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. e e Ms. Smith referred to testimony that those who seceded from WNQP had formed their own organization. She asked Ruth Miller to comment on this. Ruth Miller said that the area that had seceded formed its own downtown association which was in existence for about a year and was a recognized neighborhood group. There had been problems with elections, meeting notices, and definition of who could vote, and the Eugene Planning Department had recommended that recognition of the group be withdrawn because of these problems, because it was felt that the group was not meeting the needs of people in the area, and because the group was in violation of its charter. Councilor Lindberg asked for clarification on testimony that had suggested that neighborhoods have veto power. Mr. Gleason responded that neighborhood groups, like other City boards and commissions, are only advisory to the council and only make recommendations. They have no veto power. Councilor Wooten said that she had given serious deliberation to the concerns of the business community regarding this issue. She felt that the interests of businesses and residents in the area are not mutually exclusive and that the two groups can maintain a cooperative and enlightened neighborhood organiza- tion. She therefore supported the proposed extension of the WNQP boundary to Charnel ton Street. She felt that having a downtown merchant's association for the area, to work on a consistent and open basis with the neighborhood group, would be very helpful. Councilor Miller felt that in an area with mixed uses, there is always going to be difficulty in pleasing all factions on all issues. She noted that the methods, tone, and style of doing business of most neighborhood groups have changed considerably in the past ten years. Anti-business and anti-developer attitudes which once prevailed in some neighborhood groups have, for the most part, given way to general concern for city-wide economic development and job potential. She therefore did not feel that businesses in the area proposed for annexation to WNQP needed to fear harassment or anti-business attitudes~ Ms. Miller agreed with Ms. Wooten's suggestion that a near-in westside merchant's association be formed to represent businesses in the area both at neighborhood and at city-wide meetings. Ms. Miller wished to correct the impression made in some of the testimony that neighborhood groups are decision-making bodies. She said that this was not the case and that neighborhood groups only have the power to make recommendations. She added that those who feel that recommendations made by any neighborhood group were arrived at by an inadequate process or by a segment not representa- tive of the real feelings in the area, should state this at public hearings and let the decision-making body then decide how much weight to give the neighbor- hood's testimony. Ms. Miller said that the residents in the subject area deserve representation by a neighborhood group. She therefore supported extension of the WNQP boundary. Councilor Lindberg said he felt that everyone needs the opportunity to be represented by a group, and that he would therefore support expansion of the WNQP boundaries. He noted that the WNQP charter allows businesses the unique opportunity to be represented both by a neighborhood group and by a merchant IS MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 11, 1981 Page 17