CC Minutes - 07/30/08 Work Session

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Ms. Bettman asked how another site for the Opus project would be funded if the WG project was selected th for the 10 and Charnelton site. Mr. Sullivan said sites currently owned by the City could be put forward and if those were not considered by Opus to be appropriate, there were funds available in the downtown district for another site, but those funds were limited. Mr. Pryor said he would vote against the motion to substitute WG Development, but if it passed he would support the amended main motion as it was important for the council to demonstrate unanimity in its support of a project. The motion to amend passed, 6:2; Ms. Bettman and Mr. Pryor voting no. Ms. Bettman stated she would not vote for the amended motion as she was unwilling to risk public funds when the project’s financial information was incomplete. Mr. Zelenka said he would support the motion. He agreed there was somewhat more risk with the WG project, but noted that the public subsidy was $2.2 million less with the WG proposal, which outweighed the risk. The main motion as amended passed 7:1; Ms. Bettman voting no. Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to direct the agency director to explore with Opus NWR Development the possibility of developing Opus’s proposal on another site in the downtown area and report back to the agency on the results of the discussions as soon as possible. Mr. Clark said the possibility existed that privately-owned property in the immediate area might be available for the other proposal and encouraged staff to explore that with property owners. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to amend the motion to include that any City financial participation shall exclude the possibility of an increased spend- ing limit of either urban renewal district. Ms. Bettman said that locating the Opus project on another site would require the purchase of that site, which would require an additional subsidy and open a new set of issues. Mr. Zelenka did not see that implication in Mr. Clark’s motion, but would support the amendment. He asked what amount of resources would remain after the Beam and WG projects were completed. Mr. Sullivan replied that there would be approximately $4 million still available and staff would provide a memorandum detailing those financial resources. Ms. Taylor supported the amendment and was opposed to spending any additional urban renewal funds or expanding the debt limits or boundaries. She also opposed destroying the Tango Center. Ms. Bettman said her intent was to assure that any proposal was based on existing financial capacity. The vote on the motion to amend was a 4:4 tie; Ms. Taylor, Ms. Bettman, Ms. Or- tiz, and Mr. Zelenka voting yes, and Ms. Solomon, Mr. Poling, Mr. Pryor, and Mr. MINUTES—Eugene City Council July 30, 2008 Page 5 Work Session