Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Joel Andersen , 1327 Andersen Lane, coach and regional co-coordinator for AYSO, explained that AYSO was an all volunteer-driven organization that provided soccer for anyone between the ages of 5 and 19, regardless of skill or ability to pay. He related that four years ago, 400 kids were registered, but over the past two seasons over 1,400 kids registered for AYSO soccer. He stressed that AYSO was the only soccer organization that had no paid personnel. He stated that AYSO was one of three Class 1 youth sports clubs that the City had directed to provide after-school sports through 4J schools. Though AYSO received no funding from the City or the schools, it was still held responsible for helping to provide these programs. He said this was a mandate that AYSO readily and willingly accepted. He reported that it was becoming more difficult to find adequate soccer fields that were in good repair and not a danger to young soccer players. He urged the council to add funding to the PROS project list to upgrade athletic fields throughout Eugene. He stressed that no acquisition was being requested. David Monk , 3720 Emerald Street, spoke on behalf of the South Eugene Neighbors. He conveyed their long-standing support for acquisition for open space. While he acknowledged the importance of seeking balance in the project list, he asked that the council not add too many special projects. He called land acquisition critical as the cost of land was increasing drastically. He noted that he played soccer, adding that many adult soccer players prefer to play on natural grass. He asked that the council ensure that School District 4J come up with its share of money for resurfacing. Ed Fredette , 2635 Moon Mountain Drive, asked that the Alton Baker Park canoe canal renovation include a whitewater park in addition to the aquatic habitat restoration. He said the canoe canal had originally been constructed for canoe and kayak recreation and concrete weirs were put into place that cut it off from the main river channel. He noted that prior to the turn of the century it was part of the river channel. He stated that the intake structure for the canoe canal was unsafe as it posed a threat to young people who chose to swim near it. He explained that water was sucked in and then transported 300 feet underground to the canoe canal. He said the main weir in the Willamette River no longer diverted water into the Millrace and it posed a serious hazard to river travelers. Every summer, search and rescue staff was called out to rescue people who were caught in the hydraulics created by the weir. He thought it would be possible to create water features in a whitewater park that would meet the needs of a broad spectrum of participants. He averred that such a project could garner funding from a number of sources, including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the department that was responsible for stocking the area with fish. David Sonnichsen , 2435 Skyline Boulevard, chair of the Citizens Planning Committee for the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park, indicated his support for a whitewater park, especially the habitat features of it. He noted that the canoe canal was shared by Eugene and Springfield and he thought it would make a good shared project. He said that part of the proposal involved daylighting some of the canoe canal that was now underground in the Springfield portion of the park. He was concerned about one notion that would involve the conversion of the concrete weir to a “standing wave.” He pointed out that the weir was actually on the Springfield side of the freeway and under the jurisdiction of the Willamalane Recreation District. He did not know of any jurisdiction that would be willing to take on the potential liability of luring people into the middle of the river to surf into waves. He felt it was dangerous. Anna Houpt , 32496 Camas Swale Road, Creswell, said she visited a whitewater park in Kernville, California, that had been in existence for 30 years. She explained that kayakers and canoeists wear helmets and flotation devices. She stated that she was 51 and had been kayaking for 25 years. She hoped the council would support building a whitewater park as it provided a family activity in which people of all ages could participate. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 10, 2006 Page 15 Regular Meeting