Ordinance No. 20459 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORDINANCE NO. 20459 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN AMENDED URBAN RENEWAL PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. The Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Eugene Project (the "Plan ") was initially adopted on July 3, 1968, by Resolution No. 257 of the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene (the "Agency "), and on December 19, 1968, by Resolution No. 1609 of the Eugene City Council. The Plan has subsequently been amended, most recently on September 13, 2004, by Ordinance No. 20328 of the Eugene City Council. B. The City Council's 2009 Vision and Goals include a goal to foster a vibrant downtown (the "Downtown Goal ") C. The City Council and the Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors (the "Agency Board ") have determined that Lane Community Colle eg 's ( "LCC ") new downtown cam us is consistent with that Downtown Goal and that the Plan should be amended to authorize this project and to allow it to be financed with tax increment funds. LCC wants to build a new, state -of -the -art education facility on the vacant half -block located at 10 Avenue and Charnelton Street, across from the downtown Eugene Public Library. The new green (LEED Platinum) education facility will include job training programs, the Energy Management program, business development and senior programs, and other LCC educational programming. LCC is also considering the inclusion of student housing in the project. Up to $ 8 million of urban renewal funds would be used to help LCC build the new Downtown Campus project. D. The City Council and the Agency Board have determined that it is consistent with the Downtown Goal to narrow the scope of two existing projects in the Plan in the following manner: (1) Broadway Place Garages and Public Safety Improvements. The existing Plan authorizes the financing of public parking and public transportation facilities. The Plan will be amended to limit this project category to the Broadway Place Garages, which were initially funded in part through urban renewal funds and provide an essential public parking facility to serve the business, customer, and resident parking needs in the District. Paying off the debt for those garages ($4.9 million plus interest) will ensure the continued availability of the garages, and will also free up funds that can be used for public safety enhancements in the District. Public safety improvements are a key strategy to creating a vibrant and economically healthy place. Increasing public safety services and coordinating with other agencies will make downtown a more welcoming place for everyone. (2) Infrastructure Improvements for the Farmers' Market. The existing Plan authorizes the financing of public parks, public plazas, restrooms and open spaces. The Plan will be amended to limit this project category to infrastructure improvements to the Ordinance -- Page 1 of 4