Item C: Ordinance on Downtown Urban Renewal Plan Amendment

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March 29, 2010: Planning Commission discussed the proposed amendments and adopted a motion recommending council approval of the amendments based on the Planning Commission’s review of the proposed new boundary and the four new projects contemplated in the Plan with respect to their consistency with the City’s land use policies. The motion does not include consideration of the financial aspects of the plan. (Passed 5:1 Warness opposed). January 2010: Staff held two open house events to share information and gather feedback on the potential projects (January 6 and 7) and gathered additional feedback through an online survey. The LCC project received the most support. The downtown parking improvements project received the least amount of support. On January 28, ERAC considered the projects and supported a priority ranking of LCC, Business Assistance & Housing, VA Clinic, and Safety, as the top four projects. Staff also presented the projects to the Sustainability Commission on January 20 and attended the January 21 Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting to provide an update on council’s progress. November 2009: Vibrant Eugene website and surveys were promoted at First Friday Artwalk with an incentive of Hult Center ticket drawing for survey respondents. The local KVAL news station held a televised town hall on downtown revitalization and safety. December 2010: ERAC met to review proposed downtown projects. The Vibrant Eugene website added an online community discussion board (http://vibranteugene.activeboard.com/index.spark). October 2009: Vibrant Eugene website (www.vibranteugene.org) was launched providing information on downtown revitalization efforts and opportunities, an on-line survey to collect public input and a Downtown Eugene twitter (http://twitter.com/DowntownEugene). ERAC reviewed the downtown revitalization survey results and the proposed downtown strategies of jobs and redevelopment, safety, parking, and arts and amenities. The Planning Commission reviewed the downtown revitalization public involvement plan and survey results. September 2009: A random sample telephone survey on downtown revitalization was conducted in late August and early September. Results from the survey mirrored the council’s desire to focus on specific projects as part of a downtown revitalization plan. Survey results indicated that 86% of respondents support the expansion of LCC’s downtown campus, 85% support a Veteran’s Medical clinic, and 70% of respondents support matching grants to improve local businesses. After hearing a specific list of potential downtown revitalization projects, 70% of respondents supported this form of economic development, and 53% reported supporting subsidies for economic development downtown. Other priorities for downtown revitalization mentioned in the survey included adequate/free parking, greater police presence, and easing regulations/providing incentives for locating businesses downtown. August 24, 2009: The Planning Commission received an update on downtown revitalization and reviewed a summary of downtown related plans. July 2009: City Manager presented at a Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting.