CC Minutes - 02/22/10 Work Session

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Mntinn I _ I move to include as part of the proposed urban renewal plan amendment, general obligation bond or local option levy an additional $500,000 for improvements to the Park Blocks to enhance that area for the Farmers' Market. Ms. Piercy commented that there were discussions under way in the community about the future of the Farmers' Market and she hoped the council would be involved in those before making a final decision with respect to including the market in any of the funding strategies. Mr. Zelenka hoped the Park Street area could become a plaza area similar to the plaza at Willamette Street and Broadway. Ms. Taylor said she was willing to discuss the proposal later but could not support it at this time. She said the council was trying to do too many things, all of which were leading toward urban renewal. Ms. Solomon asked if Ms. Piercy's point was that if the Farmers' Market relocated outside of downtown, the $540,004 might not be needed. Ms. Piercy said she felt a discussion with the Farmers' Market was necessary before any funding decision was made. Ms. Solomon remarked that a majority of Farmers' Market participants were not Eugene residents and she had concerns about subsidizing their activities when that assistance was not being provided to other groups that were Eugene citizens or to downtown business owners. Mr. Brown reiterated his concern that there were too many projects under consideration. He acknowledged that the Farmers' Market and Saturday Market were very popular and brought many people downtown, but felt that the public would consider the markets a low priority given other community needs. He said it was a misuse of the urban renewal plan to amend it for improvements to benefit the Farmers' Market. He said the $540,000 remaining in the current spending limit could be available if the district was terminated. Mr. Poling agreed that a majority of Farmers' Market sellers were not Eugene residents, but at least 90 percent of the consumers were. He supported affirmative action to improve the Farmers' Market and encourage purchase of locally grown food. Ms. Piercy noted that supporting the Farmers' Market was consistent with the council's food security goal. She said there had been a number of comments about there being too many projects and activities under consideration and emphasized that the initiative addressed three areas public safety, social services and economic development in a carefully crafted, strategic approach to improving downtown. Mr. Pryor concurred that the sellers at Farmers' Market might not be local, but the buyers were. He shared the example of how Walla walla, Washington had invested significantly in its farmers' market to benefit the community. He appreciated the strategic approach to downtown revitalization and supported the motion. Ms. Taylor commended the Farmers' Market but could not support tying it to urban renewal. The amended motion passed, 5:3; Mr. Brown, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Solomon voting no. MINUTES Eugene City Council February 22, 2010 Page 6 Work Session