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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/1987 Meeting MINUTES e Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall October 14, 1987 Noon COUNCILORS PRESENT: Freeman Holmer, Jeff Miller, Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom, Cynthia Wooten, Roger Rutan, Robert Bennett. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Debra Ehrman. The adjourned meeting of October 12, 1987, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. 1. ITEMS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER A. Child Care Facilities Mr. Bennett said he recently had an opportunity to tour child care facilities in the community. He said he was very impressed and overwhelmed with the qual ity of the intensive work in that area, particularly in the early intervention program, which he noted operated on limited resources from a variety of funding sources. Mr. Bennett said he was glad for the first-hand e experience of the tour, which he encouraged for greater understanding of child care issues and for making the appropriate City contributions. Mr. Bennett said he had visited one facility, Child Care, Inc. The property is owned by the City. He said he was aware of issues related to the Parks Master Plan development, and he was genuinely concerned about the condition of the premises and circumstances of that particular operation. Mr. Bennett requested assistance from staff, perhaps Parks staff, about plans and time frames for the facility. He said the building was operating year-to-year on an expired lease, so the parties involved were not committed to any long-term improvements. He asked how the City saw its responsibility, and he encouraged councilors to view the facility, which was operated privately, with the City as landlord, and was located in the Whiteaker neighborhood, next to Skinner Butte Park. Ms. Wooten added that the facility served about 78 percent low- income residents, with fees based on a sliding scale. Ms. Bascom sa i d she recalled that a funding request from the facility had been denied for a variety of reasons during the last Joint Social Services Fund review. B. Airport Mr. Rutan reported that the privately funded business center and community meeting room at the airport was proceeding, with fund-raising efforts to be headed by the Eugene-Springfield Metro Partnership Forest Products Council, on which he would serve. He said preliminary ideas involved a wood-products e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 1 orientation for informational displays and exhibits. He added that the group would coordinate work with the City architect. e C. Hayward Field Mr. Rutan reported that the renovation of Hayward Field was proceeding. He said comments about the intergovernmental agreement or the project could be given to him or to Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow before Tuesday's meeting. Mr. Rutan said the Hayward Field project now was substantially underfunded, with the only identified revenues to come from bonds paid for through an increase in room taxes. He said that issue would be a part of the package of recommendations that would come back to the City Council and Springfield for action after the agreement was completed. Mayor Obie said he thought the City should buy a certain amount (such as five or six days per year) of dedicated time for free use of the facility, in addition to the regular availability of the track to the public. Mr. Rutan added that the east grandstands now were being renovated, and the overall capacity would remain the same. Ms. Schue said she had noticed that one woman and eleven men were involved with supervising the project, which was not consistent with City of Eugene policies. Mr. Rutan sa i d he recently had approached two other women, University of Oregon Student Body President Casey Brooks, who had agreed to serve, and local runner Mary Slaney, who had not yet responded. e D. Municipal Arts Committee Ms. Wooten said she had been surprised to hear of a meeting of a new municipal arts committee in Facilities Development. She said she had long been interested in forming such a committee outside of the realm of the Performing Arts Commission, and she asked about the process of selection and appointment that had been used for the group. Mr. Gleason said the committee worked with projects affected by the one-percent-for-art funding requirement. He sa i d past projects had been pursued with ad hoc committees, and he agreed to provide a report to the City Council. E. Riverfront Research Park Forum Ms. Bascom reported that she had attended the recent forum on the design of the Riverfront Research Park. She said her general impressions were very positive, and she thought many concerns had been addressed. F. DARC Ms. Schue reported that she woul d be attendi ng a meet i ng of the Oregon Association of Regional Councils as a representative of the Lane Council of Governments (L-CDG). She said the topic of the meeting would be integrating the councils of governments throughout the state into the governor's economic development program. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 2 G. Towing e Mr. Miller asked whether the council would be receiving a review on the issue of auto towing actions which are contrary to ordinance provisions. He said he would like to look at incentives encouraging towing companies to comply with the regulations. Mr. Holmer said police were checking into the issue and were examining more effective penalties for violating the regulations. He added that contrary to reported statements, towing rates were not set by the City of Eugene. Mr. Holmer explained that he had been involved with the last revision of the ordinance about two years ago, and the ordinance allowed "reasonable charges" for towi ng. He said that provision might have to be tightened up, and he added that staff would provide more background. Mr. Gleason agreed to provide information to Mr. Miller and Mr. Holmer and, if necessary, to schedule the item for a future council meeting. II. UPDATE ON RIVERFRONT RESEARCH PARK Mayor Obie welcomed former Eugene mayor and chair of the Riverfront Research Park Commission R.A. Gus Keller. Mr. Keller thanked the Mayor and council for thei r work. He introduced an overview of the Riverfront Research Park. project, adding that he thought it was coming together nicely. Mr. Keller reported that the last forum had drawn about 180 people, who had raised appropriate issues such as cost, access, transportation, and traffic. He said he thought 90 percent of the issues had been addressed, and although not everyone had been satisfied, the great majority of citizens appeared to have e been pleased. Mr. Keller said he thought it had been a good idea to postpone the third forum, and he thought the project was ready to move forward. Cathy Briner of the Eugene Development Department distributed diagrams of critical paths in the Riverfront Research Park process, which she said would need to merge in the spring of 1988 for the projectls groundbreaking. Ms. Briner reported that the Riverfront Special Zoning District had been upheld by the Land Use Board of Appeals, and the City was preparing to submit a master site plan to the Hearings Official for a conditional use permit. She said the first path, approval of the Master Site Plan, would include fine- tuning by staff and review by the Design Advisory Committee and the Riverfront Research Park Commission, which then would make recommendations to the City Council and to the University of Oregon president. Once the Master Site Plan was approved by the City Council and the University president, it could be submitted to the Hearings Official for a conditional use permit, which she added was scheduled for late January 1988. Ms. Briner said the second path, preliminary engineering and infrastructure design work, was being done by City and State staffs and would continue through the fall, with construction drawings to be completed about the same time as the Hearings Official IS decision. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 3 Ms. Briner said the third paths regional strategy and financing, would be addressed partly by a hearing to be held tonight before the Lane Economic e Committees an advisory body to the Lane Council of Governments. She said the purpose of tonight's hearing was to receive suggestions about the regional strategy of Jobs Through Research and Development and about special projects in that strategy. Ms. Briner said comments that had been received so far generally were positive about the Riverfront Research Park, but not about the regional strategy process. She said some cities tonight were expected to present suggestions for projects, and the next step would be two hearings before the Lane County Board of Commissionerss the first of which would occur in about one month. Ms. Briner said a third hearing would be held on adoption and submission to the State, and the final strategy would need the Governor's approval. Ms. Briner said financial plans from The Carley Group and Peat Marwick would come before the council late this fall. Ms. Briner said items on the fourth paths the lease and development agreement, now were being drafted and would need the signatures of all parties involved. She said the lease would occur between the University of Oregon and The Carley Groups and the development agreement would 1 i st each party's responsibilities. Ms. Wooten said she had been impressed with the Carley Group throughout the processs but development appeared to be weakening or unclear. She asked about the Faculty Senate's conditions regarding classified research. Ms. Briner said the issue was complex and did involve some risk. She said the project e could be hurt if the City did not meet the current time frames but she did not feel that Carley was backing down from the lease and agreement. Ms. Wooten asked whether additional time would be required for infrastructure improvements after the agreement was signed. Mr. Farkas said additional time would not necessarily be required. He said attempts were being made to allow the development processes to occur simultaneouslys and that appeared possible. Mr. Holmer expressed concern that the Public Works Department plan for the infrastructure improvements so that the project was not held up once it was begun. Ms. Briner said Public Works staff had worked on the