CC Minutes - 06/08/05 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Pap6 believed the trustee of the previous owners would disagree with the staff summary of the City's attempts to purchase the property. Mr. Pap6 determined from Mr. Medlin that the City purchased the original 54 acres because of the Stream Corridor Acquisition Program and because of its proximity to the ridgeline trail. There were multiple objectives for the purchase. Responding to a question from Mr. Pap6, Mr. Medlin confirmed that staff asked an appraiser and engineering firm to look at the development potential of the property. Mr. Pap6 asked if 110 housing units could be accommodated on the property. Acting Planning Division Manager Steve Nystrom did not know what was possible at this time. He believed the current zoning district would allow closer to 200 units, but what was realistic could differ from that estimate. Mr. Medlin added that the City had hoped for an appraisal that supported the higher asking price of $600,000 and did not receive that. Mr. Pap6 said he was not contending the south hills were %ver-parked" but he contended other areas of the community were ;;under-parked." He said that he did not object if someone purchased the property and donated it to the City. Mr. Pap6 determined from Mr. Medlin that the City had generally achieved its goals for acres in the ridgeline trail system but had about $150,000 left for property acquisitions. Mr. Medlin called the council's attention to a map of City park land that illustrated the extent of ridgeline trail acquisitions and demon- strated some of the remaining gaps in the system. He believed there was a need for further acquisitions. Mr. Pap6 agreed, but said the City needed community parks in the north and it would take even more funding to get that done. He wanted to see parks and open space purchases in that area. Mr. Medlin noted that of the bond proceeds, there was also money for a neighborhood park in Santa Clara. He concurred, in response to a follow-up question from Mr. Pap6, that funding would not both buy and develop a park in that area. Mr. Pryor said he had not heard anyone say the property was not of interest if it could be acquired. However, he questioned whether there were the resources to purchase it at this time. No one seemed to know what the price would be. He said there appeared to be continuing interest in acquisition on the part of the council. He said the grant application must be a package. He thought it would be premature to make a motion at this time and suggested the council let the process ;;play out." Ms. Solomon agreed with the remarks of Mr. Pryor. She was concerned about the City's purchase of property that was currently subject to property taxes being taken off the tax rolls at a time such revenues were needed. She preferred to continue with the proposed stormwater acquisition. She suggested staff continue negotiations with the property owner and that the neighbors purchase the property and donate it to the City if they wanted. She also suggested that if the City purchased the property, it give up an equal amount of land someplace else to ensure that revenues were not reduced, thus further eroding the City's ability to provide desired services to citizens. Mr. Poling also supported the acquisition of the property. He suggested the City continue to work on the acquisition before it made a grant application to the State for funding. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 8, 2005 Page 3 Work Session