07/17/1991 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Responding to questions raised by Mr. Nicholson, Mr. ~leason explained how the council made the transition to the parking replacement reserve system. Under the current system, the City is setting aside a.reserve sufficient to replace the parking structures in 100 years. Responding to Ms. Ehrman's concerns, Mr. Boles acknowledged that transitioning the parking program from one mechanism of support to another involves some risk, but said that the council must make a decision on this issue right away. The council should be making decisions to ensure that the program is stable in its first year. Mr. MacDonald agreed with Ms. Ehrman. He said that the council is rushing its decision without fully understanding the implications of moving to a paid parking system, particularly in light of the fact that the proposal contains new information. The council should review the parking issue further. Mr. Rutan commented that having additional information will not improve the council's level of understanding on this issue. This issue has been studied as thoroughly as possible. The new pieces of the proposal do not substan- tively change the proposal. Mr. Boles echoed Mr. Rutan's comments and noted that the district will have used all of its funds by January 1992. Mr. Rutan moved, seconded by Mr. Boles, to accept the recom- mendations of the DDD review group, Downtown Commission, and staff that the council's primary focus should be on a fee-sup- ported parking program. e Mr. MacDonald voiced concern that the motion wording is unclear. He feels that the parking program should address the disequilibrium that exists in the current parking program that enables regional retail centers to provide free parking while the City can only provide limited parking downtown. Mr. MacDonald said that the downtown mall is a public area. The council should consider whether values beyond commercial and retail uses should be main- tained downtown. In response to Mr. MacDonald's concerns, Mr. Boles clarified that the motion addresses a primarily user fee-supported program. Such a program might in- clude a mix of paid and free parking as well. Ms. Ehrman said that the council needs to consider what it is trying to do downtown and emphasized that moving to a paid parking system will not help the plight of downtown. Mr. Nicholson observed that while the City should be taking a citywide ap- proach to the parking issue, it must deal with the issue before January 1992. Because the DDD represents a significant portion of downtown retailers, he is inclined to accept the recommendation. Roll call vote; the motion carried 6:2, with councilors Ehrman and MacDonald voting opposed. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 17, 1991 Page 2