CC Minutes - 05/24/00 Work Session

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Responding to a question from Mr. Papa, Mr. Johnson said that construction on the first youth sports park had begun. He indicated that no publicity was planned for the commencement of construction, but a ribbon-cutting ceremony was planned. Mr. Pap8 encouraged staff to schedule a celebration of the commencement of construction as well as a celebration of completion for the youth sports park and other projects made possible by the Parks and Open Space bond measure. Responding to a comment from Ms. Taylor that she was shocked there was no work session scheduled on the Amazon headwaters, Mr. Johnson said that there were not three councilors who wanted to specifically discuss the purchase of South Park or the Amazon headwaters, but rather three councilors who wanted to schedule a discussion of the council's policy role in giving guidance to staff on natural resource purchases throughout the community. Mr. Rayor pointed out that the scope of the agenda item did not preclude a councilor from making a motion specific to a particular area. He also pointed out that the property in question was a fraction of the headwaters, and supported a discussion of the broader issue. Mayor Torrey encouraged Police Chief Jim Hill to communicate with local high school principals and encourage them to sponsor supervised, all-night graduation activities for high school seniors, and to be vigilant about any activities that might bring youth on the roads and in danger. Responding to a question from Mayor Torrey regarding a report he had seen in the newspaper, Mr. Johnson confirmed that a five-day conference of the Workers Right Consortium was scheduled at the University in August. He said that staff was attempting to identify the student organizers so the Police Department could work with them. He said that the City would approach the coordinators and request information about the event to determine what security needs were appropriate. B.Work Session: Renewal of Downtown and West University Service Districts Russ Brink, Executive Director of Downtown Eugene, Inc. (DEl), was joined by Sue Prichard, Vice President of DEl, and Scott Gibbs, President of the University Small Business Association. He emphasized the importance of the districts to public safety, maintenance, and marketing activities. He discussed the methods used to assess property owners within the district for those services. Mr. Brink noted the threat to the districts from a new ballot initiative that would require all or increased taxes, fees, and charges subject to a public vote. Mr. Gibbs provided an overview of the West University Service District, the district's budget, and the services offered by the district. He asked the council to consider renewing the district with a three-year sunset clause that would only expire if the property owners in the district requested the expiration. Ms. Taylor asked if there continued to be business owners who objected to the West University district. Mr. Brink recalled some opposition at the time the district was formed, noting that largely, those businesses and property owners who opposed it were taken out of the district. The current district fronted 13th Avenue from Kincaid to Ferry streets, and both districts were proposing that 66 percent of the assessable square footage of each district must be in favor of the district, evidenced through signed letters prior to the public hearing. Mr. Gibbs said that he had received no calls of complaint or opposition to the district renewal from any district ratepayer. Mr. Pap~ asked how many participants were required to dissolve the district. Mr. Brink said that the votes of two-thirds of the members were needed to dissolve the district. Mr. Rayor MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 24, 2000 Page 3 Work Session