Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/13/1987 Meeting MINUTES e Eugene City Council Eugene Conference Center--O'Neill Room July 13, 1987 6:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Debra Ehrman, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan, Jeff Miller, Rob Bennett. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Freeman Holmer. The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by City Council President Debra Ehrman in the absence of His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: REMONSTRANCE TO COUNCIL-INITIATED IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON WILLAKENZIE ROAD FROM COBURG ROAD TO WILLAKENZIE SCHOOL Ms. Ehrman said the councilors visited the Willakenzie Road area that is the subject of the remonstrance. e No conflicts of interest or ex parte contacts were declared. City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced Les Lyl e of the Public Works Department who gave the staff report. He said the remonstrance from more than 50 percent of the affected property owners was received prior to the Hearings Official's hearing on July 6 and requires consideration of the proposed improvements by the council. He said an affirmative vote from six councilors is required to override the remonstrance. The council may also delay approval for 15 days, modify the project and call for new bids, or abandon the project. Mr. Lyle said the project involves construction of a 46-foot wide street, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, storm sewers, and street lights on Willakenzie Road from Coburg Road to the eastern boundary of Willakenzie School. He said the improvements are supported by the neighborhood group, parents, and the Bicycle Committee because the improvements will make the street safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. He said the street also needs to be improved to urban standards so the City can effectively maintain it. Mr. Lyle said the low bid received for the project is excellent and will result in assessments that are $5 to $10 less than average assessments for similar projects. Three issues were raised at the July 6 hearing: 1) notification procedures; 2) the scope of the project; and 3) recent work on utilities. Mr. Lyle said e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 1 the City staff uses Lane County records to notify property owners of proposed improvements. The records are updated during the process when new information e is received from other sources. He said the City Attorney indicated the notification for the Willakenzie improvements complied with the City Code. He said the project originally extended east to Bogart Lane. At the Hearings Official's hearing in October, residents said most of the properties east of Willakenzie School are vacant and the pedestrian, bicycle, and car traffic did not warrant the street improvement. Therefore, the project was shortened to extend only to the eastern boundary of the school. The goal of the project is still retained with this reduction. Mr. Lyle said the staff still thinks the project should extend to Bogart Lane. Mr. Lyle said some utility companies have been working on their facilities along Willakenzie prior to the project award to meet their time schedules. The project has been reviewed with the utilities. He recommended the council approve the project. Answering questions from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Lyle said the assessments will be about $5 less than average for a 20-foot equivalent street and about $10 less than average for a 36-foot equivalent street. For a SOO-foot frontage, the assessment will be about $500 less than average. Replying to questions from Mr. Miller, Mr. Lyle said the assessments can be deferred until properties are sold if owners meet age and income criteria. Ms. Ehrman opened the public hearing. J.e. Lenfest, #2, Coburg Road, said he represented the Willakenzie Grange. He e said Grange members do not think traffic on the street warrants the improvements which will cost the Grange about $10,000. He said most homes along the street are modest and the project will be disastrous for the home owners. He said most of the traffic on the street involves school children. He discussed the change in the length of the improvements. He recommended the entire project be abandoned. Ruth Bremiller, 590 West 29th, said she represented the Eugene Bicycle Committee. She said the Eugene Bikeways Master Plan states that bicycle lanes should be provided when arterials are improved to provide safe access to school, parks, and commercial areas. Willakenzie Road is an arterial. She said she recently rode a bicycle on Willakenzie. The street is narrow with no shoulders on the south side. She was nervous. She urged the council to consider the safety of children riding bikes on Willakenzie Road. Charles Stolsig, 28566 Roya 1 Avenue, sa i d he represented the 4J School District. He said the school district supports the improvements because they will make the road safer. James Holst, 1582 Hackamore Way, said he is the 4J School District Safety Offi cer. He said most children walk on the north side of Willakenzie Road where there are no sidewalks. He said traffic moves fast around a curve and it is difficult for children and drivers to see one another. He said 97 children will probably walk to Willakenzie School next year and the traffic and number e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 2 -- of chi ldren wi 11 increase as the neighborhood is developed. He said pedestrians and cars should be separated but children have to walk very close e to fast cars on Willakenzie now. He recommended approva 1 of the road improvements and construction of sidewalks. He said they will reduce the likelihood of injuries. Gene Hoover, 3011 Will akenzi e Road, said he and his wife oppose the improvement project. Harold Olson, 25550 Lawrence Road, Junction City, said he owns a vacant lot on Wi11akenzie that is for sale. He said he will sell the lot for the cost of the assessment for the street improvements. Martha Sauntry, 235 Palomino, said she is president of the Harlow Neighborhood Association. She said the association has been recommending the improvement of Willakenzie Road for five years because people who use the road want it improved. She said children need the sidewalks. She said Willakenzie will be continued to 1-5 and the assessments for improvements probably will be less now than when Wi11akenzie is extended. Tom Drew, 320 Walnut Lane, said he owns the lot at 301 Willakenzie Road. He distributed copies of a map on which the properties of people who signed the remonstrance were indicated. He said representatives of a church on Tax Lots 4200 and 4100 did not sign this remonstrance but they signed a previous one. He said he was not notified about the proposed improvements unt~l March 1987 when a tenant notified him. He then learned this is the third remonstrance against the project. e Mr. Drew said the improvement is no bargain to people who do not want it and cannot afford it. He wondered why the project was proposed and why it is pushed. He said working-class people live in the neighborhood and they may be intimidated by City Council meetings. He said there is a bike path on the north side of the street although utility company workers have dug it up now. He said there are 19 privately owned lots adjacent to the project and 17 owners signed the remonstrance. Mr. Drew said widening Willakenzie will not make it safer but will increase the speed of traffic. He said better enforcement of traffic laws would make the street safer. He said speed bumps would slow traffic and cost less than the proposed improvements. He said property owners along Wi11akenzie have been told the improvement is a "done dealll but, in his opinion, the project should be abandoned or reconsidered. Ms. Ehrman closed the public hearing. Responding to the testimony, Mr. Lyle said the residential property owners will be assessed only for a 20-foot wide street to mitigate their costs. He said church representatives did not sign this remonstrance because they favor the project. He said traffic speed will not increase very much when the road is improved. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 3 ~-.-... Answering questions from Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Lyle reviewed the notification procedures which included public notices, letters, and personal contacts. He e said the speed limit on Willakenzie will not be raised after the improvement. Replying to questions from Ms. Wooten, Mr. Lyle said the Willakenzie Grange is not tax exempt. It will be assessed for a 36-foot wide street. He said the staff has sought ways to defer the assessment but none has been found. He said the City Finance Division will work out a payment plan. