Item 3: Public Hearing on City Hall Complex

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Hearing: City Hall Complex Meeting Date: September 12, 2005 Agenda Item Number: 3 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Mike Penwell www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5547 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this public hearing is to give the citizens of Eugene an opportunity to offer suggestions on a master planning process related to City Hall and associated City facilities, and identify issues to be addressed as the City plans for its future downtown facilities needs. BACKGROUND Completed in 1964, Eugene City Hall is showing its age as numerous functional, operational, and structural deficiencies have emerged over the years. In addition, other City functions are scattered around the downtown area in facilities of varying condition contributing to the inefficient use of resources and less-than-optimal customer service. At the council retreat in February 2005, resolving the future of City Hall was identified as one of eight priority issues. On May 25, 2005, the council approved the City Hall/Police Building Priority Issue Action Plan which identified the major policy issues to be addressed, the overall description of project phasing, the nature of work to be accomplished, resource needs, and proposed project outcomes. The action plan, included as Attachment A, involves a community-based master planning process incorporating a significant public participation component. As such, the City is committed to involving the public in the planning process and is looking for input: ? What are the most important issues the planning process should address? ? What community involvement steps should be included? ? How, when, and where can public input best be gathered? Information gathered during the public hearing will be used to help design the public involvement process supporting the City Hall Complex master planning effort. Issues identified by the public will be reviewed to ensure that all ideas are considered and incorporated into the relevant part of the planning process. RELATED CITY POLICIES The City Hall Complex master planning and public participation process relates to the council goals of an effective, accountable municipal government, a safe community, and sustainable community growth and change. In addition, the City Hall/Police Building action plan identifies ten key issues that must be addressed as the action plan moves forward. L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050912\S0509123.doc