HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/08/1986 Meeting (2)
M I NUT E S
- Eugene City Council
Council Chamber--City Hall
September 8, 1986
7:30 p,m,
COUNCILORS PRESENT: Jeff Miller, Cynthia Wooten, Richard Hansen,
Debra Ehrman, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan,
COUNCILORS ABSENT: Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer,
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon
was called tD order by His Honor Mayor Brian B, Obie,
1. PUBLIC FORUM
Mayor Obie gave an opportunity to those who wished to address the council
about subjects not scheduled for council consideration.
George Leyba, 639 Van Buren, read a letter dated September 8, 1986, He
expressed appreciation for the thoughtful, even-handed decisions made by the
council to improve the economy and for the example it set in community
e leadership and responsibility, He said many currently believed that the
surest, easiest way to improve the economy was to guarantee that people who
abuse legal and illegal drugs did not hold responsible positions in business,
industry, public service, education, or gDvernment, Mr. Leyba urged that
councilors voluntarily take randomly schedul ed drug tests and post and
publicize proof that they did not use drugs, He said he believed other
decision makers would feel obligated to follow the example of the council,
which would reduce the effect drug abuse had on decisions that determined the
economy, He sa i d methamphetami ne abuse had become much worse si nce he
testified on the subject a year ago, He said proof of responsible, clear-
headed decisions would improve the economy by resulting in better decisions,
by instilling more trust among co-workers and subordinates fDr decision-
makers, by improving morale and productivity, and by instilling more trust
among investors for local investments. He added that the presentation was not
meant to suggest that any member of the Eugene City Council was using or
abusing drugs,
Mr. Leyba also noted that the City of Eugene recently had experienced its
first death as a result of an overdose of "Black Tar" heroin and said he
believed the deceased had been a City employee,
Richard Sharvy, 2447 Kincaid, spoke in opposition to drug testing. He said
the tests did not reveal drug abuse, which differed from drug use. Mr. Sharvy
said the vast majority of consumers of coffee, alcohol, and marijuana were
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 1
responsible, moderate users, He added that he would not repeat comments about
invasion of privacy, which had been made many times before,
e II. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Resolution Concerning Annual Review of Parks Master Plan
City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item, Ernie Drapela of the Parks and
Recreation Department presented the staff report, He said the Parks and
Recreation Master Plan was a working document and was reviewed annually by the
community, He also said recommendations and changes to the plan being
submitted to the council had been reviewed and unanimously adopted by the
Joint Parks Committee and the Planning Commission. He said staff felt the
document contained an accurate assessment of current community needs,
regardless of funding ability. Mr. Drapela said the document would become
part of the department's work plan and would affect both improvement and
maintenance schedules. He said staff recommended that the plan be accepted
and used as a basis for developing the imprDvement plan for the coming year,
Ms, BascDm said she was pleased to see that the item concerning Hendricks Park
RhodDdendron Garden had been moved up. She asked whether the item was related
to a possible national or international rhododendron show that was planned,
Mr, Drapela said some improvements were planned in preparation for the 1987
International Rhododendron Society conference and some were part of a long-
range plan to expand and improve the existing gardens.
e Mr, Hansen asked whether the plan contained protections for the pond at Sorrel
Park, Mr. Drapela said a jogging path had been added to the natural features,
He said more improvements were wanted, but staff did not want to increase the
maintenance burden. He said imprDvements probably would not be done for three
to five years,
Mayor Obie opened the public hearing.