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Wooten, to adopt the minutes and approve the local improvement project for Willakenzie Road from Coburg Road to Willakenzie School east boundary. Ms. Bascom said the safety of school children and other citizens is important but the people who have to pay for the improvement of streets are disadvantaged. She said the councilors saw pedestrians and bicyclists on Willakenzie Road and realized it is dangerous. She said someone has to pay for streets but she sympathizes with people when it is their turn. Mr. Bennett said the project is in his ward and he does not like to have his constituents charged unless it is necessary. He said he has driven Willakenzie Road many times and has decided it needs to be improved. It is a narrow, curving road with intermittent shoulders and no bike path. It is dangerous. He said there is much developable land east of the improvement project and the enrollment at Willakenzie School may increase. He said the road probably will become more dangerous if it is not improved. Mr. Bennett said he wondered about mitigating the costs to property owners of e improving Willakenzie Road and he learned the abutting residential properties will be assessed for a 20-foot wide street only. He said sidewalks and bike lanes are needed for safety. He said approval of the staff r.ecommendation seems to be the only solution to the problem. Mr. Bennett said he hopes his constituents know he tries to fairly represent issues. He said he hopes they know he does not vote for assessing property owners unless it is absolutely necessary. In this case, proper research has not produced any other solution and there are good reasons for improving the road. Ms. Wooten said she is concerned about the Willakenzie Grange's assessment. She asked Mr. Lyle to meet with the management and directors of the Grange to see if something can be worked out. The motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Ms. Ehrman recessed the meeting about 7:05 p.m. and reconvened it at 7:10 p.m. She changed the order of the agenda. Mr. Bennett left the dais. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 4 ---- II. ADOPTION OF MINUTES AND FINDINGS/APPROVAL OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (4TH AVENUE FROM HIGH STREET TO COBURG ROAD) e Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Wooten, to adopt the minutes and findings of the Hearings Official dated July 6, 1987, and approve the local improvement project--4th Avenue from High Street to Ferry Street. The motion carried unanimously, 6:0. III. ADOPTION OF MINUTES AND FINDINGS/APPROVAL OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (5TH AVENUE FROM WILLAMETTE TO PEARL STREET) Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Wooten, to adopt the minutes and findings of the Hearings Official dated July 6, 1987, reflecting revised assessment costs and approval of the local improvement project--5th Avenue from Wi 1 lamette to Pearl Street. The motion carried unanimously, 6:0. IV. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: DINNER/WORK SESSION AND MEETING OF MAY II, 1987; LUNCH/WORK SESSION OF MAY 27, 1987; AND DINNER WORK SESSION OF JUNE 2, 1987 Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Wooten, to approve the City Council minutes of May 11, May 27, and June 2, 1987. The mot ion carried unanimously, 6:0. V. PUBLIC HEARING: UPDATE OF THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN FOR THE CENTRAL e EUGENE PROJECT (DISTRICT EXPANSION; DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND FINANCE; MALL IMPROVEMENT, PLAZA AND WILLAMETTE STREET FROM 8TH TO 10TH Ms. Ehrman said she will preside during the public hearing. She said Mayor Obie decided he has a conflict of interest and Councilor Bennett left the dais because he has a conflict of interest. Ms. Ehrman said the purpose of this public hearing is to give the council an opportunity to receive testimony about the Urban Renewal Plan Update. She emphasized that the councilors have not made a decision about the plan. They will not take action tonight. She asked people to limit testimony to two minutes. She said people representing a group may speak for five minutes. She asked people to listen to testimony and not repeat what has been said previously. Ms. Ehrman said the City Code prohibits signs and demonstrations at City Council meetings. She asked people not to indicate their feelings about the testimony. Anne Bennett, chairperson of the Downtown Commission, said the Urban Renewal Plan was adopted in 1968. The Downtown Commission has worked with the Planning Commission for 18 months on an update of the plan. (She said the Urban Renewal Plan is the City.s development strategy to accomplish the goals in the Downtown Plan. The strategy addresses important downtown economic issues such e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 5 as stagnant or declining property values, retail sales growth that is behind the rest of the community, a declining market share, a lack of Class A office e space, low rents, and underutilization as parking lots of prime development sites owned by the City.) Ms. Bennett said the projects proposed in the Urban Renewal Plan Update are not enough to establish a strong economy and intense development i n the downtown. A comprehensive marketing program, centralized retail management, and improved merchandising are also needed. Gerry Gaydos, President of the Eugene Planning Commission, said the commission spent much time studying downtown issues. He said the recommendation of the Planning Commission and the Downtown Commission relies on tax increment financing. The commissions recommended an expansion of the Urban Renewal District, vehicular access with a strong pedestrian orientation to Wi 1 lamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues, continued pedestrian use of East Broadway between Willamette and Oak, upgrading of the public plaza at Broadway and Willamette, location of public rest rooms in the public plaza, and a design advisory committee to advise the City Council about the design of Willamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues. He said the commissions recommended that Willamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues should have wide sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, benches accessible to the disabled, and other amenities, and the design of the public plaza should be flexible so it can be used for programs and socializing. Mayor Obie took a place on the dais. He said he just arrived from Portland. He said he has served as a Planning Commissioner, City Councilor, and Mayor for about 16 years. During that time, he has made decisions about actual e conflicts of interest and about appearances of conflicts of interest. He said he does not know whether he has an actual conflict of interest concerning the Urban Renewal Plan Update. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Centennial Bank but he does not know if the bank would profit from locating on Willamette Street. He said he will encourage the bank directors to decide to locate in downtown Eugene because both the bank and the downtown would be strengthened by the move in his opinion. Mayor Obie said he decided to abstain from voting on the Urban Renewal Plan Update because of the appearance of a conflict of interest and the potential for tarnishing the final decision. He said he has much confidence in the City Council. He said the councilors try to make decisions in the best interests of the community. Although he feels a Mayor should be involved in critical community issues, he will step aside. He encouraged the community to support the council's decision. Don Miles showed slides and discussed the report he authored in April 1986, titled "Eugene Downtown Public Spaces.1I He said cities should remain the center of regions. Discussing Eugene, Mr. Miles said Willamette Street was the main street of the city for many years. In the 1960s, a park-like environment was created in the downtown streets. That environment may not be the best way to encourage street life, retailing, and shopping. He said the architecture in downtown is e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 6 qui te handsome. He di scussed the improvements to West Broadway and the opening of Willamette Street to vehicular traffic between 10th and 11th e avenues. He said $1 million has been invested between 10th and 11th avenues since the opening. Mr. Miles said Willamette Street between 8th and 10th avenues should be shared by vehicles and pedestrians. It should be a limited access street that cars enter and leave by ramps. He said the public plaza at the intersection of Broadway and Willamette should be visually connected to the Hult Center and the Eugene Conference Center. Ms. Ehrman opened the public hearing. Catherine Lauris, 1240 East 18th Avenue, read her testimony and submitted it in writing. She said she was a member of the Common Council from 1956 to 1968 when Eugene changed from a small town to a metropolitan area. She said she opposes changes to the downtown mall because there is no professionally demonstrated need for them. She said the City has restricted budgets and curtailed services recently. If money is available, it