11/16/1983 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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IV. OLYMPIC SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS (memo, resolution, booklet distributed) e City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Business Assistance Manager Cathy Briner prefaced her presentation by stating her appreciation of Councilor Schue's role in the All-American Cities Competition. Ms. Bri ner stated that staff was recommending that the council approve the resolution reaffirming the City's support for the Olympic Scientific Congress and the loan request for $40,000. She stated that her November 10 memorandum outlined the specific uses of the loan. She said staff felt that the presence of the congress in Eugene would assist the City in promoting Eugene as a destination point and recruiting new businesses to the area. She introduced Dr. Michael Ellis, Dr. Jan Broekhoff, and Dr. Dan Tripps of the congress organizing committee and Mike Hartnett and Tim McNeilly of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Dr. Michael Ellis stated that each modern olympiad involved cultural, religious, and scientific aspects in addition to the athletic games and that Eugene would be hosting the major portions of the cultural and scientific aspects of the 1984 Olympiad. He briefly reviewed the background and history of the development of Eugene as the host city. He stated that he realized the significant import of the congress to the city, stating that 700 papers had been submitted by scientists from more than 32 countries, including Cuba, the USSR, and the Peoples Republic of China. He said his organization was convinced that the congress would be successful, but he said the assistance of the city was needed to maintain contact between all the individuals involved and to host those individuals in a manner which presented Eugene as a destination point. He said he anticipated 3,000 individuals to attend the congress in addition to the representatives to the congress. He estimated that the conference would e cost $1,300,000, of which $1,000,000 would be raised by the end of the con- ference. He asked the council to support the resolution and loan request to assist the organizing committee in presenting a successful congress. Mike Hartnett of the Eugene/Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau stated that his staff did not have the budget to travel to all the countries that would be represented in the congress; therefore the loan would help the congress to be a showcase for Eugene and bring those representatives to the city. Ms. Briner again asked for the council's support of the resolution and the loan request. She announced that she and Mayor Keller would be making a presentation to the Oregon Tourism Council in Coos Bay on October 28 to gain support and a financial commitment for the Olympic Scientific Congress. Councilor Smith stated that, as a member of the convention board, she was aware of the work being done and urged support of the request. She stated that the congress reinforced the council's concerns for destination point activities. In response to a question on the City's legal standing on a loan, City Attorney Tim Sercombe explained that the loan proceeds from the Civic Emergency Fund, generated from the boxing match revenues, were appropriate under ORS 463.170. He stated that 40 percent of those revenues could be distributed for charitable or educational purposes and that the remaining loan balance would come from contingency funds. Mr. Gleason stated that there was no problem in the City investing money for a public purpose, adding that staff would determine the budget process once the council approved the request. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 16, 1983 Page 4