site plan and timeframes and those concerns were being addressed. She added that funds for the improvements were available and that the timeframe was being met. Mr. Gleason said he was pleased about the public process that had occurred and he thought community concerns had been addressed. He said Carley was pressing to proceeds court delays were thwarting the investments and he saw a need for continued council support. Mayor Obie thanked the commission and staff for their work on the project and said he agreed that efforts to thwart the process should be held responsible for the harm that they caused. Mr. Holmer asked whether the initiative petition on tax increment districts that recently had been filed could slow down the process. Mr. Gleason said work on that was not completes and the intent of the initiative was unclear. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14s 1987 Page 4 Ms. Bascom said she thought the site plan for the Riverfront Research Park saved the Greenway in a creative and far-reaching way. She noted that the e plan also retained the soccer field and some of the orchard. Ms. Bascom said she thought the general sense at the forum had been that the plan had dealt with environmental criticisms in an innovative way. Mr. Keller said he and the Riverfront Research Park Commission were sensitive to the timing of the project and were prepared to move ahead. He said he would continue to keep the council informed of progress. Ms. Briner said Maureen McAvey, of The Carley Group, would be present at the fall council meetings on the subject. III . CABLECASTING OF COUNCIL MEETINGS City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Public Information Director Barbara Bellamy presented the staff report. She said the City Council meeting of Monday, October 26 would be broadcast live on cable television Channel 36. She also reported that regular broadcasts of two Monday council meetings per month would begin in January. Ms. Bellamy said the City also planned to use video equipment and facilities for public information and training purposes. She noted that the City's 5 percent cable franchise fee amounted to $300,000 per year and that the franchise provided for four access channels, of which three now were active on cable channels 34, 35, and 36 and offered public, education, and government information respectively. She added that video training efforts were expected e to result in substantial savings and would be the first area pursued. Ms. Be 11 amy noted that only Monday even i ng council meetings would be broadcast, and she showed a tape of a practice session that had been held last Monday. She distributed guidelines for cablecasting public meetings. She added that meetings woul d be rebroadcast on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Bellamy said cable broadcasts reached about 58 percent of the metropolitan area population. She descri bed planned uses of video, including public information such as crime prevention, council agendas, and job listings; training for police and fire staffs; documentation; and internal communication. Ms. Bellamy introduced Robert Lewis of the Community Cable TV Center, who showed video spots about the adopt-a-cop program, the Business Assistance Team small business program, and two training tapes. Ms. Bellamy distributed information on the Community Cable TV Center, access channels, and video uses. Ms. Wooten said she thought there was value in showing public participation at meetings, and she did not think the guideline of focusing on the recognized speaker should ignore such participation. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 5 Mr. Holmer asked how camera shots would be chosen. He suggested that a better policy would be to show the public only when testifying. e Mr. Rutan said he thought guidelines were needed to prevent abuse of the broadcasts by demonstrations. IV. FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY EVENT (MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY) Ci ty Manager Mi chea 1 Gleason introduced the item. Mr. Mill er said the community was attempting to enhance its support for human ri ghts without a large increase in tax support. He said suggestions had been made to increase access to the Hult Center for community activities and to help defray Hult Center costs through methods such as corporate funding. Tammy Jo Rhoades of the Intergovernmental Relations Division presented the staff report. She said the Eugene Commission on the Rights of Minorities last year had participated for the first time in Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by inviting a speaker. She said community response to the event had been positive, and the task force this year proposed to invite a national dance troupe from the Philippines. Ms. Rhoades noted that Philippines President Corazon Aquino had received the first Martin Luther King, Jr. peace award, and the commission therefore felt the dance troupe was particularly appropriate. She said the task force also felt that the event should be free in order to allow the greatest possible participation. She said staff and volunteers had begun seeking sponsorships to cover the $12,000 cost of the event, and the