CCMinutes - 07/12/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Brink expressed concern regarding the general use of urban renewal money to fund public buildings. He thought the library had been a wise investment of urban renewal money, but urged the council to remember that the real goal of this funding mechanism was to leverage private investment in a particular area. Harriet Cherry, 1944 Alder Street, explained that she was an architect who had participated in the charette. She felt the principles advocated by the Mayor's Civic Center Visioning Committee represented a sound foundation for planning and design and were consistent with the charette and the downtown plan. She suggested the following modifications: · The principles on parking should be renamed "transportation" with the following addition: "The Civic Center should be planned to support multiple modes of transportation including pe- destrian, bikes, bus transit, and automobiles. Facilities for each mode should support not only the Civic Center but also surrounding mixed uses." · Add to the principle entitled 'Employ cost-effective development approaches': "The Civic Cen- ter should employ sustainable principles of design, construction, and operation. Buildings and places within the Civic Center must be built within the resources available to the community. Within those resources, it should be treated as an important long-term investment in downtown, a place of excellence, and reflecting community pride." · Add a new principle called 'Mixed Uses': "Design the Civic Center to support mixed uses for an active, diverse, and vigorous downtown. Individual buildings and places within the Civic Center should incorporate places for art, community information, service briefs, coffee shops, displays, and gatherings. Properties in the Civic Center district should include a variety of pri- mary uses such as housing, retail, arts, and others." Ms. Cherry further recommended that the City continue the efforts of the many concerned groups that had participated in the months. Charles Biggs, 540 Antelope Way, opposed the building of a new public safety building. He did not think it was justified. He did not think it likely that an earthquake catastrophe would impact the current police station. He felt the price tag was high and did not adequately take into consideration public opinion. He likened it to throwing money around in the face of the recent budget action which had cut spending in some areas. Robert Cassidy, 1401 East 27th Avenue, expressed concern regarding the placement of the police station in the center of town. He questioned whether there would be adequate parking. He approved of the concept of having public agencies and non-government providers in one public safety facility, but noted that it seemed no one wanted agencies such as Whitebird and those that feed the indigent to be located there. He suggested this did not fit in with the vision of 8th Avenue as a great street. Cheryl O'Neill, 24307 High Pass Road, coordinator of the Domestic Violence Council and assistant director of Womenspace, advocated for the provision of a victim services center within the public safety building. She noted that the victim service providers had a 20-year history of collaboration and were, in many instances, collocated. She stated that this collocation aided people in coping with the stresses of life- shattering situations brought about by domestic violence. She said that, as things were currently located, a person might have to seek help in multiple places in one day. She thought it would be wonderful to have a combined service and to have it be in conjunction with the Eugene Police Department. She related that there were statewide studies that had indicated that people do not feel comfortable turning to the police and suggested that collocation would increase the trust and confidence the public had in them. Kevin Matthews, 120 West Broadway Street, president of the Friends of Eugene, provided his testimony in writing. He asked those present to look around the Council Chamber, as he felt it was a "nice space." He