CC Minutes - 11/27/00 Work Session

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compared to projected revenues, and was interested in having that information. Mr. Fart said he cared a great deal for WISTEC and wanted to see the differences in positions resolved. Mayor Torrey said WISTEC needed to bring its bottom line proposal to the table. The council would make a decision on December 11, and would accept or reject a proposal at that time. He agreed that the council needed to look at the merits of the TDM proposal independent of the WISTEC issue. He said that the City needed to act in the best interests of the community regardless of WISTEC. He said that the stadium was also extremely important to the community. Mr. Rayor said that he wanted the University to be responsible for making the transit station improvements and did not want it to try to expand the lot. Referring to options 1 and 2, Mr. Rayor perceived that blocking off the grassed parking area as a major benefit from those options. He was uncomfortable that the City leased the building to a private nonprofit that made money off parking on a natural resource area and took over the public street in front of the building for a period of time. He agreed with the mayor about the need for WISTEC to bring the City a bottom line proposal. Mr. Rayor thought the University's proposal was acceptable. Mr. Rayor said that the University was responsible for impacts to the park from the automobile parking and he did not want any City costs. He said the University should cover the costs of City staff monitoring the park. Ms. Bettman said the transit station location analysis was based on what worked for the transit station and the University, and did not take into account other components, such as the impact on the park or other City- owned property. She wanted to see the analysis expanded to take those factors into account. Ms. Bettman spoke on behalf of the park, saying the City was fortunate to have a beautiful natural park on riverfront property. She did not want to see the park turned into an appendage of the University of Oregon or natural areas precluded from restoration because they were being used for parking and access to football games. Ms. Bettman said the City needed to take an active stance to restore the park to its natural state. The park was a community asset as much as the University of Oregon, and the council represented the City's interest. Ms. Bettman reiterated that she wanted to consider using the parking revenue from Leo Harris Parkway to offset WISTEC's losses from the loss of the grassed parking area. She wanted to know more from the University about its future facility needs and whether a parking garage was contemplated at some point in the future. She thought a parking structure could replace the displaced parking from the transit site, surrounding neighborhoods, and the areas where parking should be phased out, such as the park. Ms. Bettman said that the argument the structure would only be used six times yearly was short-sighted, as she thought a parking structure could accommodate students living north of the river or serve as a park and ride for University and Sacred Heart employees. Mr. Kelly referred to page 13 and the latest proposal for temporary bicycle parking, and said he continued to be troubled by the concept of temporary parking that was in place the entire season would be located in the middle of the park. He was concerned the result would be an eyesore. Mr. Lowe said that staff shared the concern, which led to the recommendation. Because there was no design proposal for what that would look like, it was staf?s intent to allow the University to propose something. If the University's proposal was not aesthetically appropriate, the City would require it to take the parking down after each game. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 27, 2000 Page 10 Work Session