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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C: Downtown Outcomes ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Downtown Outcomes Meeting Date: September 14, 2009 Agenda Item Number: C Department: Planning & Development Staff Contact: Amanda Nobel Flannery www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5535 ISSUE STATEMENT The work session is a follow-up to council’s August 10, 2009, workshop on downtown economic development, where council brainstormed desired downtown outcomes in light of the current downtown-related policies, plans, and prior public involvement efforts. Dr. Gary Manross from Strategy Research Institute will have 60 minutes to present results from their recent survey on the level of public interest and support for downtown revitalization and potential projects the council could consider. (The council will have the option of additional time with Dr. Manross following the public forum, as needed.) No formal action is requested. BACKGROUND The council’s discussion of downtown revitalization stems from its larger conversation on local economic development actions. The council unanimously approved a City of Eugene Mayor and City Council Economic Development Statement in January. The economic stimulus discussion continued at work sessions on April 13 and May 27, 2009. On May 27, the council approved actions on three economic development related items: 1) sale of surplus City real estate for identified development projects; 2) initiation of procedural code amendments; and 3) consideration of an amendment to the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan. On July 8, the council held a follow-up work session on strategies to reinforce existing programs and businesses downtown and to create a series of stimulus actions to strengthen the City’s role in community economic development. No formal action was taken on July 8; however, the council did express interest in talking about desired downtown outcomes prior to resuming discussion on the various tools available for achieving the outcomes. At a workshop on August 10, the council discussed and categorized desired downtown outcomes after reviewing a summary of the current downtown-related policies, plans, and prior public involvement efforts. Following the workshop, staff compiled councilors’ outcomes into collective statements using the model from the City Council Consensus Workshop Report February 6-7, 2009, prepared by Consensus Associates. (See Attachment A for the “Developing Collective Statements” section of the report and Attachment B for the collective statements.) In efforts to be responsive to direction from the council in July to bring specific economic development projects forward, staff has looked at different ways of gauging community interest and support for downtown redevelopment. One such effort to provide the council with quality information for future Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090914\S091409C.doc discussions was a recent survey performed by the Strategy Research Institute. The survey includes a statistically valid sample of the community; its goal is to provide an accurate measure of the level of public interest and support for downtown revitalization and potential projects the council could consider. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council is not being asked to consider options for this work session. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION No recommendation is necessary. SUGGESTED MOTION No motion is necessary. ATTACHMENTS A.“Developing Collective Statements” from the City Council Consensus Workshop Report: February 6-7, 2009 by Consensus Associates B.Collective Statements – Desired Downtown Outcomes from the August 10, 2009 Council Workshop FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Amanda Nobel Flannery Telephone: 682-5535 Staff e-mail: amanda.nobelflannery@ci.eugene.or.us Z:\CMO\2009 Council Agendas\M090914\S091409C.doc ATTACHMENT A “Developing Collective Statements” from the City Council Consensus Workshop Report: February 6-7, 2009 by Consensus Associates * COLLECTIVE STATEMENTS Collective statements are based on the belief that each of us sees the world from a different viewpoint. Our individual views are like pieces of a puzzle -- when we fit them all together we get the full picture. In most meetings our views tend to be seen as competitive. When someone speaks, another person responds with a counter-statement, and the meeting progresses with each trying to convince the other of his or her rightness. This behavior is based on a belief in the "one right answer" to all questions. Only one of us can be right, so our intelligence is used to establish that rightness firmly. It becomes a competition in which each person's ego and intelligence are at stake. This is either/or thinking -- either you are right or I am! Often, two or three people will capture all the time in a meeting with this either/or conflict, while others listen, get bored, and drop out. It is a time- consuming, ineffective process. The meeting ends with some vaguely worded compromise that relieves the participants. They leave with little commitment to it. Collective thinking assumes we can all learn something from each other. We have different views of a situation, and all views are right. This is done with many of the workshop tasks. The collective statements are the result of adding individual statements