CCMinutes - 03/08/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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was part of the intrinsic values in the downtown plan to help existing businesses grow and expand. She asked what the City Council could do to direct the Planning and Development Department (PDD) to work with the hall. City Manager Dennis Taylor responded that the City was already engaged in a discussion with the WOW Hall. In response to further questions from Councilor Bettman, Mr. Taylor said he would provide a memorandum that explained to what extent the discussion with the WOW Hall had moved toward forming an agreement. Councilor Bettman replied that the City should be consistent when providing economic development benefits and that this would be a ~very good project." Councilor Kelly thanked those who spoke at the Public Forum. He underscored that the WOW Hall was a community institution. He noted he was a member of the WOW Hall. He asked the City Manager to include information in the memorandum about how staff and the council could work through the issues with the WOW Hall so that the City ended up with the housing that was planned for and the WOW Hall's goals were met. Councilor Kelly thanked the tenants who spoke out about housing standards. He averred the stories that were shared at the current meeting indicated that the council needed to expedite the issue. He called it ~fundamentally appalling in a first-world country" that there were stories such as this and that renters had no recourse aside from small claims court. He encouraged staff to utilize research already conducted on the issue. Councilor Kelly conveyed appreciation to Ms. Shea for the work she was doing to promote the arts and wished her success. Councilor Nathanson spoke in support of those who testified on behalf of visual arts and performance arts. Councilor Nathanson commented, regarding housing standards, that there were many things on the ~to-do" list, all begging for council attention. She said housing standards did get scheduled and had even been prioritized ahead of some other items, while many items were not scheduled at all. She stated that housing codes were already governed by State law and enforcement was the issue that needed to be undertaken. She recommended that staff solicit information, advice, and suggestions from the Eugene Police Department (EPD), Public Works Department, Municipal Court, and the City Attorney because they could have anecdotal information and perspectives that could come to bear on a comprehensive plan for developing the best solutions. Councilor Pap~ thanked all who spoke and especially those who spoke out about housing standards. He commented that the first time the housing standards issue had come to his attention was in December 2003. He corrected Councilor Bettman's assertion that there had been a vote of one kind or another to delay the issue and noted that it was unusual for the council to be moving as quickly on an item as it was on this one. He said he looked forward to bringing the issue back before the council. He thought the State statute did not address mold issues in housing to date, and that the council may have to consider that issue. Councilor Taylor opined that discussion of the housing code had been postponed. She asserted that it had been brought before the council ~many times." She conveyed her admiration to the people for their persistence on this issue. She commented that she was struck by how all of the things spoken to in the MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 8, 2004 Page Regular Session