Monte Marshall, 1865 East 28th Avenue, President of the Fairmount
NeighbDrhood Association, submitted two memos as written testimony,
Mr. Marshall referred to an amendment on page 110, concerning Laurelwood Golf
Course, He proposed adding a clause at the end of the existing statement, to
read that expansion to an eighteen-hole golf course should be allowed,
"provided such an expansion can be shown to be feasible after the preparation
of a master plan for the Laurelwood property has been completed.1I
Mr. Marshall a s ked the counc i 1 to uphold the law of the Eugene Parks and
Recreation Master Plan, a special purpose plan of the Metro Area General Plan
adopted by LCDC to carry out planning goals required by State law. He
referred to policies on page 72 and on page 8 and asked the council to uphold
those policies to assure the integrity and enforcement of land-use laws and
processes,
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 2
Mr, Marshall reviewed the second memo, dated September 6, 1986, He requested
an amendment to add the following item between pages 114 and 133: No, 108--
e acquire 2,19 acres for planned bicycle route no. SlOB, He also requested the
addition of a proposal 13 on page 111, to acquire surplus County land, tax lot
1803092000301 for planned bicycle route SlOB, He apologized for the manner in
which he presented his proposals, noting that the memo outlined his concerns
about the lack of an efficient process for involving citizens, staff, public
agencies, et c, in designing parks and recreational services and facilities as
stated in the policy on page 75, He added that a statement on page 65 pointed
out clearly that no defined public involvement process existed, Mr, Marshall
said he had been trying since April of this year to bring his concerns before a
regular forum, and every effort had been thwarted, He said the Joint Parks
Committee offered no opportunities tD speak, He also noted that Neighborhood
Needs Request forms had not been due until the end of April, after the Joint
Parks Committee already had acted, Mr. Marshall added that the failure to
include Neighborhood Needs Requests in the plan had occurred for three years
in a row. He said the minutes of the Planning Commission meetings showed that
he had tried to bring up the issue there but had been referred to the Joint
Parks Committee because he had been told the issue was not germane to the
process,
Mayor Obie closed the public hearing.
Mr. Drapela said staff felt actions that had occurred with respect to
laurelwood constituted a master planning process, He said the PUD process had
been approved by the City Council on June 25, and the proposed expansion of
laurelwood would gD befDre the PUD hearings official on October 8. Mr.
Drapela said staff felt it was appropriate that any subsequent, alternative
e uses would examine other proposed uses should the golf course expansion not
proceed. He said staff examined each park individually in terms of a master
plan and made a referral to the Neighborhood involved, but because of the time
and cost involved, a master plan could not be prepared for all parks in the
city, He said the process approved by the City CDuncil included an additional
public hearing before final approval was given. He said sta ff fe 1t the
process was consistent with the plan and with statements in the plan,
Mr, Hansen asked whether the Joint Parks Committee had held a public hearing
on the plan. Mr, Drapela said a number of meetings had been held regarding the
expansion of laurelwood Golf Course. He said the committee had referred the
expansion proposal to a consultant, and a public session had been held at
Laurelwood, He said an advertised public hearing had been held before the
Planning Commission.
Ms. Wooten asked whether the Joint Parks Committee provided an opportunity for
citizens to address the committee regarding issues it was considering, She
also asked whether the Joint Parks Committee had held a hearing or meeting in
which members directly spoke to peop 1 e in the neighborhood about the
laurelwood Master Plan program. Mr, Drapela said a citywide hearing had been
held in about May 1985, He said he thought those present had been about evenly
divided as to whether to proceed with expansion,
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Mr, Rutan said he had been involved with the project since its inception, He
expressed appreciation for Mr, Marshall1s time and energy and said he agreed
e with general comments made by Mr, Drapela, He said the course once had been
operated as an eighteen-hole golf course. He said he had chaired a public
hearing, at which substantial testimony had been received. He conc 1 uded by
saying he thought the City was on-track with its processing of the issue,
Mr, Hansen asked about a future plan for golf courses, Mr, Drapela said the
consultants to the Park and Recreation Master Plan had identified golf as a
resource that the community lacked substantially but had not suggested any
specific remedy. He said consultants had identified Golden Gardens as the
preferred site for any new golf facility, Mr, Drapela said a golf study
committee had been formed and had identified five public and private sites,
including Laurelwood, for golf facilities, He said work was continuing to
urge the improvement of all five sites if feasible, He also said chances for
expanding Laurelwood appeared realistic, Mr. Drapela said the proposed
expansion of Laurelwood was the only program currently in existence for golf
course development,
Ms. Bascom noted that citizens could feel frustrated when they were unable to
communicate with boards and commissions and she suggested that the Joint Parks
Committee consider adding a public forum to its regular agenda,
Mr. Miller noted that Golden Gardens were outside the Urban Growth Boundary
and asked whether a process could or should be undertaken to include the site
in the boundary and to provide services for a clubhouse, Mr, Drapela said the
City Council could amend the boundaries or it might seek alternate ways of
providing services, Mr, Miller suggested that research into the options be
e done to mitigate the Urban Growth issue, Mr. Gleason said staff would review
the steps. Gary Chenkin, of the Planning Department, said a process did exist
to amend the UGB in cases where the most appropriate sites for certain uses
were Dutside the boundary. He said the issue would be discussed with LCDC as
the project progressed and as more specifics were known, He added that he did
not think the boundary issue would inhibit the process of developing a golf
course,
Ms. Bascom noted that the Oak Hills Neighbors were very interested in the
bi ke/pedestri an trai 1 mentioned by Mr, Marshall, She asked the Bicycle
Committee or the JDint Parks Committee to examine that issue, and Mr. Gleason
agreed,
Ms, Wooten said she was generally supportive of the Parks Master Plan and was
proud of the overall Parks program, She said she was interested in
establishing economic feasibility for Laurelwood in the form proposed as an
amendment to the plan policy,
Res. No, 4000--A resolution approving and adopting revisions
to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan,
Eugene, Oregon.
- MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 4
Mr, Hansen moved, seconded by Ms, Ehrman, to adopt the
resolution.
e Ms, Wooten moved to amend the plan by adding language
to require a positive economic feasibility study prior to
the expansion of Laurelwood Golf Course, The mot ion
to amend di ed for 1 ack of a second,
Mr, Hansen said he was disappointed that the plan did not contain positive
direction for a golf course in the community, He said he hoped the 1987 review
would include an action plan that provided direction and he hoped the council
leadership would charge Joint Parks and City staff with making a "Gus Keller
Public Golf Course" a reality,
Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 6:0.
8, Application for Designation of West Eugene Enterprise Zone
City Manager Mi ke Gl eason introduced the item, Development Director Abe
Farkas presented the staff report. He said the enterprise zone had been
presented to the Council Committee on Economic Diversification and to other
community agencies, He noted that letters of endorsement had been received
from the Southern Willamette Private Industry Counci 1 , Lane Community
College, the University of Oregon, the Metro Partnership, and the Advanced
Science and Technology Institute.
Mr, Far ka s said the purpose of urban enterprise zones was to revitalize
e deteriorating urban areas, He described the location of the proposed West
Eugene Urban Enterprise Zone in the Four Corners area and said the zone was
intended to provide an incentive for firms to locate in the zone and to better
provide employment opportunities fDr the local population, particularly those
with low and moderate incomes,
Mr, Farkas said the enterprise zone would not reduce City revenue and would
not increase the taxpayer burden to support new companies locating in the
enterpri se zone, He added that the enterprise ZDne was expected to begin
reducing the amount taxpayers would pay in the second year of the zonels
operation,
Lee Beyer of the Deve 1 opment Department described requirements of the
enterprise zone application and benefits to businesses and the community, Mr,
Beyer said Oregon provisions limited communities to establish enterprise
zones no larger than 12 square miles, Zones were required to include entire
Census tracts, which had to meet requirements as economi ca lly di stressed
a rea s, They also had to contain an adequate supply of industrial lands, he
said,
Mr. Beyer said all areas considered for enterprise zone status had been in the
West Eugene area, He noted that six census tracts were proposed as enterprise
zones and were shown on the map in the agenda packet. He said some areas were
outside the City limits, but all were within the Urban Growth Boundary, The
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 5
proposed areas included almost 800 acres of industrial-zoned land, including
the only significant piece of land in the area designated for heavy industrial
e use, he noted,
Mr. Beyer said business benefits included a five-year declining abatement of
property taxes, beginning at 100 percent the first year and decreasing 20
percent annually until full taxes were paid in the sixth year, He said total
tax abatement for the entire period came to about 60 percent, Mr, Beyer said
other proposed benefits included top priority for processing of City
deve 1 opment permi ts, offering assistance with financing and priority for
consideration for the Eugene Development Fund, and providing employee
recruitment and training assistance through the Southern Willamette Private
Industry Council.
