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

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David McLean, Beacon Drive, Eugene, Ward 5, said the urban renewal plan represented an opportunity to take steps to address issues in Eugene that had thwarted the community for decades and an opportunity to say "yes" instead of "no." He said the LCC project would spur the local economy and bring hundreds of students downtown, supporting local businesses and bring positive activities to the City's core. He said the public safety improvements would make downtown feel safe and welcoming, the Farmers' Market would continue to bring people downtown and the VA clinic would support area veterans and fill vacant space. He said the projects were ready to move forward and the funding mechanism did not require raising taxes or harm other services. He asked for the entire community to take advantage of the opportunity and support the projects, which would help the City move forward to create a downtown everyone deserved. Thomas Kamis, Lincoln Street, Eugene, a downtown resident and business owner, said the plan amendment would not solve all of downtown's problems, but it was a good start. He said the other funding mechanisms available to support the projects were complicated and would take more time. He spoke to the benefits each of the projects would provide to the community and downtown area and urged the council to support the proposed amendment. I William Ivanoff, North Grand Street, Eugene, Ward 7, spoke in favor of the LCC and VA clinic projects downtown. He questioned whether the urban renewal district had increased the livability and vibrancy of downtown since 1967. He was not certain that urban renewal had caused many of the issues downtown today and felt there were other City policies that drove businesses from downtown. He said urban renewal would not solve all of the problems in downtown; it was a more complex issue. All of the City's policies that contributed to the current situation should be examined. Duncan Rhodes, Lewis Avenue, Eugene, Ward 7, thought the projects were good, but the urban renewal district had been in existence for a long time and he wanted to see a financial accounting of its history, including the revenue generated and how it was spent. He said that information should be compiled and submitted to a referendum before any of the projects were approved. Jared Masan -Gere, Willamette Street, Eugene, speaking on behalf of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, said that often the City had ignored opportunities, but in this instance he was confident that would not happen. He commended the council's thoughtful deliberations and the well thought -out projects that were being proposed, which had wide support throughout the community. He said the projects would spur growth downtown, create many jobs, fill vacant space, attract a large number of people to downtown, address public safety issues and provide necessary services. He said the Chamber would prefer to see more private projects in the proposal that would generate taxes and the sunset provision eliminated, but those were the tradeoffs that were necessary in order to move forward as a community. He said it was a balanced plan and hoped everyone would support it. Dave Hauser, Elkhorn Drive, Eugene, Ward 5, spoke on behalf of Downtown Eugene, Inc. (DEI). He said DEI was the voice of downtown business, promoting responsible development and improving public safety. He said downtown property owners voluntarily assessed themselves an additional tax that they invested in the downtown area in the amount of $4 million over the last 16 years. He said DEI stakeholders wanted to promote a vibrant, safe and diverse downtown. He said the plan addressed the future and its projects, and the LCC facility, especially, would create momentum downtown. DEI was opposed to sunsetting the urban renewal district earlier than planned as it was an important tool for enabling future projects, but now was the time to act and DEI was willing to accept that condition in order to move forward with the proposed projects, particularly the public safety improvements. He urged the council to approve the plan amendment and create positive momentum for downtown. MINUTES Eugene City Council April 19, 2010 Page d Public Hearing