Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Barofski disagreed with the assertion that a no-bid contract would save money. He felt evidence in support of that proposal was anecdotal at best. He suggested that the City and citizens determine the design for a parking structure that would work best for the city as a whole and not what fits the design of one particular group. He thought, given that the City spent one year and $1 million to study a potential new City Hall, the City could spend a little more time to decide how it wanted the downtown to look. He expressed concern because this option would use up urban renewal bonding capacity for one project and this could jeopardize other valuable projects. He asked, as a citizen member of the Budget Committee, that the City do more to involve the citizen members of the committee in the supplemental budget process so that those members could be better informed in advising the council. Thomas Peterson , 1178 Charnelton Street, said he was chair of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA). He reported that the DNA passed a similar resolution opposing the project. He submitted the resolution into the record. He stressed that the DNA was not opposed to development but thought that all of the relevant information about alternatives should be presented publicly, such as the aforementioned underground parking. He averred that the quality of life in “this city of the arts and the outdoors” depended on informed citizens’ democratic participation. He related that DNA members would welcome the opportunity to join with the rest of the community in exploring options regarding this project. In closing, he underscored that an open process was the “wisest course of action.” Larry Reed , 4765 Village Plaza Loop, supported the program. He commended the council for realizing that the downtown was in trouble and for working on a visionary downtown plan. He stressed that the block on which the proposed parking structure was to be built was contained in the plan, as were great pedestrian streets and the provision of places for people to live and shop downtown. He asserted that the Mayor, in her election literature, seemed to understand that it would take a private developer doing a private project to bring marketplace economics to the downtown area. He provided written materials for the council record that included the aforementioned campaign literature. Mr. Reed stated that Whole Foods Grocery did not need Eugene, but Eugene did need the Whole Foods Grocery. He said should the City pass on this “rare opportunity” there might not be a second one. He commented that this was “just the way business operates.” He pointed out that Whole Foods Grocery would create jobs and that it planned to build its own parking garage without a subsidy. He added that it had been identified that the federal courthouse needed downtown parking. He asked that the council not “slap away this opportunity.” He submitted his testimony in writing. th Rick Wright , 25 West 25 Avenue, chief executive officer for the PC Market of Choice stores, averred that a parking garage in partnership with a commercial project was a subsidy. He thought the real debate should focus on who would win and who would lose. He opined that the only winners would be Whole Foods Grocery and landlords and the whole community stood to lose something. He stressed that the city of Eugene had a unique blend of locally owned grocery stores supported by an infrastructure of farmers, manufacturers and suppliers. He felt Eugene offered one of the most sustainable food industries in the country. He predicted that Whole Foods Grocery would do as much business as the combined business of nine existing businesses. He felt this would significantly affect the sales of local businesses and the sales of local growers as well. Ginevra Ralph , 2187 University Street, spoke on behalf of the Shedd Institute for the Arts. She urged the th council to move forward with a parking structure at 8 Avenue and High Street, including foregoing an open bid process in this case. She said the City identified the need for additional structured parking on East Broadway for eight years. She asserted that current parking was already seriously inadequate for existing MINUTES—Eugene City Council -- March 13, 2006 Page 11 City Council Meeting