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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/14/1989 Meeting .; , . M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Dinner/Work Session B.J.'s Restaurant August 14, 1989 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Ruth Bascom, Bobby Green, Debra Ehrman, Emily Schue, Freeman Holmer. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Rob Bennett, Shawn Boles, Roger Rutan. The regular meeting of the Eugene City Council was called to order by Mayor Jeff Mi 11 er. I. PRESENTATION ON WILLAMETTE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER Ed Smith, Executive Manager of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, gave the staff report. He said the City presently owns the land upon which the Willamette Science and Technology Center (WISTEC) sits. e Ownership of the building will be transferred from the County to the City soon. Mr. Smith said the building has an area of 6,300 square feet and is worth approximately $1 million. He said several agencies contributed funds for construction of the building--the City contributed $75,000, WISTEC contributed $50,000, Lane ESD provided $158,000 for the planetarium, and the County provided the balance. Mr. Smith said WISTEC and Lane ESD were guaranteed 10 years of free rent in exchange for their contributions. The free rent ends in February 1990 and at that time, negotiating use of the building will be the City's responsibility. Mr. Smith said the County installed an 8-inch watermain to the site. WISTEC has been paying the water bill for not only its own facility, but at times for rental houses adjacent to the property and for irrigation of the Cuthbert Amphitheater. Mr. Smith said staff is in the process of rectifying this. Mr. Smith said WISTEC's current budget is approximately $150,00 per year; 25 percent of this is raised through admission fees. Mr. Smith said WISTEC's program fits within the definition of appropriate uses of room tax monies, but it would probably not be legal for the City to grant room tax money to WISTEC for the purpose of retiring the center's debt s . He said that the City could buy programs from WISTEC in the future, using room tax funds to pay for the programs. e MINUTES--City Council-- August 14, 1989 Page 1 Dinner/Work Session -. ~~... , , , . Mr. Smith said staff researched the need for the types of programs offered by WISTEC. He' said staff believes that there is a need for science classes open to adults as well as children. Mr. Smith said the WISTEC Board is committed to making a last attempt to keep the center open. He assured the council that WISTEC is approaching other jurisdictions for funding and said staff feels that a City contribution of $5,000-$10,000 from the Contingency Fund is appropriate. ,. Ms. Ehrman asked if there are alternatives to operating WISTEC as a nonprofit agency. Mr. Smith said one alternative is to close WISTEC. Another alternative is for the center to be operated by the City or County. Mr. Holmer asked whether the University has pledged emergency funding for WISTEC. Ms. Bascom said the dir'ector of WISTEC and WISTEC board members intend to contact the University about a contribution. She added that the University has historically supported WISTEC through in-kind services. II. RIVERFRONT RESEARCH PARK DEVELOPER NEGOTIATIONS R.A. "Gus" Keller, Chair of the Riverfront Research Park Commission, updated the council on selection of a developer of the Riverfront Research Park. He said that during 1986-88, the University and City were working with The Carley Capital Group to plan the project. In late 1988, Carley asked to be released from the project due to internal restructuring of the company. The University and the City recently conducted a two-stage search process for a e new private developer to develop the research park on a phased basis. Mr. Keller said the search process attracted three very good firms, all with experience in research park development. The commission felt that each of the teams had particular and unique strengths they could bring to the project. - Mr. Keller said the Riverfront Research Park Commission is recommending that Institutional Development Associates (IDA) be selected as the preferred developer for the research park. He said this company is familiar with, and sensitive to, the development climate on the West Coast. " Ms. Ehrman asked whether IDA believes changes to the master site plan are needed. Mr. Keller said IDA was supportive of the master site plan and did not feel any changes were necessary. He said IDA also felt that the relationship between the City and University is unique and will make development of the park easier. Answering a question from Ms. Schue, Mr. Keller said if the conditional use permit for the project is not appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals, it may be possible to break ground in late spring 1990. Mayor Miller asked if there are ways to speed groundbreaking of the project. Mr. Keller was skeptical about breaking ground before late spring. He explained that much of the time between selection of the developer and ground breaking will be spent marketing and designing the project and obtaining financing. Mr. Keller said if this marketing is to be done well, it will take several months. e MINUTES--City Council-- August 14, 1989 Page 2 Dinner/Work Session ~ 4 . Mr. Holmer asked whether the new University President, Myles Brand, has been fully briefed on the project. Mr. Moseley said Dr. Brand has been fully informed about the project. He added that Dr. Brand is supportive of the commission1s recommendation that IDA be selected as the developer for the park. Answering a question from Ms. Bascom, Mr. Keller said IDA is aware of the controversy surrounding the research park and is not disturbed by it. Ms. Ehrman asked for information about the transportation improvements associated with the project. Cathy Briner, Planning and Development Department, said the transportation improvements associated with Phase I of the project will be funded by the State. She said necessary improvements for later phases of the project will be included in the Capital Improvement Plan. Mr. Green asked why local developers did not submit proposals for the project. Mr. Moseley stated that no local developers have experience with research parks. Ms. Briner added that IDA is expecting to use local construction companies and architects. Ms. Schue asked how the sewer line for the project will be financed. Ms. Briner said this has not been resolved. She said the City is waiting to learn whether it is eligible for a grant from EDA. If not, the City will apply to the State for a special public works grant. e Mr. Green asked whether the tuition of University students will be increased to help cover the costs of the research park. Mr. Moseley said it is not possible for the University to use student funds to offset the construction costs of the research park. At 6:30 p.m., the meeting was recessed until 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~11~-- Mi heal Gleason, City Manager (Recorded by Tanya Northman) MNCC 081489-530 . MINUTES--City Council-- August 14, 1989 Page 3 Dinner/Work Session