commission requested that the council underwrite the project in the event all the sponsorships were not obtained. Ms. Rhoades said the Minorities e Commission and the task force recommended approval of the event budget. Mr. Miller added that many community participants were involved in the celebration. Mr. Bennett asked whether the University of Oregon and Springfield were helping to underwrite the costs. Mr. Miller said the University provided some funding for the annual event. Ms. Bascom asked about scheduling the event at the Hult Center. Hult Center Director Bob Schutz said the event would fit in well with the schedule already planned because mid- and early January generally were not good times for selling tickets. He added that the price of the event was important because the cost of selling tickets increased the price or loss on an event. Ms. Bascom noted that the event last year had been held in the Soreng Theater, but this year would move to the larger Silva Hall. She said she hoped the commemoration would not become a media and entertainment event but would focus on the values represented by the day. Ms. Schue asked how last year's event had been funded. Administrative Services Director Gary Long said the event last year had been sponsored jointly by the human rights commissions and the department, for a total City cost of about $1,500. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 6 Ms. Schue asked whether $9,000 would cover the total expenses for this year's event. Mr. Schutz said it would cover all staging and entertainment costs for e the dance troupe. Ms. Rhoades added that the task force was working on publicity for the event, and the Minorities Commission and the University also were contributing to publicity expenses. Mr. Holmer suggested amendi ng the motion to "authorize" rather than to IIdirectll the seeking of sponsorships. He also amended the motion to include the Minorities Commission and private sponsorships in those efforts. Councilors agreed to the amendments. Ms. Wooten asked whether costs could be taken from the Hult Center marketing budget. Mr. Schutz said no allowance had been made for the event in the existing marketing budget. Ms. Wooten asked whether the center might co- produce the event. Mr. Schutz said the center now did not co-produce events unless they were expected to break even. Mayor Obie asked whether it was 1 i ke 1 y the center could schedule a significant, money-making, black entertainer. Mr. Schutz said he did not think that was possible because of the short notice and the difficulty of scheduling particular dates. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to direct the City Manager to prepare a supplemental budget item to take up to $9,000 out of general fund contingency for the Hult Center and the Minorities Commission to sponsor a free event at the Hult Center for the 1988 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and to further authorize staff and the Minorities Commission e to seek private sponsorship to offset the cost of the event. Mr. Rutan said he had mixed emotions about the event. He said he supported the concept, but he was reluctant about the costs. Ms. Schue said recent precedents included fireworks, which had cost between $2,200 and $5,000. She said she also had mixed feelings about the need for the cost of the event. Ms. Bascom asked about the balance in contingency, adding that she liked the idea of having the event at the Hult Center, but she was uncertain about the type of show planned and about establishing precedent. Mr. Whitlow said the contingency balance was $500,000. Mr. Miller said he thought the timing of the tour by the dance troupe was good thi s year and would offer a special community event that could involve schools. He added that other special events, such as the Eugene Celebration, were not unusual, and he noted that City costs for this event were limited to a maximum of $9,000. Mr. Holmer said he would vote for the proposal up to $9,000, but he encouraged the commission to think about the appropriateness of the group invited for the event. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 7 Mr. Bennett said he opposed the motion because he thought an event would have more meaning if contributions came directly from the local community. He said e he supported providing City assistance with facilities and administration, but he did not think underwriting the $9,000 expense for an outside group was the right decision. Ms. Wooten asked how much of the cost was for Hult Center expenses. Mr. Schutz said a maximum of $4,000 would go toward ushers and staging costs. Ms. Wooten suggested a different budget configuration, adding that she agreed with the concept of the production. She said she was willing to help with private fund-raising efforts, and she asked about other ways to defray costs and accommodate the event. Mayor Obie said he was concerned about the precedent of granting special cost arrangements to community events. Ms. Schue said she wanted some type of event, but she was concerned about costs. She asked how the funds were to be raised. Mr. Schutz said staff members were making contacts to seek funds, with assistance from the Minorities Commission and the SHO volunteer group. Ms. Schue said she wanted to ensure that the Minorities Commission would receive assistance with fundraising. Mayor Obie asked whether the Minorities Commission, if given $9,000 for the year, would choose to s~end the money on this event. Ms. Rhoades said the event was the largest minorities event of the year. Roll call vote; the motion carried 5:2, with Councilors Holmer, e Miller, Schue, Bascom, and Wooten voting aye and Councilors Bennett and Rutan voting nay. