Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: Neighborhood Livability Working Group Progress Report <br /> <br />Meeting Date: September 14, 2011 Agenda Item Number: B <br />Department: Neighborhood Services Staff Contact: Michael Kinnison <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5009 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />While many pockets surrounding the University of Oregon are considered highly desirable places to <br />live, noise and other undesirable behaviors have reached levels that are significantly impacting <br />residents’ quality of life. Approximately 20,000 students reside off-campus, with a large concentration <br />in those neighborhoods that ring the University of Oregon. This density of young adults in one area <br />serves to attract other young people from within and outside Eugene and conflicts are inevitable as <br />lifestyles and expectations for behavior differ between a young, transient population and more <br />established, long-term residents. Current approaches to address negative behaviors and impacts have <br />not been entirely effective, and a stakeholder group has met during the last year to discuss potential <br />measures. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />In March 2010, nearly 40 people representing the City of Eugene, University of Oregon, neighborhoods <br />and property owners/managers, gathered for a livability summit in direct response to long-term <br />residents’ frustration with increasing impacts to their quality of life from noise, public drunkenness and <br />other negative behaviors often fueled by alcohol consumption. As a result of this summit, stakeholder <br />representatives agreed to continue meeting as the Neighborhood Livability Working Group to identify <br />and clarify issues, discuss existing and planned efforts, and propose actions for improving neighborhood <br />livability. <br /> <br />The working group began meeting in July 2010 with support and facilitation provided by the City <br />Manager’s Office through Neighborhood Services. Participation has included representatives from key <br />stakeholder groups. The group has accomplished a number of tasks: <br /> <br /> <br />Created a Catalogue of Negative Behaviors and Impacts document that categorizes and explains the <br />negative behaviors and impacts of living in proximity to the concentration of young adults. <br /> <br /> <br />Gathered data on crime and other neighborhood characteristics to clarify current conditions and <br />trends. <br /> <br /> <br />Assessed progress to-date on implementing strategies recommended by the West University Task <br />Force in 2003. <br /> <br /> <br />Documented current efforts to protect neighborhood livability led by all stakeholder groups. <br /> <br /> <br />Conducted research on best practices in other communities to identify potential strategies and assess <br />potential effectiveness of ideas generated. <br /> <br /> <br />Identified potential solutions for improving campus-area livability. <br /> S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110914\S110914B.doc <br /> <br />