09/23/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Discussing the expansion of the airport and the library, Mr. Silvermoon said e $6.8 million is included in the three-year CIP for the expansion of the air- port. He did not know why $17.1 is now quoted as the cost of the expansion. He said the Raleigh/Durham airport which serves Research Park in North Carolina was not expanded until the research park was well developed. Mr. Silvermoon said a library/office space feasibility study and construction are included in the CIP. It indicates the library is to be included in a new City office building. Mr. Silvermoon said a new City office building will result in the City vacating many offices in the downtown, and, consequently, will harm the economic health of the downtown. Because the income tax is to pay for projects in the CIP, it will pay for a new City office building which is not needed, he said. Mr. Silvermoon said the hours of the existing library are not convenient for people who work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. He will not vote for a new library if he cannot get to the existing one. He said voters must now approve local funds for each large capital improvement project and, therefore, voters can examine each project. A city income tax will take that opportunity away from the voters. He did not think the result will be good democratic government. W. H. Oldaker, 741 East 24th, said City funds are not used properly. For example, hlS street has not been swept for two-and-a-half months. James Bitle, 4428 Ryan, lives in the Santa Clara area. He works in Eugene. He is concerned because he will not be able to vote on the income tax. e John Bauguess, 364 East Broadway, #4, said the income tax proposal indicates the dlvlslons in the community. He cited the Hult Center and the private downtown health club as divisive projects. He said the political atmosphere in the community does not allow personal attacks on people, and he feels a need to make them. He did not want non-residents to pay a city income tax. He does not believe that some of the income tax will pay for the library expansion because no plans are available. He said people who supported the state sales tax also support a city income tax. Frank Soifer, 1344 Lawrence, said an income tax will decrease the purchasing power of Eugeneans because they will have less money to spend. He said many taxes are taken out of a wage earner's check. Someone who earns $7,000 a year cannot afford to pay $30 a year in City income tax. Federal funds which are now spent on defense should be transferred to the cities and states. He said American Airlines spent $600 million to buy Pan American Far East routes. He suggested American Airlines should pay for the expansion of the Eugene air- port. He will work against an income tax. Joseph Dehn, 5340 Saratoga, said an income tax would be bad for Eugene. It will not be collected efficiently. It will be costly to taxpayers and busi- ness managers because they will have to fill out more forms. He said the tax will be raised later. He said Eugene would be the only city in the state with an income tax and business owners will not want to locate here. He was not sure how much expansion is needed at the airport. He said airport users should pay for the expansion. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 23, 1985 Page 5