should be spent on the Library, the police force, and the fire department. Jim Hale, 4064 Meredith, said he opposes the changes. He said the decline in the downtown was not caused by the lack of traffic and the downtown will not be rejuvenated by the introduction of traffic. He said many things caused the decline. Some of them were the approval of outlying commercial districts, the overall decline in the economy, and the failure of the council to provide securi ty on the ma 11 . He said many things besides allowing vehicles on Wi 11 amette between 10th and 11th have caused the recent improvement in e business in that block. Mr. Hale said the central fountain ;s appropriately called a "tank trap." It should be relocated and should be smaller, more efficient, and more attractive. He said the mall should be smaller but it should remain as it is north and south of the central fountain. Charles Aylworth, 3415 Bell, asked the council not to change the mall. He said he was enchanted by the fountain when he first saw it. He said the central plaza and fountain pass a critical test of a public place because they are used by people who stop, sit, listen to music, and enjoy it. He said the fountain has provided a magnificent place for some dramatic presentations. He said Eugene is not so affluent that it can spend $1.5 million disrupting the ma 11. Mr. Aylworth said he does not think the changes to West Broadway are an improvement. He sa i d money spent to improve security, access, and the public's perception of the mall would be more beneficial than money spent to disrupt the mall. He said the public should vote before more money is spent to tear up the mall. Ellen Wright, #1, 26 East 24th Avenue, said she and her neighbors would like to have the "Gut" moved downtown. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 7 - - -- Larry Douglas, 3321 Shelton, said he is Executive Vice President of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. He said projects such as opening Willamette between e 10th and 11th to vehi cl es and the reconstruction of West Broadway have stimulated investors to remodel several buildings. He said more improvements are needed and the Chamber of Commerce supports improvements in the Urban Renewal Plan Update such as permitting vehicles on Willamette between 8th and 10th. He said improved access and sa fety and other improvements wi 11 stimulate more investment in the downtown. Mr. Douglas said the City owns too much property in the downtown and it creates a tax burden on all citizens. The burden wi 11 be relieved by attracting private investment. He said good people hold differing views about the downtown and the perception of one of the issues has changed. The issue is no longer the economic recovery of the central business district. The issue has become a war over Willamette Street and the conflict is disturbing. He recommended the council undertake conflict resolution and consensus building to find a compromise. Nancy Willard, 443 Brookside Drive, said she is active in economic development efforts. She said changes should not be made unless there is an identifiable need, the solution will solve the problem, all factors have been considered, and the factors have been prioritized. She said there are 47 new businesses downtown and the retail and office vacancy rate is down. Therefore, there does not seem to be a problem or a need for a change. Ms. Willard said the central plaza is the cultural center of the community. It is identified as a park in the regional park system but the Joint Parks Committee has not been consul ted about the proposed changes. She said e problems with the Eugene Library and with methamphetamines should be addressed before money is spent on the downtown mall. After those problems are solved, changes to the plaza could be considered because some changes to Willamette Street seem to be justified. For example, the block between Broadway and 10th Avenue could be reconstructed to conform to West Broadway and a business directory could be put up. Discussing the process for considering changes, Ms. Willard said some people think decisions about the community are made by a few people in power. She said she is di sturbed by re 1 i ance on out-of-town experts. They always recommend major changes. She said there also is a disturbing trend toward bureaucratic paternalism in the Eugene Development Department. She said the bureaucrats want to control local businesses. They should facilitate local businesses. Laraway Giustina, 2090 Wood Acres, said he represents both the Laraways and. the Giustinas. He said the Laraways have been retailers and property owners in downtown Eugene for 80 years. The Giustinas also own downtown properties. He said both families feel the downtown mall has not been beneficial to the downtown economy. He said they support the recommendations of the Downtown and Planning commissions. Mr. Giustina said opening Willamette between 10th and 11th and the reconstruction of West Broadway are positive steps toward downtown e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 8 revitalization. The next step should be permitting vehicles on Willamette between 8th and 10th. e Betty Sobol, 3572 Black Oak, said she enjoyed the slides Mr. Miles showed of Wi 1 lamette Street in the past. She read from an article in The Register-Guard of July 9, 1987, that quoted Mr. Miles as saying that streets are important to cities. She asked if the quote was correct. Ms. Sobol discussed Paris, France, and said its boulevards are like parks but its streets are not. She discussed the Quincy Market in Boston where automobile traffic is banned. She said the central plaza in Eugene should not be destroyed. Charles Porter, 96 East Broadway, sai d most Eugeneans oppose permitting vehicles on Willamette between 8th and 10th. If most of the councilors think differently, the issue should be put to the voters to prevent a referendum. He said private investment could be stimulated more by other improvements indicated on page 7 of the Urban Renewal Plan Update. Mr. Porter said the small fountains and rocks on West Broadway should be saved and put back; the central fountain should be replaced with a graceful fountain that is underground so it can be covered for some events; the renewal district should be expanded to include Skinner Butte so a landscaped tra il , a restaurant, and a museum can be constructed on Skinner Butte; the renewal district should be expanded south and east to include the proPQsed Emerald Canal; and a historic marker describing the origin of Eugene should be placed on the ma 11 . e Arlene Haislip, 381 Heritage Oaks, said she is president of The Green Pepper, Inc. She said all affected groups should be consulted before changes are made in the downtown. She said some Downtown Commissioners seem to feel that only a small group of property owners should make decisions about the downtown. Ms. Haislip said the Eugene Downtown Association(EDA) is composed of merchants, professionals, and building owners who pay a tax that is used for downtown marketing, free parking, and the salaries of some Development Department staff. She said EDA representatives were told recently that Rob Bennett was trying to get a group of property owners together who would assume responsibility for marketing the downtown. EDA representatives were told the EDA would not be responsible for downtown marketing or the expenditure of the business tax when Mr. Bennett's group is formed. She said one interest group should not make major decisions about the downtown. Ms. Haislip said the diversity of people in Eugene makes change difficult but it also makes Eugene a unique and wonderful place to live. She read her testimony and then submitted it in wri t i ng . She also submitted several petitions. She said they contained the names of 313 people who oppose and 70 people who favor opening Willamette to vehicles from 8th to 10th. Ed Dickson, 3921 Shasta View, wondered why consideration is being given to changing something that is attractive, working, and supported by most of the citizens. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 9 Pamela Miller, 1959 Harris, said she likes the pedestrian atmosphere in the downtown. She does not have to worry about automobiles injuring her children. e She said the plaza is the center of Eugene and should not be moved. It is a natural place for people. She said people will have to compete with cars and there will be noise and pollution if cars are permitted on Willamette between 8th and 10th. Ms. Miller said downtown tenants appropriate for a pedestrian mall should be recruited, tenants who need vehicular access should be located elsewhere, merchandising should be coordinated, and many of Don Mi1es' recommendations, such as reconstructing much of the mall to match West Broadway, should be implemented. She said opening Wi11amette to vehicles between 8th and 10th will damage the amenities. Del Stephens, 575 Coburg Road, said he has worked in the downtown for several years. He said the downtown has a visibility problem. People are used to streets that cross and help them find places. Some people drive by businesses in the downtown and do not recognize them. Some people do not know what businesses are in the mall and they drive around trying to find parking spaces. Mr. Stephens said retailing in the downtown has not been successful but business is picking up. He said the improvement is due to the reconstruction of Broadway and vehicles being permitted on Willamette between 10th and 11th. He sa i d the ma 11 is too large and it is difficult to recruit businesses. Businesses could work off each other if the mall were smaller. He said Willamette Street should be opened to vehicles, the awning program should be expanded, and other changes are needed. e Heidi Sachet, 2040 Monroe, said she was speaking for herself and Ginny Petico1as, 2829 Olive Way. She said they do not have business interests in the downtown. They are concerned citizens. She said Willamette Street is the main street of the city and the intersection of Willamette and Broadway is not a plaza because a plaza or town square is surrounded by streets. She said fountains should not be in the middle of intersections or there should not be a hole in a main street. Ms. Sachet said a main street should be very visible, everyone should have access to it, and people should be able to be dropped off and picked up along it. She said people coming into Eugene should be able to enter and go though the downtown to view the city. Now, people have to circle the downtown. She said traffic at all hours in the downtown wi 11 amel iorate the security problem. She said Willamette Street should be opened to traffic. Steve Hamaker, 1027 Willamette, said he is a partner in Skeie's Jewelers. He said opening Willamette to vehicles between 10th and 11th was successful. He said the downtown was the heart of the city for many years and a mistake was made in the 1960s when people tried to make the downtown into a retail mall. Activities shifted to the edge of the city center and the downtown lost its vitality and mix of people. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 10 Mr. Hamaker said Don Miles' report is excellent and the recommendations should be implemented. e Ruth Mill er, 2460 Malabar Drive, said she is a member of the Friends of Downtown. She said the downtown mall is an asset to the City and should be preserved. She said Friends of Downtown support five of the six recommendations of the Planning and Downtown commissions. They are: East Broadway should not be opened to vehicular traffic; the Broadway and Willamette intersection should remain a public plaza and include public rest rooms; a design advisory committee should focus on the Eugene Downtown Public Spaces report and develop a design for Willamette between 8th and 10th and the central plaza; and the redesign should be expeditious with adequate public participation. Ms. Miller said Friends of Downtown do not support opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles. They do support a retail management program for Willamette Street and creative signs for the mall. Sue Girardeau, 2398 Douglas Drive, said she represented the League of Women Voters of Lane County. She said there is no proof that a physical rearrangement of the downtown mall will ensure the success of retail businesses. She said more advertising, coordinated operating hours, proper signs, and better security should be tried first. She discussed recently constructed shopping malls and said shoppers and vehicles usually do not mix in them. She urged the council to maintain the status quo on.Willamette Street. Ms. Girardeau said there have been problems with marketing existing commercial e sites. Therefore, the league recommended that the expansion of the Urban Renewal District be postponed until a study of the demand for commercial space has been completed for the Metropolitan Plan Update. James Ivory, 94 West Broadway, said he owns a sporting goods store in the downtown. He said millions of dollars were spent, 118 buil di ngs were destroyed, 110 small businesses were displaced, and the critical mass was defused when the mall was created. Many people think it was a mistake. He said the Downtown Development Strategy is good. It will make the mall better. He said opening Willamette to vehicles probably should not be a major focus. Charles Fletcher, 856 Willamette, said he manages Scan Design. He said he opposes opening Willamette Street to vehicles. He said about 80 percent of his customers do not want the mall changed. He urged the council to direct the Planning and Downtown commissions to survey downtown customers about changes to the ma 11 . Jack Roberts, 965 Sherwood Place, said he works downtown. He said closing Willamette Street to vehicles deprived the mall of access and visibility. Therefore, many people do not go there and did not come tonight. He sa i d traffic has been diverted away from the downtown and people drive by the downtown to shopping malls. He said the downtown should be a center of diversity. Everyone should be included in the downtown. He supports opening Willamette Street to vehicles. It MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 11 John Bauguess, 1576 Wa 1 nut, said Willamette Street should not be opened to vehicles because of Brian Obie and Rob Bennett. He said public hearings are e only charades. He wondered if the bureaucrats are running the downtown and what is fair to the owners of small businesses. He said Willamette between 10th and 11th was opened to vehicles to provide access to the Downtown Athletic Club which was constructed with City loans. He discussed the loan process for the Downtown Athletic Club and a conflict of interest. He said opening Willamette to vehicles from 8th to 10th would benefit Rob Bennett. Mr. Bauguess discussed "good old boys" politics, dreams and illusions, what citizens expect from tax dollars, the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, the Eugene Arts Foundation, the Van Duyn Company, and Mayor Obie's statements about "giving a little." He said the public should ask for accountability and should be fully informed about City business. Ed Aster, 859 Willamette, said Willamette Street should not be changed. He said there is no evidence that opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th will improve the economic viability of the downtown. He said the council should do the will of the people or let the people vote on the issue. He asked people who agreed with him to raise their hands. Many hands were raised. Navarre Davis, 2112 Brookhaven Way, said he has operated a business in the mall for 16 years. He said he supports opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th and the recommendations of the Planning and Downtown commissions. He said things will continue to improve downtown if the council does nothing but the improvement will be greater if the council increases visibility and beaut ifi cat ion. He said opening Willamette to vehicles with amenities will benefit all of downtown. e Mr. Davis said evidence indicates that "H" shaped malls are not as successful as linear malls and that there is a relationship among traffic access, retail sales, and business investment. He sa i d investment and development wi 11 strengthen the downtown and benefit the community in the long term. He said access is critical. Charlotte Lemon, 1280 Mill, said two lanes of traffic on Willamette Street will cause noise, congestion, and, maybe, accidents. She said the downtown is pleasant now. She said she opposes artesian-like fountains between 10th and Broadway. She said many people like to watch the existing fountains. She said Eugene streets are narrower than Salem streets. Ms. Lemon said the wishes of downtown merchants should be respected. She wondered why the improvement of West Broadway was not stopped at Olive Street. Shermon Smith, 80 East Broadway said he owns the Ugly Duckling. He said many of the proposed changes for Willamette and East Broadway will benefit hi s business. He said he likes the improvements to West Broadway but he opposes opening Willamette Street between 8th and 10th to vehicles. He said most of his customers do not want Willamette Street opened. He said the Planning and Downtown commissions have not listened and have not communicated plans well. If the council doubts that, he said it should ask for a vote. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 12 Harlan Hamaker, 656 Star Touch, said he works in the downtown. He said he was speaking for Bev Steel of Marley's who said it is essential to open Willamette e to vehicles from Bth to 10th. Ms. Steele said her business decreased within six months when East Broadway was closed to traffic. When it was opened to traffic, her business increased. Wilma Downie, 1630 Patterson, said she opposes opening Willamette Street to vehicles between Bth and 10th. She said it is maddening to get used to driving down a street, find it has been closed for a special event, and have to back out or turn around. Betty Niven, 3940 Hilyard, said she is a member of the Friends of Downtown. She said the organization did not orchestrate the reaction to the Planning and Downtown commissions' recommendation. She said 1,700 respondents indicate what people think. She said the belief that automobile traffic increases security is a myth and opening Willamette between Bth and 10th will not increase security. She discussed Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California, and said it has traffic, transients, and panhandl ers. She sa i d purse- snatchi ng is as common at Va 11 ey Ri ver Center as on the downtown mall. Panhandlers and purse-snatchers go where their targets are. Ms. Niven said surveillance is a factor in security. She said a City survey indicates that fewer people on the downtown mall are concerned about security now than a year ago and increased visible patrolling is probably the reason. She said security will increase if business managers instruct employees to II keep an eye on the street. II She read her testimony and submitted it in writing. e Larry Mullarkey, B9660 Hill Road, Springfield, said he owns the Woolworth Building at 930 Willamette Street. He said rents have increased to 70 to BO cents a square foot on Willamette between 10th and 11th and on West Broadway but he recently negotiated a five-year lease for only 20 cents a square foot. He said his taxes are the same as everyone else's. He said he supports opening Willamette to vehicles between Bth and 10th. I t wi 11 increase business act i vity. He said every town needs an open main street. Joella Ewing, 2384 Washington, said downtown Eugene lost its vitality before Valley River Center was built when downtowns allover the country were losing their vitality. She said the construction of the downtown mall has not been paid for yet and it is not good fiscal policy to spend more money on it. She said a department store and an adjacent parking structure, in addition to specialty shops, are needed for a vital downtown. Ms. Ewing said increased high-density housing in the downtown would benefit downtown retailers. She suggested the blood bank be moved away from the mall. She suggested the council consider a lternat i ves to openi ng Wi 11 amette to vehicles. A 11 en Will i ams , 1062 Highway 99 North, said he represented bus riders and working people. He said local buses do not operate late enough for people to attend movies or the Hult Center or shop downtown. He described a man named Zeus. He said people do not go downtown because the stores are closed in the evenings. He said he opposes opening Willamette Street to vehicles. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 19B7 Page 13 George Hermach, 2165 West 29th, said he and his wife support the present downtown mall. He said they do not like the changes to West Broadway because - people like to walk by trees, flowers, and green grass. He does not like imitation antique lamp posts and concrete. He said he has no difficulty parking downtown. He said some merchants seem to want other customers who require front-door access. Those merchants seem willing to lose him. Mr. Hermach said no evidence justifies the proposed changes to the downtown. He said the expenditure of public funds for the changes would violate the intent and purpose of tax increment financing and would be challenged by taxpayers. He urged the council to reject proposed changes or obtain voter approval for them. He said tax increment financing should be discontinued. Future expenditures should go through the budget process and compete with other City needs. He read his testimony and submitted it in writing. Sam Frear, 4734 Brookwood, said he opposes opening Wi1lamette Street to vehicles. He said economic issues can be expressed specifically but many other things, such as beauty, feelings, and values cannot be quantified. He said the downtown mall has more than just economic value. It is a community asset. He said no evidence indicates that business and property values will increase if Willamette is opened to vehicles. Spending $1.5 million on it would be a gamble. Richard Gold, 1486 East 25th, said some people wore clothes they thought were appropriate for the hearing and they were physically blocked from entering the room. He said the City staff called them names. He said the staff should be reprimanded. e Mr. Gold said City funds should not be spent to change the downtown mall. The funds should be spent on the Library or to maintain city streets. He said he just learned that liquor taxes will be used to pay the debt service for the expansion of Mahlon Sweet Airport. He read a poem titled "A New Mall." Gary Kirk, #20, 1350 Charnelton, said he walks through the downtown mall every day. He said opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th is not reasonable because the Hult Center blocks the north end of Willamette. He said City funds would be better spent for police officers to patrol the downtown. He said security ;s the most important problem on the mall and is the reason some people do not go there. Ms. Ehrman adjourned the hearing about 9:25 p.m. and reconvened it at 9:45 p.m. The testimony of Charles Duncan, 2154 McMillan, was read by someone else and submitted in writing. It sa; d he is a member of the Fri ends of Downtown and a former member of the Eugene Renewal Agency. Mr. Duncan said the Friends of the Downtown are not wedded to the status quo for the mall between 8th and 10th but the group opposes opening Willamette to vehicles. He said the opening would be very costly and would disrupt normal activity for months. He said the opening would be financed by tax increment funds and that indicates the urban renewal program is a success. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 14 Mr. Duncan's testimony said the downtown mall was constructed under excruciatingly unfortunate circumstances but now things are improving. He e said the mall is a civic adornment to be proud of and it can be made more beautiful, more vital, and more economically productive without automobiles. Nancy Brawner-Jones, 171 Monroe, said she is president of the Eugene Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She said some members of her group had to leave the hearing because the accessible buses do not operate late in the evening. She read from the City ordinance that identifies duties of the Human Rights Commissions. She said the Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was consulted about proposed changes to Broadway and Wi 11 amette. The group recommended that Wi 11 amette not be opened to traffic but recommendations were made about the design if the opening was approved. Ms. Brawner-Jones said the Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities made recommendations about the reconstruction of West Broadway but the recommendations were not implemented. The commission recommended that the rest rooms be retained and remodeled to meet accessibility standards. The rest rooms were removed. The commission recommended that nothing be permitted on West Broadway that is not fixed. There are movable tables, chairs, sandwich boards, wood and rope barricades, and bicycle racks designed so that bikes protrude into the walkway on West Broadway. Those things jeopardize the safety of blind people because they cannot be sure where objects are. She urged the council to correct things that are a threat to blind people such as power boxes on poles. Ms. Brawner-Jones said playgrounds on West Broadway were constructed without e ramps and are not accessible to children with mobility disabilities. She said the commission was told that children in wheel chairs cannot use the equipment in the playgrounds and, therefore, the playgrounds were constructed without ramps. She said children in wheel chairs want to play where other children are having a good time. She said animal statues outside the playgrounds to appease children with disabilities are not acceptable. Ms. Brawner-Jones said many people feel the Commi ss i on on the Ri ghts of Persons with Disabilities is not effective. She said the commission only makes recommendations and hopes they are respected. She said the City staff has indicated that the commission is adversarial but people who work for the human rights of protected classes are usually not popular. She said she and other commission members are committed to the task. Ms. Brawner-Jones said the commission recommends that the mall not be changed because blind people are used to it and can shop and have fun in the mall. She said the ramps for Willamette recommended by Don Miles put blind people into vehicular traffic without their knowledge. She said vehicles threaten the safety of people with disabilities, temporary barriers for the center section of the mall and changing traffic patterns would present impediments to people with visual impairments, vehicles would create an additional challenge to people who have trouble walking, and removing the trees and fountain would eliminate the only shade and method of cooling left on the mall. