06/23/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . revitalize the downtown core area. She said the League was concerned that the e City's capital improvements program would not be feasible under current economic conditions. Ms. Loy urged the City to work with the University of Oregon and Lane Community College and emphasized the economic impact of these two insti- tutions on the Eugene area. She also urged continued public involvement in the economic development issue. Kevin Doyle, 766 East 15th Avenue, said he is the new development director for the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO). He said that this local development corporation had been funded through the City's Community Development Block Grant program. He noted that the City's economic diversi- fication program called for establishment of a local development corporation and suggested that NEDCO was available to fill this role and that it would be a duplication of effort to create a second such corporation. He emphasized NEDCO's permanency and questioned the need for two local development corporations. Gordon Elliott, 938 Jefferson Street, asked the City to give a fair opportunity for others in the area to compete with the City economically. He was upset that his property, which is served by all urban services, had been excluded from the Urban Growth Boundary. He said that the project he proposed to develop on his property was environmentally sound. He said that if staff members could demon- strate to him that the project would not work, could not be funded, or would not meet the Statewide Planning Goals, then he would abandon the plan. Mr. Elliott referred to a document submitted at the November 17, 1981, Joint Planning Commissions' hearing on the Metropolitan Area General Plan and urged councilors - to read this document. Mayor Keller told Mr. Elliott that he, Mr. Gleason, and Planning Director John Porter would meet with Mr. Elliott within the next 30 days to discuss Mr. Elliott's proposed development. There being no further testimony, public hearing was closed. Councilor Wooten said that the questions regarding the use of Community Develop- ment Block Grant funds for economic development should be referred back to the Community Development Committee with a request for further consideration, and that the council should continue the discussion of the elements of that program and the ability of the program to meet the needs of the community. Councilor Lindberg referred to Mr. Clay's testimony. He thanked Mr. Clay and all those who had taken time to testify before the councilor to attend the noon lunch gathering. He said he appreciated these people's efforts and the productive dialogue between the public and private sector. He said that the feedback on the first phase of the City's economic diversification efforts would result in some re-examination of the program. Mr. Lindberg noted that applications for loans to businesses through the CDBG business assistance program were not being taken now, because decisions on the structure of and length of time covered by this program had not yet been made. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council Special Meeting June 23, 1982 Page 3