together, keeping each person's words to the best extent possible, creating a statement of the total group. * DEVELOPING A COLLECTIVE STATEMENT A collective statement process is based on the notion that we all have different views of a situation, and all views are right. Each of us perceives the world through our experiences, our values and beliefs and our desires. In some tasks, statements made by each individual participant are recorded as accurately as possible. These statements are first segregated into common groups. The individual statements are then added together, keeping each person's words to the best extent possible, creating a statement of the total group. At times it is necessary to add words to the brief recorded statements to clarify the intent. Or, a word might be added to bridge two or more statements together. This is kept to a minimum in order to retain the original recorded thought. While some grammatical improvements may be made, the original statement and the original words are kept as close as possible. As an example, these were the original recorded statements from another workshop for the "Senior Citizens Worst Outcomes of the Situation": SENIOR CITIZENS WORST OUTCOMES OF THE SITUATION: 1. Unsafe community to live in 2. Will regress, if no progress 3. Things fine, no higher taxes 4. Our senior programs will be cut--lack of funds 5. My needs as senior will not be considered and taxes rise--skyrocket 6. More leave town, higher crime, higher taxes, less facilities 7. Leads to collapse of government 8. If not forward, then backwards. 9. Become retirement community, kids leave, no industry, 10. Uncertain, unhappy future The statements are segregated to become like groups of statements: SENIOR CITIZENS WORST OUTCOMES OF THE SITUATION: 2. Will regress, if no progress 8. If not forward, then backwards. 3. Things fine, no higher taxes 9. Become retirement community, kids leave, no industry 5. My needs as senior will not be considered and taxes rise--skyrocket 4. Our senior programs will be cut--lack of funds 1. Unsafe community to live in. 6. More leave town, higher crime, higher taxes, less facilities 7. Leads to collapse of government 10. Uncertain, unhappy future These statements are now linked together to form the final collective statement. Words that are added in the process are shown in parentheses: THE SENIOR CITIZENS WORST OUTCOMES : (The community) will regress, if (there is) no progress. If (we do) not (move) forward, then (we slide) backwards. (We all think that) things (are) fine, (as long as there are) no higher taxes. (We) become (a) retirement community, (the) kids leave, (there is) no industry. My needs as (a) senior will not be considered and taxes will rise, skyrocketing. Our senior programs will be cut (because) of (a) lack of funds. (This will be an) unsafe community to live in. (More business and people) leave town, (because of) higher crime, higher taxes, less facilities. (This) leads to a collapse of government. (We face) an uncertain, unhappy future. ATTACHMENT B Collective Statements – Desired Downtown Outcomes from the August 10, 2009 Council Workshop Collective statements are the result of adding individual statements together, keeping each person's words to the best extent possible, and creating a statement of the total group. Statements made by each individual participant are recorded as accurately as possible. These statements are first segregated into common groups. The individual statements are then added together, keeping each person's words to the best extent possible, creating a statement of the total group. Draw People Downtown – Safe & Mix of Uses Enhance perceptions of public safety downtown to improve accessibility and make it more safe and inviting for all people, including those who have stayed away, to visit, shop, work, and live without fear of harassment or crime. Do this by establishing a consistent police and public safety presence, a public safety center, a park and a youth center that encourages a mix of people, and makes everyone feel safe. Consider sunsetting the Downtown and Riverfront urban renewal districts as a potential option to free-up millions of dollars for public safety and human services. Downtown has a vibrant and successful business district based on local development with a variety of stores, events, and options as well as a combination of arts and residential communities that attract people from all over Eugene. Encourage a medical clinic in the downtown core. Establish a well defined “go to” arts, retail, night club, entertainment, and theater district that encourages high traffic/shoppers all day and evening at businesses and arts venues by transforming West Broadway and providing cultural opportunities that are attractive and accessible. Make downtown an accessible place where people want to go by holding more free entertainment activities at least two to three times a year and creating an annual calendar of events that is scheduled and/or managed by a private/public partnership. Make downtown a happening place to be for all youth, families, and seniors with a youth center and a multicultural center that includes a history of Eugene families where communities of color can join together. Ensure that downtown has vital green spaces, including more parks that lead toward the river and that delight the public. Fix-up Buildings; Local Business Support Help businesses and building owners fix-up or remodel their buildings and spaces. Require