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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/08/1984 Meeting -T M I NUT E S - Eugene City Council Dinner Session Middle Columbia Room, Valley River Inn October 8, 1984 5 :00 p.m. PRESENT: Cynthia Wooten, Chair; Richard Hansen, Debra Ehrman, John Ball, Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom, Freeman Holmer, Councilors; Roger Rutan, Planning Commission; Micheal Gleason, City Manager; Dave Whitlow, Assistant City Manager; Susan Brody, Pat Decker, Teresa Bishow, Jerry Jacobson, Planning Staff; Elaine Stewart, Community Development Director; Tim Birr, Acting Public Relations Officer Ms. Wooten called the meeting to order. She introduced Mr. Rutan, Planning Commission member and Councilor-elect. Ms. Wooten said, in preparation for the meeting on October 15, members would go over the changes in the draft Downtown Plan made by the Planning Commission and outlined in the distributed material "Revisions and Errata May 1984 Draft Eugene Downtown Plan." She introduced Ms. Decker to answer questions. 1. EUGENE DOWNTOWN PLAN DRAFT (memorandum distributed) - Ms. Decker said the distributed material reflected the changes by both the Downtown Commission and the Planning Commission made after public hearings before those bodies. The council public hearing on the Downtown Plan will be held on October 22nd. Ms. Decker stated both commissions agreed that language needed to be clarified. They agreed that emphasis on downtown as a business and commercial center was needed. Both commissions dealt with Willamette Street between 10th and 11th. Both commissions agreed that a design process is needed to evaluate design proposal s. The Planning Commission agreed with the Downtown Commission but opened the range of options the bodies should be considering. The Pl anni ng Commission wanted the expanded option of not opening the street. Ms. Stewart said the Chair of the Planning Commission and the Chair of the Downtown Commission will present their positions to the City Council. The City Council will make the final decisions. Members reviewed the revised version of the introduction. They asked if the listing of priorities was according to importance. Staff told them the listing was the priority of the Downtown Commission but did not reflect the projects in order of implementation. Ms. Ehrman did not want to adopt the priorities. Ms. Wooten pointed out that the items 4.4, 4.5, and 4.6 on page 2 do not belong in the document. Members agreed that staff should develop a work plan for such mi nor items. Ms. Brody reminded council that they would take action after the .e council public hearing. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Session October 8, 1984 Page 1 Members discussed the emphasis on the mall as a business center (6.2 on page 2). Mr. Rutan said the emphasis was not on business but was just to clarify the orginal language. e Members questioned 7.6 on page 2. They said it reflected on the City cleanup crews. Members thought 8.0 also reflected upon City services. Mr. Ball said it was a reflection that security was not good. Ms. Ehrman said she would like to discuss this on the 15th. Members asked for better language in item 11.2. They did not like the word "organized." Members discussed the section on Downtown Services and Markets. Ms. Wooten asked if they intended "Markets" or IIMarketing." Ms. Bascom asked that number 9 include 5th Avenue. Mr. Hansen asked economic restraint and cited recommendations that the mall not be too large. Staff agreed the 5th Avenue area did need landscaping. Members turned to the section Access, Circulation, and Parking. Under 3.4 members agreed an east-west bicycle route was needed and this item should be sent to the Bicycle Committee. Members discussed number 8--the opening of Willamette Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. Ms. Decker said both commissions have been strongly in favor of removing the structure on the corner of 10th and Willamette. The Downtown Commission favors opening. The Planning Commission favors evaluating the design alternatives. Both favor the use of a shuttle bus. Mr. Hansen said a turnout lane promotes danger. He suggested they consult Traffic Engineering. Ms. Wooten said the Downtown Commission recommendation included e opening Willamette from 8th to 11th. She anticipated extensive discussion. Ms. Ehrman suggested that under number 10, page 7, they encourage employers to help employees to use Lane Transit District. Members reviewed the section on Downtown Design. They asked staff to insert the word "overgrowth" under 3c. Under number 4, members asked staff for a report from Public Works about the safety of turnouts. Under number 7, Ms. Wooten asked for more information on the Mill Race Restora- tion. Under number 10, members agreed to add 5th Avenue to the Unified Landscape Pl an. There were no further comments on items in the document. Members reviewed the priorities. Mr. Rutan strongly suggested members bring the plan to the meeting on Monday. He and Mr. Schwartz will be available for questions and ex plana t ion s . Mr. Gleason said this was the first time the downtown core had been planned. Ms. Wooten asked staff to consider that the City expand the taxing district or form two taxing districts to pay for improvements in the 5th Street area. Mr. Hansen said many reports said downtown was too big. He as ked if th i s was in conflict. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Session October 8, 1984 Page 2 II. HISTORIC PRESERVATION (material distributed) -- Mr. Jacobson said staff was bringing this item to the Council to tell why the program was reorganized, to familiarize members with the program, to discuss alternatives that have been proposed, and finally to tell members the direction the Planning Commission has given the staff. The reasons for reorganization include the need to streamline the program's processes and to respond to direction from a subcommittee of the council to reduce the number of boards and commissions. Mr. Jacobson said there were three components of the program: regul atory , incentive, and public information. He explained how these components are handl ed. Mr. Jacobson referred to the matrix that was in the distributed material. He explained how "Alternative B" would expand the Historic Review Board from five to seven people. The HRB would be the only hearing body. The loan program would be handled administratively. "Alternative C" would abolish the HRB and use the Planning Commission as the hearing body. On September 10, the Planning Commission agreed on a tentive recommendation that would retain the HRB ("Al ternati ve B"). Mr. Jacobson explained the process for the reorganization. He said the Citizen Involvement Committee had reviewed the citizen participation process. They concurred with the plan, with the exception of moving the Planning Commission hearing date from October 23, to November 20. The City Council hearing date will be December 10. e Ms. Brody pointed out that "Alternative B" eliminated the City Council's involvement in the process. "Alternative C" maintained the appeal to the City Council. Mr. Jacobson added that under lieu three members of a Historic Preser- vation Committee would provide expertise to counsel and advise the, Planning Commission on historic preservation matters. Ms. Ehrman noted that with the expanded board there should be a person with a background in landscape architecture. She asked if, as one of the duties, they could add historic trees. Ms. Decker said staff had not considered this suggestion. They will be doing a City-wide historic resources survey. One component of the survey is natural features. Ms. Decker said she would take the suggestion back to the Planning Commission. Mr. Rutan told the council the Planning Commission did not want to make judgments in the historic area and they did not have the time to do so. They did want to continue to have a historic preservation program in the city. He said "Alternative B" would have education and citizen involvement. It could involve people who were really interested in historic preservation. After discussion members agreed enforcement capabilities were needed. That "gutting" a building was not historic preservation. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Dinner Session Oc to b er 8, 1984 Page 3