05/11/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. Mr. Andersen summarized his remarks by stating that there are two main reasons why the council should approve the requested charter revision: 1. The subject area contains over 650 dwelling units which are currently not represented by any neighborhood organization, yet represent too small an area to form their own neighborhood group. 2. This area is a natural focus for the concern of existing WNQP--the issues do not stop at Washington Street. Mr. Andersen added that the Eugene Planning Department routinely sends referrals to WNQP on land-use matters regarding the subject area, even though it is not technically within the boundary of the group. He also noted that a represen- tative of WNQP serves on the ERA Advisory Committee because it was recognized that the ERA has and will have a great affect on the WNQP area. Mr. Andersen concluded his testimony by reading and submitting a letter in favor of the proposed charter revision addressed to the City Council from Ruth Koenig, Lincoln Community School Coordinator. Mayor Keller opened the public hearing. Speaking in favor of the charter revision request: e Dustin Posner, 983 West 10th Avenue, stated that he is a homeowner in the WNQP area. He favored the expansion of WNQP, because he felt that the subject area is undergoing strong pressures for change and that area residents need an organized mechanism to be represented in that process. Mr. Posner said that he had lived for two years in the area proposed for annexation and that he had felt the lack of a neighborhood group to deal with problems such as parking and zoning. He said that he has worked with the WNQP and has been impressed with the group's way of dealing with issues and of giving fair representation to all interests, businesses as well as homeowners. Mr. Posner recognized that the smaller of the two boundaries proposed for annexation might be more workable, but he preferred the larger boundary because otherwise a uno man's landu would be created between WNQP and the ERA. Rhonda Budd, 1239 Washington Street, indicated that because she lives on the UwrongU side of Washington Street, her family is not represented by any neigh- borhood organization. She said that the area in which she lives had seceded from WNQP in 1973. The people who were responsible for the secession still do not want to rejoin the group, but Ms. Budd and several of her neighbors do want to belong to the group. She said that interest in rejoining had been prompted specifically by efforts to obtain more street lighting in the area to reduce crime and to deal with traffic problems on Washington. Ms. Budd felt that all City residents and property owners should have the opportunity to belong to a neighborhood group. She felt that representation by a neighborhood group was especially important for the many senior citizens and parents of small children in the area who cannot attend meetings of City bodies to speak out on issues of concern to them. Ms. Budd felt that residents of the area proposed for . MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 11, 1981 Page 12