Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/12/1982 Meeting ~ ~ e e - M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Dinner Meeting Treehouse Restaurant April 12, 1982 5 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Gus Keller; D. W. (Bill) Hamel, Brian Obie, Mark Lindberg, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten, Gretchen Miller, Betty Smith, councilors; City Manager Micheal Gleason; Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow; Richard Reynolds, Performing Arts Center Executive Director; Gary Long, Administrative Services Director; Pat Lynch, Council Administrator; Carol Baker, Community Relations Director; David Pelletier, Angus Anderson, Luke Bandle, Performing Arts Center staff; Susan Pack, Eugene Register-Guard. Mayor Keller opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m. I. CONFERENCE CENTER AND EUGENE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER UPDATE A. Conference Center Mr. Reynolds reported on the formal opening of the Conference Center April 11, 1982, The center was toured by 1,500 people. There was music from the U of 0 band. Visitors had a good impression of the facility. Mr. Reynolds listed the conventions that will be using the facility in the near future. Mr. Radcliffe of the Convention and Vistors Bureau reported $5 million of convention and conference business generated in the first three months of this year largely because of this facility. There have been 26 users in the first three weeks. In April the amount of usage is expected to increase. Mr. Reynolds said that they may ask the Renewal Agency for additional money to help further equip the center. They would ask for under $10,000 in order to add electric supplies for exhibits, a piano, etc. B. Eugene Performing Arts Center Mr. Reynolds said that although inflation caused many items to be cut from the EPAC projects, the interest rate from bonds has enabled these items to be restored. The large hall is unique because it is a multiple-purpose hall with a very versatile sound system. By having the recently added light and sound equipment, overhead costs for touring and local companies will be lower. David Pelletier and the architects have added 407 concert hall lights and 172 theater lights. This is a 65-percent increase in lighting. The result will be a 300-percent savings in manpower costs. Both halls should take care of the needs of any show with the added sound equipment. Mr. Reynolds explained the versa- tility and uniqueness of the small theater and contrasted it with the concert hall. There are 14 dressing rooms that will accommodate up to 120 performers. With two halls operating simultaneously, more dressing rooms may be needed in the future. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Meeting April 12, 1982 Page 1 --~ . Shortcomings of the facility were explained; they are one elevator, lack of storage space (space in the garage is being adapted for props and storage), and a small ticket office. From September to November five different series will be sold in the concert hall. The EPAC promotional program, nationwide and locally, has been success- fully accomplished. Mr. Reynolds told about the market survey which resulted in a response of over 14,000 people added to their mailing list. Musicals and country western programs are the most popular. Mr. Reynolds explained the different series that would be sold for the hall. He said the conferences booked at the hotels have bought blocks of tickets. Some programs have been booked in conjunction with school programs and local arts companies. The Eugene Ballet will co-sponsor, with EPAC, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. A dance group will give a special performance for grades four, five, and six. The U of 0 and music educators will sponsor a children's choral festival in conjunction with the Vienna Boys Choir. The Vienna Boys Choir will give a special matinee performance for the Oregon School Choir participants. After the performance, all choir members will have box lunches in the Conference Center. e Extensive media coverage for the grand opening will include major national magazines and newspapers, along with wire services. The opening will be covered by Oregon Educational Broadcasting. They will edit the program and present it for national broadcasting. C. A Name for the Square Mr. Reynolds explained the need for a distinctive address for the Hilton, the Conference Center, and the Performing Arts Center. Council interest would result in a recommendation from the Performing Arts Commission. The council and Mr. Reynolds discussed possible names. Ms. Wooten asked about the shortfall in revenues for the Conference Center. Mr. Reynolds said that they had asked for $25,000 subsidy for the initial year. Mr. Reynolds anticipated the Eugene Arts Foundation would be assisting in the expected deficit of the EPAC. The Mayor suggested the councilors plan to be at the Grand Opening September 24 and at the September 23 thank-you dinner. Mr. Reynolds explained that Phase 3, seat sponsorship, is beginning. National foundation support is extremely difficult to get. Applications for endowments have been made. They hope the publicity created by the opening will generate further foundation support. II. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Mr. Long distributed "Estimated Benefits to the City of Eugene: A Proposed Intergovernmental Agreement," and "0utline of Proposed AgreemenL" He said staff is in the final stages of putting the intergovernmental agreement together that was agreed upon at last Thursday's meeting of local elected officials. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Meeting April 12, 1982 Page 2 --..;.. '. ,. . e . The Local Elected Officials Task Force met four times. Mr. Long reviewed the distributed material. He read the recital acknowledging that a service inequity problem exists when the County uses a property tax levy and that such issues will be worked out with the cities and the County. The elected officials hope to come to an agreement in several areas over the next year or two, including road assessment policies in unincorporated areas, health and human services, parks services, and taxing decisions. If timber receipts return to former levels and the County funding situation reverses, the cities and County would work on "rainy day projects" and regional projects, and would not return to the spending practices of the past. Mr. Long reviewed the specific areas of possible agreements: jail, regional criminal justice data system, joint social services, animal regulation, and library services. Mr. Long reviewed the proposed area of agreement concerning roads as outlined in the memorandum. Under the agreement the cities are urged to support and provide leadership to the County's tax base proposal. Mr. Long said there was a projected $2,097,000 benefit to the City of Eugene if the agreement is completed. It is contingent on the County budget passing. If the budget does not pass, they have a commitment to work together regardless. Mr. Long said that failure of the County budget levy to pass will have a very serious implications for the cities. Many intergovernmental services will not be supported. Law enforcement and judicial services will continue, but in the areas of social services, animal control, and L-COG, the County will have to pullout a great deal of support. Ms. Smith asked how the coordination of the City budget and County election will work. Mr. Long replied that the City budget was put together without consideration of this County election and agreement. If the County budget does pass and the agreement is put into effect, the City will have a two- to three-percent area of play in the operating budget. If the County budget fails, there will be a week or ten days to decide if the City should put a measure on the June ballot. In response to a question, Mr. Long to be decided by the City Council. actively and encouraging the Eugene forth. said the definition of "active support" is It could mean passing a resolution, working Action Forum to work for passage, and so Ms. Miller, who had attended the intergovernmental meetings, explained that if the ballot issue passes, it will result in an assessment on the property tax. It will be hitting the same people. Therefore, it is essential that the double taxation issues are resolved and more efficiency is obtained in government serv ices. Mr. Obie suggested the council resolution explaining the issue and the present interdependency be drafted. Ms. Smith suggested the Eugene Action Forum be contacted. Mr. Lindberg questioned the incentives for the smaller cities in the county to join Eugene in working to pass the measure. He suggested the councilors work actively for support. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Meeting April 12, 1982 Page 3 . . Ms. Wooten questioned whether the City would present a ballot measure. Mr. Gleason said that he was not proposing a Tier II election. If the County ballot measure passes, it has the potential of raising $2.5 million for the City. Ms. Wooten asked if there was a correlation between the County measure passing and the number of people that the City would have to layoff. Mr. Gleason said there was and he would give her the figures. Mr. Long promised to have the agreement before the councilors before their Wednesday meeting. The County Commissioners will discuss the agreement on Tuesday. Ms. Wooten suggested that a public hearing would be a useful educa- tional tool. Mr. Gleason agreed but said time was very short. Mr. Gleason believed this agreement was a positive approach with a reasonable distribution of benefits to the City. It presents, however, a policy decision for the City Council. There is some political risk involved. Mayor Keller said he would attend the commissioners' meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Several other councilors agreed to attend. Meeting was adjourned at 7:15. Respectfully submitted, "" ,.,...~ ~....-:'---;~"",.l}_ ...~:~~.,...~:7 ~~'(,// ;~~~:r;~f;:f,,<>/ ,. ~.;!\,~ /~' /(~..c.~ Mic eal D. Gle~ e City Manager (Recorded by Beth Conant) MDG:BC:ky/CM23a25 . MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Meeting April 12, 1982 Page 4