CC Minutes - 10/11/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Torrey reported on communication from Tom Dyke, University of Oregon, saying the University had not identified members of its committee. Appointment was imminent. He read the e-mail message, highlighting a request about whether there was $50,000 available from the Urban Renewal District for its planning process within the Riverfront Research Park. He noted that the University expected to spend $35,000 on the project. Mr. Farmer said there seemed to be some disconnects within the policy context, the market context, and the community context, adding that the "do nothing" alternative was more of that disconnect. He suggested trying to bring those closer and that will require sustained dialogue. He said it was possible to pull some things out and do them early and he was not suggesting that nothing would happen before the 18-month period. He cited Lane Transit District's BRT as an example where early work could be done. Mr. Farmer recalled that the nodal development and growth management policies had identified these two areas for development. He said staff has proposed a very public process to insure public control over the funding. With respect to the issue of planning and implementation, Mr. Farmer said the only planning he liked to engage in was that that led toward implementation. Addressing the issue outcomes, he said those would be detailed as requested. A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis, he continued, would be included. He commented that some of the lessons gleaned through that type of analysis apply generally, i.e., citywide, but the focus would help frame the questions to assess applicability elsewhere. Finally, Mr. Farmer said, property owners and other stakeholders would certainly be involved in the planning effort. Mr. Meisner called attention to a 1984 Downtown Plan, noting some elements remain "very good." He said the council had been constrained in its discussion on BRT because Franklin Boulevard is under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Department of Transportation. He wondered about the possibility of a transfer of jurisdiction to the City. Ms. Taylor said she continues to oppose development along the river. She believed "placemaking would be a good way of doing something and then do some more planning." Ms. Taylor said a change would inspire people to do further planning. Mr. Farmer said the balance between environment and development was something that should be placed at the forefront of the study. In many cases, he added, development was one of the ways to get to maintaining the environment. He said he would like to eventually have an overall riverfront plan for the entire city. Mr. Lee emphasized that a realistic approach was required for implementation of any plan. Mr. Farmer said staff would be responsible with the budget allocated for the project. Mr. Lee reminded the council that it would be involved in a cost-cutting effort in two years. City Manager Jim Johnson said the urban renewal district provided an additional funding resource should the council choose to use it. Mr. Kelly echoed Ms. Taylor's support for the placemaking options, adding the following caveat to option 3: add some short-term focused impacts ofplacemaking. He said he would support $50,000 for the first step of option 3, with the other $90,000 plus for the placemaking. Mr. Fart echoed Mr. Lee's concern with realism but added that he trusted staff had "a grasp of that," adding staff was "absolutely on the right track." Mr. Rayor said he still believed that the best place to use money downtown was for the Land Use Code Update (LUCU) and some implementation. He expressed concern with ending up with a planning effort that MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 11, 1999 Page 3 5:30 p.m.