CC Minutes - 04/19/10 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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personally been involved in efforts to locate a VA clinic in downtown for several years. He thanked the council for its work on downtown issues. Jim Olney, Eugene, Ward S, executive director of the Eugene Public Library Foundation, said the new library stood alone in its pursuit of literacy and community and he anticipated an outstanding partnership with LCC when its campus was constructed across the street from the library, following approval of the urban renewal plan amendment. He said the lively environment with more people downtown would also help to address public safety issues. He said the foundation supported the urban renewal funding and hoped it was approved by the council. Mary Salinas, General Delivery, Eugene, spoke on behalf of the homeless community. She said homeless people were the same as other residents, but faced many challenges. She said public safety meant the homeless, particularly the young people in the downtown area. She listed many services that were needed to assist the homeless: a soup kitchen, legal parking for camping and a compassionate homeless shelter. She said homeless people were not transients; they represented a community and many had grown up in Eugene. She urged the council to help the homeless. Tamara Underwood, Olive Street, Eugene, owner of Bagel Sphere and Novella Cafe in downtown Eugene, urged the council to support the urban renewal plan amendment as presented. She said it was targeted to projects that citizens had said were important to them and clearly stated the proposed funding for each. She said downtown needed critical mass and the projects would help to achieve that. She felt the proposal was a good start on downtown revitalization and urged the council to support it. R. Joseph Newton, Cross Place, Eugene, ward 7, stated that he was opposed to the previous urban renewal measure because he felt it was a subsidy to development interests and overrode the natural development of downtown. He now wished to speak just as strongly in favor of the current proposal. He said the urban renewal plan was about vital public services and institutions. He hoped the City did not stop striving for an indoor Farmers' Market and hoped that LCC would consider including a theater in its facility. He said he supported all of the projects and felt it was the right direction for urban renewal to take. He urged the council's support for the plan amendment. Kit Kesey, west 34 Avenue, Eugene, owner of the McDonald Theater building downtown, spoke in support of the urban renewal plan. He said it was what he had hoped would occur downtown when he purchased his property and the public safety aspect was especially important to downtown businesses. He fully supported the plan. Jim welsh, Centennial Plaza, Eugene, speaking for the Eugene Association of Realtors, said realtors were supportive of efforts to revitalize downtown and expressed their gratitude to the council for its continued interest in and attention to downtown. He said there had been disappointments, but the City could not give up. He said worthy projects had been proposed and tax increment financing would help them move forward and pave the way for future growth, including growth that would increase tax payments. He was pleased that public safety was a part of the proposal and urged the council to approve the plan. Richard York, University Street, Eugene, Ward 2, spoke in favor of the urban renewal plan amendment, which he felt was very carefully designed. The four projects were well thought out and provided vital public services that would improve the quality of life in the community, particularly the LCC campus that would make it much easier for people to access educational opportunities. He urged the council to support the amendment. MINUTES Eugene City Council April 19, 2414 Page 4 Public Hearing