /> needed if downtown businesses are to grow. He said that Eugene's lack of <br /> parking is a deterrent to business and that surface parking lots are not <br /> economical solutions. He urged the council to provide the same support to <br /> local businesses that it is willing to extend to out-of-town companies (i.e., <br /> Pankow). <br /> Richard Greene, 766 East 13th Avenue, opposed expanding the Urban Renewal <br /> District boundary. He said that the quality of life in Eugene is being <br /> degraded by high rise office buildings and large discount stores and he <br /> questioned the use of public funds to benefit out-of-state developers. Mr. <br /> Greene maintained that prosperity and growth are not synonymous. <br /> Russ Brink, 2278 Corinthian Court, spoke as the representative of Downtown <br /> Eugene, Incorporated (DEI), a private, nonprofit corporation made up of <br />. downtown business and property owners who support public and private efforts <br /> to revitalize downtown. DEI favored the proposed update and the specific <br /> projects proposed at 8th and Willamette and 11th and Willamette, and <br /> encouraged the council and the community to resist efforts to eliminate or <br /> restrict the effectiveness of tax increment financing. Mr. Brink cited <br /> Portland, Salem, and Seattle as cities where joint public/private ventures <br /> have been successful in downtown revitalization efforts. <br /> Dick Reese, 541 Willamette Street, Suite 106, identified himself as the owner <br /> of several downtown area properties presently zoned C-3. He accused the City <br /> Manager and his staff of making policy decisions by limiting the information <br /> being given to the City Council. Mr. Reese urged the council to delay a <br /> decision on the expansion area until he has an opportunity to meet with each <br /> councilor privately to provide information previously withheld. He suggested <br /> that parking be eliminated for a two-week period at the 8th and Willamette <br /> and 11th and Willamette sites proposed for development to assess the impact <br /> on downtown merchants. Mr. Reese concluded with a disparaging comment about <br /> jackassery. <br /> Janet Calvert spoke as President of the Lane Transit District Board of <br /> Directors. She anticipated that a preferred site for a new LTD transit <br /> station in downtown Eugene would be announced by mid-1990 and urged the <br /> council to delay its decision on the urban renewal expansion area to allow <br /> coordination with that important development. <br />- MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 6, 1989 Page 7 <br />