02/08/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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public as appears often in debate and pUblic hearings. However, he reiteratec the main point for Council to consider was to bring the public up to date on what is happening with the project and to allow input from the public. - Betty Niven suggested the kind of criticism heard most often from the community is that people are not allowed to give input until a project has developed to such a point that decisions would be impossible to change. Council should consider whether it is making a decision that will retain public support, and this will be an opportunity for citizens to respond to the proposed development. The value of having the public presentation would be to have recognition from the public of the project, and to go on record that Wi 11 amette Street wi 11 stay open, with Willamette Street separating the publicly and privately financed developments. Manager noted that it had already been advertised and scheduled as a public hearing; however, the title that appears on the agenda could be changed to reflect a public discussion. Mr. Lieuallen said he did not want people to say they did not know or understand what is going on, noting this could be a reality check for Council. Mayor Keller agreed that it might be appropriate for Council to go on public record as being supportive of such things as keeping Willamette Street visually open. Mr. Obie ;tated that contrary to what was previously stated, Scheme 7 does not propose public development in the eastern block and private in the western; rather it simply allows for some private development as a hotel in a portion of the western block as a future possibility. e Short recess was taken. Mr. Haws left the meeting. III. CETA Proposals--Organization for Administering Programs in Relation to County Government. Memorandum on recommendations on economic goals of the City Council dated February 3, 1978, from Gary Long distributed to Council. Mr. Long explained this was really a follow-up and implementation of economic development through the use of CETA funds in the City. He reviewed for Council the memo by discussing the various items listed in the index of the memo. Under Item No. I--City Council and community goals on economic development and manpower programs: Mr. Long noted this was a variety of activities the City Council is involved in as they relate to economic development. He also tied them into the 1974 Community Goals statement. Under Item No. II--Eugene's labor market problems and poten- tial solution: Mr. Long said a very important statistic included in this section was the unemployment rate for Eugene was 8.4 percent; Oregon's rate was 7.6 percent; while the national rate is 6.5 percent. He said this pointed out some very real problems of unemployment in the area. 2/8/78--6 . 18