CC Minutes - 05/26/98 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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the Downtown Urban Renewal District, lowering property taxes, and providing $18 million for the construction of a new library. He said he did not believe the revenue available for urban renewal taxes would be adequate for construction of the library by Eugene. He suggested that additional resources would be needed and that he believed citizens would vote to provide them. W. Riley "Tex" Matsler, 2605 Chula Vista Drive, stated that he was confused by actions taken by the council. He said he believed it was an error to continue to look to the downtown area for a library for Eugene. He said he had presented several alternative plans for branch libraries at Library Forums. He said he believed developing a branch library system would bring relief to downtown congestion. Merle Bottge, 1777 West 24th Avenue, stated that she supported the use of urban renewal taxes for construction of a new library and that she believed citizens would approve a Local Option Levy to support library operations. She said she opposed making use of urban renewal funds contingent on the approval of a levy. She said she did not believe the City policy of requiring operating funds before commitment of capital expenditures needed to be re-considered in the light of taxation changes brought about by the passage of Ballot Measure 50. Vinnie Scarpaci, 1090 Corydon Street, stated that she was a relative newcomer to Eugene and that she supported the use of urban renewal funds for construction of a new library. She said she believed such use of funds was a creative solution and refreshing as the library was needed and would benefit the entire community. She said she supported the importance of a central library, but recognized the usefulness of a branch system. She said a library would add to the vibrant life of the central core of downtown and had the advantage of being the center of the area's public transportation system. She said she opposed tying use of urban renewal funds for a library to the passage of a Local Option Levy. She said alternate funding resources could be identified for operating of the library. Peter Rodda, 1090 Corydon Street, thanked the council for its decision to use urban renewal funds for construction of a new library. He said he was concerned that voters might be confused by requiring the approval of a Local Option Levy for the library. He said he believed a new library should be adequate for the current collection and for growth in the future. Molly Stafford, 437 East 11th Avenue, urged the council to use urban renewal taxes to build a central library that was adequate for the current and future needs of the community. She said she hoped a branch library would be developed with all due speed, but that she was concerned that voter rejection of Ballot Measure 53 could bring about defeat of a Local Option Levy proposal if it were placed on the September 1998 ballot. Mayor Torrey stated that he was recessing the public hearing until June 1, 1998, to allow any who were confused about the potential postponement of the hearing to testify. He said the council would likely deliberate and vote on the proposed ordinance at that meeting, despite its standing practice of not voting on an issue at a meeting at which public testimony about it is received. IV. PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCES RELATED TO THE DOWNTOWN MALL Management Analyst Janice Bohman reminded the council of its work session on the proposed closure and exclusion ordinances for the Eugene Downtown Mall. She described the MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 4 7:30 p.m.