CCMinutes - 10/25/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Katie Shopp, 61464 Hamilton Road, also a member of ECHS, stated that Eugene had been without local protection of basic habitability standards for renters. She thanked the council for looking into changing that. She asserted that Eugene was currently the largest city in Oregon without such local protection. She related that throughout discussions with community business leaders, landlords, and the Rental Owners Association of Lane County, some had expressed concern that the current proposal did not address neighborhood blight. She countered that Eugene Code (EC) 6.005 through 6.010 covered all of these concerns. She encouraged the council to pass local rental housing standards. David G. Hoffman, 2790 Madison Street, wished to speak on the proposed Santa Clara Park. He stated that food was the top priority for people and, thus, so was the best food-growing soil. He asked why the City was wasting its time on urban growth boundary (UGB) issues when it should only be looking at soil analysis. He cited the case of the River Road farms versus the gravel pit, in which evidence had been provided by Professor Loudermilk, assistant chief soil conservationist, and though the soil was Class 2 the farms had prevailed. He related that Professor Loudermilk's study of 7,000 years of world agricultural history had shown that neglect of soil helped wipe out entire civilizations. He stated that homeland defense had become the government's priority, including protection of food sources. He opined that had a person with an Arabic-sounding name proposed to develop such prime farm land, it would be considered an act of terrorism. He asserted that the metro-area only contained a three-day supply of food. He said reduction in local food production forced an increase in food that was trucked in, causing damage to roadways, using fuel, and providing food that was less fresh. He asserted that local farms and growing its own food gave the United States a military, health, economic, and sustainable advantage. He expressed dismay that the City would consider a land swap that would turn 125 acres of Class 1 soil into a park. He felt history and nature show that people must protect the soil. Kevin Jones, 4740 Wendover Street, representing the Santa Clara Committee for Parks and Open Spaces, described the land swap. He reiterated that the land contained Class 1 soil. He stated that there was a great deal of opposition and encouraged the council to slow down and put the amendment of the Metro Park Plan on hold. He said there was no question that residents wanted a park, but wanted other sites to be considered. He conveyed the committee's recommendation that the City consider the Santa Clara Elementary School as a place to hold some of the facilities that would be part of a community park and that some other smaller parks be considered for further development. He commented that some areas of the country had worked to provide connections between parks and that some bicycle path expansion would benefit local residents. In closing, he stated that he and other committee members were gathering signatures in opposition of the land swap and had, to date, gathered approximately 350 signatures. Lee Rademacher, 4174 Lancaster Drive, also a member of the Santa Clara Committee for Parks and Open Spaces, echoed the comments of Mr. Jones. He shared that he lived on the edge of the UGB. He said his backyard featured seasonal water and had a direct view of the farmland that was proposed to be included in the UGB. He assumed the UGB had been designed to restrict growth in some areas and encourage it in others. He questioned the wisdom of swapping farmable land for developable land. While he recognized the need to eventually expand the UGB, he opined that at the rate the City was growing it would grow to include Junction City in the UGB. He felt the decision to swap prime farmland it would set a precedent for developers to "dangle a carrot" before the City and make such trades. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 25, 2004 Page 2 Regular Session