CCMinutes - 01/21/04 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Solomon thanked staff for the list, calling it "helpful." She called attention to the eventuality that there would be two state-of-the-art hospitals in the County. She predicted this would generate more economic development opportunities. She felt the City was well-positioned to take advantage of this and bring in more secure, higher-wage jobs. Ms. Bettman commended Mr. Kelly for listing motions that the council had passed that had not appeared on the list. Ms. Bettman felt the discussion on nodal development that recommended site-specific planning was a return ;'to square one." Ms. Bettman questioned the high prioritization of ;;minor" LUC amendments. She commented that the word ;minor' indicated a lower priority status. She stated that the City was soliciting citizen input for code amendments. She felt this should be an item for the Planning Commission. Continuing, Ms. Bettman agreed the clinic issue was something that needed to have a team approach in responding to it. She opined that it should not be ;;what can we do that the developers want" but rather how the City could take the opportunity to fulfill some of its objectives, such as placing a clinic close to the downtown core. Mr. Kelly averred it would take a second work session to pass the priorities. He recommended following up on the list in an expeditious fashion so that momentum would not be lost. Mr. Kelly asked if the council direction to staff to bring information on ;;daylighting" the Millrace by June 30, 2004, would be followed through, should the council pass the staff recommendation as is. Mr. Taylor responded that it would not. Mr. Kelly noted such a change would be a complete reversal of council direction after just two months. Mr. Taylor countered that the council would be making priorities given its resources and all the things that the council had asked staff to do and, as such, it was not a reversal so much as it was a delay. Mr. Kelly felt this could impact the availability of potential funds and development decisions in the courthouse district because there was uncertainty due to the lack of a long-term vision. He conveyed his concern regarding the delay and asked what it would take to put this item back on the list. Continuing, Mr. Kelly stated that, given the amount of time put into the West University Task Force report it disturbed him that it much of its implementation was not on the priority list. In response to a question from Mr. Kelly, Ms. Muir said the City was playing a support role in the BRT development. She assured him that staff was continuing to monitor meetings in order to make sure the City was capitalizing on its limited resources. Ms. Taylor agreed with Mr. Kelly regarding the Millrace. She felt that things that were changed or postponed in the work program should be pointed out for the benefit of the City Council. She opined that staff worked extensively to help developers ;;get around" land use regulations while one person building a house was left to wend his or her own way through the codes. Mr. Poling, seconded by Mr. Meisner, moved to affirm the recommendation for- MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 21, 2004 Page 6 Work Session