HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 07/09/12 Work SessionMINUTES
Eugene City Council
McNutt Room —City Hall
777 Pearl Street — Eugene, Oregon
July 9, 2012
12:00 p.m.
COUNCILORS PRESENT: George Brown, Pat Farr, Betty Taylor, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling,
Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka.
Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the July 9, 2012, work session of the Eugene City Council to order.
Meetings Management Program Update
Anthony Wong of Sire Technologies presented a Power Point presentation to demonstrate the functionality
of the City's new meetings management software.
A. WORK SESSION
Update on City Hall
Acting -In- Capacity Facilities Management Division Director Myrnie Daut and Design/Construction
Section Manager Mike Penwell described plans for the move of City Hall to the County's Public Services
Building.
Topics discussed by the council included:
• A dislike for the expression "moth- balling" in relation to City Hall
• Concern for the public art at City Hall
• The concept of re- building as opposed to renovating City Hall
• The possibility of tearing City Hall down "to the bones"
Architects Otto Poticha and John Rowell each presented graphics for a re- designed and /or re -built City
Hall and described the concepts /issues behind the designs, such as:
• What defines a "great street" – a place where people want to be – public open space?
• The concept of great streets might lead to a reconsideration of one -way streets around City Hall.
• Pearl and High streets could be as important as 8 Avenue.
• City Hall could be a hybrid between a re -built and a new City Hall.
• City Hall is not well connected to the street level.
• It would be possible to remove the southern portion of the building, enlarge the Council
Chamber, add restrooms to the Chamber and create a display area in the Chamber.
• There is a certain, perhaps, desirable "extravagance" in maintaining a one -story City Hall
building.
Issues discussed by the council and architects included:
• Could a farmer's market be included in the new City Hall area?
• The moat around the Council Chamber could be a light source for the parking area.
• Should all City offices be located at the current City Hall location?
MINUTES— Eugene City Council July 9, 2012 Page 1
Work Session
• Mr. Poticha's plans would remove everything at City Hall except the building frame in which
City offices could grow incrementally.
• A parking lot to the south of City Hall could remain a parking lot, thus supplementing parking
and maintaining good solar possibilities for City Hall.
• Eugene Water & Electric Board's current administration offices, if vacated, would be a possible
site for a future City Hall.
• A smaller group comprised of councilors might be formed to consider the future of City Hall.
V. ADJOURN
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:14 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Mortensen
Deputy City Recorder
(Recorded by Kris Bloch)
MINUTES— Eugene City Council July 9, 2012 Page 2
Work Session