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. (Recorded by Leslie Scales) mnccocl4 - MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1987 Page 8 AGE N D A .~ EUGENE CITY COUNCIL .~ ~~ MCNUTT ROOM--CITY HALL I October 14, 1987 11 A.M.--CITY COUNCIL TOUR NOON--CITY COUNCIL LUNCH/MEETING Adjourned meeting of October 12, 1987; His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie presiding. Councilors: Debra Ehrman, President Jeff Miller Freeman Holmer, Vice President Roger Rutan Ruth Bascom Emily Schue ~ Robert Bennett Cynthia Wooten 11:00 a.m. TOUR Location: Meet under blue bridge Topic: Tour sites of Metro Plan Amendments 12 Noon CITY COUNCIL LUNCH/MEETING ~;~ I. ITEMS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER II. CABLECASTING OF COUNCIL MEETING III. FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY EVENT (MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY) ~ ~W moved, seconded by ~S , to direct the City Manager to prepare a supplemental budget item to take up to $9,000 out of general fund contingency for the Hult Center and the Minority Commission to sponsor a free event at the Hult Center for the 1988~rtin Luth r Ki Jr. Celebration and to furt~taf 0 seek e sponsorship to offset .-9st- of the event. 011 call .YRte. /" J \' ~~t~ ~ W'd'tG%M I 5'). \\ ~ Jo;ci... {'CvlAA"po{ IV. UPDATE ON RIVERFRONT RESEARCH PARK F S-:;;;L V. VIEW THE NEW HAZ MAT VAN Adjourn to Joint Eugene/Springfield City Council Meeting, October 14, 1987, at ~:~.~ 7:30 p.m. ~ ~- MINS308 Agenda 10/14/87--1 .. -I'. . , A MEN D E D AGE N 0 A e EUGENE CITY COUNCIL MCNUTT ROOM--CITY HALL October 21, 1987 11:30 a.m.--Lunch/Work Session Noon--City Council Meeting COUNCIL CHAMBER Adjourned meeting of October 14, 1987; His Honor Mayor Brlan B. Obie preslding. Council ors: Debra Ehrman, President Jeff t'1i 11 er Freeman Holmer, Vice President Roger Rutan Ruth Bascom Emily Schue Robert Bennett Cynth; a Wooten e 11 : 30 a.m. CITY COUNCIL LUNCH/WORK SESSION Locati on: McNutt Room, City Hall I Topic: Extension of and Revision to the Tax Differential Plans in the River Road, Santa Clara, and Highway 99 Areas e Noon CITY COUNCIL MEETING I. ITEMS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER II. APPEAL OF INITIATIVE BALLOT TITLE #51 e ;PH moved, seconded by (5 , to ri..</V~~J drr~ :-A . . Ro 11 ca 11 vote. OJ'. t III. EXTENSION OF AND REVISION TO THE TAX DIFFERENTIAL PLANS IN THE RIVER ROAD, SANTA CLARA, AND HIGHWAY 99 AREAS Res. No. 4059--A resolution approving and extending the tax differential plans for the River Road and Santa Clara areas. Res. No. 4060--A resolution approving and adopting a tax differential plan for industrial properties in !;:/ the Highway 99 industrial area. re&u~ns. C0 moved, seconded by . to adopt the e Ro 11 ca 11 vote. Agenda 10/21/87--1 ~ :~ . . ~ , IV. PERFORMING ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS RE: RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS Res. No. 4062--A resolution approving residency status at the e Hult Center for the Performing Arts for The , Eugene Symphony Orchestra, The Eugene Ballet Company, The Oregon Bach Festival, and the Oregon Mozart Players as recommended by the Res. No. 14 of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts Commi ss ion. -[\5 moved, seconded by C0 , to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote. 6 ~ D V APPLICATION FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE BOUNDARY CHANGE Res. No. 4061--A resolution authorizing the City Manager to make application to the State of Oregon to change the boundaries of the West Eugene Enterprise Zone, and amending Resolution No. 4001. e L~ moved, seconded by C~7 , to adopt the resolutions. Roll call vote. 6~[) Mayor recesses the meeting of the Eugene City Council and convenes a meeting of the Eugene Renewal Agency. e VI. EUGENE RENEWAL AGENCY: EUGENE CONFERENCE CENTER/HILTON HOTEL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT moved, seconded by 2.LA--tit B, to amend the , agreement and provlde for other documents O\~ c-essary and appropriate to consummate an agreement new owners. Roll ca 11 vote. b :{) e Mayor adjourns the meeting of the Eugene Renewal Agency and reconvenes the meeting of the Eugene City Council. VIL EUGENE CONFERENCE CENTER/HILTON HOTEL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT ~ S moved, seconded by C LeJ , to author; ze the City Manager to execute amendments to the June 25, 1980, agreement and other such documents as he considers necessary and appropriate to consummate an agreement with the new owners. Roll call vote. /:, : 0 VIII. WORK SESSION: NO CRUISING ORDINANCE - 11l(S"1.,\_d ~er- Adjourn to October 26, 1987.~ ~) - - . MINS309 (l ) Agenda 10/21/87--2 .; ~