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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/14/1982 Meeting (2) t ........ " M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council City Council Chamber June 14 ~ 1982 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: John Ball, D.W. Hamel, Mark Lindberg, Gretchen Miller, Brian Obie, Betty Smith, Cynthia Wooten. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Emily Schue. Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller. 1. MAYOR'S MID-YEAR STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ON EUGENE'S ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAM Mayor Keller said that almost a year ago the City had started a program to increase job opportunities, diversify the economy, and make Eugene attractive to businesses. He said that the City Council had designated the month of June as a period in which to focus on the City's economic diversification efforts and to hear comments from citizens on the program. Mayor Keller emphasized that the e City's six-point program was a long-term effort. He said that the public and private sectors were working well and cooperating together, but that all those involved recognized that national and regional economic conditions would affect the City's efforts. Mayor Keller reviewed the six segments of the City's economic diversification program and the progress made in each segment. Regarding the Industrial Siting portion of the program, Mayor Keller said that a consensus on how to accommodate future industrial growth had been reached in the Metropolitan Area General Plan. He said the plan sets the stage for industrial and commercial growth for the area through the year 2000. He said that acknowledgment of the plan was expected to occur in August 1982. Mayor Keller said that new industries require City services and that this in turn requires annexation of land. He said that over 700 acres would be annexed to the City within the next 12 to 15 months. He noted that construction of the West Eugene Sewer Trunk Line was an important step in providing siting options for industry. Mayor Keller said that the Metropolitan Plan also designated five Special Light Industrial sites, totaling over 640 acres, to accommodate high technology firms. He emphasized the important role of the cooperative efforts of the City and the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, working through the Joint Committee on Economic Development (JCED). He said that the JCED had developed the Business Assistance and Marketing Team to direct the work of the Business Assistance Team (BAT). Mayor Keller reviewed the public and private funding sources for the work of the BAT and said that the in-kind and fiscal contributions to the BAT totaled $340,000. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 14, 1982 Page 1 , .- Mayor Keller said that the Core Area Redevelopment portion of the six-point e program called for a focus of Community Development Block Grant funds on economic diversification and housing rehabilitation. He said that for the 1982-83 Fiscal Year, $260,000 would be set aside for economic diversification and $360,000 for housing rehabilitation. He said that lending agreements were being developed to blend Community Development funds and lenders' dollars to create new loan programs. Mayor Keller said that on May 24, 1982, the council had created the Eugene Downtown Commission, and that that group would be involved in the core area redevelopment efforts. Regarding the Small Business Assistance portion of the six-point program, Mayor Keller said that the City had contracted with Profiles Northwest, a Eugene-based management-consulting firm, to identify the needs of Eugene's small businesses and the resources available to meet them. Mayor Keller said that the Destination Point Activity of the City's program was aimed primarily at marketing the new Civic Center complex. He noted the importance of the role of the Eugene Arts Foundation in creation of this complex. Mayor Keller reviewed the costs involved in construction of the entire complex and said that they totaled $45.6 million, with over one-third of those funds coming from private resources. He said that the City also had contributed over $85,000 in the last several years to the work of the Visitors and Convention Bureau. Mayor Keller noted that the efforts made to attract tourists to Eugene would also attract businesses. Mayor Keller said that the Employment and Training portion of the six-point e program has concentrated on linking economic development efforts with the City CETA program. Regarding Planning for Capital Im,rovements, Mayor Keller said that the council had adopted as part of its Capita Improvement Program four projects that are of spec i a 1 importance to the economic diversification program: acquisition of land for Mahlon Sweet Airport; expansion of the airport terminal; development of the Willamette Arcade; and construction of the West Eugene Sewer Line. Mayor Ke 11 er noted that the state-funded project to extend 6th and 7th avenues west of the City was also an important element in local economic development efforts. Mayor Keller said that the Development Assistance and Information Center, which opened March 15, 1982, also played a key role in the City's economic diversifi- cation efforts. He said that the center handles approximately 60 information requests per day. He noted that Phase II of that program would provide land use planning information through the Information Center. He said that other City permit processes were being studied for incorporation into future phases of the work of the Information Center. Mayor Keller emphaisized that throughout the City's economic diversification efforts, the importance of the existing mainstay industries--wood products and agriculture--had not been forgotten. