CC Minutes - 01/28/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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John Brown, 1760 Charnelton Street, supported the staff recommendation. He suggested dedicating fees to pay public safety costs for the tax-exempt areas. Mayor Torrey closed the public hearing. Councilor Rayor stressed the importance of protecting historic neighborhoods. Councilor Kelly acknowledged that revenue in the short term would be lost for a larger long term return. He supported the Planning Commission suggestions. In response to a question from Councilor Kelly regarding how the City would monitor developments that made the points for tax exemption maintained them for the entire ten years, Mr. Weinman said that each applicant would file a yearly report. Councilor Meisner supported the exemption for the core area of downtown but raised concern that the area recommended by staff was too large. He stressed the importance of having a "hard edge" for downtown. Councilor Bettman supported the exemption in the downtown core. She supported using a similar strategy in other nodal areas in the City. Councilor Pap8 and Councilor Nathanson supported the idea of cutting the application time from 180 days to 120. Councilor Taylor supported the exemption in the downtown core area. She reiterated Councilor Meisner's comments regarding a hard boundary for downtown and suggested that a specific percentage of new development be required to be Iow-income housing. She requested that action not be taken that evening. Mayor Torrey urged the council to take action that evening. Councilor Bettman said she also preferred more constrained boundaries for the downtown area. Councilor Kelly suggested a Planning Commission process for discussing downtown boundaries. City Manager Johnson asked the council to consider Council Bill 4782, an ordinance concerning property tax exemptions for multiple- unit housing; amending Sections 2.945 and 2.947 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and repealing Ordinance No. 20045. Councilor Kelly, seconded by Councilor PapS, moved that the bill, with unanimous consent of the council, be read a second time by Council Bill number only, and that enactment be considered at that time. Councilor Meisner, seconded by Councilor Rayor, moved to amend the motion by striking the language in Section 2.945(2) and adding the following: "...include the area generally bounded on the west by Lincoln Street, on the south by 13th Avenue, on the East by High Street, MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 28, 2002 Page 5 Regular Session