04/09/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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-, a beginning for Eugene of a very comprehensive arts/education program. He felt also this to be a catalyst for development of the downtown area, including a major hotel development. He encouraged Council to consider the recommendations before it and to accept them. - Doug Winn, Construction Manager, said this is the third step in a 16-step journey to complete the Civic Center Project. The first two steps were development of a master site plan and conceptual designs. This third step is a request for approval of the final schematic design. His construction company had worked very hard with the architects, staff, Civic Center Commission, and performing groups in the community to consolidate the program into its most functional and economical form. The program presented to the Civic Center Commission met the primary artistic requirements of the project, with the contin- gency it was not within the $18.5 million project budget. He noted they had been working steadily to try to meet that requirement. However, it was found the arts facility could not be procured for $18.5 million to incorporate everything that everyone wanted in the project. Subsequently, the Commission requested a review regarding the impact on the program if it were to stay within the $18.5 million budget. Reports made back to the Commission presented various ideas of deletions to the project, items that could be deferred, and a reduced program" to stay within the $18.5 million budget. However, the impact on the program would reduce the size of the facility and the seating capacity. The overall program would have to shrink substantially. The magnitude of the deletions were in the materials that had been distributed to Council. He noted cost verification had been completed, and referred Council to the material showing hall cost comparisons with other facilities around the country. He reiterated this is a performing arts center, not just an assembly hall. Also presented was a priority list of items to be added to the $18.5 million to make the project functional. Mr. Winn said his company had worked closely with the architects and staff to verify and to research the costs, which were based on the designs developed by the architects. . Dory McGillvary, Vice Chairperson, Civic Center Commission, said she did agree with the Eugene Register-Guard regarding objections to the price of the Civic Center project. However, she noted when the $18.5 million bond issue was placed on the ballot, the City was not working with Todd Construction or Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates. The Commission had objected to higher costs, and had worked very hard to figure out how the project could be built for $18.5 million. She was present at this evening's meeting to tell the Council that there is absolutely no way it could be done. There had been many design reviews and public hearings on the project. The Civic Center Commis- sion has worked extremely hard and has met numerous times. She reviewed the recommendations as set forth by the Civic Center Commis- sion, and requested the Council adopt those recommendations: - 4/9/79--3 1'14-