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Mr. Taylor thanked the councilors for attending the groundbreaking for the new federal courthouse. He recognized the effort of Mike Sullivan and the staff of the Planning and Development Department, who had been working on the issue for five years. Mr. Taylor reported that the signatures for the repeal of the ordinance related to the urban renewal district had been turned over to the Lane County Elections Office for verification. He did not know if the petitioners had been successful in gathering the needed number of signatures. Mr. Taylor noted that he had arrived in Eugene to assume the position of City Manager one year ago and thanked the council for an enjoyable and challenging year. Mr. Meisner requested a background report on the parks planning committee and its analysis of co-relating maintenance costs to such a bond. He did not want to acquire land that the City could not afford to maintain. Mr. Pap6 determined from Mr. Lidz that the appeal of the ballot title did not affect the collection of signatures. Mayor Torrey said the tree planting event on Saturday went very well and the City received compliments for its efforts. B. ACTION: Downtown Plan Update and Related Metro Plan and Code Amendments An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Diagram to Add the ND Symbol to the Eugene Downtown Plan Area; Redesignating the Federal Court- house Site from Heavy Industrial to Commercial; Adopting a Severability Clause; and Provid- ing an Effective Date; and An Ordinance Adopting a New Eugene Downtown Plan as a Refinement of the Eugene- Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan; Repealing Resolution No. 3882 and the Eugene Downtown Plan Adopted Therein; Amending Section 9.9540 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Adopting a Severability Clause; and Providing an Effective Date The council was joined by Associate Planner Nan Laurence for the item. She noted the public hearing that had occurred on the item and the testimony heard by the council. She requested approval of the two ordinances that begin to implement the Downtown Plan. Ms. Laurence reported that staff would return on May 10 with a downtown work plan. Ms. Laurence referred the council to the plan, which reflected the changes suggested by councilors in legislative format. She thanked the council for its work on the plan. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Pap~, moved to approve the Downtown Plan as revised and to direct staff to prepare a graphic copy for publica- tion. Referring to page 19 of the plan, Mr. Pap~ expressed concern that the mention of 8th Avenue as the location for a new civic center was too restrictive. Ms. Laurence said the text in question was a project example and it suggested that ~where possible" such buildings should be located on 8th Avenue. She referred Mr. Pap~ to MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 12, 2004 Page 5 Work Session