HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/1988 Meeting (2)
e M I NUT E S
Eugene City Council
Council Chamber--City Hall
October 10, 1988
7:30 p.m.
COUNCILORS PRESENT: Ruth Bascom, Robert Bennett, Debra Ehrman,
Freeman Holmer, Jeff Miller, Roger Rutan, Emily Schue.
COUNCILORS ABSENT: Cynthia Wooten.
The regular meeting of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His
Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie.
I. PUBLIC FORUM
Mayor Obie welcomed those attending the meeting and said the council has a
mandatory adjournment time of 10:30 p.m., unless extended by majority vote of
the council. Mayor Obie said the public forum is an opportunity for people
to express opinions and provide information to the council about issues that
e are not scheduled for council consideration. He said the council will not
respond immediately to the concerns expressed in the public forum.
James S. Hance, 1956 East 15th Avenue, reported that his family had been
disturbed at approximately 5:30 a.m. recently by noise made by a film crew's
vehicles. Mr. Hance was concerned that neighbors had received no warning
that the crew would be working in their neighborhood. After several phone
calls to University of Oregon Public Safety personnel, the City Manager's
Office, and Eugene Police, Mr. Hance concluded that the process for managing
noise variances lacks effectiveness and he asked for investigation of the
appropriate municipal codes. Mr. Hance suggested that residents should be
allowed input when code violations occur. He maintained that citizens have
the right to written or verbal notice in these situations and he asked that
City guidelines be followed.
Mr. Bennett thanked Mr. Hance for bringing the matter to the council's
attention and pointed out that destination point activities should be
regulated in a manner that recognizes the effect an activity has on the
neighborhood in which it is located.
Mayor Obie asked staff to review the issue and report back to the council.
Roger Delles, 2517 North 27th, Springfield, spoke as a representative of the
Inter Car Club Council. He requested that the City's anti-cruising ordinance
be reviewed and additional public input sought. Mr. Delles claimed that the
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 10, 1988 Page 1
e ordinance has been used as a tool to block organized auto club activities
such as cruises, but he did not believe this was the intent. Mr. Delles
cited the recent Classic Chevies International Western Nationals event that
brought 350 delegates to Eugene as an example of the economic value of
organized auto club activities.
Mayor Obie directed staff to respond to Mr. Delles' concern in a memorandum.
II. DIRECTION TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REVIEWING BUDGET COMMITTEE ROLE AND
STRUCTURE
City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. He said discussion was to
focus on the council's and Budget Committee's respective roles in the budget
process in order to provide direction to the Council Committee on Committees.
Mayor Obie observed that because two present members of the Council Committee
on Committees will not serve after January, it might be more appropriate for
another subcommittee to consider the matter.
Ms. Schue said her intention in raising the issue at the Quarterly Process
Session was to clarify what the proposed committee's work should be. She
identified the question of whether to change the method of choosing Budget
Committee members as one possible area for consideration.
Mr. Gleason said his interpretation was that the council did not want to
e consider the issue of Budget Committee selection method at this time, but did
want to consider other issues relating to roles in the budget review process.
Ms. Ehrman recalled the council1s earlier consideration of whether to change
the selection process and said a staff proposal for change had been rejected.
Mr. Rutan indicated he has concerns about the entire budget process. He
considered the Budget Committee extremely important, but questioned its
ability to accomplish its intended tasks. He supported the council's review
of the Budget Committee and process.
Mr. Holmer said there was a question of whether the Mayor should serve as a
member of the Budget Committee. He supported directing a council
subcommittee to consider this question while reviewing the entire budget
process.
Ms. Bascom said the structure of meetings for the current year has been
settled. She suggested that the new Mayor, council president, and vice
president address the issue in January.
Mr. Miller concurred with Ms. Bascom's suggestion to delay consideration of
developing a more effective budget process until after the election.
. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 10, 1988 Page 2
e Mayor Obie stated that the 1989 Council Committee on Committees, composed of
the Mayor, council president, and vice president will be charged with
recommending a new Budget Committee process and format.
Mr. Rutan asked that Mayor Obie's statement be altered to not specify who
will serve on the committee to review the budget process. He said he hoped
that different council viewpoints would be represented on the proposed
committee.
III. ORDINANCE CONCERNING CITY ADVISORY GROUPS
City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item.
CB 3072--An ordinance concerning City boards, commissions, and
committees; amending Sections 2.013, 2.050, 2.224,
2.280, and 3.119 to the Eugene Code, 1971; adding
Section 2.170 to that code; and declaring an emergency.
Responding to Ms. Bascom's request for clarification, Mayor Obie said the
council altered membership on the Youth Commission to include a local elected
official.
Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, that the bill, with
unanimous consent of the council, be read a second time by council
bill number only, and that enactment be considered at this time.
e The motion carried unanimously, 7:0.
Council Bill 3072 was read the second time by council bill number only.
Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, that the bill be approved
and given final passage. Roll call vote; all councilors present
voting aye, the bill was declared passed (and became Ordinance
#19579).
IV. MAYOR'S NOMINATION TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION AND METROPOLITAN
AREA PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAPAC)
Mayor Obie commented that both nominees were well qualified for the
positions.
Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to appoint laurel Fisher
to the Cultural Affairs Commission to complete an unexpired term
ending December 31, 1990; and to appoint Michael Marczuk to the
Metropolitan Area Plan Advisory Committee to complete an expired
term ending June 30, 1991. The motion carried unanimously, 7:0.