Mr. Beyer said the benefits by law would apply only to new construction or new
equipment acquisitions within the zone. He said businesses expanding within
the zone could use the benefits, but firms were prohibited from relocating
from elsewhere in the Ci ty or the state just to take advantage of the
benefits. Mr. Beyer said businesses also had to be non-retail and had to meet
certain hiring requirements, including Dbtaining 60 percent of the workforce
from within the enterprise zone and 40 percent from economically disadvantaged
groups.
Ms. Ehrman asked about direction received from CCED, Mr, Beyer responded that
when CCED initially had considered the enterprise zone, it had directed staff
to prepare an application to be submi tted to the State if the council
requested it, but not to commit the council, He said CCED had reviewed the
item again 1 ast week and had recommended that the counci 1 endorse the
e proposal. Mayor Obie noted that CCED had confirmed that revenues would be
generated to offset the benefits to industry,
Mr, Hansen said he understood that a delay of two and one-half to three weeks
currently occurred in issuing building permits, He asked whether a commercial
development within the City but not within the enterprise zone would be placed
behind a business within the enterprise zone. Mr, Beyer said businesses
within the zone would be placed at the top of the queue, which he added was not
a requirement of the enterprise zones.
Ms. Wooten asked about the prohibition of relocations to take advantage of the
benefits within the zone, Mr. Beyer said relocations from elsewhere in the
State were not eligible for enterprise zone benefits, but expansions were
eligible. He added that determinations of eligibility would be made by the
State Revenue Department,
Responding to Ms. Wooten's question, Mr, Beyer said job creation figures in
the agenda packet had been taken from Metro Plan assumptions, which specified
from 12 to 22 jobs per acre of industrial land. He said scenarios had assumed
15 jobs per acre, Ms. Wooten also asked about the assumption that 25 percent
of employees would purchase homes for $60,000 each, Mr. Beyer said that
assumption had been presented to public and private planners in the area, and
he conceded that it probably was the least reliable assumption,
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 6
Mr. Miller asked whether property taxes would have an impact on schools in the
area or on the tax base, Mr. Beyer said the impact would be to expand the
e assessed value for everyone, and assuming budgets did not go up, it would
lDwer taxes for everyone,
Ms. Ehrman asked how long the enterprise zone would be established, Mr. Beyer
said the zone would be established for a period of ten years, but the City
could request cancellation after two years,
Responding to Ms, Ehrman's question, Mr, Beyer said the State Revenue
Department, working with the County assessor, would be responsible for
monitoring the zone, He added the City would commit to work with the State on
a two-year evaluation.
MaYDr Obie opened the public hearing,
Vicki Dietmeyer, 2026 Lake Is 1 e Dri ve , spoke as an economic development
professional, She said she had examined development incentives being offered
by other states throughout the country and was concerned that many communities
had given away too much, while others had not offered enough incentives. She
said she thought OregDn was beginning to enter the economic development
business by examining incentives, Ms. Dietmeyer said she had written a letter
in favor of the enterprise zone designation because of the Fantus report1s
identification of property taxes as a major liability and because the zone was
needed for Eugene to compete with other areas of the state and the nation, Ms,
Dietmeyer said the Metro Partnership needed tools to recruit businesses. She
said the enterprise zone would send a message to businesses that they were
wanted. She added that she believed the zone was a moderate incentive that
e would not hurt the community and might help recruit new businesses. She also
noted that representatives of two good-sized companies had said they would not
locate in Eugene without an enterprise zone,
Mayor Obie closed the public hearing,
Mr, Hansen said although he intially had opposed the enterprise zone because
it appea red to favor one area of the community over others, he now was
generally supportive of the proposal. He added, however, that he still was
troubled by section 2a of the resolution, giving priority review of plans, and
by section 2b, giving priority consideration for loans and financing
assistance. He said he thought all areas of the community should receive
equal treatment and added that he planned to move that those items be deleted
from the resolution,
Mr, Farkas said a list Df incentives had been received from the State, and
those that were moderate and least offensive to the commun i ty had been
selected, He said staff believed the incentives were following a course of
policy direction when applied to the West end of the community and were
necessary to win the competitive application process, which would award ten
enterprise zones among more than ten applications.
