05/24/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Chester Pietka, 1251 Lincoln Street, referred to the experiences of the Data General Company, which had considered locating in Eugene several years ago. He said that the people of Eugene have worked too long for "things which don't sustain jobs.1I He urged the council to adopt the ordinance creating the Downtown Commission with the stipulation that the commission will be evaluated in three years to see whether it is working effectively. Laura Johnson, 1810 Fairmount Boulevard, said she supported all aspects of the proposal before the council, with the exception of the language in the ordinance which appeared to permit enlargement of the Eugene renewal area. She said that the map accompanying this ordinance seemed to include the 5th Street Market area within the renewal area. She said that if this is not the case and if the ordinance provides no opportunity for enlarging the renewal area through tax increment funds, then she would support the ordinance. LaVerne Edwards, 1260 President Street, said that while she was in favor of reducing the number of committees dealing with the downtown, she opposed any enlargement of the renewal district. She referred to previous discussion of creat ing a "doughnut" renewal area around the downtown and said it appeared to her that the ordinance before the council would make the "doughnut district" a part of the renewal area. Ms. Edwards said she opposed such action. She also felt that there had been insufficient opportunity for public involvement in the proposal before the council. She objected to granting public financing to a special class of people with no representation or opportunity for public testimony from neighbors or citizens from outside the downtown area. She said that she would support the ordinance if it does not allow any land to be removed from the tax rolls. She noted that new businesses locating in the downtown area are deliberately choosing to locate outside the renewal district. H. Thomas Andersen, 790 West Broadway, represented the West University Neighbor- hood Quality Project (WNQP), of which he is chairperson. He said that group was mainly concerned with the issue of expansion of neighborhood boundaries toward the center of the City. He noted that WNQP had come before the council a year ago to discuss the concerns of local businesses and residents regarding neighbor- hood boundaries. He said that at that time WNQP had agreed to postpone action on this matter until the nine-member committee had made its recommendation to the council. He said it was his understanding that if the ordinance before the council was passed, Councilor Wooten would propose expansion of the boundaries of WNQP to meet the boundaries of the Downtown Commission. He said that WNQP supported the creation of the Downtown Commission. Mr. Andersen then spoke as a member of the Joint Housing Committee. He said that group had expressed concern in informal discussion of the matter that the issue of downtown housing be addressed by the Downtown Commission. Mr. Andersen said that a subcommittee of the JHC, composed of himself, John VanLandingham, and Bob Linz, had met to discuss ways to bring housing issues before the commission. He said this subcommittee hoped that a person with interest in housing would be appointed to the Downtown Commission. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 24, 1982 Page 4