CC Minutes - 06/20/01 Work Session

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Mr. Kelly speculated that the code amendments associated with the design standards would not be done before Broadway was reopened because they involved land use changes. Mr. Bowers indicated he would not challenge Mr. Kelly's timeline, but staff thought the design guideline would have most effect as the redevelopment of the street occurred as opposed to the actual street reopening. Mr. Kelly thought the approach being taken by staff put the "cart before the horse." He was disappointed because now he could not support the motion. In response to Mr. Kelly, Mr. Meisner pointed out that the council could direct staff to time the reopening of Broadway to occur when the design standards were in place. He also wanted the design standards in place. The council could have the vote and gather the needed funds and defer the reopening until those were in place. He wished the council was also addressing and approving the design parameters because for the most part, they reflected his desires. Mr. Meisner added that, as so often happened, he was discouraged by the way the design parameters were translated into design. He said "we never look outside Eugene," but go to the same group of people, get the same ideas, and "never do anything really new." He wanted staff to take a fresh look at the design. Mr. Meisner questioned the ballot date as the September ballot would be a full one. Mr. Carlson said that the council could direct staff to develop the design standards parallel to the development of the Downtown Plan and the other things related to the implementation of Land Use Code Update, but that may take additional resources. He said the council would have many future opportunities to review the street design. The council would have control of the opening and the development of design guidelines. Ms. Bettman said that the staff notes indicated that Broadway had some of the most depressed rental rates in the community, which did not tally with what she had been told by others. She said that citizens often ask why businesses should locate downtown when rates were so much lower elsewhere. Ms. Bettman noted the elements of the design parameters that cost the most were the responsibility of the City. She believed that, given the strong competing needs for available funding, the funding strategy should maximize private contributions and leverage any public contribution to fund the design standards. She did not want the design standards to "encourage" appropriate development. She preferred an approach that established, for example, a minimum number of stories and specific guidelines that would produce a public benefit for the public expenditure. Ms. Bettman recommended the council pass a motion directing staff to give it design standards just for Broadway so that it became part of the money measure. If the City went to the voters for funding, it can show them what they will get. In response to Ms. Bettman's question about rents, Mr. Bowers said that staff charted rents, and those areas closest to the mall have the lowest rates. Ms. Nathanson asked how the council could ask staff to develop design standards without public involvement in a two-week period. She was also interested in appropriate mandatory design standards. Ms. Nathanson expressed concern about the message the public would get by the lack of a plan and associated costs. She would have preferred to have a design and some notion of cost so people know what they were getting. She wanted to be able to explain that the City would have the funding, and the street reopening would not mean reductions in other services, facilities closures, or a new fee. She said she wanted to tell the voters MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 20, 2001 Page 6 Work Session