Ms, Wooten asked what the State was contributing to the enterprise zone, Mr,
Gleason said the State would provide expertise and monitoring,
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 7
Ms, Wooten said she was very troubled about the proposal because she thought
the industrial recruitment programs taking place in the United States were
e paramount to sweepstakes and lottery programs, with communities giving away
much in return for a chance of winning, She said she would support the
proposal for one time, adding that she continued to favor ways of expanding
businesses locally and perhaps moving them into the zone if it would assist in
creating jobs that she believed would not come from outside the area for a
lDng time, She said she favored the proposal in the sense that it would
provide support for people in the community and the county, She also said she
was uncomfortable that lots of businesses had struggled with property taxes
for a long time and might resent the fact that "outsidersll were getting a
break they did not receive, She said she wDu1d like the council to pay
attention to the area's own entrepreneurs,
Mr, Miller asked whether the priority benefits would supersede existing
process, Mr. Farkas said processes would continue, but as plans and
applications were received, those in the enterprise zone would be handled
first, Mr, Gleason said the average turnaround time was 10 to 12 working days
and he did nDt think priority benefits would make a significant difference in
scheduling the department's workload,
Mr, Hansen suggested that the word IIpriority" be replaced with lIexpedite,lI
Mr, Gleason and councilors agreed to the change,
Ms, Ehrman said she supported the proposal but was dubious about the number of
takers the offer would draw, She added that she strongly favored a review in
two years,
e Res. No. 4001--A resolution authorizing the City Manager
to make application to the State of Oregon
for designation of a West Eugene
Enterprise Zone,
Mr, Hansen moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, to adopt the
resolution with the language change to sections 2a and 2b
and with a review to be conducted after two years. Roll
call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 6:0.
Mayor Obie recessed the meeting of the Eugene City Council and convened a
meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency.
I II. BROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Renewal Agency Chair Ann Bennett introduced the item. She said the Broadway
Improvement Project was being revisited because the first figures used had
been preliminary cost estimates and were not adequate to finish the project.
She said the Downtown Commission had attempted to keep the project budget
within the original numbers, and when that could not be done, it had attempted
to ensure that the numbers presented tonight were complete and accurate.
e MINUTES--Eugene City CDuncil September 8, 1986 Page 8
Ms, Bennett said the commission had voted to recommend beginning the project
after the holiday season and completing the entire project, including removal
e of the rest rODms. She said the commission felt that the project was integral
to the success of the Centralized Retail Management project, She also noted
that the project would enhance downtown security by clearing site lines and
imprDving lighting,
Ms. Bennett said a second reduced option also was included in the proposal,
That option would retain the existing rest rooms and wDuld not include street
furnishings. She added, however, that the commission felt it was prudent to
complete the entire project at once. Ms. Bennett said no replacement wDuld
exist for the rest rooms if they were removed, but she added that the
cDmmission felt the current rest room location was not a good one, She said
another rest room would be addressed in the design of the public plaza and
with discussions of the Lane Transit Station downtown, Ms, Bennett said
adequate interim rest rDom facilities could be provided by two rest rooms in
the Overpark, by one in the Parcade, and by rest rooms in businesses, She said
rest rooms in the Overpark and the Parcade were handicapped accessible,
Ms. Bennett addressed the concern that improvements to the public right-of-way
would not ensure increased retail activity, She said the Centralized Retail
Management program was making substantial progress in so]iciting commitments
from private owners, She reviewed progress in reaching the goals of unified
hours of operation, tenant mix, and private participation through bUilding
improvements and the awning program, Ms. Bennett submitted notes on the
project and asked the council to approve the entire project as presented.