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 10, 1988 Page 3
e V. RESOLUTION OPPOSING BALLOT MEASURE 20-03
City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item.
Ms. Schue noted that the council's consideration of the resolution was a way
of responding to the issue that had been discussed by the Legislative
Committee.
Res. No. 4102--A resolution stating the opposition of the Eugene
City Council to 1988 City of Eugene Ballot Measure
20-03, which seeks to amend the City Charter to
create a Recreation/Natural Resources Zone and a
process requiring rezoning consideration upon
submittal to City Council of a petition signed by
7,000 registered voters.
Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to adopt the resolution.
Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0.
VI. ANNUAL REPORT OF EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced Linda Weston, Executive Director of
the Eugene/Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Ms. Weston said the visitor industry had enjoyed a good year. Room tax
e receipts for FY88 were up 11.6 percent for the City of Eugene and 12.25
percent for Lane County. The national average was 3 percent. She described
the increasing competition among cities for convention sales and tourism
dollars. Specific market areas have been targeted as those that will help
the area maintain its share of the market, and include religious conferences,
educational/University-related business, timber industry, agricultural,
software, and amateur sports functions.
Ms. Weston pointed out that the Convention and Visitors Bureau is among the
few organizations that helps generate the revenue from which it is funded.
Ms. Weston highlighted activities of the bureau's various departments.
Convention Sales exceeded its 1987 goal of 40,000 future delegates with an
actual sales total of 58,560 future convention delegates. This year's goal
is to book 60,000 delegates. She noted that in 1987 actual convention
attendance was 86,500 delegates, with a direct financial impact exceeding $43
million. A steady upward trend should continue. In 1987, the Convention
Services Department provided personalized service to over 300 events and
conventions.
Ms. Weston reported the Tourism Department had printed 50,000 official
visitor's guides a year ago and has approximately 2,000 remaining. A new
guide that includes advertising is being printed. As a result of its
advertising campaign, the bureau was recently awarded the Travel Industry of
America's national award for Best Regional Area Promotion. The Tourism
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 10, 1988 Page 4
e Department also participated in developing a hospitality training program and
is responsible for contracting with Looking Glass Job Center to manage and
maintain three visitor kiosks on Interstate 5 and 101.
The Visitor Services Department served 5,495 walk-in visitors in 1987,
representing a 71 percent increase over 1986. In 1988, there has been a 70
percent increase in the number of foreign visitors, but the majority of
walk-in visitors continue to be from Oregon.
With memberships now totaling 286, membership sales nearly met its $50,000
goal. Ms. Weston cited in-kind donations of $20,000 as an indication of the
private sector's view of membership as an investment it has been willing to
make.
One of the bureau's major projects has been long-term planning, and
Ms. Weston reported that a five-year plan that includes tourism, marketing,
convention sales, and operations will be in its final form by the end of
November.
Responding to a question from Mr. Rutan, Ms Weston noted that present room
rates are substantially lower than those in cities with which Eugene/
Springfield competes.
Ms. Ehrman commented on a brochure that is handed out at inspection stations
when one enters California. Ms. Weston anticipated that Oregon might begin
similar activities.
e Responding to Ms. Bascom's inquiry about the relationship between the Hult
Center and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ms. Weston described the Hult
Center as a valuable asset in selling the community. She said the Hult is
viewed as a meeting facility as well as a cultural attraction.
Mr. Miller referred to a billboard near Medford and asked if this type of
advertising had been considered. Noting the expense of billboard
advertising, Ms. Weston said the idea is often discussed.
Mr. Holmer congratulated Ms. Weston on the bureau's report and asked whether
additional facilities would assist in merchandising the community.
Ms. Weston responded that a dramatic increase in the number of convention
delegates attracted between 1980 and 1982 resulted from the opening of the
Hilton, Hult, and Conference Center and the expansion and renovation of the
County Convention Center and other lodging facilities. Ms. Weston said the
numbers can be maintained, but the area will not experience that dramatic
growth unless there is a major change in the scope and size of the facilities
available in the community.
Mayor Obie noted that the Convention and Visitors Bureau has negotiated a
three-year contract with Springfield and Lane County, but its contract with
the City of Eugene is annual. Ms. Weston said there was a commitment to work
toward a long-term or multi-year funding process in the bureau's current
contract with the City. She described contract negotiation as a staff-
e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October la, 1988 Page 5
e intensive process and noted the difficulty of long-term planning when
operating on an annual contract basis. She considered the ability to make
long-term marketing plans necessary for remaining competitive.
Mayor Obie encouraged the council to adopt a positive attitude when
considering this issue in the future.
VII. CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE VACATION OF PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY, A PORTION OF WILLAKENZIE ROAD LOCATED EAST OF BEST LANE
(ROBERT MELTEBEKE SV 88-4)
City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. He requested that council
establish the hearing date for November 28, 1988, rather than October 10,
1988, as shown on the agenda.
Ms. Bascom moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to call a public hearing
for November 28, 1988, to consider a street vacation request by
Robert Meltebeke (SV 88-4). The motion carried unanimously, 7:0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m. to October 12, 1988.
Respectfully submitted,
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Micheal Gleason,
City Manager
(Recorded by Mary Feldman)
mncc 101088-730
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