12/15/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. Mayor Keller noted that although no public hearing was scheduled on this item, two citizens had requested opportunity to speak. Councilors agreed to hold a . brief hearing. Public hearing was opened. Tim Bloch, 1236 Willagillespie, represented the Committee to Preserve Gillespie Butte. He said that the Gillespie Butte property was a "profound spiritual resource II for the citizens of Eugene. He said that his committee was assembling suggestions on how the City might acquire the property. He suggested that EWEB might reconsider the City's purchase offer for this property. Bill Uhlhorn, said he was Director of Family Shelter House, 367 Highway 99 North. He felt that the staff suggestion of purchase of the 8th and High Street property should not circumvent the City's own capital improvement process. He said that a year ago he had asked that Family Shelter House be included in the CIP. He did not want the expenditure of 'funds for the 8th and High property to preclude his group's receiving City funds. There being no further testimony, public hearing was closed. Councilor Wooten said she felt it was unfortunate that the City was forced to acquire the property now as part of the resolution of other issues with EWEB. She felt that acquisition of the property was a clear signal to citizens that the City will build a publiC service building. She objected to using revenue- sharing dollars for this purchase and bypassing the CIP public hearing process and referrals to the Budget Committee and the Downtown Commission. She felt e that if the City did decide to buy the property, the terms of the agreement I should be elongated. She felt that the Gillespie Butte issue had no direct bearing on the matter before the council at this time. She asked if the City of Eugene had to agree to sale of property by EWEB. Mr. Gleason said he shared Ms. Wooten's concerns. He said that he had brought this issue directly to the council, since councilors were the elected representa- tives of the owners of the property--the people of Eugene. He noted that if the council decides to make the purchase, payments would begin after the end of the current budget year. He said that the council was being asked to resolve the policy issue of whether this property should remain within the public domain. He said that the question of funding could still be referred to the Budget Committee. He pointed out that EWEB has a need to liquidate its assets. Councilor Obie agreed that the council was the proper agency to hear this matter. He agreed that the economic environment made this a difficult action to take. He said that the funding mechanism that had been offered was a good one and that it might not be available in the future. He felt that the decision had implications far into the future. He said that if the council put off the transaction, the option of using the property for the City would be lost and that alternatives would be costly. He said he was prepared to adopt the resolution. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 15, 1982 Page 10 ~