Committee to give recommendations for a downtown commission

A group that has been working since August to hash out the fine points of forming a commission to advise the City Council on downtown matters is ready to make its final recommendations public.

Not surprisingly, any new group looking after downtown interests has parking matters among its chief concerns.

"We probably spent more time on that than on any other issue," said Ward 2 City Councilor Patricia Daniels, who was a non-voting member of the committee and who represents the downtown area on the council.

"I think the fact we heard so much from interested people downtown is part of the reason so much time was spent on how we would deal with it," Daniels said.

As written in the group's draft report, day-to-day parking matters would be conducted by a five-member parking committee made up of two commission members and three others appointed by the mayor. The larger commission would then address major parking issues and related projects.

In the report, the committee spells out its ideas on the makeup and other duties of the city's newest commission:

• The group should have 11 members. One should be a downtown resident. Another would represent the Downtown Corvallis Association. Two members should be business or property owners in the area. Other members should represent interests such as Oregon State University, real estate, alternative transportation, parks and housing.

• The Downtown Commission should preside over bringing the downtown strategic plan to fruition, including streetscape projects and downtown land-use matters.

• The City Council should appoint a liaison to the commission.

A major part of the commission's work has yet to be decided, however. This year, the city plans to create an urban renewal district downtown to stimulate local investment.

Forming such a district would require voter approval, probably in the November election.

Urban renewal districts affect the way property taxes are collected in a designated area for a set number of years. When a renewal district is formed, tax valuations are frozen in terms of the money that goes to taxing districts like schools and cities. Taxpayers within the district continue to pay as though no change has been made. As tax collections rise, the difference goes into a special fund to pay for public projects designed to boost the district's potential for private investment.

In its draft report, the committee recommends the downtown commission would be in charge of working up project ideas. Ultimately, the city council would be in charge of doling out urban renewal funds.

"If there is an urban renewal district, the committee would be an advisory group," Daniels said. "The Council would really be the urban renewal authority."

Mayor Charlie Tomlinson warned that the commission will need to quickly firm up a list of projects that could be built with district funds in order to generate support for the idea among voters.

He suggested that projects could include an underground parking garage, improvements along Madison Avenue and streetscaping along the Harrison Boulevard gateway into Corvallis.

The City Council will ultimately decide the role and membership of the commission, and should begin deliberations this month.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski

@lee.net