Jan Bohman of the Development Department presented the staff report. She said
e funding for the Broadway project would come from the unappropriated fund
balance in the tax allocation fund, which now was about $2,2 million, She
said the fund was dedicated for capital improvements within the Renewal area
boundary only, and projects were required to be consistent with the Downtown
Plan and the Renewal Plan. She reviewed the recommendations for the complete
project and for a second, reduced option,
Ms, Ehrman asked about the differences between the new proposal and the
project already approved by the council. Ms, Bohman said elements of the
project were the same, but additional costs were required for revamping of the
underground electrical system and for demolition of foundations under mall
structures, She said the current electrical system was not adequate to handle
proposed lighting and also would have to be moved, Mr. Gleason said costs
could be paid twice if remodelling had to be redone later,
Responding to Mr, Miller1s question, Ms. Bohman said the project would not
deplete the entire balance in the fund. Mr, Miller asked about handicapped
accessible rest rooms in The Bon, Staff said they understood that accessible
rest rooms were proposed along with the package that included awnings. Ms,
Bohman said she did not know whether The Bon planned expanded hours. Mr.
Miller noted that the Eugene Celebration and other events required convenient,
publicly accessible rest rODms, Mr, Gleason said two rest rooms had been
renovated and made handicapped accessible, and he noted that facilities in the
existing mall structure were small and probably had an insignificant impact
during Celebrations and similar events.
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 9
Mr, Miller asked about signs for rest rooms. Ms, Bohman said staff intended
to place signing indicating the location of public rest rooms and to cDntinue
e working with merchants to make rest rooms available to customers and if
possible, to other users, She said the Downtown Commission had thoroughly
discussed rest rooms and had determined that no location existed at present
that wDuld fit with the design concept and would be cost efficient, She added
that the Commission also had considered the use of vacant retail space as rest
rooms but had not favored that idea,
Mr, Miller asked about costs for furnishings, Ms, Bohman said about $9,000 of
the cost for the play structure was for purchase of the structure, and the
remainder was for demolition of the existing play structure,
Ms. Wooten asked what percentage of the awnings was being paid for by the
Downtown Commission program, Russ Brink of the Development Department said
the program would participate up to one-half Df $120 per linear foot,
Responding to Ms, Wooten's question, Ms. Bohman said electrical work without
remodelling of the rest rooms would total about $80,000,
Responding to Ms, Ehrman's question, Ms, Bohman said if the project was
approved, design and construction documents would be refjned, and then bids
would be sought and awarded by late November, with construction tD begin in
about February, Ms. Bohman said item 16, traffic control and pedestrian
protection, was for temporary lighting systems duri ng cDnstruction and
additional costs to the contractor, She also said no public hearing had been
held on the cost differences but added that the project had been addressed at
public meetings in which comments were received.
e Mayor Obie noted that substantial differences had occurred between estimates
and actual costs for the reopening of Willamette Street between 10th and 11th,
and he asked whether that was expected to occur again, Mr, Gleason said the
underground utilities and foundations had presented unexpected CDsts,
Ms. Wooten asked whether the expansion of Urban Renewal boundaries were
designed to increase funds to complete plans for the Downtown Commission. Mr,
Farkas said a presentation on the Urban Renewal Update would be given
Wednesday, He added that the Urban Renewal Update was not contingent on the
Broadway project, which was based on an existing budget.
Ms, Wooten asked whether the project was considered a design or thematic
precedent for the balance of renovation of the mall. Mr. Farkas said the
theme and the various activity zones were intended to be replicated along
Broadway and in other retail areas in the downtown vicinity. Ms. WODten asked
about tota 1 costs, timeframe, and whether it wa s wi se to cDnduct the
renovation on a piecemeal basis, Mr. Farkas said he did not know what total
costs would be, He said a numbeF of options existed for financing, including
use Df a local improvement district.
