CC Minutes - 02/13/06 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

th Megan Mosely , 313 East 8 Avenue, a downtown business owner, commended the council on its approval of the East Broadway Development Project and concurred with statements made by supportive councilors that the development was a partnership and not a City subsidy. Ms. Mosley said that Whole Foods was a good employer with a record of positive community partnership. She said there was a need for parking and she thought the courthouse developments would increase that need. Speaking to the West Broadway project, she thought it another opportunity to reinvest in the community and revitalize downtown. She agreed more information was needed but suggested the project be viewed in a positive light until there was a need to do otherwise. Mary Hoover , 3355 Delta Highway, opposed the hospital development being proposed by the McKenzie- Willamette Medical Clinic on a portion of the River Ridge golf course. Ms. Hoover said if the clinic’s plans went forward, the result would be two hospitals in proximity on one side of the Willamette River, and a terrorist attack or natural disaster would mean those in the southwest and west did not have access to the hospitals. She asserted that the City had sufficient land in the Riverfront Research District to offer the hospital. Ms. Hoover noted current traffic conditions in the area and thought that proposed road improve- ments to facilitate the hospital were in the distant future. She suggested the council either vote no on the proposal or refer the decision to the voters of Eugene. She acknowledged that tax revenues would be lost if the hospital did not locate somewhere in Eugene, but she just did not think it was a good plan. She did not think that PeaceHealth’s current proposal for emergency services at its Hilyard campus would be adequate for southwest area residents. Orval Etter , 3080 Potter Street, referred to a statement he previously submitted regarding a 40-year partnership between the City and the Amateur Music Makers. He expressed hope that the Atrium Building would be available in the future for amateur music making. He noted Eugene’s recently adopted motto of World’s Greatest City for the Arts and Outdoors and suggested it “covered a lot of ground.” If the council believed in truth in advertising, he suggested what was stated on the Web page meant that the community should be vigilant in preserving its cultural and recreational resources. Carolyn Burckelheider , 2017 Elk Drive, noted the location of the Atrium and the many open spaces on the ground floor where Mr. Etter gathered his amateur musicians for concerts. She praised Mr. Etter and noted his many community contributions. She asked that Mr. Etter be given a place to play in the Atrium. Bill Northrup , 939 Laurelhurst Drive, said that the work of the Gender Identity Work Group had “gone underground” and people were being shut out of the process. He referred to the Human Rights Commission discussions about private meetings between individuals and said he had been told he could not participate as the meetings were private and nothing was being decided. Since code language revisions were being discussed with City Attorney Glenn Klein’s oversight, he questioned whether staff could truthfully state that Oregon’s Public Open Meetings law was being followed. Mr. Northrup feared that the process would go so quickly that the public would have no time to respond. He said that the commission had already decided it did not need to hold another public forum on special revisions and may hold a special meeting to get its recommendations to the council more quickly. He did not know what the amended proposal would be and thus could not respond. Mr. Northrup asked the council to direct the Human Rights Commission to hold public discussions and to direct staff to ensure that any questions directed to the attorney are answered in public. He suggested that open deliberations would lead to greater mutual understanding. Celeste Ulrich , 3355 North Delta Highway, urged the council to take its time with regard to the new location of the McKenzie-Willamette Medical Clinic, which she considered critical. She expressed MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 13, 2006 Page 2 Regular Meeting