10/27/1990 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mayor Miller emphasized the need to have a comprehensive program that will cover all downtown issues. He suggested an update of the Downtown Plan as a means toward redesign that would incorporate many of the Retail Task Force's downtown strategies. The council discussed what type of actions should be taken on downtown redesign. While the council agreed that redesign needed to move forward, it did not agree on the most effective means. Mr. Bennett felt that the council should assume the responsibility of the Downtown Commission, in terms of having the ultimate responsibility for determining downtown redesign. He also felt that much of the work of the Downtown eommission should be performed by private groups. Mr. Holmer concurred with Mr. Bennett that the council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency, could perform the functions of the Downtown eommission. Mr. Gleason noted that the council would be presented with a report soon from the Downtown Commission on this issue. The council agreed on the following wording for its goal: Begin to implement the downtown redesign, following a public vote. F. Other Issues e The council discussed the initiative petition currently circulating in the community requiring that a charter amendment be passed before Willamette Street could be closed to traffic. Mr. Gleason noted that the council had made a tentative decision to put a conceptual model for downtown redesign before the voters in May and said that the council could deal with this petition in several ways. The council could choose either to take no action on the petition, placing it before the voters at the next general election in November 1991, or it could choose to act on the petition, bringing it before the voters at the March election, prior to its tentative conceptual design vote. Mr. Bennett said that the intent behind the initiative petition is to allow citizens a chance to vote on downtown redesign and street access issues, in particular. He suggested that the council take no action on the initiative. He reasoned that by allowing a vote on the conceptual design, the council would be acting consistently with the intent of the initiative. Mr. Holmer cautioned the council that it would run the risk of destroying council credibility if it chose not to recognize the citizen initiative. He also warned that such an action might jeopardize the conceptual design if voters chose to retaliate by rejecting all further downtown proposals. Mayor Miller noted the importance of having the new councilors have ownership of the goals for the upcoming year. The council discussed what the term e MINUTES--Eugene City eouncil October 27, 1990 Page 6 Goal-Setting Session