CC Minutes - 01/11/10 Work Session

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2. WORK SESSION: Downtown Projects The council was joined by Planner Amanda Nobel Flannery, who provided a PowerPoint presentation on Downtown Projects. Copies of the presentation were provided to the councilors. The presentation touched on strategies for downtown and included funding options and timelines for several downtown projects. The projects included a new Lane Community College downtown center; an arts and entertain- ment district; a new Veterans Administration clinic; business assistance and housing; rebranding, easy payments, and free parking; green infrastructure; the Beam project; and illegal behavior, consequences, physical spaces, and coordination. The funding options included a general obligation bond; self - supporting bond; local option levies; grants, donations, and tax credits; adjustments to the downtown service district; adjustments to Human Services Commission funding; Urban Renewal Agency (URA) loans and grants; cost shifts to the Urban Renewal District; the General Fund; and redirection of other funds, including the Parking and Facility Reserve funds. Ms. Nobel Flannery invited questions at the conclusion of the presentation. Responding to a question from Ms. Taylor on how much a tax on unoccupied properties in downtown would realize, Planning and Development Director Susan Muir said such a tax would produce $20,000 to $30,000 annually. She noted that such a fee was recommended by the downtown safety task force convened by Police Chief Kerns. Ms. Taylor indicated her support for such a tax. Ms. Taylor acknowledged her personal opposition to expanding the urban renewal district or increasing the debt limit. whatever the City did downtown, she wanted the public to be able to vote on it. Ms. Ortiz asked questions of Financial Analysis Manager Sue Cutsogeorge clarifying the amount left in the URA ($1.8 million) and the possible cost shifts from the URA contemplated in that option. In response to a question from Mr. Clark, Ms. Nobel Flannery confirmed that the boundaries of the URA would have to be adjusted to accommodate a VA Clinic at 12'" Avenue and Willamette Street. That would require a plan amendment. Mr. Poling did not object to adjusting the URA boundaries on a case -by -case basis. He questioned why the General Fund was listed as a funding source given it lacked sufficient funds. Ms. Muir indicated that staff was attempting to be exhaustive in the options it offered to the council but it could be taken off the list. City Manager Ruiz suggested that the question came back to what the council priorities were. Mayor Piercy thought Mr. Paling's remark about the General Fund was well - taken, and pointed out that a choice to use money from the General Fund would be a decision to reduce services in another area. Ms. Solomon determined from Ms. Muir that there would be $500,000 available for URA grants. Ms. Solomon asked how much Lane Community College (LCQ would ask from the City. Ms. Muir anticipated that LCC could request $8 million. She also clarified that the cost shifts to the URA previously mentioned as a funding option would require a plan amendment to increase the spending limit, and the council's decision on the plan amendment could be referred to the voters. Responding to a question from Mr. Brown, Ms. Muir did not anticipate that Lane Community College would have all the project details in place by the time the council next discussed the topic. She noted that the project manger was present at the meeting to hear the council's discussion. Mr. Brown referred to page 25 of the annual financial report of the URA, which indicated the district had MINUTES —City Council January 11, 2010 Page 4 Work Session