CC Minutes - 04/06/98 Work Session

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MINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall April 6, 1998 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Pat Farr, Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Scott Meisner, Nancy Nathanson, Laurie Swanson Gribskov, Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. I. CALL TO ORDER The April 6, 1998, Eugene City Council meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.; His Honor Mayor James D. Torrey presiding. II. WORK SESSION: URBAN RENEWAL Lew Bowers, Planning and Development Department (PDD) provided the staff report, acknowledging the presence of Cathy Briner, Sue Cutsogeorge, and Bob Hibschman from PDD and Riverfront Commission Chair Dan Giustina to help answer the council's questions. He reminded the council of the policy questions before it: 1) terminate one or both urban districts; 2) continue them at the base level; and 3) continue them at the grandfather/enhanced level. Mr. Bowers noted that the ongoing discussion has linked a new library to the downtown urban renewal district but staff has no recommendation at this time. He asked the council to discuss this evening what outcome it desires for urban renewal and if preserving the district is the best financing tool for that option. Mr. Bowers indicated that staff had developed four possible outcomes for the Downtown District the council might consider: · Undertake no projects downtown--This involves defeasing the existing debt by collecting taxes for at least one more fiscal year before terminating the district. · Build a library only--Contruction of a library could be funded with General Obligation (GO) bonds or urban renewal bonds. If the latter were chosen, the resources of the renewal district would be all directed toward the construction of a new downtown library. · Build a library and undertake downtown projects--Resources of the district could be directed both at the construction of a new library and completing Renewal Plan projects. Minutes--Eugene City Council April 6, 1998 Page 1 5:30 p.m.