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 15 Ms. Brawner-Jones sa i d the Lane Transit District (LTD) is excellent and continues to meet challenges to accessibility. The hub of the system is e adjacent to the mall and enables many people to get to the mall. She said opening Willamette Street to vehicles would increase traffic around the buses. She said the City should continue to be a leader in extending opportunities to all citizens. Robert Brownsley) 476 East Broadway) said Willamette Street should not be changed. He said City funds should be spent to help mentally sick people in the mall. He said the central fountain should be eliminated and an entertainment stand constructed so that talented people can perform. He said public rest rooms should be provided and the City should not hire consultants from out of town. Nancy Hayward) 974 Lincoln, said she and her husband have 1 i ved in the downtown area for seven years. She said Ya-Po-Ah Terrace) Olive Plaza, the Eugene Hotel Retirement Center) and Washington Abbey provide downtown living for older people. She discussed how older people use the mall and said it is their neighborhood. She said vehicles should not be permitted in the mall. Joseph Dehn, 5340 Saratoga, said opening Willamette between 8th and 10th will make it harder to get to stores and parking spaces. He said the urban renewal financing process changed economic development from a business to a political issue and is a failure. Tax funds are not used for the general benefit of the community. Planners use them to implement the latest fads. He said there is room in Eugene for stores both on streets and in pedestrian malls. He said property owners in other parts of the city will be hurt if businesses move to the downtown mall and businesses in the mall that like pedestrian access only e will have to move if vehicles are permitted on Willamette between 8th and 10th. Mr. Dehn recommended elimination of the urban renewal district. He sa i d private property owners should control economic development. Tax funds should not be used. Mike Schwartz, 2390 Lariat Drive, said he is a downtown retailer, property owner, and investor. He said 22 property owners asked him to present their names in favor of the Planning and Downtown commissions' recommendations. He said those owners own over 50 percent of the valuation in the downtown development district. Mr. Schwartz sa i d the downtown needs conti nui ng development. In 1984) reported sales were $92 million. In 1985, reported sales were $85 million. In 1986, reported sales were $78 million. He said Skeie's Jewelers had a 30 percent increase in sales, the McDonald and Schaefer buildings have been renovated, and the Downtown Athletic Club is thriving after Willamette was opened to vehicles between 10th and 11th. He said those improvements would not have happened if the street had not been opened. Mr. Schwartz said Willamette between 8th and 10th should not have been closed. The mall is too big. Successful downtown malls have access, visibility, good security, and convenient shopping. He recommended that the Design Advisory e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 16 -- Committee for Will amette Street i ncl ude Les Anderson, Ruth Miller, Betty Niven, Ray Hawk, and others. e Mr. Schwartz said the Planning and Downtown commissions, the Eugene Downtown Association and the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce support opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th. He read from a Register-Guard article by Derri ck Bell. Dan Jones, 2628 Hawkins, said he wore a notice he believed in when he first tried to enter the room and he was stopped from entering. Mr. Jones said the construction of Valley River Center destroyed some of the Willamette River Greenway and took business away from downtown Eugene. He said continued economic growth is a malaise of western culture. He recommended a book titled "Small is Beautiful.1I He said the unemployment problem in Eugene is not being addressed. Richard Noyes, 2014 Elk Drive, read his testimony and submitted it in writing. He asked people not to react overtly to his testimony because he was ashamed by the react i on of some people to testimony different from theirs. He commended the councilors for their willingness to hear divergent views. Mr. Noyes sa i d Wi 11 amette between 8th and 10th should remain closed to vehicles. He said some beneficial changes that would cost much less than opening Willamette to vehicles could be made. He recommended that security patrols be enhanced, awnings along Willamette Street and Broadway be provided, businesses operate during the evening, and a good mix of specialty stores including hardware and cookware stores be offered. He said a more attractive e central fountain could be provided if the Downtown Commission wants to do somethi ng but the fountain between Broadway and 10th Avenue should be retained. Carole Bruhl, 708 West 4th, said people can find businesses on the mall if they get out of cars. Parking and access are available. She recommended awnings over the sidewalks. She said opening Willamette between 8th and 10th will make the area dirty. She said the access to the First Interstate Bank on Willamette Street does not make the street pleasant because people do not want to sit next to cars. She said the central fountain may not be attractive but it would be prettier if the water was running in it more often. She said lighting in the mall should be improved because at night parts of it are II sca ry . II Brenda Monroe, 2245 Orr Lane, said she takes her children to the mall. She did not like the old play structures on West Broadway but she thinks the new ones are too small. She said her son misses the public rest rooms. Referring to an evening in December, she said lots of people were in the mall and there was lots of music but the stores were not open. She said some changes should be made in the mall; for example, visibility should be increased. She said vehicles should not be permitted on Willamette between 8th and 10th. Ms. Bruhl said she resented the scheduling of this hearing on the only night the Library is open. She said City funds should be spent on the Library. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 17 - - Bill Sweet, No.1 Centre Court, 44 West Broadway, said he owns Literary Lion. He said his store is open until 9 p.m. every evening. He said he is a member e of the Board of Directors of the EDA. He said he agrees with Ms. Haislip's testimony. Referri ng to Mr. Schwartz's testimony, he said the EDA i s reconsidering its position on opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th. He said the idea of an electric trolley downtown is interesting. He said he could have supported opening Willamette Street to vehicles between 8th and 10th at one time but his customers have told him they do not want it and he listens to customers. He said he has been told his rent will be increased. He said that kind of pressure is unacceptable to him and he wants to make it public. Mr. Sweet said about 40 percent of his customers are visitors to Eugene and they find the store. He said the "Gut" will move downtown if Willamette is opened to traffic. He suggested a decision about other improvements be delayed until the results of the West Broadway reconstruction are evident and then other improvements be made incrementally. Tom Slocum, 1950 Graham Drive, said the urban renewal program has not been very successful. He said much development in the Urban Renewal District does not provide tax increment funds. He said most of the new development would be more suitable for the commercial development at 40th Avenue and Donald Street. He discussed the Consumer Price Index. He said the urban renewal program jeopardizes opportunities in the city because it makes taxes in other parts of the city too high. Mr. Slocum said the object of urban renewal programs should be to develop buildings that will provide tax increment funds quickly to payoff bonds that e provide public improvements so the buildings can be put back on the tax roles to reduce taxes in the rest of the community. He said the council should reconsider the Eugene Urban Renewal Program. He said office buildings with first floor retail businesses should have been built in the downtown. He said there are many office buildings on Country Club Road and near Valley River Center. Mr. Slocum said access is important and Willamette should be opened between 8th and 10th to both traffic and parking if the council decides it wants a strong renewal program. Michael Anzema, 2638 Hawkins Lane, said he opposes opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to traffic. He said the mall makes Eugene unique. He said the opening should be voted on by the people. Olga Freeman, 1431 East 22nd, said about $2 million is available from the, downtown tax increment district annually. She said she objects to spending about $1.5 million on opening Willamette. She said Eugene taxpayers are indirectly paying the $2 million because tax rates in other parts of the city are higher than they would be otherwise. She said the formation of the Riverfront Research Park Tax Increment District will increase taxes in other parts of the city. