06/10/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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M I NUT E S - Eugene City Council Work Session--Dinner Session Treehouse Restaurant June 10, 1985 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Cynthia Wooten, Richard Hansen, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer, Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Roger Rutan, Jeff Miller. His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m. I. RIVERFRONT PARK STUDY - Jim Farah of the Planning Department discussed the draft of the Riverfront Park Study and the process used to develop it. He noted the council had commissioned the study. He reviewed the boundaries of the study area which contains about 141 acres. About 62 percent of the study area is owned by the University of Oregon, the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), and Agripac. Mr. Farah said the study focuses on the University-owned property. Discussing the policies in the study, he said the land use policies indicate a balance of uses which emphasize University-related research and manufacturing and which do not conflict with other development goals of the City. Some commercial and multi-family housing are included. The transportation policies indicate addi- tional access points to the park will be needed. The environmental policies indicate the protection of the riparian strip by means of a management plan, the movement of the bike path, and the protection of the Millrace. Other policies indicate that the closure of 8th Avenue will be considered in order to permit Agripac to operate as efficiently as possible and that EWEB's head- quarters will continue at its present facility until the EWES Board decides to move the operation. Mr. Farah said the council will consider funding the public improvements to the park separately from the study. The transportation improvements will total about $6 to $7 million. A tax increment district is one possible method of financing. Mr. Farah said the Planning staff has discussed the study at six or seven meetings in the community attended by about 100 people. The Planning Commis- sion held a public hearing on the draft study which was attended by about 75 people. The commission is now considering the issues raised at the hearing and will recommend modifications to the draft to the council. Mr. Farah reviewed the issues raised in the public testimony. People who testified agreed that the concept of the study is important for the City and the University. There was some criticism of the process used to develop and -