Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

Home Browse Search

market owners were not anti-business, but wanted Eugene to grow and prosper, with modest, regulated growth fueled by sustainable, well-paid jobs. He commented that most people would love to see more well- planned housing, park space, offices, and retail, and possibly some non-polluting light manufacturing in the downtown area. He stated that the people were not opposed to spending $9 million if it was to be spent on public benefits. He believed the City should not spend $9 million to “subsidize a truly huge corporation that was in no need of any type of welfare or entitlements.” Lisa Warnes , 5020 Nectar Way, stated that it was the policy of the City Council to utilize public contracting practice and methods to maximize the efficient use of public resources and purchasing power of public funds. She opposed the no-bid contract process that had been proposed. She alleged that downtown had six parking garages that operated at only 53 percent of capacity during peak hours. She felt that many people remained unconvinced that another such garage was needed. She thought the process should have been started sooner given the timeline of the contract, proposed to be signed on June 1. She asserted that the money came from the tax dollars of the citizens of Eugene and they had a right to the process. She declared that the council was considering diverting $250,000 from the Stormwater Fund, $400,000 from the Riparian Fund, and $475,000 from the Library fund to help pay for the parking garage. She called it unethical to do so. She opposed the project. She submitted her testimony in writing. David Hinkley , 1350 Lawrence Street, #1, asserted that the proceeding was an improper and illegal use of the supplemental budget process. He averred that the State provided in ORS 294.480(1) five possible reasons to go into a supplemental budget. He did not believe the proceeding met the criteria. He asserted that the council and the Budget Committee had not put this item into the budget and called that “your failing.” He alleged that it should have been given that it was in plans that had been approved by the council in 2004. He did not see a pressing necessity for the parking garage. He opposed the no-bid contracting process as he did not believe it to be legal. Mark Gillem , 1206 University of Oregon, stated that he was teaching the Urban Design Studio at the University of Oregon, where his students were looking at alternatives to the parking garage. He thanked his students, who spent “over 10,000 hours thinking about how to make downtown Eugene a more livable, more vibrant, and more diverse place.” He reiterated that the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) unanimously opposed the parking garage. He said the essence of the DNA’s position was that they wished to look at alternatives to the proposal. He noted that the Fairmount Neighborhood Association (FNA) also voted unanimously to consider alternatives as well. He felt they recognized that in order to be the city of the arts and outdoors, parks were needed at the perimeter as well as at the heart of the City. He suggested that the City consider utilizing the $8 million to acquire most of the land for parks or to increase the parks bond from $20 million to $28 million. He thought the Park Blocks could be extended from the existing location all the way to the river. He said allowing the current developer to build parking above grade would block this access to the river forever. He maintained that park blocks to the river would do more in the long run to create a safe and livable downtown. Molly Dobbs , 1125 Jackson Street, a member of the Urban Design Studio class, offered some ideas for alternatives to a parking structure. She stated that the class developed designs for the downtown area that sought to feed into the Downtown Plan. She outlined the benefits that the open spaces were predicted to provide, not only to the City but to the developers and Whole Foods Grocery. She postulated that open spaces in downtown urban areas spurred development. She cited an example from downtown Chicago which increased land values in the areas surrounding the parks development. She cited another example from Vancouver, Washington. She invited everyone present to come to a review of the work of the Urban Design Studio scheduled for March 14 at 278 Lawrence Hall. MINUTES—Eugene City Council -- March 13, 2006 Page 15 City Council Meeting