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 18 Ms. Freeman said the West Broadway improvements reportedly cost $25,000 more than budgeted and $5,000 of it was spent on a three-day celebration. She said e neighbors had to raise money for the city's wading pools this year. She asked) "Where are the priorities?" She suggested that citizens review the Urban Renewal Plan and make recommendations about its future. Wallace Swanson, 140 Coachman Drive, sa i d he opposes open i ng Will amette between 8th and 10th to vehicles. He discussed Fargo) North Dakota. He said Fargo did what Don Miles recommended Eugene do but it was financed by property owners in the downtown. The solution did not solve the problem. Nena Lovinger, 1554 East 21st, said she opposes opening Willamette between 8th and 10th. She said the mall is convenient and familiar. She said cars are noisy and a distraction. She said Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA) representatives stated that Eugene does not meet Federal air quality standards at a May 18, 1987, Planning Commission meeting. She said introduction of slow-moving traffic would make the air quality problem worse. Ms. Lovinger said the downtown mall would benefit from redesigning. She said the courtyard of the professional building south of the YMCA is an excellent example of a public space. She recommended that public funds be used to restore the lower Millrace. She said it could be a picturesque canal linking the University of Oregon and the downtown. Nan Cohen) 907 River Road, said she wore a sign and gas mask whe~ she arrived at the hearing. She was not permitted to enter the hearing and was spoken to rudely. She said she opposes the opening of Wi 1 lamette between 8th and 10th because of pollution. She said economic development should be high quality, e sustainable, and diverse. Ms. Cohen said the Library is open very few hours and City funds should be spent on the Library, social services) and the police and fire department. Bill Combs) 2255 Charnelton, said he owns Burch's Fine Footwear. He said he supports opening Willamette Street to traffic. He said the downtown seems to be on the verge of an economic comeback but that is different from having long-term economic health. He said pedestrians and cars can mix well. Access is needed for good retailing. He said he favored the creation of the downtown mall but times change and the mall should change. Susan Ritchie Grina, 2035 Wood Acres Drive, said she was speaking for herself and her father, Harry Ritchie. She said they favor opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th. She said her father believed that closing Willamette to vehicles would be an asset but it has become a liability. She said the improvements on West Broadway have resulted in new businesses and new investment. Denny Geeler) 2090 Dewey Street, said he opposes the opening of Willamette to vehicles. He said a city's greatest asset is its people. He said there is no evidence to prove that the opening of Willamette will be good for business. He said reopening Willamette will result in transients gathering closer to stores) people still having difficulty finding parking spaces and walking to e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 19 destinations, and a new, shorter "Gut. He said it will be difficult to produce summer theater and special events, the staff will have to spend much e time closing Willamette Street to traffic for special events, and there will be much confusion. Mr. Geeler said downtown Eugene needs more parking, more security personnel, more awnings, more landscaping, more signs, more money for the arts and entertainment, and more money for marketing and promotion. He said entertainment has proved it can draw people downtown and the mall should be marketed as a regional, financial, and entertainment center. He said the reopening of Willamette will reopen wounds that have been healing. If the citizens vote on the reopening, they will reject it. Bill Tweedie, 4916 Larkwood, said he opposes opening Willamette between 8th and lath to vehicles. He said it will not improve business. He said he worked with downtown business for six years in the Lane Community College Small Business Management Program. He said business problems in the downtown were caused by the poor economy and poor marketing and promotion. He said improvements have been made but the effects of opening Willamette between lath and 11th and the improvements to West Broadway should be weighed before additional changes are made. He said the impact of economic factors and non- economic factors should be analyzed. Mr. Tweedie said present assets should be recognized. The downtown mall is viable and he has visited successful pedestrian malls in other places. He said the downtown mall does not belong to downtown businesses only. Dean Sidwell, 200 East Cheshire, said he is a student at the University of e Oregon. He thanked the counci 1 for holding the hearing. He said either Willamette Street should be widened and opened to vehicles and parking or it should be reconstructed similar to West Broadway. Luther Beecleft, Apt. 515, 1133 Olive, said he and his wife moved here five years ago. They are physically disabled. He said they like to be outdoors. They like to sit on the mall where they know they are safe from cars. He wondered where they will go if Willamette Street is opened to cars. He said people will probably overpark, tow trucks will be called, and he may be run over by a tow truck. He talked about what it is like to be in a wheel chair a 11 the time. Mr. Beecleft said there are ways to move the IImall ratsll out of the mall. He said, "Don't open up Willamette, please.1I Todd Amacher, 3312 Honeywood, said he manages Centre Court at the corner of Broadway and Willamette. He said Willamette Savings owns Centre Court now and has improved it. However, four or five prospective office tenants rejected Centre Court in the last six months because they could not drop someone off at their office. He said office buildings have been built on Country Club Road and near Valley River Center because there is vehicular access. Mr. Amacher said he recently saw one man washing his clothes and another man washing his hair in the central fountain in the mall. He said such sights e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 20 discourage people renting space in Centre Court. He said office development is as important as retail development in the downtown. He favors opening e Willamette between 8th and 10th. Barbara Keller, 2570 Onyx, said urban renewal is not the issue being discussed. The issue is the removal or destruction of the downtown mall. She said opening Willamette between 8th and 10th wi 11 not preserve historic buildings, it will not make people dress up to go downtown, it will not give transients alternate washing facilities, and there is no proof that it will increase sales. She said the amenities, the central fountain, and the hole in Willamette Street can be redesigned and rest rooms can be provided without opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles. Ms. Keller said the proposed design for Wi11amette seems to di scourage vehicles but the proponents for opening the street to vehicles say they want to encourage traffi c. She said no correlation has shown a positive relationship between cars per hour and dollars spent. She said official indecision impedes investment in the mall. She said citizens do not want to vote on the issue. They want the council to decide to retain the downtown ma 11. Marylee Cook, address unknown, said she lives in West Eugene. She said she is glad she doesn't have to breathe car fumes on Willamette Street now. She said opening Willamette will not improve access. She said Valley River Center is doing fine without traffic between stores. She will go there if Willamette between 8th and 10th is opened to vehicles. Mary Mitchell, Apt. 2, 540 Almaden, said she is going blind as a result of e cancer and has cerebral palsy. She said she is taking radiation and chemotherapy. She said she has difficulty walking and getting around. Ms. Mi tche 11 said she opposes opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles and she would like to have the central fountain made smaller. She said she is sorry the public rest rooms were removed. She would like LTD buses to operate more hours. She said disabled people are sometimes mistreated in Eugene. Gil Geihs, 100 S.W. Market Street, Portland, said he represented the owners of Willamette Savings, 96 East Broadway, and Centre Court. He said he supports limited vehicular traffic on Wi11amette between 8th and 10th. He said Will amette Savi ngs recei ved Centre Court by defaul t. Many tenants were leaving Centre Court and going where they had direct access. The value of the building decreased more than 75 percent in four years. He