empty spaces to look good, so that downtown has attractive buildings and public spaces. Adjust the downtown development code such that desired redevelopment occurs and requires fewer public subsidies. Support current businesses to stay in downtown; encourage new businesses that support more people living downtown (like a Dollar Store or a variety store), and build on and improve businesses and activities that are unique to Eugene like a year-round covered Farmers’ Market, arts and culture district, and local food. Infrastructure, Development & Overall Use of Buildings Ensure that downtown properties are utilized to their best purpose and configuration while maintaining a good balance of public investment in infrastructure and projects that inspire private investment and pride. Refurbish the current City Hall building and do not create another pit by abandoning the building. Establish a centrally located City Hall or civic campus with a public safety station where citizens can go to conduct business with City government Housing Create more housing downtown of all kinds - market rate and affordable - that increases residential opportunities for both ownership and rental, encourages people to live downtown, and might fill both pits if Beam and/or WG fail. Getting Around Downtown Create more positive connections and easier access to downtown and neighborhoods through transit, parking, through-streets, and better bike access that is similar to Sun River’s system of bike and pedestrian only roads. Include free parking or a meter-free zone downtown to make downtown more accessible and inviting. 2 Councilor statements Draw People Downtown – safe and mix of uses ? Make downtown a safer and more inviting for people to visit, shop, work, and live without fear from the criminal element ? Safety center, police presence along with youth center ? Dramatically enhance public safety downtown to improve accessibility and encourage those who stay away to come back ? Safe and inviting place at all times (a park) ? Downtown has mix of public that makes everyone feel safe ? Sunset Downtown and Riverfront urban renewal districts freeing up millions of $ for public safety and human services ----------------- ? Downtown has the variety of stores, events, and options that attracts people from all over Eugene to our downtown ? Encourage medical center clinic within downtown core ? A vibrant and successful business district based on local development ? To have an area in the downtown consisting of a combination of business, arts, and residential communities ? People from all parts of the city come downtown ----------------- ? Downtown has a “go to” arts district, well defined. Downtown has “go to” night club area, fun and safe. ? Theater district ? Transform West Broadway into an active retail, arts, and entertainment area ? Arts and culture opportunities that are attractive and accessible ? Establish an arts and entertainment district ? High traffic/shoppers all day and evening at businesses and arts venues ------------- ? More free activities – entertainment ? Annual calendar of events to be scheduled/managed by a private/public partnership – 2x, 3x year ? A place where people want to go and can easily and conveniently access it --------------- ? A happening place to be for all youth, families, seniors ? Multi-cultural center for communities of color to join together along with a history of Eugene families ? Youth center --------------- ? Downtown has vital green spaces that lead, delight the public ? More parks – linear park toward river Fix-up Buildings, Local Business Support ? Downtown has attractive buildings that we all feel pride in and public spaces that go with it ? Help businesses and building owners fix up or remodel their buildings and spaces ? Empty spaces are required to look good 3 ? Adjust the downtown development code such that desired redevelopment occurs and requires fewer public subsidies -------------- ? New business to support living downtown – aka Dollar Store ? Variety store – everything from scissors to underwear ? Support current business to stay ? Build on and improve businesses/activities that are unique to Eugene. Year round/covered Farmers’ Market, arts/culture district, local food/etc. More people living, more green etc. Infrastructure, development, and overall use of buildings ? Downtown properties utilized to their best purpose and configuration ? Good balance of public investment in infrastructure/projects that inspires private investment and pride --------------- ? Do not create another pit by abandoning City Hall ? Refurbish City Hall ---------------- ? New City Hall and public government spaces ? Establish a centrally located area City Hall or complex for citizens to go to to conduct business with City government ? Civic campus with a public safety station and new City Hall Housing ? More housing downtown (market rate) ? Increase residential opportunities for both ownership and rental ? Affordable housing on both pits – if Beam and/or WG fail ? Downtown has lots of housing – all kinds ? More people living downtown through more DT housing ? More people living downtown Getting Around Downtown ? Create more positive connections to downtown and neighboring neighborhoods ? Create easy access through transit and parking and thru streets ? Better bike access, like Sun River for bikes, peds only ? Free parking ? Create a free parking (meter free zone) area downtown to make downtown more accessible and inviting 4