Ms, Ehrman asked whether the electrical work would be sufficient for the
lighting system or would include extra capacity, Ms. Bohman said the proposal
included additional outlets for vendors and would have additional capacity,
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 10
Mr, Mi 11 er said he leaned towa rd the project because of momentum and
cooperation among the downtown community and he hoped the Centralized Retail
e Management scenariD would unfold, He said he hoped if the project was
approved, concerns about rest rooms be taken seriously,
Ms, Bascom said she was pleased to hear practical reasons for removing the
rest rooms at this stage, She said she had long felt that the rest room
location had been a design mistake. She said she thought rest room needs were
addressed by the map and by improvements made to Overpark facilities,
Mr. Rutan said he had heard no arguments for postponing the project. He noted
that the downtown plan had included much work and input, so the project was
not a piecemeal approach, He said expert advice and community input had been
obtained and he thought it was prudent to proceed with the project, He noted
that existing rest rDoms were not handicapped accessible and said leaving the
structure would destroy any design concept to the project, He also noted
practical cost considerations for removing the rest rooms. He said he was
comfortable leaving the issue of rest rODms to be addressed by the Downtown
Commission, and he urged the council to proceed with the project,
Ms. Ehrman said she was troubled with the addition of $300,000 to the project
without any further public input, She said the amount was a considerable
increase and the rest room issue had not been resolved. Ms, Ehrman said she
had received comments from the public, and she noted that rest rooms had been
one of the major issues raised by the public before the Downtown Commission,
Ms. Ehrman said she felt demolition of the rest rooms now would be hasty, and
she noted that access to merchants' rest rooms was not always available, She
said she a 1 so was concerned about using a piecemeal approach to mall
e renovation. She said she thought the entire mall area should be examined
before expenditures were made in one part. Ms. Ehrman added that she would
like more infDrmation on the electrical item from the contractDr because
justification for the difference did not appear in the figures,
Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Ms. Wooten, to table the
item until a public hearing could be scheduled, Roll
call vote; the motion failed 4:2, with Ms, Ehrman and
Ms. Wooten voting in favor,
Mr. Hansen moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, that the City
Council, acting as the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency, approve
the Broadway Improvement Project as recommended by the
Downtown Commission with a project budget of $658,396,
Mr, Hansen said he would abstain because of a potential conflict of interest
with his business. He said he believed the cost for the project wDuld not help
the retail community, He also said he had not supported the delay because he
did not think it would accomplish anything,
Roll call vote, the motion carried 3:2, with Ms.
Ehrman and Ms. Wooten opposed and with Mr, Hansen
abstaining.
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 11
Mayor Obi e adj ourned the meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewa 1 Agency and
reconvened a meeting of the Eugene City Council,
e
IV, PACIFIC NORTHWEST BELL FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item. Finance Director Warren Wong
presented the staff report, Mr, Wong said negotiations with Pacific Northwest
Bell had continued since the meeting of August 11. He reviewed issues of
disagreement and their resolutions, outlined in a memo dated September 8,
1986, He said the rate of 5 percent retroactive to termi nat i on of the
previous agreement would amount to apprDximately $375,000 to $425,000. Mr,
Gleason said he was pleased an agreement had been reached with PNB. A
representative of PNB was present in the audience and stated that PNB felt
issues had been resolved to the interests of both parties, He added that a
revised copy of the franchise was on its way to be reviewed. Mayor Obie
thanked PNB for remaining with the effort and commended its citizenship in the
cDmmunity,
Mr, Gleason said the announcement of the agreement on the franchise document
would come forward.
V, FINDINGS AND MINUTES OF HEARINGS OFFICIAL CONCERNING
ALLEY PAVING FROM 13TH TO 14TH AVENUES BETWEEN HIGH
AND PEARL STREETS (JOB #2248)
City Manager Mike Gleason introduced the item.
e Mr, Hansen moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, to adopt the
findings and minutes of the Hearings Official of August 18
concerning paving from 13th Avenue to 14th Avenue between
High Street and Pearl Street and to authorize award of
the contract. Roll call vote; the motion carried
unanimously, 6:0.
VI. APPOINTMENTS: NOTIFICATION OF BICYCLE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
MaYDr Obie announced that Jim Hanks had been appointed to fill an opening on
the Eugene Bicycle Committee.
VII, ROUTINE ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL
A. City Council Minutes of Work Session of May 28, 1986,
and August 6, 1986
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 12
B. Legislative Subcommittee Minutes of September 2, 1986
e Mr. Hansen moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, to approve the
City Council minutes of May 28, 1986 and August 6, 1986, and
the Legislative Subcommittee minutes of September 2,
1986, Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 6:0,
At 9:27 p.m" Mayor Obie adjDurned the meeting to September 10, 1986,
R~l~
~ '-'
Micheal Gleason
City Manager
(Recorded by Leslie Scales)
mncc0908
e
- MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 1986 Page 13