HomeMy WebLinkAbout160120.WS.SIREMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
January 20, 2016
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, George Poling, Mike Clark, Greg Evans,
Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Mayor Piercy opened the January 20, 2016, meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency.
1. WORK SESSION: Downtown Improvements -Funding Options
Economic Prosperity Programs Manager Amanda Nobel Flannery, Urban Design Planner Will Dowdy,
and Economic Development Planner Anne Fifield gave a PowerPoint presentation with follow up
information on high-speed fiber, park block scenarios, and funding options.
Council discussion:
• Using parks systems- development charges (SDC) would be good for park blocks; restrooms
should be top priority.
• Extension of the urban renewal district by the council would break trust with the voters.
• Wait for State's decision before considering raising the transient room tax and other funding
options.
• Concern expressed about piecing together the budget by adding new taxes.
• Extending the urban renewal district for a finite period and specific outcomes would enable
quick movement on proposed improvements.
• Use of SDCs as a funding option would create further burden on limited funds; already behind
on the list of parks.
• List of priority rankings for SDG projects is needed; community engagement will be needed.
• Sprucing up park blocks would add a lot of value; children's play area or amenities needed.
• Request made for an overlay map showing the two urban renewal districts and the high-speed
fiber project.
• Any extension of the urban renewal district should be referred to the voters.
• Requests made for inventory of downtown furniture in storage, report on downtown bathroom
usage, and updated downtown plan.
• Quick action to implement high-speed fiber is critical to its success; the longer the wait, the less
effective it will be as an economic development tool.
• High-speed fiber will help the community as a whole; will allow us to keep companies here.
• Comprehensive parks assessment with community engagement is needed.
The meeting adjourned at 1:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Chuck Crockett
Deputy City Recorder
1VIINUTES —Eugene City Council
Work Session
January 20, 2016
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