said customers want to be able to drive by a building. Mr. Geihs said business at Centre Court is improving but company officials are not satisfied with the lease occupancy. He said limited vehicular access will improve real estate values and business and will keep people in the downtown. Mark Davis, 99 West 10th, said he represented the Atrium Building Partnership and is president of the EDA. He said the Atrium Building Partnership does not want to pay more that its present $60,000 in taxes without something that will e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 21 promote busi ness, activity, competition for space, and vitality in the downtown. e Mr. Davis said access is imperative for development and access involves both people and vehicles. He said pedestrian amenities are important in the downtown. He said occupancy in the downtown is increasing but the lack of competition keeps rents low and property owners cannot invest in improvements. Consequently, property values have fallen. He said tax increment financing can be used for only certain things. He said the council should present the advantages and disadvantages of the Urban Renewal Plan Update so that people fully understand them. Donald Amacher, 2067 Musket, said he is a commercial and i ndustri a 1 real estate broker who has sold, leased, and managed many buildings downtown. He said he favored the creation of the mall but it was a mistake. The ma 11 is too big. He said Willamette between 10th and 11th was blighted. After the street was opened to vehicles, two buildings were sold and are being refurbished. He said the same can happen between 10th and Broadway. Mr. Amacher said there has been very little money spent on the buildings between 10th and Broadway since 1965 because the rents are so low. He said the present buildings must be replaced with new buildings with retail development on the first floor and office development on other floors. He said limited vehicular access ;s necessary. Mary Bentsen, 950 West 16th, suggested the council call a special election to vote on opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles. She said the council could then present the plan fully. She said Eugene has a high tax rate e which is partly caused by public ownership of downtown properties. She recommended that tax increment financing and the urban renewal program be ended. Then, downtown projects will compete with other City projects in the budget process. Ms. Bentsen said the council indicated the expansion of Mahlon Sweet Airport could be funded from the General Fund but, later, the council said additional funds a re needed and so the sewer rates were increased. She said tax increment funds should go into the General Fund. Ms. Bentsen said she favors opening Wi11amette between 8th and 10th to vehicles and hopes it will make the street busy. She said the city developed around Willamette and she likes parades on Willamette. David Finch, 1975 Chambers, said he has lived in Eugene since 1960. He read his testimony and submitted it in writing. He said the decision to move businesses outside the downtown was an error when the mall was constructed. He said he opposes opening Willamette between 8th and 10th to vehicles because it will not provide better access, it is not popular, poor downtown business is the result of economic conditions and can be improved by better marketing, no evidence has been presented that property values will increase, access from 6th Avenue will not be improved, merchants who want street access can move, and the "Gut" probably will come downtown. He suggested the City build ramps from the public parking structures so that people will not have to use narrow stairs or elevators to reach the street. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 22 Mr. Finch said the only convincing argument for opening Willamette is that people like to be dropped off in front of a business. He suggested the bus e parking be moved so that people can be dropped off on 10th Avenue. He said most people can walk one block. Brad Perkins, 1590 Mi 11 , said his business is archi tectura 1 design and restoration of historic buildings. He read his testimony and submitted it in writing. He said increased intensity of development on Willamette between 8th and 10th will not destroy historic buildings. He sa i d ma 11 structures are rotted, trees are overgrown, the fountains are expensive to maintain, and the mall is too large for Eugene. Mr. Perkins said people should be able to drive down main streets. An obstruction in the ma in street disorients people. Strong downtowns need diverse buildings and investors will not construct new buildings if the buildings do not have vehicular access. He said main streets should not be parks. They should promote commerce. He said Willamette Street should be undammed so that trade, social events, parades, and building density can be encouraged. Mr. Perkins said the mall on Broadway between Willamette and Charnel ton will have intense activity and be an appropriate size for Eugene if Willamette between 8th and 10th is opened to traffic. Paul Nicholson, 2480 Alder, said he is a member of the Fairmount.Neighborhood Association Board of Directors. He said people seem to dislike the process the council is following. He said the meeting in October on the Urban Renewal Plan Update seemed to be "rigged.1I He said most people do not want Willamette e between 8th and 10th opened to traffic and that is a sufficient reason for keeping it closed. Ginnie Lo, 1855 East 28th, said she is co-chair of the Fairmount Neighborhood Association. She read two resolutions passed by the association in June. One resolution opposed opening Willamette to vehicles between 8th and 10th. It passed 20 to 7. Another resolution supported a binding city-wide referendum on opening Willamette to vehicles. She said councilors. votes for the opening would result in huge expenditures, destroying the mall, and ignoring the wishes of constituents. Aaron Brown, P.O. Box 10127, Olympia, WA, said he likes the downtown mall. He said he opposes the opening of Willamette between 8th and 10th. David Zupan, 972 West 4th, said councilors should listen to the community. He said planning to open the mall should be stopped and putting it on a ballot would be the last resort. He suggested architects for the downtown meet with the people who use the mall and ask what will increase the vitality of the mall and what will get people to come downtown. Robert Reuschlein, #3, 956 1/2 West 4th, said his research indicates that military spending accounts for about 97 percent of economic growth. He said that is obvious where military projects are located but it is also true where mil itary projects are not located because thi s is one nation. He said e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 23 military budgets increased in the early 1980s and then decreased in 1986 when the Oregon growth rate went above the national average. He said there was a e reduction in military spending in the late 1970s which created a boom in the economy here and the opposite in Massachusetts. He said a one-percent drop in the Federal military budget would create 240 new jobs in the Eugene area. Elva Shorack, 945 East 23rd, said access to the downtown would be improved by making Olive Street two-way and would provide access to the 8th and Olive site which is targeted for development. She said a driver should be able to turn west from Willamette between 11th and 15th. She said the one-way street system makes people drive many blocks out of their way. She suggested the council consider making 8th and 10th two-way. Ms. Shorack said the water was not on in the central fountain tonight and Woolworth's closed at 6 p.m. tonight. J. Maquai, 1350 Alder, discussed several European cities. He suggested a recreation director be hired to attract people to the downtown mall. He suggested puppet shows, square dancing, and more entertainment. He sa i d businesses should serve people, automobiles pollute the air, the river should be beautified, additional students should be attracted, the Saturday Market should have more space, and the Library should be expanded and located away from traffic. During the hearing, Ms. Ehrman read the following names of people who had indicated a desire to testify but who were not present when their names were ca 11 ed: Suzie Kent, Charlotte Peterson, Barbara Edmonds, Ann Fidanque, Stanley Cobb, Sanford Tepfer, Melvin Cooper, Robert Redding, Michael Stroul, e Gary Kutcher, Susan Barnhart, John Rodda, Bill Lioio, Shane Duckworth, Tony and Judy Glidden, Peg Persinger, Gareth Fenley, Barbara Kelley, Genevieve Savelich, Bruce Stockton, Peggy Gravatt, Sherie Blankenship, Dick Romm, and Kate Rogers Gessert. Ms. Ehrman closed the public hearing and said the written record would remain open until noon, July 29, 1987. Ms. Ehrman adjourned the hearing at 12:15 a.m. July 14,1987. 7~~ Micheal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) mncc0713 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 24