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 14, 1982 Page 2 Mayor Keller emphasized the importance of the excellent cooperation that was e taking place between government and private business in the efforts to diversify Eugene's economy. He said that community support for the work had been outstanding and that there had been a good networking of resources in a joint effort to improve the local economy. Mayor Keller said that the month of June had been designated as a time for focusing on the City's part in this effort and for providing opportunity for members of the public to share ideas and make comments on the program. He said that on June 23, councilors would meet with business people and others to share ideas informally at a no-host lunch meeting. He said that on that same date, from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m., members of the public could tour the Information Center and meet the members of the Business Assistance Team. Mayor Keller said that at 7:30 p.m. on the 23rd, the City Council would hold a special public hearing to receive comments from citizens on the City's economic development efforts. Mayor Keller concluded by thanking the council members for their work on and support of the City's economic development program. City Manager Micheal Gleason reminded councilors that they would have an oppor- tunity to tour the Willow Creek Basin, beginning at 11 a.m. on June 16, 1982, and that the council meeting on that date would not begin until 12:30 p.m. II. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. 1-1 Special Light Industrial District (memo, background information e distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced,Jim Farah, Assistant Planning Director. Mr. Farah referred to the eighth draft of the 1-1 Special Light Industrial District, which had been distributed to councilors. He said that, as a result of the public testimony at the council's February 8,1982, hearing on the Planning Commission's recommendation regarding the 1-1 District, the council had asked that a subcom- mittee, composed of Mayor Keller and councilors Obie and Miller, study the proposed ordinance and make recommendations to the full council. Mr. Farah said that Draft 8 reflected the work of the subcommittee. He said that the changes made by the subcommittee were 1) relaxation of lot size standards for office complexes, industrial parks, and individual uses after major sitings have occurred which would ultimately require 50 acres of an 1-1 area designated in the Metropolitan Area General Plan; 2) addition of printing, publishing, and manufacturing and distribution of electric transmission equipment; and 3) making laboratory and other physical and research and development uses outright uses, rather than requiring them to be reviewed through site review mechanisms. Mr. Farah said that, in addition, the subcommittee had recommended that a mandatory review period of 30 months should be added to the ordinance. He noted that, due to a communication problem with the City Attorney's Office, the ordinance before the council called for a 24-month rather than a 30-month review period, but added that this could be changed if councilors wished. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 14, 1982 Page 3 ~ e Public hearing was opened. Jim Saul, P.O. Box 1650, Eugene 97440, said that he had represented the owners of the Cone-Breeden, West Terry Street, and Spectra Physics Special Light Industrial sites during development of the I-I ordinance during the past year. He endorsed all three of the changes recommended by the council subcommittee and supported the 24-month review period for the ordinance. Mr. Saul thanked the members of the council subcommittee for their work on the ordinance. David B. Williams, 975 Oak Street, Suite 600, represented West Park Associates. He said that he continued to oppose the ordinance as drafted and that his comments on the matter were already in the record. Dave Van Fossen, 2700 Almaden, said that he specializes in industrial and commercial real estate. He said that he keep~ a map and record of all industrial property in the area and of all sales and cost figures. He said that there is no excess of M-2-zoned land. He submitted a written statement, dated June 14, 1982, and read into the record a parcel-by-parcel enumeration of the 15 M-2 Light Industrial-zoned sites inside the City limits of Eugene that are ready to build on and have all City services in place. He said that the total number of acres within these sites was 426.02. Mr. Van Fossen noted that these figures contradicted the staff report on the proposed ordinance, which stated that there were in excess of 1,000 acres with services in place and ready to build on. He said that application of the 1-1 zone would leave little M-2 land available in the City. e Gordon Elliott, 938 Jefferson Street, said that few high-technology industries had located in the City of Eugene, because the City had been inflexible in accommodating them. He felt that the proposed ordinance was a good attempt at flexibility but that that it was still too rigid. He felt that any high-technology industry which was thinking of locating in Eugene should be allowed to select any available piece of land and that the City should then decide whether that use would be detrimental to the community. Mr. Elliott said that he owned a 200-acre parcel with all the necessary services that would be an ideal site for a high-technology industry. He did not feel that a site should have to be annexed to the City before it could be developed. There being no further testimony, public hearing was closed. CB 2421--An ordinance establishing the I-I Industrial District; amending Sections 9.254, 9.268, 9.510, 9.534, 9.540, 9.542, 9.544, 9.546, 9.582, 9.586, and 9.598 of the Eugene Code, 1971; adding Sections 9.442, 9.443, 9.444, 9.445 to that code; and declaring an emergency. Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent of the council, and that enactment be considered at this time. Ms. Wooten said that councilors had spent a good deal of time reviewing and studying this ordinance and discussing it with interested members of the public. - Ms. Miller urged that citizens who had been involved with development of this MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 14, 1982 Page 4 ~~ ordinance become involved in development of a refinement plan for the Willow e Creek area. She felt comfortable with a 24-month rather than 30-month review period for the ordinance. Mr. Obie said that the staff of the Planning Department had been very flexible in developing this ordinance and had worked well with the property owners involved and with the council subcommittee. He felt that a good balance had been reached in the proposed ordinance in preserving the Special Light Industrial sites while at the same time allowinq them to be used expediently. He supported the 24-month review period. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. Council Bill 2421 was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. All councilors present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and numbered 18989. Mayor Keller thanked Mr. Farah, Mr. Saul, Mr. Williams, members of the council subcommittee, and others who had worked on the ordinance for their participation and help. B. Public Works Contract Awards (memo distributed, tabulations attached) Mr. Gleason introduced Bert Teitzel, City Engineer. Mr. Teitzel noted that the improvements to Willagillespie Road would be financed in part by Lane County, e through the Aid To Cities Program. He said that staff recommended awarding contracts to the low bidders. Public hearing was opened. Wally Chapman, 990 Country Club Road, objected to the proposed improvement of Country Club Road as a connector to Willagillespie Road, because it would improve a portion of the street in front of his property but would leave a second portion unimproved. Mr. Chapman felt that this would be unsightly and would make the property less appealing to a potential buyer. He said he had been advised by staff that the 800 to 900 block of Country Club Road would not be improved in the near future. He therefore questioned the need for paving along his property. Mr. Chapman suggested that the improvements be stopped on Country Club west of Kerns Acres. There being no further testimony, public hearing was closed. Mr. Teitzel said that staff would work with Mr. Chapman to address his concerns, but noted that he was not certain whether the project could be terminated where Mr. Chapman had suggested. Councilor Smith referred to the projects on which Dannemiller Construction was the lowest bidder, and noted that there was a large spread between that firm's bids and other bids submitted. Mr. Teitzel said that Mr. Dannemiller had assured staff that he could meet that price. Mr. Teitzel said that the firm had . done other work for the City that was satisfactory. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 14, 1982 Page 5 Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to accept the bids as e recommended by staff and to acknowledge that the Public Works Department would work with Wally Chapman to address Mr. Chapman's concerns. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. III. ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING: LEVYING ASSESSMENTS/REFERRAL TO HEARINGS PANEL Mr. Gleason said that staff members were available to respond to questions from counc il ors . CB 2487--An ordinance levying assessments for sanitary sewer to serve Willakenzie Island annexation area No.8, (A-Z 78-11) generally including Bar-M subdivision and property along Willakenzie Road, Best Lane, Van Avenue, Bogart Lane, Bailey Lane, Randall Street, and Satre Street (80-66). Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the bill be read the first time and referred to the assessment hearing panel for hearing June 21, 1982, with panel recommendations to be brought back for council consideration June 28, 1982. Ro 11 ca 11 vote; motion carried unanimously. Mayor Keller reminded staff that the council planned to take a vacation during e the last two weeks in August. Councilor Wooten noted that in the past the council had expressed concern regarding the condition of property at 938 Jefferson Street. She asked staff for a report back on measures that could be taken by the City to clean up that property. Mr. Gleason said that staff would report back on the options available for addressing this concern. The meeting was adjourned to June 16, 1982. Respectfully submitted, ~~. Micheal D. Gleason City Man ager (Recorded by Darcy Marentette) MDG:DCM:cm/CM26b1 e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 14, 1982 Page 6