CC Minutes - 02/22/10 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES Eugene City Council City Council Chamber --City Hall 777 Pearl Street Eugene, Oregon February 22, 2010 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, George Brown, Andrea Ortiz, Betty Taylor, George Poling, Chris Pryor, Jennifer Solomon. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed procedures for providing comments. Paul Cziko, Bailey Avenue, Eugene, University of Oregon graduate student, spoke to the Riverfront Research Park. He said part of the council's vision and values was stewardship of the community's physical assets and natural resources. Twenty -one years ago a contentious plan was approved by the City of Eugene to completely develop the University's riverfront property, with minimal public involvement. He said up to ten buildings were proposed on open space, wildlife habitat and public land. He said building heights were limited to six stories, which was nearly half as tall as Skinner Butte. He had not spoken to anyone who was aware of plans for the lands they enjoyed for recreation as that plan was developed by a previous generation. He said construction of the first building was already planned and asked the council to prevent any construction until the master plan for the park was revised to reflect current community values. He noted that any development would nullify the efforts under way to develop a master plan for the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) site and connect people to the river. Gail Carlson, Irwin Way, Eugene, a member of the Save Lane County Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service Political Action Committee, asked the council to support Ballot Measure 2158 on the May 2010. She said the property tax would allow all Lane County citizens to continue to benefit from the resources offered by Oregon State University Extension Service. She said the measure would create a local tax option of $.05 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $10 per year on a home assessed at $200,000. The expenditure of those tax dollars would be tied to measurable outcomes and subject to annual audits. She said the measure would allow the Lane County Extension service to maintain its level of services and hire additional support staff. She listed the services provided to the community and asked each member of the council to pledge support and encourage others to do the same. Drix, High Street, Eugene, commented on the coming of spring. He was pleased with the prospect of projects downtown that would develop the two vacant, excavated sites. He commended the City's arborist and encouraged everyone in the community to plant big leaf maples. Joseph Newton, Cross Place, Eugene, said the downtown public library was the result of a quarter century of community effort and the adjacent site should also reflect community values. He said Lane Community College (LCC) had an investment in the community and its values and was stepping up to develop the site. He said LCC could be trusted to develop the site in a way that was in harmony with the community and met the needs of the neighborhood, and furthered LCC's vision of extending education to the broadest possible segment of the population. He urged the council to support LCC's efforts. MINUTES Eugene City Council February 22, 2010 Page 1