CC Minutes - 04/13/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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encouraged the council to support urban renewal after careful examination of all its aspects, including the addition of new projects such as the library and a review of administrative costs. Russ Brink, 132 East Broadway, DEl, supported Option C. He discussed the results of a voters' survey sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, saying that a majority of respondents gave downtown a rating of only fair when asked if downtown was in good shape. He noted that 68 percent of respondents were "somewhat" or "very" dissatisfied with the current state of downtown. Mr. Brink said that a majority of respondents indicated downtown was a unique neighborhood that should be supported by the entire community. He said that 64 percent of respondents supported urban renewal as a tool to open streets and improve downtown transportation. Approximately 68 percent supported use of urban renewal to improve downtown housing and renovate existing older buildings. Approximately 56 percent support using urban renewal to build a new library. Mr. Brink questioned why the City Council would choose to eliminate urban renewal or use it only for a downtown library. He encouraged the council to be visionary about downtown projects, and consider where the funding would come from if urban renewal was not in place. Douglas Beauchamp, 164 West Broadway, Lane County Arts Council, asked the council to continue to support the downtown urban renewal. He said that it was a catalyst for investment that had made downtown Eugene a regional cultural center second only to Portland in the state. He said that devoting a substantial amount of available dollars to the library was consistent with past direction. Mr. Beauchamp suggested that the council include the library as part of a cultural and investment fund to ensure that a portion of district funds support a broad range of development and investment in infrastructure. He regretted loss of the former Downtown Commission and Cultural Affairs Commission, groups he believed could have contributed to the discussion. He suggested the formation of a short-term task force to determine "what this means." Mr. Beauchamp supported Option C. He suggested a library, rehabilitation loans, street and alley improvements, the use of the Sears building as a cultural center, and parks expansion as possible projects. Joyce Berman, 2440 Charnelton Street, identified herself as a library user and ABLE (A Better Library for Everyone) member. She asked the council to make urban renewal funds for a library that would be an improvement on the current facility and would enliven downtown. She supported Option B and asked the council to take leadership and avoid referring the matter to the public for a vote. Ms. Berman noted the many uses of the library, particularly for children, and stressed the importance of a new library to the community. Charlie Magee, 2679 University Street, supported Option B for the downtown district. Regarding the riverfront district, he advocated for its preservation for recreation. Mr. McGee believed that the majority of research done by scientists at the University of Oregon was conducted over the telephone or via e-mail. He termed the research park "an industrial solution in an information era." He supported Option E for the riverfront district. Tom Hoyt, 460 Palomino Drive, introduced himself as a trustee of the University of Oregon Foundation and vice chair of its Research and Technology Transfer Committee. He supported Option F for the riverfront district. He said that the research park enabled the University to leverage and transfer its discoveries and innovations into new technologies and start-up companies. Mr. Hoyt said that professors and students at the University were making world class discoveries for which patents were being issued. The Office of Technology Transfer at the MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 13, 1998 Page 3 7:30 p.m.