CC Minutes - 07/31/02 Work Session

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Mayor Torrey thanked the councilors who served on the Planning Commission + 3. He thought the plan a good outcome for the community. Ms. Taylor said that the concept plan would have long-range impacts on the City and it was ridiculous to rush it through. She said that the City did not have all the answers yet. She agreed that staff did a good job, but she did not think it was the final job. She pointed out that experts in the same fields had different opinions about the same issues. Many of those people had not yet had a chance to make comments on the concept plan. Mr. Kelly agreed with Mr. Pap~ that democracy was a matter of compromise and said he put forward his amendments in that spirit. However, he would be "puzzled for a long time" why, when the Millrace was to be a central part of the plan, the council was unable to support the concept of a walkable Millrace. In response to Mr. Kelly, Ms. Nathanson noted her long-time interest in the Millrace and her support of the concept of the Millrace. However, she did not know that a contiguous Millrace from the Broadway intersection to the Willamette River could be achieved. Her concerns about Mr. Kelly's amendment was focused on its specificity. Mr. Fart said that the planning process had been relatively lengthy with many opportunities for public input. He pointed out that the council was adopting a concept plan with a great deal of flexibility. He agreed with Ms. Nathanson's concerns about the specificity of Mr. Kelly's amendment. Mr. Rayor thanked the General Services Administration, the University of Oregon, and ODOT. Referring to the public input received, Ms. Bettman said that she spoke to people who believed that their input about the plan was offered in vain. There was a community and council vision for the area, but what the council had before it was a new road project. That would dictate everything that happened in and around the site. She anticipated that the development patterns that resulted would resemble the development that typically bordered a State highway. The main motion passed, 5:3; Ms. Taylor, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Bettman voting no. Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Pap6, moved to direct the City Manager to prepare scoping for implementation of key next steps, including time lines and budget requirements, and incorporate the concept plan as part of the forthcoming Downtown Plan update. Mr. Kelly thanked staff and the Planning Commission + 3 for their hard work on the concept plan. He thought it contained much good work, but believed that the vision and chance for innovation had been taken out of it, which disappointed him. The motion passed, 5:3; Ms. Taylor, Mr. Kelly, and Ms. Bettman voting no. The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 31, 2002 Page 15 Work Session